Migraine and Children
I have two children who get migraines, my 9 year old son and my 13 year old daughter. So far my 11 year old daughter has not shown any signs.
These migraines are very debilitating when they occur. Becuase of their ages they can only have ibuprofen and paracetemol – they are too young for Imigran (at least in NZ they are!), although my daughter has recently started on cafergot
Is there anyone else out there who has children with migraines, and how do you as a parent cope with the feelings of helplessness etc?
I would be very interested to hear from anyone
Hi
I have a 11 year old who has had migraines since he was 5. Lots of trips (& dollars!) to the specialist and no we didn’t get offered any pain relief other than ibuprofen. He was given multiple amounts of medicine to take every day to try and ‘control’the migraines. He used to get a ‘cluster’ of migraines every couple of months (for about a 2 weeks). His migraines intensified in numbers and pain level until he was having at least one a week from April last year. Finally managed to be sent to nerologist but still left in the ‘typical migraine sufferer’ box. Meds recommended were nortriptyline and Imigran. However the side effects we had to watch for were pretty horrendous. We had to take him slowly off the current meds before putting him on the new meds and low and behold the migraines have subsided in numbers and strenght with no meds. Currently on no meds except ibuprofen when he needs it. Major change and really pleased to be off the daily grind of remembering to have up to 5 pills a day! Our son is making sure he drinks lots of water every day and I think that also makes a big difference! Good luck – I’d be interested to hear how you get on!
Comment by Kate — March 9, 2007 @ 5:53 pm
Hi,
It is such a relief to find out that this is not uncommon in children! After a proper diagnosis in my teens, I realized I had experienced migraines since early childhood, but I was a little horrified when my five year old seemed to be experiencing her third one last night. I don’t want her to go through it all! But to know that there is nothing ‘wrong’ with her is such a relief. I am learning more about the condition now, since it’s not just me.
I am reading about medications with great interest. I am a great believer in ‘you are what you eat’ and this has been proven since a wheat/gluten/dairy free diet made a huge difference to the amount of stomach pains and lethargy she experienced. But out of the blue, another migraine. I don’t want either of us to rely on medication to manage this…
Comment by Nikki — June 27, 2007 @ 11:25 pm
My daughter is now 5, but at four developed devastating migraines. Actually she had status migrainus, which is when the migraine never goes away. She started with an occasional headache or stomacheche but quickly progressed to where over the counter medicines didn’t help. We live in the US, and were refered to a pediatric neurologist. She takes Depakote and topamax to control the number and severity. She is on a pretty good dose because she is one of the rare kids who suffers pretty severly. She also takes tylenol with codeine for the pain when needed. last year she would take phenergan for her nausea, but now it seems to be more of a pain in her stomache. We just had to increase her meds yesterday as she has been increasing the frequency that she’s been getting them. The chages in weather (and pressure) is one of her triggers. I have some real concerns about school next year and how she will function and be perceived. She can get pretty irritable and irrational when she gets a migraine and I just hope she gets a teacher that understands that that is the migraine and not my child’s normal behavior. I worry that she will be judged by these episodes. This is the first site I found where their are parents for children with migraines. This has been hard on our whole family. There are days when I get discouraged, but I hope that she grows up to where they are not so severe and we can decrease some of the medicine doses.
Comment by Lynn — June 28, 2007 @ 2:07 am
I would like to get in contact with any parent who is a “professional” when it comes to migraines. My 5 year old was just put on meds for them and will start in a few days since it will take our pharmacy a few days to get it. My daughter has had an MRI and blood work and everything is normal. Our Pediatrician contacted a childrens neurologist and he is the one whom suggested the medication. The migraines started a few months ago when we moved to a high elevation in Flagstaff AZ. There has been a lot going on with our family (move, new school, new baby) and so the Dr. has said they are stress induced migraines. We have altered her diet and sleep schedule but she was still having them up to 3x a week. Anyone get a diagnoses like this or something else? Reach me at crainium18@hotmail.com
Comment by Ashley — October 20, 2007 @ 1:07 pm
ABDOMINAL MIGRAINE
My daughter (now aged 10) was a cronic reflux baby from day one. Dairy, wheat, soy in my breast milk made her sick. Overall she seems to have grown out of this but over the last couple of years we have had episodes of illness, ie sore tummy, feeling sick, etc. We have been treating it as reflux and medicating on that basis, but today our GP suggested it could be abdominal migraine. I hadn’t even heard of this before and there is no evidence of migrane in our families. However, there is evidence of endometriosis and bi polar depression. Does this ring any bells with anyone out there as possible triggers? thank you.
Comment by Jenny — November 29, 2007 @ 12:53 pm
REBOUND – DCH
My daughter has had migraines since she was in 5th grade – both head and stomach migraines. She is now 17 and they have gotten to the point that she has a migraine nearly every day. Usually, she wakes up with them. She has missed so much school, and the medicines she is on seemingly do nothing but make her tired, which the neurologist says can add to migraine problems. We have been told it is from stress, although weather changes, cycle, hydration, diet, allergies, too much or too little sleep, etc. are all triggers. She is on Depakote 750 mg., and Paxil 40 mg. The neurologist just decided to wean her off Paxil and increase Depakote to 1000 mg. She also goes for biofeedback and counseling in an attempt to reduce stress (since August). Obviously, so far nothing – although biofeedback is supposed to be very helpful if kids practice it frequently at home.
According to the neurologist, there’s “no magic pill” to help migraine sufferers. I have had 3 severe ones in my life and will never forget them they hurt so bad. My daughter lives with them every day and the frustration and helplessness we as parents feel is devastating.
