Distraction due to ADD or Petit Mal Seizures returned?

Hi!!
I posted on another section of this site.  I love this site!!
But on this section I have a question about my 10 year old son.  He was premature at birth after a very difficult pregnancy.  He was O2 deprived and was unresponsive at birth.  Many delays in the developmental stages.  When he was 2 almost 3 he was finally diagnosed with Petit Mal Seizures, prescribed Tegratol and it was great!!  At age 5 was weined from the meds.  Has been seizure free since.  But in the last few years he was diagnosed ADHD...  not so sure that he is ADHD  he is being re-evaluated this month, I believe he has ADD.  Any way...   his EC teacher has brought it to my attention that during his special classes he is staring off into space.  This struck fear in my heart.  The only thing I could think was "God, oh dear Heavenly Father above, don't let it be the seizures again".  When he was younger he would be playing and have a seizure and fall out of his chair, or his tricycle.  He has been so happy and healthy other wise.  Many delays in learning...   no biggy.  We can handle that.  Just a different way of learning that's all.  But I am so afraid that if he is having seizures again he could be skating on his skateboard and have a seizure and get really hurt.
He was in for his yearly physical today.  I asked his dr. if he felt that we should visit a neurologist again.  He didn't feel we should do that yet.  He is very concerned about it.  He wants me to keep a journal of when he seems absent.  This will involve his teachers and I'm not sure they are going to be willing to do that.  So...   Do I go against the dr.s judgement and make an appointment to see his neurologist or wait?
Any advice would be so much appreciated!
Jude

[ssadler4]

Hi Judes,

Just posting about my own son and saw yours.  Go to the neurologist and get an EEG.  MIght show seizure activity, might not, but it will help you get a decision going as far as what the staring spells mean  Could be harmelss, but better to get the ball rolling.  If your dr's. judgement is upset by you trusting your own instinct, find another dr.  You are the mom, trust yourself, because you are the best advocate for your son, no one should fault you for doing your best!! Good luck!

[judes101206]

Thanks for the support.
I went to a meeting that I attend every Friday morning at a local coffe house with The Family Support Network a group for families with special needs children.  I spoke about this issue with the director and she suggested to keep the journal since we all know that is what the Neurologist is going to ask me to do in the beggining anyway and have that on hand.  but in the mean time get an appointment with his Neurologist that he saw before.  Then when I go in I'll have step one out of the way and we can go to step two.  I guess that is what his dr. wanted as well.  
I am so emotional over this little man.  He had such a rough start in life and with every mile marker I have celebrated and praised God for it.  But each time I see a backward step I get afraid and loose faith.  I know it's wrong but that's the human mommy in me.
Not to mention I am so impatient anyway.  I don't do well with the wait and see avenue.  I want results a week ago before I knew I needed them   lol.
Have a wonderful Friday
Judes

[judes101206]

I'd really appreciate a Neurologist on this site to give me some insight.  Is it possible for Petit Mal Seizures to be mistaken for ADD inattentativeness?

for the rest of us on here...
If anyone else knows the answer please do so.

I have Levi's EC teacher on board.  He is going to keep a daily journal and send it home weekly so I can see what he sees in class.  Then I can take that to the dr. as well.
Judes

[CCFNeuroMD JT, MD]

Hello there Jude- thank you for your question.  I have seen multiple patients who come with a diagnosis of ADD/ADHD and have petit mal seizures.  Oftentimes, children may be misdiagnosed, although this is not to say that the two cannot coexist together.  The typical history is that the child is inattentive, daydreams, and stares of into space during class.  Because I do not have the ability to examine your son nor am I able to review his records, I think that a visit to a neurologist is certainly appropriate, especially given his history of seizure when he was younger.  Absence epilepsy is treatable and many children may outgrow it.  His learning delays may be accentuated by untreated seizures so better to treat them sooner than later.  Good luck!

[judes101206]

I knew it!!!!!!!!!!
I know the long R/O process.  I just wish we could jump ahead somehow.  Maybe with the past history the R/O won't take as long this time.
Thank you so much for responding.  You confirmed what I thought.
I know Levi has ADD, he was actually diagnosed ADHD  I don't get on board with that.  But I have suspected the seizure activity for a little while now.  Just hard to prove Petit Mal/Absent Seizures.
When he was first diagnosed with seizures when he was small he took Tegratol.  Worked great after we found the correct dosage.  I had just prayed we were through with that.  Maybe we are and I'm worrying over nothing.  But I don't think I'm wrong.
Thanks again!!!!
Judes