My daughter has had epilepsy for over 5 years. She had spells where she would fall completely backwards flat on her back for the last 3 years. The neurologist said it could be the beginning of migranes. So last week, she was crying that her head hurt, she fell asleep, woke up complained her head still hurt and went back to sleep. This went on for about 3 hours. Then she woke up said she felt better and vommitted. Just once. Then was fine the rest of the day. Do you normally vomit after a migrane? Do they only last a few hours? She normally vomits after a major seizure? Also, yesterday, after having physical therapy she had a hard time walking. It was like she didn't have control of her legs. The best way to describe it would be like she was walking like the scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz. Has anyone else had this problem? I guess I am worried she is having break through seizures again or that something else neurological is happening.
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Headaches and Seizures
Sounds like a migraine. She could be having both, though. Maybe the activities triggered a seizure--this is possible. Is she on the ketogenic diet? I am such a firm believer in this diet that I believe every parent needs to try weaning their kids off their medications and implementing the diet--at least to try other options out. The reason many doctors don't encourage the diet as a first treatment is because doctors (many, many of them) are completely ignorant about the impact that diet has on the body. They get next to no training on nutrition. Try the diet and eventually look into neurotherapy. Children who recover and do well have pushy parents who won't settle. Of course, there are lucky parents whose kids recover with very little intervention, however not all of us are that lucky.
Migranes or Seizures
Jessica,
Thanks for you reply, I would love to try the ketogenic diet. But for now that is not an option. She unfortunately is a picker eater. We have been to a nutrtionist however she will not eat anything besides, mac n cheese, peanut butter and fruit and of course chips and cookies. She will just not eat anything else. She will go days without eating if she is not given those few items. She is not even willing to try. This is really bad because she also has crohn's disease which means she needs to have 35% more calories than normal people. So its impossible right now. However I am hoping one day we can try it. We are going to the neurologist this week and I am hoping to get some new insight. I am thinking that the doctors are not looking at the whole picture.
Dietary Concerns
Hi Marian,
It sounds like you have you're hands full.
I am wondering if your little one is on medication. I know it can be notorious for causing vomiting. I remember reading one of Arlene's posts where she talked about how sick Adam was because of the medications. Keep in mind as well that it is unfortunately not all that uncommon for the kids to be heavily over-medicated.
I would encourage you as well to really reconsider your daughter's diet. Mac n cheese, peanut butter, fruit, chips and cookies could be THE problem. As for "going days without eating if she is not given those few items" or even "willing to try". It's very comon for people to become addicted to peanut butter, carbs and sugar. It could be the reason she demands these foods.
Peanut butter has also been long thought to cause migraines.
The more I study, the more I realize that so many of the issues are diet related. Don't give up on the diet.
Melissa
Hi Marian
Thanks so much for sharing a bit about your daughter. It sounds like there are some tough days when the migraines hit. I also wonder if the migraines are caused by food allergies and I would really get her checked to see if she has allergies.
My daughter was allergic to peanut butter and it is exactly what she craved. She went balistic when we removed it from her diet (she was 5) but it caused her a nervous reaction and she actually started pulling her hair out. Once we removed it, the problem stopped.
I would continue to work with the nutritionist. Lack of nutrition causes all kinds of problems. Don't give in to her tantrums as difficult as it is - she will eat. There are some great cook books now that tell parents how to discuise veggies in the food and it may be worth looking into.
I wish you the best and hope you can get the answers you need!
Warmly,
Arlene Martell (Mom of Adam above)
Publisher, EpilepsyMoms.com
Restrictive Eating Habits
Picky eater--sounds like my son.
He literally ate crackers, breadsticks, french fries and soymilk. That was it. He ate this way for a couple of years (it is a wonder he is alive). I said those exact same words that you said, and I literally believed he would starve if I completely went cold turkey and changed his diet.
My child had a restrictive diet because I allowed him to do that. If he refused something new, I took the food away and made him something else. When I started learning about behavioral modification, I had to win some battles with my son in order to teach him that he was going to try new foods or else he wouldn't get anything.
The first day I changed his diet he didn't eat anything. I cried, was upset, and worried he was going to starve. The second day he took a bite of the new food and gagged, but ate it anyway. The second day he ate a small amount, but was still visibly upset by the diet transition. He was also begging for his regular food.
I helped eliminate my desire to cave in by getting rid of the "old food." I presented him with a large variety of new foods to choose from. He still continued to have textural problems with the food, but eventually he got over it and got use to eating his new food. Once he saw me or his father eating the same food, he was alright with eating the new foods. I still have to prompt him to eat his vegetables, and he still tests me to see if he has to eat them or not. However, when I pick a battle I win it (as Dr. Phil instructs).
Also, the Specific Carbohydrate Diet is great for Chrohn's Disease. The book is intimidating. However, the pecanbread.com (or .org) website is great. Some great recipes to try for newcomers: Spaghetti squash spaghetti (I have a good recipe) chicken pancakes (I'm telling you--they taste *just* like pancakes) nut butter pancakes (make with nuts that are less likely to cause allergies--peanuts are a no no, because they contain so much mold and cause allergies) Cheese chips (I have a great recipe as well) Homeade yogurt is a staple on the diet and is great. Let me know if you want more information.
There are so many people I have talked to with situations that sound just like yours and many don't have children who suffer from the effects of Chrohn's disease, seizures, or autism anymore! All because of this diet! essica Clark MuseJessica@gmail.com