One last thing – if you are in the U.S., by law the school must accommodate these migraines as a disability if directed by a doctor. Go to your doctor if your child is missing too much school and ask them to write a letter to the school (and you hand carry it in) asking that a 504 plan be implemented for your child. This plan makes accommodations for your child, and is a medical excuse where they can miss more school than usually allowed by law and it will be excused. It also forces teachers to give the child more time to make up homework, take tests, leave class whenever necessary immediately to go to nurse, do things that will help de-stress the child’s life, or even (as in my daughter’s case) go into school later than the other students. (She will make up her first period class she is missing next semester last period). Every 504 plan is unique based on what would benefit each individual child the most. This 504 plan, once implemented, follows the child for life (even in college and the workforce as a disibility) and can be addressed and adjusted yearly or as needed. Of course, this is for the child who is absent so often that it affects their schoolwork. Amazingly, my daughter managed to end her first marking period with a B average (she’s a high school junior). This plan helps, but does not solve the problem.
Today, my daughter is home with the worse migraine she has ever had. The frequency and severity are getting worse – and I have no idea what to do.
Comment by Lou — December 1, 2007 @ 12:39 am
Hi Jenny
Abdominal Migraine is very common in children, unfortuantely it is not a condition that is commonly known among the general medical prefession and is often misdiagnosed, reflux being one. Please give me a call anytime to discuss.
Annette
Annette Hallam
National Director
NZ Migraine Support
09 4466229
Comment by annette — December 1, 2007 @ 8:12 am
Hi Lou,
Nearly all Migraine last between 1-72 hours. It sounds like your daughter has DCH (Daily Chronic Headache) or Rebound Headache- caused by medication overuse. There are support groups in the USA refer:-
World Headache Alliance http://www.w-h-a.org this is a great site for anyone researching support for Migraineurs
Annette
Annette Hallam
National Director
New Zealand Migraine Support
Comment by annette — December 1, 2007 @ 8:26 am
Hi All
I have had migraines on and off since hitting puberty, they are now, a once a month occurance with my period. This all started after the birth of my second child, after trying lots of natural and prescribed remedies, I now take cafergot with marzine. I noticed in one of the emails a parent said her child has been prescribed cafergot, I just wanted to mention that you need to be careful with regard to rebound migraine when taking cafergot. If I take too much cafergot I get the shakes, if I don’t take enough the migraine comes back two days later. It’s trial and error! I don’t take them in the evening as I can’t sleep, I wait till early morning, otherwise I am very grumpy. Best of luck to you all.
Comment by Glenda — December 6, 2007 @ 11:25 am
Wow…I havent’ been on this site before, but I am amazed at the similarities to our family. Our daughter had reflux as a baby and since the day she could speak complained of sore tummies and headaches. She has had every test possible to be sure of no serious illness. Most doctors we went to told us it was all psychological, but we knew this was not the case. In desperation we went to a naturopath, after which we put her on a severely restricted diet for 2 years. Finally last year we insisted on seeing a specialist. He is great!! After ruling out any serious health problems he has diagnosed her with abdominal migraines. Seven months ago she was put on imipramine 10 mg per day. This has helped a bit. Instead of constant pain, she now rarely has a few pain free days. We just got back from a follow up visit where the doctor suggested increasing the dosage to 20 mg per day. Like others, we have struggled as a family with this and the only thing that has kept us afloat is our faith in God. Many prayers have been answered, although I always figured at some point when we found out what she ‘had’, she would be pain free. I realize now that is unrealistic, and our goal now is to get her at a relatively normal functioning level. It is so helpful to realize that we have others around the world who understand what it is like. Hang in there, everyone.
Comment by Cindy — January 13, 2008 @ 8:25 am
My 4 yr. old son has suffered migraine attacks since birth. He was first diagnosed at 5 1/2 mths. with benign paroxysmall torticolis in infancy. (migraine variant, we saw 4 dr.s before one actually listened to our concenrs of unsual health problems). At about 2 this condition progressed to regular migraine and cluster headaches with the symptom of torticollis going away. He suffered delays across the board- crawling, walking and talking. He is very bright however now he seems to experience depression and behavior problems in pre-school. We just went through a horrible event last week at school- he randomly attacked 2 children. The kids are fine but there parents are shook up. My husband and I have been questioned about our home life and why would our son suddenly lash out so violently. The oncoming symptoms of migraine tend to be suttle and hard to recognize until he is throwing up and unable to walk or talk. Behavior as I mentioned earlier seems to be our only clue of pending migraine. We are also dealing with alot of disbelief from other parents…coments such as, “How could a baby be diagnosed with migraines” We patiently explain that our son’s diagnosis was based on symptoms. We are considering medication again for our son (he previously was taking cyproheptadine, which has a weight gain effect) but the side effects of the offered medications scare us (our neurologist wants us to try amitriptilyne). Any helpful thoughts on new medicatin/treatments and how do we deal with the other pre-school parents negative thoughts on our wonderful kind loving family?
Comment by Tresa — February 25, 2008 @ 1:27 pm
I am so glad that I ran across this website. My daughter just turned 7. She is now on her third medicine to try to control her migraines. She is scheduled to see a nuerologist next month. They are in short supply in these parts. I am to the point of tears in trying to figure out how to help her. The last med they put her on is too large for her to swallow, so she had a hard time with it. Now we have to come up with something else. She complains everyday with headaches. They get so bad she cries and have gotten bad enough to make her sick to her stomach. It breaks my heart to see her go through this. It is a relief to know that it isn’t as rare as what I thought it was.
