How can you tell if a seizure is real?

My 10 year old foster daughter has had 3 documented (all requiring ER care) seizures in the past year. She acted like she was having one last night, and after looking at her I could tell that she was pretending. She and I talked about it today and she admitted to me that she has faked 2 of those "documented" seizures, but she wouldn't admit to faking the 3rd (which was two weeks ago). She also admitted to a time she tried to fake it, but it didn't work because she wasn't expecting me to ask her so many questions about how she was feeling. I question whether or not the seizure from 2 weeks ago was real, and wonder how I will be able to tell if she DOES have a real one from now on out. She has Petit mal seizures, so she appears tranced, but never convulses. She is diagnosed with "seizure disorder" because the neurologist can't figure them out. Now we maybe know why. Any ideas on how I can proceed without putting our Doc on the defense? Thanks.

You don't need to worry so much about your doctors feelings and might be surprised to learn that he won't be defensive about it at all. With any new patient it is a wait and see what develops with these kinds of disorders. It probably wouldn't have taken him long to figure it out on his own. Sounds like you foster daughter needs to see a doctor, just not the one you've been taking her to. Foster kids act out in any number of ways in response to their situations and getting the right kind of help for them can be difficult. If the doctor takes exception to being "fooled" then all of you will get over it and it is more important that you get the child into the proper treatment for her behavior. They sure can keep you on your toes, huh?

For 34 years, I was treated for a "seizure disorder," all the while having absolutely normal e.e.g.'s. Neither my parents nor my doctors questioned whether I was "faking" my seizures. As I got older and married, neither did my other docs nor my husband.

Has the doctor given your foster daughter an e.e.g.? If not, I'd be questioning WHY not. Considering the duration of an absence seizure (5-20 seconds), is it possible she was in a post-ictal state? My seizures started out as absence (petit mal) seizures, but they got progressively more severe as I grew into adulthood. I had brain surgery seven months ago today, and my seizures have completely stopped.

From my experience, seizures are not something that anyone with epilepsy would WANT to fake.