J.C.
I can sympathize with you a great deal. My oldest son had his first febrille seizure at 18 months and was in the hospital for 4 days as well. The ER staff was clueless, which is what yours sounds like as well. They told me horrible things like that they did not know when he would come out of it and there may be permanent damage, that they couldn't do anything to get the fever down, and even talked down to me when I was asking questions and desperate, such as saying in a rude tone "what do you want us to do, stick him in an ice water bath, we don't do that anymore." They gave him a spinal tap and had me go into the chaplain's office to wait with no explanation. I sat there for about 2 seconds then went back out. There was no one even in there and they wanted me to sit there without telling me why. When my son's pediatrician arrived, it was like a whole new world. He checked my son out and told me the seizures were scary but harmless and he would outgrow them with no permanent damage. He answered my questions and made me feel so much better. I know ERs aren't known for their welcoming committees, but the way they treated me and talked to me while my baby was sick just disgusted me. I know how scary the seizures can be. My son was in his car seat while we were driving when he had his. We stopped the car and ran him up to the first house we saw and took him in. The family there helped and called 911 while he was laying on the floor seizing. He turned blue in the face and his little fingernails were blue. Then he threw up and it was over. It took hours for him to respond in the hospital and it was scary to watch him act so different. He had a few more seizures but not as severe and he was done with them before age 5. It is also alarming if they come with high fever as well. My son had over 106 when he got to the hospital, and it had come down from where it was at first. The pediatrician said for little kids like that the high fever is not near as worrisome as if it were in an adult. I can tell you I spent many sleepless nights monitoring fevers and timing the doses of motrin and tylenol. It never gets easier to go through, but after the first time and after getting proper information, it is not quite as bad to endure. I wish you and your grandaughter all the best and strength for handling these tough situations.