Comment by terresa — February 25, 2008 @ 2:59 pm
Hello! We have a 5 year old little boy who started having headaches back in September. He has a history of chronic sinusitis….one surgery when he was 2 1/2 and another when he was 4 to clean out his sinuses and make the passage ways larger. These headaches started 6 months after the second surgery. The doctors are starting to think that they are migraine related. He will go a month without a headache and then have 3-5 headaches a day for 1-2 weeks. They start him on antibiotics and they seem to go away, but we are not sure if it is the antibiotics or just the headaches finishing their course. His congestion/cough does clear up with the antibiotics…..congestion is always present with headaches. We went back to the allergist who really seemed to think that they were migraines….have an appt with the pediatric neurologist at the end of May. The ENT won’t see us until we do another CT, but we really do not want to do another CT at this point due to radiation….it would be his 4th one and again, he is only 5. His headaches only last about 5-25 min which according to our pedi, is not typical of a migraine. But we are not sure if he is having headaches longer and just telling us when they peak. And he is too young for cluster headaches….which is what they sound like to me. He is in kindergarten and is having to go to the nurse 2-3 times a day to lay down until they go away. I am so proud of him for handling this like such a big boy, but he should not have to suffer like this….very frustrating that the doc can’t pinpoint what is going on. We had a CT done in Sept that did show chronic sinusitis and an MRI done in February….came back normal did show thickening of the sinuses. But again, general consensus of the docs that we have seen is that it is migraine related. Looking at putting him on Topomax…..I am really uneasy about this. Prednisone does seem to help the headaches (he had a sinus infection that settled in his lungs….headaches disappeared after 2 doses of pred.) Any information from anyone would be so greatly appreciated. As a Mom, it is just so hard to not be able to make it better….God bless!
Comment by Michele — March 5, 2008 @ 5:49 am
DEAR MUMS,
It is with sadness that I read your letters. As a Migraineur for 54yrs I relate to everything you are saying. As I child there was no help or support available for me.
There is no cure for Migraine but they can be managed. As a Mother we want to stop the pain.
The website is wonderful in some ways to get a point accross but it is not the same as the personal touch. So many people put up posts but when asked to contact me don’t. I am not sure why, it is something that the Trustees and I often discuss. Is there a stigma to asking for help?
I don’t have a miracle cure but I do have 54 years experience as a Migraineur and 14 as the National Director of Migraine Support, talking to many many sufferers over the years.
So please call Annette
National Director
NZMSSG
09 4466229
Comment by annette — March 5, 2008 @ 10:48 am
My fifteen year old son has missed nearly half of his freshman year due to migraines. I am trying to get a 504 plan nin place for him, however, the 504 team is in a quandry about this since accommodations are usually written that apply when the child is in school. Has anyone successfully gotten a 504 plan in place for their child despite frequent absences preventing school attendance?
Comment by Carolyn Kelley — March 26, 2008 @ 5:25 am
Hi there,
I’m 14 and I just had my first migraine 2 days ago. It lasted for 5 days, and for those of you who are looking for some temporary relief of the pain, I would recommend:
2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar (from supermarkets)
3 or 4 tablespoons of honey
1 glass of warm water
Mix this together and drink it in the mornings. After and hour, it should help with the blood flow, expecially in the vessels near your neck and head, and give you temporary relief of pain.
This method is completely natural and shouldn’t have any side effects
Best of luck to all,
Matt
Comment by Matt — March 29, 2008 @ 12:58 am
Hi,
I have a 5-year old daughter. I am starting to think she is having migraines (like me). 2½ years ago she started having some behavior issues at daycare. We believe this behaviour was because of so many changes at once (daddy in Iraq, moving, new baby). Pre-K came in…fine for a while, then acting irrational for weeks at the time..then calm again. She did not change at daycare. We tooked her out of daycare. She is going to a karate program after school. Same behaviour issues on Kindergarden. We, as parents, have been asked constantly what had changed in the house for her to act like that. Suspensions from school for bad behaviour. We took her to a psicologyst. She said there was nothing wrog with my daugther. Today and yesterday she was having bahaviour issues at karate school (let’s say, it’s the first time, in comparison to the school)…she complained yesterday of a headache…today also..since I know how cranky I can get with one of those I asked her to show me where it hurts: just on 1 side…she didi not eat, but kept crying…gave her some tylenol and send her to bed. I am starting to believe that those irrational, irritable days at school come from a migraine…I know there is no cure, I just want to be able to manage her migraines (like I am trying to manage mines) so she can keep going to school and avoid suspensions and make her feel better.
Thanks.
Comment by Me — April 2, 2008 @ 2:52 pm
I have an 11yr old son, who just recently began suffering from severe headaches, dizziness, and sometimes vision loss/blurriness. He also has been experiencing abdominal pain as well. THe abdonimal pain has not been diagnosed as of yet. He’s had MRI”s of his brain, and all tests, including blood have been, thankfully normal. THe neurologist thinks it is just migraines. It does run in our family, as I suffer from them, and have since 9 years old. I”m wondering if the stomach pain is realated, since it came at the same time as the headaches? He’s missed 4 straight weeks of school due to the dizziness and head pain, and all the testing appointments. I’m wondering if he’ll quailfy for a 504? He’s already a special ed student with an IEP plan in place, however he’s missing so much school, and given the “new dx.” of migraine, I’m sure he’ll be missing more in the future. If anyone knows info. on a 504 plan for migraine dx. it would be great! Thanks!
