Febrile convulsions! I nearly had a heart attack on Saturday over my baby boy Ryder

**willytheekid** · 10th October 2011, 11:16

Febrile convulsions!

Heard of these?....we didn't know anything about them....until saturday.

My baby boy Ryder got a cold on friday (So did Charlotte), I decided to take the day off work to look after them and make sure they were both ok.
Sat morning Charlotte was much better...but little Ryder seemed slightly worse, so off we went to see the doctor in rangiora.

While in the waiting room little Ryder seemed fine, sick...but happy as usual.
Then he just started shaking, his little blue eyes rolled back and he started frothing at the mouth and convulsing harder.
We yelled out for help and immediatly got taken out the back.
Ryder kept having a Fit for over 3mins and couldn't breath during the seizure, they gave him oxygen and kept him in the recovery position.....when they annouced that a ambulance was on its way and we have to go into central hospital.... my world just fell apart.

While waiting for the ambulance Ryder stopped convulsing but wasn't coherant and just made the most heart breaking sounds I have ever heard....Ive seen some scary shit in my life, but this...I could just barely handle.(it took all of our self control to stay calm and be there for our son...Charlotte was AMAZING!)

Ryder came around just before the ambulance turned up, But he was exhausted and struggling to stay conscious....and still making the most heart breaking sounds a parent could hear.
The Doctors and ambulance staff were amazing at keeping us informed and assured us everything was alright.

Charlotte and Ryder had a nice slow trip into central with me following the ambulance with charlottes crying mother in the "car", we then spent the next 6hrs or so freaking out while the doctors in the acute childcare ward did test after test on poor little Ryder (they were checking for epilipsie etc).

They gave him the all clear and told us we could take him home but keep a close eye on his temp and cold etc.

Ryders condition was a Febrile convulsion

We have never heard of these?, but according to the hospital staff they see 1 case a day and assure us its common in small children (they can't regulate their heat and once they reach 40 degrees, they go into a Fit)

Once home we checked every health book we had, plunket etc, for details about this "common" heat issue in small kids.....nothing!...not a mention!

So I thought I would share this with as may parents as possible (And you lot! lol)
as its one of the most scary things I have every been through...to see your baby fitting and possibly fighting for life.....not nice at all!, give me a drunk driver plowing into me at the lights, or a 4x4 punchng me off the road & leaving me for dead...those things I can handle!....but this!...this was much worse because it wasn't me...it was my wee Ryder....my baby boy of 1yr 3months possibly fighting for life and in pain.....its been a rough weekend.

Off to the Doc's again @ 14:30 due to his fever not breaking.....wish they told me having kids can break ya heart!

**Ronin** · 10th October 2011, 11:19

Yup, hard to see stuff involving your kids. shoot foxzee a pm as I know her youngest had the same (my step daughter). Good that you were in the right place for it to happen though. I know it is some scary shit but your little man will be fine

**Paul in NZ** · 10th October 2011, 11:29

Kids scare the shit out of you and it never stops mate. Its because you love them more than anything and thats the way its supposed to be.

Keep calm and carry on lad!

**willytheekid** · 10th October 2011, 11:36

Cheers guys....scared the shit out of us at the time (still worried to be honest)

hated seeing my wee guy like that, wished I could have swapped places with him.

Will keep a stiff upper lip and all that tho, just thought I would share this in case any other parents on KB havn't heard of this condition....not knowing was the worst part

**slofox** · 10th October 2011, 12:03

My daughter (now 35) had a febrile convulsion when she was 2. Late at night. We were at home - living not far away from Dargaville at the time. The convulsion left her unconscious for about forty minutes. During which time we had to ring a doctor and sort him out to meet us at the local medical practice in town. From there she went to the local hospital and stayed there a couple of days.

At the time it was damn scary. I had to carry her while she was unconscious and she was totally limp - like a wilted leaf, completely floppy. I had to keep checking to make sure she hadn't died 'cause she sure as hell felt dead. Scariest thing I ever went through with one of my kids.

Febrile convulsion is from fever (hence "febrile") and is not that uncommon in kids. Daughter continued to scare us with high fevers for the next several years. We had to tepid sponge her on innumerable occasions, much to her disgust. But she never had another convulsion and would appear to be as healthy as the next person nowadays.

