What to Make of the State of a Young Boy's Actions

[danjenkins]

My 8 year old son had a Wilms' Tumor removed 4 years ago and is now cancer free. He is exhibiting abnormal eye movements and stretches uncontrollably and pauses in between words when speaking. He tells me his eyes start to move up so he has to move his head down to see properly. He opens his eyes real wide very often during the day. When he is sitting he stretches to the point of looking like a contortionist. He doesn't sit still. This occurs all day. One time recently, he began moving his hand and uttering a sort of babbling. He seemed dazed and unaware of us trying to get his attention. He doesn't remember doing this. In fact, he doesn't know he opens his eyes real wide. He doesn't recognize he's doing it. He knows when he stretches but says he can't help it. He describes the stretching as a tool to keep his grip from weakening. If he doesn't stretch it feels like his hands and feet are "dangling." He is very smart, outgoing and happy. I'm wondering if the Vincristine or any of the other AVD drugs used in his Chemotherapy have anything to do with his behavior. His speech is a full idea chopped up and put back together with words stopped in mid speak and finished a split second after. He reads very well. His math is very good. He gets headaches about once a month that are so painful he falls asleep. He's getting checked out very soon. I just can't stand being in the dark for much longer. Any ideas on what may be happening to my son would be read with eager eyes.
-Dan

[Tootsie]

This sounds like some kind of neurological seizure. I am no expert and know very little about the types of epilepsy but you might post your inquiry on that board and see if anyone there can give you information.

Certainly you need to follow this up with the medical people to find an answer. It doesn't sound as if this interfere's with his cognitive abilities and that is a good sign.

There was a commentary on one of our TV news station recently that children treated for cancer in childhood sometimes have side effects that appear later in life. With all the new technology and especially the advances in diagnostic techniques, I don't think this is as worrisome as it would have been years ago.

I know that it sounds trite and perhaps a little cold, but try not to let your imagination run away with you. Wait until you know for sure if there is reason to worry. Cheerio.

[LIZARD]

Hey, Dan. :)

I'm with Tootsie all the way here. It does sound seizure-like. There are many types of szs, and they can occur in a conscious state.

How long has it been since he had followup? If it's been more than a year or two, you might call the nsg and ask for another MRI and a video EEG.

Good luck!

LIZARD, who's been there...:rolleyes:

[tandarat]

Some of what you describe, particularly the speech problems, are similar to what I experience during a partial seizure, or when I am going through an active lupus flare, which causes demyelination, high cranial pressure, and inflammation of the brain tissue itself. Coming from the "other end", the best I can describe what is happening is that the complete thought is there, but it gets "stuck" coming out in words. If I'm lucky, the words will "unstick" before I lose my train of thought, and I can go a few more before I get "stuck" again. Ummmm....you know how when you think, all the words flow together in one big amorphus "thought blob"....kind of like how you can speak faster than you can write longhand, or faster than you can type if you aren't a keyboard whiz? Sort of speech:writing, thoughts:speech. These episodes are incredibly frustrating, let me tell you. I sometimes describe the "sticks" as a "silent stutter"....but it is different (I stutter sometimes, too).

I also need to stretch my neck constantly or it feels like it is itching deep inside....during a flare it is constant. My eyes also tend to wander....they move side to side (not necessarily at the same time) rather than up, though....but my eyelids will spasm and droop with no control, sometimes. My limbs often jerk for no reason, as well. Though I often get confused, sometimes not even knowing where I am, really, I am always aware of what is going on. I've been told I have simple partial seizures...when your son seems "out of it", unaware of his surroundings, and doesn't remember doing things, he is probably having some kind of a complex partial seizure. Have you discussed this with his neurologist? An EEG could shed light on the origin of these problems.

I'm not a doctor, but from your description, your son's "episodes" sound like classic partial seizures.

Good luck...