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motherof4
Member since Oct-15-09
493 posts |
Aug-25-10, 02:20 PM (CST) |
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"Child with migraine - experiences?"
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What do you do to reduce the nausea and pain? How do you prevent it from happening at all? Does it get better when they grow up? My 6-year old son suffers from migraine since last summer. It doesn't happen very often, but when it does it is very hard for him. It seems like he is more likely to get it when there is a change in the weather from sunny to rainy. And when he is very excited about something like a party or having guests. When he misses something he's looked forward to because of headache, his disappointment is heartbreaking. We try to give him medication (Ibuprofen) early, and then he wants to rest in a dark quiet room. Sometimes he falls asleep for 3 hours and is fine when he wakes up, sometimes there are several awful hours of terrible headache and nausea before it is gone. We haven't considered profylactic medication yet, because it can be a month between the migraines, but last week it happened twice, and a couple of weeks before that, he missed our crayfish-party because of it. If anyone has any experience to share, I'll be most grateful. Malin (Sweden) |
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oh2ny
Member since Aug-2-09
173 posts |
Aug-25-10, 03:21 PM (CST) |
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3. "RE: Child with migraine - experiences?"
In response to message #0
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I actually have just been diagnosed with migraines and I’m 23. I used to get headaches all the time when I was younger, some felt like I was hit over the head with a baseball bat, but it wasn’t until recently that I had it checked out. So unfortunately, for me they got worse as I got older. I would have days I’d be fine and then all of a sudden the nausea would hit, I would get dizzy and then the pain would hit. It’s bad. Unfortunately, the doctor told me that there wasn’t much he could do other than give me medication because migraines are so random. He did tell me to try and figure out what could be triggering them (when I would get them the most) and try and curb as much as the pain as I could. I learned that orange pop actually triggers them in me. And also my menstrual cycle. Because I have a feeling when they’ll start I take some extra strength Tylenol to take the edge off the pain and ride it out. I know it would be hard for your son being so young. But it really does help me get through them if I’m prepared for them. When they do come other than medication, and I’m being totally serious when I say it helps me bring down the pain a bit, I drink some pop (caffeinated, maybe a small glass) and chocolate. The mixture of the caffeine from the drink, chocolate and Tylenol works. Also putting something cool over my eyes. I was told the next step, if I couldn’t handle the headaches, and even the medication wasn’t helping then I would need a head scan to see if there was something else going on. I don’t know if any of this is any help to you. But I know how your son feels and my heart goes out to him. I hope you can find something to help and he can enjoy just being a kid. Good luck!
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KJ O
Member since Sep-7-07
1635 posts |
Aug-25-10, 06:48 PM (CST) |
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5. "RE: Child with migraine - experiences?"
In response to message #4
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have you talked to a doctor about it ? and second of all I (of course) recommend trying chiropractic... my brother used to get them frequently as a kid, and to the best of my memory there isn't a whole lot you can do for them. Being a migraine sufferer from a family of such I understand your frustration ! and his pain. Sounds like you are on the right track trying to pin point his triggers. Do you keep a journal or calendar of his headaches and his diet previous to each headache ? I agree with you that as a child that age he is WAY to young to start on any sort of prophylactic medication, as those for migraine are neurological and could possibly impact his development. Having migraines is horribly debilitating (for him as well as the rest of your family no doubt) and as awful as it is there will be times when no force on earth will be able to prevent them from happening... sorry. and the benefits of any full time/long term prophylactic drug do NOT out weigh the risks. Hang in there, it's no fun to be sure, but the good news is - your not alone in your struggle and your a great mom ! Jeanna
Southern New Mexico |
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msmicah
Member since Mar-21-06
703 posts |
Aug-25-10, 09:56 PM (CST) |
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6. "RE: Child with migraine - experiences?"
In response to message #0
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I had migraines starting somewhere around about 10 years old. I would recommend that you keep a food and drink journal. When he has a migraine circle the day before it started and the day that it started. See if you have any common foods in the days before his headaches. If there no common foods see if he is getting high doses of a vitamin or mineral or sugar or sugar subsitute from foods. For example my stepdad used to get migraines and it turned out that high potassium foods such as bananas and Gatorade were his triggers. Second, is he playing any video games or computer games? These were, at one time, one of my triggers. The eye strain was too much for me. I would recommend that you have a general bloodwork test done by your doctor if you haven't already. My migraines have been reduced from 2-3 times a month to 2-3 times per year by medication because my thyroid was low. Once I started on medication I was significantly better. Good luck and let us know what you are doing and what you discover. Micah |
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Caro
Member since Apr-22-04
3142 posts |
Aug-25-10, 11:11 PM (CST) |
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7. "RE: Child with migraine - experiences?"
In response to message #0
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first of all I'd get his eyes checked as migraines are not that common in a child that young. If his eyes are okay then take him to your family doctor for a check up. Maybe something is out or more likely he could have an allergy to something (food or environment). Also consider whether he is getting enough sleep and drinks enough water as these can contribute to migraines. If you can't find answers then try a combination of chiropractic and massage treatments. Both myself and my 15 year old son suffer from migraines that started at puberty. My doctor said it's likely genetic. For us avoiding caffiene, drinking lots of water , keeping a regular bedtime with 8 hrs of sleep helps minimize them. If they come in clusters then I visit the chiropractor and massage therapist. Also taking a pain reliever at the first sign of a migraine is best. Caro
From Canada |
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motherof4
Member since Oct-15-09
493 posts |
Aug-26-10, 04:13 PM (CST) |
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8. "RE: Child with migraine - experiences?"
In response to message #0
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Thanks friends for your good advice and kind words!
I find it comforting that migraine can be seasonal, I didn't know that. Hope this is migrainseason also for Harald and it will be better soon!
I will try to keep a food/drink journal to search for triggers. Sleep is never a problem. He plays some videogames, but not for long, and I haven't seen any relation there. The clearest trigger is when he is excited about something that will happen, and that is difficult to do something about.
We haven't been to the doctor yet. As some of you know, I'm a doctor, but this is not my field. But I found that H:s symtoms were classical for child-migraine, and I discussed it with a friend who's a Pediatritian. It can't be anything else since he's completly healthy between the attacks. My son has also coeliac disease (allergy to gluten) and pretty bad seasonal allergy to pollen in springtime. When he was diagnosed 4 years ago, they did alot of tests including the thyroid, and everything was ok.
We will see a doctor in a few weeks, and I will ask about the migraine then and suggest anti-histamins. Didn't think about that before, thanks Efy! And b-vitamins seem like a good "not-heavy-medicine" prophylactic. He will have his eyes checked then too.The food thing is a bit complicated with H. He has never liked to eat. He sees it as a completly useless waste of valuable playingtime. And him being a tiny, even skinny little boy who didn't grow as he should before the glutenthing was under control, made me nag too much about his eating, wich made eating even less agreable to him. Now we really try not to talk about the amount of food he eats, and he often eat sufficiently now. But there are ALOT of things he doesn't like to eat! I have explained to him that sleeping, eating and drinking enough is what he can do himself not to have the headaches, but sometimes it can come anyway. I don't want him to feel like he has himself to blame. Well, here is my big little boy, the child I worry most about, the child who is not very like me, my precious Harald:
 Sorry about the long post! Thanks again!
Malin (Sweden) |
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KJ O
Member since Sep-7-07
1635 posts |
Aug-27-10, 02:16 PM (CST) |
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12. "RE: Child with migraine - experiences?"
In response to message #11
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what a pretty child he is ! and lucky to have a mom like you ! Jeanna
Southern New Mexico |
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