Comment by Barbara Paci — April 18, 2008 @ 5:33 am
Hi my name is simone and i am 20 years old. ihave been suffering from migraines since i was around 10. this condition has been extremely frustrating . not many people understand whaT they actually are . However i found something close to a cure (well for me anyway) after being on tones of drugs that just made me sleepy i finally found something natural to control my migraines . MAGNEIZIUM a simple mineral that you can buy from the suppermarket or chemist. i was reading the box one day for a reason other than migraines and it said = for migraine control take 3 pills in the morning and 3 at night .so i did -it was worth a try -
I still do get migraines however they have gone from occuring a couple of times a month to about 1 every 3 or 4 months
now when i get then they last 1or 2 hours instead of 6 like they used to.
i no llonger vomit my eyes still do go funny but i can now just go to bed and sleep for an hour and then its gone.
THIS IS DEFINATELY WORTH A TRY!!!!
Comment by simone — July 1, 2008 @ 4:53 pm
Hi there
I have two children, one who has already been diagnosed by a specialist with migraine (11 year old son). I am really concerned that my little girl of 4 is now experiencing abdominal migraine. For the last 4 weeks she has been complaining of stomach pain, and it’s been really bad the last 24 hours, with now also vomiting.
We have already seen a specialist, but currently she is being treated for reflux with Losec (my son also suffers from Reflux and reflux related asthma). She has now been on the Losec for more than a week, with no difference in her symptoms. I feel really lost, because as everyone who has posted on here I just want my child to be pain free. Is there anyone here that can relate to the reflux and migraine connection/confusion?
Comment by Tania — August 10, 2008 @ 8:21 pm
My youngest daughter(who is 13) is experiencing migraine headaches. She has been having them for about a year now but the one which started thursday has lasted on and off. It started Thursday, she was fine Friday and Saturday and had a really bad one yesterday… It worries me so much when she gets one but after reading the postings I see I am not alone. I have another daughter and son and after reading this I believe my oldest suffered from the stomach magraines I thought maybe she was trying to get out of going to school because she had this stomach aches almost every couple of days. My son has magraines but they are six months in between…He is 18 and hasnt one in about 6 months…
Comment by Hi Everyone — August 26, 2008 @ 12:55 am
Hi those of you who have suffered with chronic headaches,
My son who is 13 now, has had migraines since he was 10. 2 years ago they transformed into 24 hours per day, every day. I can’t tell you how difficult it has been. My adorable, loving, happy child has lost 3 years of his life and we don’t know if he will ever get better. He has given up all his sports, lost 90% of school, and most of his friends/activities. He has been in the hospital several times for a week and has been on so many meds. Nothing gives him relief. We also have tried dozens of natural and environmental remedies.
We currently have a well respected specialist for difficult migraines, but no luck so far. Sometimes it is very difficult that people don’t understand. I could write for days, but I won’t.
Sincerely,
Terri H.
Comment by Terri — September 13, 2008 @ 2:26 pm
I have a 10yo daughter who has been diagnosed with migraines. I am trying to get a 504 plan also and having no luck. I really would like assistance with any input that anyone has regarding this. She has seen a ped. neurologist and is on daily meds to prevent them but she had one just a couple of days ago.
Please help me find someone who can help me with this!
Nancy
Comment by Nancy — September 18, 2008 @ 12:08 pm
Hello all, i am a migraine suffer, i have tried loads of blockers pain relief meds etc for the past 20 years, i started getting my attacks at age of 7. now im not saying this is the best thing but i no what works for me and it is voltaren(Diclofenac)if i have left it to late in taking them stomach wont process anything as it shuts down and that goes for any pain relief. so i go to the hospital down the road and the give me a injection of volteran , and within hour its gone. i have had that Imigran self injection and even in pill formation, now anyone giving that to their kidd need to try it for them self . it is nasty. i refuse to take it even when a doctor is saying he wants to give it to me. that is such an intense drug it used to take me at least an hour to try and get grips of it . it made me sick and actuall made my head ach worse. i cant state this enough that this is what happens to me and every person is different. my signs are , i loose my speach, my eyes get affected my the sun , am always wearing sun glasses, i get most headaches early morning or i wake up with them, i yawn alot, i get a dull pain in behind my left eye, and my left side of my face goes bit dropy. ive had all the scans etc and got put n the to hard basket like most. but if my tempoary cure can help me perhaps it may help others .
i find the disolving pills works better, as your stomach doesnt have to work as much and the are faster acting. at the moment i have a friend who is into herbs and is planting me some natural stuff to try . will keep you posted. any questions you want to ak . andrea.kerr@xtra.co.nz
please dont for get im not a doctor.
Comment by andrea kerr — September 24, 2008 @ 12:33 am
Hi
My son is now nearly 13 and has been having migraines for some time. Last year they became so severe he was having 3 a week. They involved 12 to 14 hours of head pain and vomiting and were immune to Voltaren and Stemetil injections. Out of desperation we decided to try an alternative route and contacted a hypnotherapist through the Hypnotherapy association in NZ. He is also a psychologist. My son has had about six sessions over a six month period up to the end of last year, and we noticed a difference immediately in both the frequency and severity of the migraines. He has not been back to the Hypnotherapist since, but has been to a Neurologist for all the usual tests and is neurologically sound. WE discused the hypnotherapy and she became quite excited and has been very supportive of it. She finished her training in the US and said any alternative regime which helps with a chronic condition especially for children is great! We have Imigram here but do not want to use it – and do rely on Ibuprofen being given at the start of what can seem like a headache. At this stage my boy still gets very tired and also can be more vulnerable to migraine type effects if he is getting a virus, but we are so pleased with the results of this treatment for the benefits for his quality of life and also his ability to self manage them and his reaction to them. My son has to be aware of his sleep hygiene and his diet a little more and he still needs at times to take himself off for a snooze (At four pm after school or in the middle of the day) but this is preferable to the crushing weight of Migraine symptoms. He may need to snooze for a half an hour or a few hours, but we leave him to it and he wakes feeling fine. We are also using magnesium and B6 supplements (Neurologist recommended) as these can be deficient in the diet with Migraine sufferers. Another one is the fish oil which we feel helps. As well we have some very good Homeopathic remedies and my son had a go at Acupuncture for the first time the other day – but is not too sure about that yet. There is a combination possibly out there of good alternatives and the way I see it any improvement is a wonderful thing. I am very happy with the results we are having and no heavy drugs.
