Children with migraines

[Disney Ella]

Wow, lot of people with migraines! My DD has been wearing glasses since 1st grade, and I usually have her drink coke when I give her the ibuprofen, which seems to take the edge off a little more.

 

[Bearvet]

DS11 has been getting migraines for the past few years. We started keeping a log book of each episode - when and where, how long, etc. Then we'd trace back the previous 12-24 hours noting all foods, activities, etc. I also had him rate them on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the worst). This also gave me something productive to do while he slept. The best we could determine as triggers for him were too much caffeine, not enough sleep and not eating regular meals. It's different triggers for everyone. Now once his headache is at a "3" he knows to take some ibuprofen and lay down in a dark room.

It's no fun, but this seems to work for him for now. BTW those "10"s are absolute nightmares!

 

[Sleepy]

I started getting migraines at the age of 7. The visual crap associated with migraines started at age 13. Back then, there really was not much they did for kids with migraines. Basically I would get one, take Tylenol, throw up from the nausea related to the migraine, try to sleep it off and hope the pain went away. Mom has a history of migraines too and since they had done all the tests on her, they felt no need to do them on me. Of course, years later when i was an adult, i had a few tests done and they came back normal. I just take the prescription meds and hope for the best. Really, the frequency of migraines has not changed from childhood. Still the average 2 a week.

 

[mum4jenn]

When I was in 3rd grade I started getting migraines. The Dr took lots of tests at his office and at the hospital. I found out MANY years later that they took so many tests because they thought I had a brain tumor. I did not and they did give me some kind of medication but this was way back in the late 60's early 70's so things change!! I still have them but so far I only take the excedrin migraine. I did back then and still do get sick at my stomach they would get so bad.

If they won't prescribe anything else then I would go with the excedrin. It helps alot for me.

 

[Chris2597]

All 3 of my children started having migraines around age 12....The neuro. dr prescribed Midrin for all of them. I also get them and have taken Midrin, Fiorcet. My ds is 20 now and is taking a daily preventive and has the Imitrex injection. The kids ped dr said there is no reason why kids should not take Midrin, as it is very helpful with managing the pain.

 

[Mari annie]

My son developed migranes 2 years ago due to stress at school.
He was 15 then.
We took him to Children's Hosp in Boston and was evaluated by everyone, and finally found out it was stress. I had the same issue in college during tests, etc. He's almost 17 now and has learned* to cope with stress better and when he does get them now, which is very rare, we go back in for acupuncture. He's only had to go 1 in the last year and 1/2.

Children have different coping skills then we do, they tend to internalize most of their emotions.

Having open communication with your child can help the situation.

Acupuncture, it works, if I didn't see it myself, I would of never believed it! My son's acupuncturist is an anthesiologist/pedi/and teaching professor at Havard U. So I had alot of faith in him.
Make sure you find a qualified** acupuncturist. There's alot of quacks out there. Check through your local University Hospital or Medical College through their Pain clinic. That's how we found this MD.

Good luck.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I started getting migraines at age 14. Only last year did I figure out it was caused by a chiropratic issue - it was caused by twisting/pressure in my neck, I believe on the right side. Have not had ONE migraine since figuring this out.

Now I make sure that I never twist my neck too far to the side, and also I pay attention to having better posture (sitting up straight, not hunched over a desk, good back support when sitting or driving), and try not to carry a heavy backpack on my right shoulder. I posted about this before, and I realize I am extremely fortunate that I know what causes my migraines, and can do things to stop them from happening now.