I am just back from the hospital. Michelle and Ella are sleeping there tonight. Ella was admitted earlier today. Ella’s seizures grew closer together even though the Phenobarbitol dosage was increased. She had 5 seizures yesterday and 6 today. Calling in during the fourth, the neurologist said we should bring her in. In the emergency room she had another two the last one lasting around four and a half minutes. They leave her exhausted and, with this recent series, a new phenomenon is added. Right after the seizure, her left side acts as if it is numb. Only slowly does normal movement return to the left side. They loaded her with additional Phenobarbitol since it seems like the previous increase didn’t have much effect. She is staying in the hospital so they can observe if there are no more seizures and if there are, figure out what medication she should be switched to.
The encouraging noises they were making claimed that most people with seizures end up with a solution, a medication that virtually removes them from their lives. We have not yet (it turns out) found that medication for Ella. They warn you that during seizures there is a danger of the child turning blue for lack of air if his breathing is not regular. They don’t tell you that during her seizures you run that same risk yourself.