Tanya19, I just looked up an article on here about abdominal epilepsy. It is something that occurs in children and adolescents, most often in girls but in boys as well. I suggest looking it up in the resources section under ‘symptoms.’ Best wishes…

Tanya, it sounds like he’s having partial temporal lobe seizures (the absence, locking jaw, eye rolling and vacant stare). Also, the digestive issues may involve the vagus nerve (“gut-brain axis”), which is affected by seizure activity. (I have that problem, and my seizures are controlled at the moment). Of course they never happen when your son is actually having the EEG, and sometimes they can be so mild, the test doesn’t pick them up anyway. I went through years between my TBI and graduate school when I was having the very symptoms you’re talking about and the tests couldn’t pick them up, so I got no definitive diagnosis.

But we’ve come a long way since then, so the only thing I can emphasize is to press the neurologist, keep a journal about timing and type of events, what you/they observed of his behavior, and if he reported stomach discomfort at the time, or leading up to it. You can then show this to his neurologist at your next visit. When he has the absence events, and he has the vacant stare, or his eyes roll, ask him if he remembers anything afterward. (I say this because I used to sometimes be aware, just unable to respond or move, and I could remember it afterward.)

I hope that helps. Does your son see someone who specializes in adolescent epilepsy? It might be worth a call to the closest university medical center, to ask about doctors with this experience. It took an epileptologist from a local University to get mine under control. I wish you luck, and don’t lose heart. Your son needs you right now, so staying as upbeat as you can should help a lot! I hope he stays safe and as seizure free as possible in the coming days and weeks of summer. (Heat affects my activity!)

Hi thank you so much for replying he's see a neurologist but we've asked to see a new one as said migraines . Me and school are writing every down . Sometimes he remembers sometimes he doesn't it's vague . It's just so heartbreaking