Airplane flight of terror!

[Jeff_G]

Just got back from a wonderful week in the world, it was a great week until the flight home. We had about a four hour flight home and with one hour left before our destination my oldest son who was sleeping at the time, sat up in his chair went ridged became unresponsive and stopped breathing. Holy cow batman! At 36,000 feet up in a cramped airplane we panicked. DW gave him a few rescue breaths and we began yelling for help. There were a few MDs on the flight, we moved him to the isle way where he started breathing again and finished what we now know was a seizure. He had never had a seizure before this event. After coming out, he was very tired and embarrassed but otherwise stable.

We decided with the flight crew to go ahead and speed up the flight to our destination rather then make an emergency landing, they got us on the ground and right to the gate and we were allowed to get off the flight first. We had paramedics meet us at the gate and they took DW and son to nearest children’s Emergency Department. Hours later with some blood work and saline they sent us home with no real explanation other then perhaps it was just a combination of over exhaustion combined with altitude change and what not. We are going to follow up with his pediatrician today, but over the past few days he has been normal as if nothing happened.

It was a terrifying ordeal but I am soo glad for the help of everyone on board, I sent a tank you note to the airline, I hope it gets back to the flight crew.

 

[1tufgt]

Glad to hear everything turned out ok and hope they can determine what caused this seizure.

 

[Dan Murphy]

What a scare for sure! Hoping all works out, I am confident it will. 's

 

[ToyStory]

Glad to hear that your son is okay and the airline crew was helpful.

I work with kids that have seizures and the onset of adolescents can trigger seizures. You should defiantly see a neurologist.

 

[speakupjc]

Please keep us posted. You and your family remain in our thoughts.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Great that he's okay, and I'm sure your thank you will reflect on the crew!

I agree with another poster - if your pedeatrician doesn't refer your son to a neurologist, please request a referral. I'm not a doctor (but I have stayed at a Holiday Inn Express) but even if the cause is idiopathic, he still needs to be seen by a specialist. Good luck.

 

[pooch]

for you and your son. My DS started seizing at the age of 6 (Superbowl Sunday 1997) I don't know what was scarier, watching the episode or getting to the ER ad having the admitting nurse say "try to calm down, the seizure is over & he's ok" Seizure??? WHAT SEIZURE?!?!?!? He had 7 during the first year (and no reason to assume your son will ever have another) while they got the med levels right & has only had 2 since both times when he was too busy to take his meds on time. He is a healthy 20 yr old now and always very careful to take his meds (and I still call religiously and ask - did you take your meds?!?!? Once a mom always a mom). Do go to a neurologist and let him check your son.

 

[Jeff_G]

Thanks all for the responses, his doc is sending him to a neurologist for an EEG and a MRI, basically they want to rule out anything abnormal, but he said sometimes they never can tell why a seizure comes on and most times they never repeat.

It was a very scary few minutes in the plane, not being able to do anything and not knowing what was going on was the worst.

Another item to mention, I called Disney Travel Insurance and they said we would be able to be reinbursed for the copayments and ambulance ride. So I'm very glad I purchased this.


I will post a follow up, we are just starting to unwind from getting back, and now realizing its sad to be home… Time to plan the next vacation...

 

[pooch]

Thanks all for the responses, his doc is sending him to a neurologist for an EEG and a MRI, basically they want to rule out anything abnormal, but he said sometimes they never can tell why a seizure comes on and most times they never repeat.

absolutely true! The EEG will give you the best picture and, speaking of pictures (and what a BAD mother I am!) they look really funny with the leads stuck all over their heads. I took pictures!! Do let us know how everything turns out and if you need or want more info, please PM me.

 

[Dizzyworld]

Glad things are going better. Best wishes to your son.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Thanks all for the responses, his doc is sending him to a neurologist for an EEG and a MRI, basically they want to rule out anything abnormal, but he said sometimes they never can tell why a seizure comes on and most times they never repeat.

Yep - that's idiopathic. I've only had two seizures in my life: the original one on March 18 (which I remember because people kept asking me how much I'd had to drink the day before [nothing]), and the one after I ran out of medication and thought I didn't need it any more because I didn't have a seizure. Until I did Last time I did anything that medically stupid.

 

[Liz]

I can't imagine how scary that must have been for you all! Prayers and good wishes that this is the one and only time something like this ever happens!

 

[GetGlowing]

I can't even imagine for frightening that would be. omg. I hope everything works out ok for your son.

Great news about the Disney Insurance covering your costs, too!

 

[eangel12]

My son is 17 months and has a seizure a week ago. It was the most terrifying day of my life...and I can't imagine having it happen in the air. Uggghhhh...I was screaming hysterically on the ground with police and ambulance on the way. Hugs to you...and praying your son is okay~~!!!

 

[AnnieEMT]

Prayers for all of you - what a scary experience! So glad that everyone on board the flight was so helpful, that makes all the difference when you're dealing with something like that. Keeping a good thought that all will turn out well for your son

 

[pooch]

Yep - that's idiopathic. I've only had two seizures in my life: the original one on March 18 (which I remember because people kept asking me how much I'd had to drink the day before [nothing]), and the one after I ran out of medication and thought I didn't need it any more because I didn't have a seizure. Until I did Last time I did anything that medically stupid.

although he hasn't had a seizure in 5 years, Dr is reluctant to stop the med since he is so well controlled with it and has never experienced any side effects from it.

 

[jeff968]

Make sure you get a good, solid answer. 3 years ago I collapsed at work. At the ER they figured I just had a fainting spell and sent me home. The next day I still felt bad so my wife made me go back. They looked again, closer this time, and found that I was suffering from an Aortic Disection. I almost died. And this was after the ER sent me home the night before with a clean review. Everything happens for a reason.

 

[Julma]

I agree you should see a neurologist and a cardiologist. Seizures can be brought on as a way to jolt the body back from a cardio episode. My son was passing out and then having seizures and it was determined that the origin was with his heart not his brain. The only reason we saw a cardiologist was the first time it happened he was playing basketball.

 

[summerrluvv]

How scary! Your family is in my thoughts and prayers. Hopefully it was an isolated incident.

 

[lugnut33]

Holy crap Jeff, that is scary!!