DH and I had gone to a church conference to hear a well-known radio/TV personality speak on the middle east and afterwards were to go to a couple's house for coffee. We were just pulling into their driveway when DH's pager went off saying that an ambulance was needed at an address on our street for seizures. We both sort of held our breath when we heard the address, but ours is different by one number than the address given so we figured it was our neighbor across the street.
As we walked into our friends' house they said that her mother said we had just gotten a phone call. I knew then that 911 had been told the wrong address. The caller ID showed that my mother had called. DH called the house and talked to the EMT that was on scene and we took off for home. We made it home in 10 minutes, in what normally would have taken 15-20.
Just as we got here they were bringing DS#2 out on the stretcher. He is 16 years old. DH (who is an EMT) jumped in with the ambulance and I drove my mom and I to the hospital. The paramedics met us halfway and got in and started an IV. DH said that DS quit breathing at least twice on the way there. They had inserted a nasal canula and were prepared to bag him if they had to.
By the time we got to the hospital, he was a bit better. And if that was better, I definitely did not want to see how he had been. DH said that DS would definitely have a bruised sternum because the EMT had to give him a sternum rub to get him to respond at all and really had to use a lot of pressure. DH also had to do the same on the way to the hospital.
At the hospital he was barely responsive. His eyes were rolled back in his head and he could barely squeeze fingers or move his feet to push on your hands. His blood pressure was high and pulse was rapid (over 120). Of course, they asked about alcohol or drugs and we explained that he's had this happen before and that it is a migraine, but I don't think any of them had ever heard of a hemiplegic migraine before. They took blood and tested for all kinds of things, including the alcohol and drugs. All the tests came back normal.
By the time they were done with the CAT scan, which was also normal, he was much better. Within 2 hours of being there he was back to his old self, joking with everyone but very tired. They couldn't believe what a difference a couple of hours made compared to the condition he was in on arrival.
He has a sinus infection so they gave him a Z-pack and told us to follow up with the neurologist on Monday.
The EMTs and ambulance crew were all very concerned. Of course, they all know DS since he's a member and spends most of his time helping out at the ambulance building and firehall. He wants to become a paramedic.
We ended up having the follow-up with the neurologist on the day of the Valentine's Day '07 blizzard! We did not want to cancel the appointment since we really wanted him seen as soon as possible.
The neurologist says that he thinks this was a complicated migraine (hemiplegic migraines are a type of complicated migraines) and that it caused a convulsion this time. He said that the severe chest pain that he experienced this time was from the migraine. Migraines can cause pain not only in the head, but elsewhere in the body.
He is starting him on a new type of migraine/seizure medicine that he is hoping won't have as many side effects for him as the Topomax. He has also ordered a 24 hour EEG to see if he is having any mini seizures that we're not aware of.
He offered to send us to a neurosurgeon to get his opinion on Chiari Malformation but is confident that he does not have that. He said that any time we want a referral to just call. We are waiting on that to see if this new medicine works.
So...hopefully this weekend will be a bit tamer than last weekend!
February 17th, 2007 at 01:26 pm 1171718814
February 17th, 2007 at 01:40 pm 1171719605
He was really worn out on Sunday and slept in until about 10:30. Then he slept on the couch all afternoon. I found myself glancing up from my book every few minutes to make sure that he was actually sleeping, but noticed that I wasn't the only one.
By Tuesday he looked a lot better and has been fine since.
February 17th, 2007 at 01:41 pm 1171719706
February 17th, 2007 at 02:03 pm 1171720993
February 17th, 2007 at 06:34 pm 1171737285
I hope the new meds work out for your son. Sorry that you had to go through all that. Thanks for sharing > I learned something new from you.
February 17th, 2007 at 11:39 pm 1171755553
February 18th, 2007 at 12:41 am 1171759298
((hugs))