Comment by Gevaise — September 29, 2008 @ 2:35 pm
Hi
Just noticed in Glenda’s Posting that she gets migraines as part of her PMT and this is also where the Magnesium supplement can help (I get them too) It also relieves the other PMT symptoms and in my case eliminates the headaches altogether at this time. You may also need to take Boron with it as well as B6. The Boron I think, stops your body excreting the Magnesium too quickly.
Cheers!
Comment by Gevaise — September 29, 2008 @ 2:57 pm
Hi there,
Both sides of my parents families, my parents, my 2 sisters & I & my two sons 21 & 17 all suffer various degrees of miagraines. My eldest son startd at puberty with the classic symptons of aura, paralysis etc… Family doc put him on sandimigran, definately helpd with the severity of symptons, when he was about 17 he took himself off them, touch wood no more headaches. My youngest son gets stomach miagraines, alot of people dont quite understand about miagraines in the tummy. His schooling suffered as did everyday life. Again doc put him on sandimigran. He is still on it but still suffering. Poor guy has just started work & bang come down with 2 in 4 days much to his bosses dismay! I find when he worries about something this can trigger an attack, so we try & discuss any probs he may have, bit hard with a teenager! Will definately try some of the above suggestions re pain relief. Thanx everyone & goodluck!
Comment by Denise — November 7, 2008 @ 8:36 am
Hi there,
I have just been told by our doctor that my 6 year son is suffering from migraines. He has had bad headaches for about 8 months now. He started by having one or two a week and then increased to one a day nearly over the last month. I am new to all of this and would appreciate any advice on the subject.
He has quite bad mood swings and bad behavior, which I have now noticed coincide with many of his migraines. He has a healthy diet and always drinks plenty of water and gets enough sleep. He is a very energetic boy almost to the point of being hyperactive at times.It has not been a problem at school, however he seems to have trouble with the neighborhood kids..because of his moods and bad behavior.
He is on medication for the migraines, which doesn’t seem to do a great deal..am looking into alternatives, however, if anyone has any suggestions on how to deal with the moods and behavior problems or has had similar experiences with these, I would love to hear from you.
y2000_kate@hotmail.com
Thank you
Comment by Katharine — December 29, 2008 @ 12:17 pm
We are having problems with the theatre teacher not follwoing the 504 plan and getting us information to give our daughter a grade and is now not permitting her from being in technical theatre. She had been on Depakote but it made her loopy and depressed. she was then put on topamax with the symptom being worse and more school missed she has been on a 504 plan for two years and is a Junior in high school. some grades given were incorrect and we are still fighting to get them corrected. We have a meeting with the 11th grade counselor and the assistant prncipal over student instruction on wednesday. Our daughter is now off topamax, is on bolld pressure meds along with ortho tricyclene lo(to get her periods under control and hopefully some of the migraines) She has migraines
Comment by Pam — January 4, 2009 @ 5:04 am
We are having problems with the theatre teacher not follwoing the 504 plan and getting us information to give our daughter a grade and is now not permitting her from being in technical theatre. She had been on Depakote but it made her loopy and depressed. she was then put on topamax with the symptom being worse and more school missed she has been on a 504 plan for two years and is a Junior in high school. some grades given were incorrect and we are still fighting to get them corrected. We have a meeting with the 11th grade counselor and the assistant prncipal over student instruction on wednesday. Our daughter is now off topamax, is on blood pressure meds along with ortho tricyclene lo(to get her periods under control and hopefully some of the migraines), imitrex 100 with naproimesodium , emerge and Elavil. She has migraines without aura, tension migraines, and hormonal migraines as the doector at the Diamond headach institute in Chicago states.This is something the schools and people do not understand. The kids want to go to school but their bodies will not let them. She and we are sick of the lack of understanding of this disease. I and two of my three sisters have suffered from migraines our entire lives, but our daughter is by far the worse. We are cutting out anything that may have additives, she is going into school later beginning bio-feedback and has a homebound instructor that helps when she can. Our problem is with the technical theatre teacher sating she must participate to get a grade. She has missed working on other classes to be there for productions and been in pain being there for mandatory work sessions, volunteered when other “techs” did not, has earned a lot of money thru fund raisers for teh theatre dept. and we and the homebound instructor get nothing from this teacher. WE are pressing forward with our questions to the school and then it will be to the school board and then the statte educational system then federal if it gets to that.
Comment by Pam — January 4, 2009 @ 5:12 am
Hi
I was just reading your post Kate and wanted to recommend you look into the supplementary Fish Oil (Omega Oil) for the mood swings and also it has been suggested as an aid for children with ADHD. Also again the Magnesium (Yes I do go on about this) is brilliant. This reduces anxiety and promotes quality sleep. A note too is that Magnesium is excreted from the body a lot especially when we drink a lot – of water or whatever… This is really effective and can also help with the mood swings. Look on the net and you will find a lot of info and studies for both of these which show how effective they can be. Magnesium and fish oils help with neurological conditions. Fish Oils have been shown to have in some cases a dramatic “calming” effect for some children.
