Ok, I got a chance to read your updates. Not to get too personal on a public board, but what kind of Health Insurance do you have? Can you get second opinions, see a specialist, or does everything have to go through a PPO?
Bloodwork is all fine and well, and can rule out a bunch of things, but a Pediatric Neurologist will need to be consulted if Epilepsy is suspected. They'll need to do an MRI as well as some other tests, most of which (thank goodness) are done while the little one is sleeping.
Not to argue with anyone here, but these do not sound like Petite Mals, these sound like "Absence Seizures". What happens is that the child's brain has a "misfire" (a lot like a bad distributor cap on a car) and the electric impulses in the brain get routed incorrectly. The child will seem to "zone out", there will not be any convulsions per se, sometimes the child will drool a little, or a "tic" will develop. Muscle rigidity will also occur in most cases. These seizures can last anywhere from mere seconds to upwards of 15 minutes. My son's longest was 12.5 minutes, all the while with me screaming in his face in an attempt to call him back to alertness. (One of his first...freake
d me out!)
There are several different things that can increase the frequency of this occuring, sleep and diet being the main two. At Izzy's age, she needs a lot of sleep, and deprivation can make the seizures worse. Also diet can be a huge factor. She's at the age that you are probably introducing her to a more varied diet than she's had previously.
I would definately start leaning on your Pediatrician. Demand that he look further into the Seizure diagnosis. (after all, that's what you pay hiim for!) Also, in the meantime, you can perform your own sort of testing. Ensure that Izzy sleeps for at least the recommended times fir her age group. (Believe me, I remember what a fight it was to get my son to rest, I'm feeling your pain!) Also, try to observe and record what you're feeding Izzy. Document *everything*, this will help your Doctor(s) to accurately diagnose what's happening to your baby.
I'm sure you've already started to research, but here's a couple of places you might want to bookmark:
www.epilepsyfo undation.orgwww.epilepsy.c omhttp://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/brain_nervous/epilepsy.htmlI hope some of this will help.