**willytheekid** · 10th October 2011, 12:14

Originally Posted by slofox

My daughter (now 35) had a febrile convulsion when she was 2. Late at night. We were at home - living not far away from Dargaville at the time. The convulsion left her unconscious for about forty minutes. During which time we had to ring a doctor and sort him out to meet us at the local medical practice in town. From there she went to the local hospital and stayed there a couple of days.

At the time it was damn scary. I had to carry her while she was unconscious and she was totally limp - like a wilted leaf, completely floppy. I had to keep checking to make sure she hadn't died 'cause she sure as hell felt dead. Scariest thing I ever went through with one of my kids.

Febrile convulsion is from fever (hence "febrile") and is not that uncommon in kids. Daughter continued to scare us with high fevers for the next several years. We had to tepid sponge her on innumerable occasions, much to her disgust. But she never had another convulsion and would appear to be as healthy as the next person nowadays.

Thanks Slofox, its great to hear from someone who's been through it before....scared the crap out of us at the time (still worried due to his fever not coming under control since).
I honestly thought he was having an epileptic fit at the time as he went ridged, frothing at the mouth and his arms and legs were spasming.
We have read up on the condition and have even got some diazepam in case it happens again...and its worse.

thanks again Slofox

**Riff Raff** · 10th October 2011, 12:19

As a paramedic I've lost count of the number of febrile convulsions I attended, but I was a complete mess when my little girl had one at 15 months. It is pretty terrifying watching it happen to your child, even when you know what is happening. They are very common in young children.

**nzspokes** · 10th October 2011, 12:29

I had them when i was 2. Aparently i had a chest infection that got out of hand. I had about 6. I was an extreme case aparently. It left me with a condition called a Femial tremmor. Nothing major. My mother went into counciling after due to the stress of it. But here i am 40 years later.

My son was trapped at birth with the cord around his neck. When the midwife is yelling for help you know your in trouble. He was born blue and nonresponsive. it was the worst half hour of my life. But now hes fine and beats up his older sister on a regular basis.

It scares the hell out of you. But I believe im very unusual to have long term effects from it. Then again its not effected my life at all.

**MisterD** · 10th October 2011, 12:56

Been there too willy. Our youngest, Matty, had one when he was about 18 months. He'd been down to bed for about 30 minutes when I heard the weirdest wailing cry from him, went into check and he just started convulsing as you describe.

I had a brief moment of panic, called 111 and got put through to a someone who talked us through it while the ambo came. The St J's guys were brilliant and despited the noise and excitement #1 son, James, slept through it all. Matty has never shown any ill-effects, but we've been much more careful with fevers and the amount of insulation on him in bed

I have no clue why they don't cover this in ante-natal classes...

**Winston001** · 10th October 2011, 13:01

Aw mate, my heart goes out to you and your family. It was gut-wrenching just reading your post.

I've vaguely heard of febrile convulsions but knew nothing.

We had a similar experience with our daughter at 6 months when she developed a rotavirus infection. The image of our beautiful baby's terrified face as the doctors did a lumbar-puncture is seared in my mind.

Rotavirus is serious - it kills. Even so, its not a well know infection and is often missed.

The upside of your experience is that you'll appreciate and love your little boy even more after the trauma you have all suffered. Its strange but these experiences make life more vital and real.

Thanks for sharing.

**nudemetalz** · 10th October 2011, 13:20

Me being someone who suffers from epilepsy and also has a kid approx same age that was something else to read !!

Glad to hear he's okay though.

**White trash** · 10th October 2011, 13:24

You poor bastard. As Sue's stated above, it's bloody terifying stuff. And I thank christ it was her dealing with our daughters one than me, I'd have been freaking out BIG time.

**willytheekid** · 10th October 2011, 15:31

Charlotte and I would like to thank all of you for sharing your experiences with us and the kind words of support.

Ryder is struggling to deal with the ear infection as its a mean one that is combating the normal antibiotics....back from the doctors now with some stronger/mutated antibiotics and hoping his fever and ears get better soon (we really don't want to go through that again!)

So from my family....thank you KB members

...you have helped alleviate some of our fears.

kids ay...fun to make...scary as hell to live with

Stay safe everyone

Willy, Charlotte and Ryder

**Oakie** · 10th October 2011, 19:14

Yeah, been there when #2 daughter was about 10 months old. Just kept her in the recovery position and dabbed at her with a coolish cloth while we waited for the ambulance to arrive. She spent the afternoon in hospital but back home that night and it never happened again. Daughter #1 was impressed with it all though as at age 4 she got to have a ride in the ambulance.