One more thought Kate… but you said your little guy is Ok at school but different with neighbours kids..? Perhaps it might help to structure the time and environment with them… maybe he is a bit stressed and unsure how to manage situations without the “Rules” of school. We found that our guy needed to have some support with dealing with other kids and needed to have us keeping limits and boundaries so he felt secure. I have had years of the local kids in and out of my house and it took me a while, but I learned I had to make sure that the rules were clear, and one other really important thing was to watch out for when he was getting overloaded or overwhelmed. This can help a lot. Maybe talk with him too about his “grumpy” feelings as he is likely to know when he is starting to get them… and he will be able to let you know he needs time out.
Hope this helps.
Cheers
Gervaise
Comment by Gervaise — January 8, 2009 @ 8:39 am
Migraine is not uncommon in children. It is correct. My general practioner’s son gets migraine after eating certain foods and they had to eliminate these foods from his diet. I have babysit a little girl who has the same problem and eliminating the foods from her diet helped her significantly. However, this will not be the case for everyone. I have had migraines for nine years and food triggers were never a factor in my migraines. You may ask your physican if s/he feels that foods are at all related to your child’s head pain. For me we went through 70+ medications to find the right one as my migraines were so severe it required a daily treatment since imigram was not enough. I am on Topamax or topirimate daily and it keeps me from having daily bouts of migraine. I had chronic daily migraine or transformed complex migraine. It is used mostly in the US and UK, not so much in New Zealand I don’t think so I would not have found out about it if I had not been living abroad?
http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/triggers-29502-5.html
http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/news-269270-98.html
This one is about school & migraine:
http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/123/38382/migraine-headache
Comment by amanda — January 14, 2009 @ 1:18 pm
i have a 9yr old daughter and they have put her on imigran as a last result for pain relief, it causes her to have a fast heart beat feeling faint and a tingly nose, i didnt like it so she wont be having that again, i also just dont no what to do am lost as i feel hopeless to her.
Comment by emma — February 7, 2009 @ 3:43 pm
Dear Emma,
I started Imigram in my late teens. I felt miserable like your daughter, but as I was older at least I did understand a bit more of what was going on, didn’t make it all better. Is she having frequent episodes all the time more than 15+ days per month? If so has the doctor looked into a preventive treatment? I think there might be other options to talk to your doctor about. If you are in Auckland I have learned of a clinic that I think may be the only true migraine clinic in New Zealand. I have not been there yet, but may be trying it out soon. Have you looked at some child-specific resources? I know it is a silly question, but I will list some in case you have not had the opportunity:
http://www.migrainetrust.org/C2B/document_tree/ViewACategory.asp?CategoryID=25
http://www.migraine4kids.org.uk/action.htm
I had relentless migraine for a bit over nine years and did not believe that there was hope in sight until I started on the preventive Topamax. It is working very well for me. A little girl I work with has migraine episodes induced by lack of sleep and exposure to dairy products. Also a diary — I know you have probably heard it, but have you recorded what you noticed before, during and after the attacks? Migraine 4 Kids is a great site.
Comment by Amanda — February 12, 2009 @ 5:10 pm
http://headaches.about.com/od/workingwithyourdoctors/a/kids_trt_gdlns.htm
Emma this is also a good resource — overall migraine in children is “understudied” per this author. You may find it helpful. My friend’s daughter did well with biofeedback as well as trying to avoid her triggers: dairy and sleep disturbance.
Amanda – Best Wishes
(www.mymigraine.info)
Comment by Amanda — February 12, 2009 @ 5:15 pm
http://www.relieve-migraine-headache.com/childmigraines.html
Comment by Amanda — February 12, 2009 @ 5:22 pm
http://kidshealth.org/kid/feel_better/index.html
Comment by Amanda — February 12, 2009 @ 5:54 pm
Amanda – as a 19 year old migraine sufferer I have tried everything under the sun and my next step looks to be drastic
Did you get a hold of or have any details for the migraine clinic that may be in Auckland? Or anyone else recommend any specailised doctors to see? I am in Chch but have had enough of them so willing to travel to get help!
Thanks!
Comment by Courtz — March 9, 2009 @ 5:07 pm
My whole family used to get migraines until we all went on a low sodium diet. My kids had high blood pressure and the docs thought it was causing the headaches.
Comment by migraine dad — March 11, 2009 @ 8:37 am
Has anyone tried chiropractic for their migraines? Our daughter had horrible migraines from quite a young age. Under the suggestion of a friend we went to see a chiropractor where we live in Albany. My daughter has had great results and is no longer on any medications.
To keep her migraine free we do have to keep an eye on her diet and make sure she gets plenty of sleep. We also make regular trips to the chiropractor to make sure everything is alright but we don’t mind since it is better than the side effects of the meds she was on
Good luck all!
Comment by Polly — March 30, 2009 @ 11:58 am
Hello. I have suffered from migraines from the age of 8, I turned 50 last week. I have been on all kinds of medication over the years, the last being Topamax, which didn’t work either. And the side effects were not nice. The migraines have gotten worse and worse over the years, not even the total hysterectomy helped me. (I had polycystic ovaries).
5 months ago I went to a new chiropractor in my area who is also a kinesiologist. He discovered that I was allergic to all grains, all Dairy products, rice, potatoes, sugar, and soy products. I have changed my diet to exclude all of these things and have never felt so well. I only get a migraine now when I eat something I shouldn’t, or something that is hidden in with other foods. You might want to look at your childrens diet as this could save them years and years of terrible pain. Sometimes if I try to sneak rice or potato into my diet I get a migraine 2 hours later, so I know these things are true. Hope you find your way, and I hope this helps. Regards Bev.
Comment by Beverley Gilbert — May 23, 2009 @ 10:37 pm
hi i am 13 and i have just had a migrain that made me throw up and not be able to sleep. it continued into the morning and its on and off. my nana has cluster headachs and im wondering if i should be on meds. usa
Comment by quinton — May 27, 2009 @ 6:05 am
HI all. I am going to buck the trend here and post this from a non migraine sufferer but from a husband and father of sufferers. My wife has suffered severe migraines since before our first child. During pregnancy (have two children) migraines stopped and it wasn’t until our youngest son was 3 or 4 the migraines returned. He is now 14 and has had the odd headache only. Our daughter, obviously the oldest now 18 has suffered severe migraines during high school and these became more often during the last two years of school.
My wife had a hysterectomy (leaving the ovaries) due to health reasons, family history and heavy periods about two years after the youngest was born. Migraines were few and far apart at the start but have increased over that time to having a constant headache and a severe migraine every week lasting 1 day or days. Her migraines are located mainly around the eyes and comments like someone is poking a hot poker into her eyes are common. The eyes are the starting point normally and progresses from there. She has tried all the preventatives and they either help to some extend or don’t at all but all have side affects and she suffers from all of these and are often as life deliberating as the migraine. Currently finds Cafagot helps most times, has used Imigran but doesn’t like the side affects but does still use it as an alternative. Also has a self Imigran injestion kit. When this fails we are lucky to have an understanding doctor who injects 200mml of Pathadine with either Voltarine or Phenagon. It is always a last resort to go to the doctor and this can happen twice in one week and once out of the cluster might be a month or two before it get to this stage again. Once the cluster was so bad and the above doctor drugs didn’t work a trip to A&E for two nights was required.
She was constantly wearing dark glasses both inside and out until she got Botox injections around her forehead. This has made a big impact on migraines and even though still get migraines has limited the number and improved life. She is now on the public system and gets Botox every 3 months (thankfully as it was costing the earth).
My daughter also has similar migraines starting around the eyes and would be lucky to have a full week at school. I put some of this down to the bright lights within the classrooms. Since leaving school has not suffered as many migraines but she is also on Botox and a low dose of antibiotics for possible sinus issues. A doctor also suggested a sinus problem could also be contributing to the migraines.
Over the years I have seen how migraines affect people, how some doctors just don’t understand and others do there best. At the end of the day there is no quick answer.
Good luck
Comment by Chris — June 6, 2009 @ 3:19 pm
My husband has suffered from migraines since his teens, but now my 4 yr old son seems to be having them. He generally feels unwell, sore head, sore tummy, shakes etc. Then goes all floppy and “passes out” and sleeps for a bit. Then wakes up, throws up and then seems to be normal again! Its the same pattern each time, usually every few months, sometimes more, sometimes not for ages, since he was about 2yrs old. We have been told he was everything from Austic to severe anxiety, but the more time goes on the more I feel migraines are there. Esp now he can TELL me his head hurts. We use pamol, but this just makes him throw up. I am dreading (from a totally selfish non suffer point of view) watching him suffer like his dad, and spending hours and hours in darken medical centre rooms, or paying hundreds of dollars for jabs and meds. Which is nothing compared to his pain and seeing him IN pain. But, seeing your comments helps, there is help for him out there, thank you!
Comment by Fay Kennedy — June 22, 2009 @ 6:33 pm
Imigran is the only medication that works for me. If severe Imigran injections are given at hospital, although my migraine is resolved with the tablet.
“Dairy products may play a major role in the development
of… migraine headaches.”
http://www.notmilk.com/
Comment by Melanie — November 21, 2009 @ 6:07 pm
Hey.
I’m 15 and I suffer migraines occasionally(maybe once a month, I have no idea what causes them). A few times at school which really sucked after I was sent back to class by the nurse, when I returned, I vomited all over her floor, I think she believed me that time……
Anyway, I’ve noticed that Panadol doesn’t work for me, and am going to try Nurofen+ next time, which should be soon
It seems to be genetic also, as my Dad gets them too, and we seem to have the same symptoms, blurry vision, bright lights(always left eye, strange) and an inability to concentrate on anything. I read up somewhere that someones kid feels better after vomiting, which I found to be the case with me once, but I am not sure if it’s always. Really I am just experimenting, which seems kind of horrible.
Comment by Someone — November 23, 2009 @ 5:52 pm
Hi All,
My 6yr old son has been suffering from stomach migraines since he was 3yrs old which occur every 4-6 weeks and will continue in a 4 week block with one migraine a week after the first one for 1-2 or up to 4 days … then a break for a month and off we go again.
It will start off with tummy pains with a high temp, then head into being tired and sleeping for hours, not eating, cramping … feels dizzy and the light hurts his eys, then is sick and his temp drops(feels hot but is cold) below normal levels which is weird then vomits for 1-12 hours, he always feels better after being sick but not 100%.
We have tried every medication and nothing seems to work, we went to see a homeopathic doctor as a last resort who ran some tests and found msg was a cause, we took this out of his diet which helped but they then returned.
I am at a loss what to do or if there are any specialist doctors in the Auckland area or just someone who may be able to help manage the migraines
Does anyone have any suggestions please?
Comment by Kylie — December 3, 2009 @ 10:48 am
My daughter bumped her head on a wall in an indoor gym when playing soccer (march) by June we had freq. headaches, then one day a full blown migraine, crying in pain and vomiting for about two hours or so. We tried the motrin, then the preventative meds twice a day, still got them. Decided to try a chiropractor. took our xrays to her and she could tell how she fell before i could fully explain it to her. We started out several times a week for a while and then once a week for several months, then just once in a while. headaches got fewer and fewer. Not clear gone but so much less that this year in school it is Dec. 15 and we just missed our first day of school for a migraine this year. Almost an entire semester without missing school! I don’t think she will ever be completely free of migraines, but going from ever few days or weeks to only a few each year and sometimes only one or two a year is wonderful. Now after four years my daughter seems to know when she needs chiropractic care. She will ask me for an appointment and if I don’t get it within a week she will get a headache. I have my daughters chiropractor on speed dial on my phone. Last time we were there we had to do a whole new referral because we had been headache free for so long that we didn’t need to go. They are very wonderful too, with getting her in quick when i call because they know her condition. She was 5 when this started and now she is 9. I was a migraine sufferer( still at times) starting in adolecent yrs. Familial tendency to migraines can be triggered by incidents such as the bump on the head. I am worried she will get the hormonal migraines too so we will be watching her closely since she is so close to puberty. We did have the MRI with contrast and everything is normal, hate to go on any other meds again because all drugs have side effects and the less drugs the better especially for a child. We only take motrin now when we have to and seasonal allergy meds when needed. did hear about brain wave training but have not been able to find out anything concrete other than it involves playing music in certain waves to affect the brain and its reactions to pain and painless situations. Good luck to all of you, you and your children are in my prayers. We’ve been there and are there so we understand your ‘pain’.
Comment by Christina — December 16, 2009 @ 7:51 am
I have been researching migraines effecting children, and am thinking about doing a trial study in my own office about the subject.
Based on my previous knowledge and experience chiropractic care can be very effective with migraine headaches. Correcting a structural issue of a child’s spine can have positive effects as the brain and spinal cord can function and communicate efficiently.
Diet is an obvious one people have a tendency to think of, but often times do not act on, as it is inconvenient. I would cut out all chemical sweeteners, gluten, and go as organic as I could.
With a son and another on the way, I fear terrible for families who are suffering with their children.
Best of luck,
GG
Comment by Graeme Gibson, D.C., Seattle Chiropractor — February 24, 2010 @ 9:19 pm
My son, 11 1/2 has been through the hospital system, and nothing untoward was found. Last week I took him from an eye test, and that was all perfect. I am off to see the chiropractor with him next week, to see if that can give him any relief.
Comment by Sheryl — March 5, 2010 @ 4:13 pm
i have been suffering from sinusitis for so many years and i can only relieve the stuffiness of the nose by means of decongestants.”";
Comment by Nathan Rodriguez — May 4, 2010 @ 4:50 am
i have been suffering from sinusitis for so many years and i can only relieve the stuffiness of the nose by means of decongestants.`.:
Comment by Hollie Powell — May 6, 2010 @ 5:02 pm
Migraine is a deadly disease and affects 1 out of every 20th person however there are few natural remedies which help in curing migraine like
1.Applying a cold pack in the forehead region, this helps in circulation of blood back to the veins.
2.Applying a poultice of mehendi/henna paste helps a lot in controlling migraine.
3.Cinnamon powder when applied once in a day or taken atleast 4 times in a day with cold water helps in bringing migraine to control.
4.Ginger intake helps in controlling Migraine and even nausea, vomiting completely. However please take caution, we do not suggest intake of Ginger to pregnant women.
5.Cardamom powder, Ginger powder, Black pepper, Holy basil (Tulsi) leaves when mixed and taken as a concoction is an instantaneous cure to migraine.
6.When migraine attack starts, please try taking some rest in a cool dark place, without bright sunlight penetration.
7.Green leafy vegetables like carrots, spinaches helps a lot in minimizing migraine.
8.Eat a smart diet in the night, and have a spoon of triphala when sleeping at night, this makes the body active and fit.
9.A mixture of coconut and clove oil massage to the head is highly beneficial and recommended in bringing down migraine levels.
10.Never keep your stomach empty, and try keeping your body hydrated always.
11.A glass of lemon juice daily morning on an empty stomach helps as it is rich in vitamin C is highly recommended.
12.Apply 3 – 4 drops of raw lemon juice to the ears, it helps in fraction of seconds to bring down migraine.
13.Applying 10-12 drops of Mustard oil to the forehead when sleeping in the night for a week helps a lot too.
More information to causes,nature and symptoms of migraine can be found at healandhealth.
Comment by amit — May 6, 2010 @ 7:29 pm
the Chinese Chiropractor that we have in our village is really good in treating my sprained ankles.’;;
Comment by Tilly Holmes — May 19, 2010 @ 7:07 pm
My heart goes out to all the children with migraines, and the parents who must search for the cure. I can tell you from a chiropractors point of view that there is a drug free, safe, and effective way through chiropractic care to alleviate those painful headaches. We have a 90% success rate with helping both children and adult migraine sufferers
Comment by pittsfield chiropractor — June 19, 2010 @ 3:49 pm
my dad is a chiropractor and he often amazes me how he could treat my sprains.:’-
Comment by Harry Brown — July 13, 2010 @ 5:26 pm
Hello every one, I have treated many children and adults for migraines over the years, using the tapping therapy Emotional Freedom Technique, and have a very high success rate, some clients saying that the migraines never return, others apply the therapy themselves if they do as I will teach you how to apply this fast effective therapy, so that you have it on hand.
Comment by Noeline Ryan — July 27, 2010 @ 3:26 pm