Kids with headaches

[wishesuponastar]

Have your kids or you when you were a kid have headaches? My 15yo daughter says she gets a headache in car rides but she also gets a headache about 2 weeks before her period. Taking her to pediatrician this week to see what is going on. If you can please share what treatment your child was given and if they are cured of the headaches.

 

[Poohforyou]

People get headaches for all sorts of reasons - motion and hormones are common triggers. Is it every time she's in a car? Both front and backseat? Is she reading or looking around while in the car?

If she's having one every time she's in a car I'd get that checked - maybe her eyes or ears? The latter cause wouldn't concern me but I suppose I'd have my daughter bring it up during a checkup. In the meantime I'd probably suggest she try ibuprofen but that's about it.

 

[wishesuponastar]

It's mostly on long car rides in the front and back seat. Her eyes and ears are good all checked. Don't want to just start giving meds without talking to doc first.

 

[Lilacs4Me]

I get headaches in the car, too, especially on long rides when it is sunny. I link this, personally, to the fact that I am very prone to motion sickness, and the headache is one of the symptoms. If I don't take anything, I will get nauseous. I often choose to be the driver because I don't get sick while I am driving - just as the passenger, especially in stop and go traffic. I have always gotten a headache at a particular point in my monthly cycle - I think that's pretty common. Neither scenario for your daughter stands out as anything I would worry about. Honestly, she's 15, so I would just tell here where to find the Tylenol or Advil and call it a day.

My 10 year old son gets migraines. He is on a daily medication (Elavil) to try to prevent or decrease the frequency, and he knows where the Excedrin is. He knows that if he starts feeling a headache coming on or his vision starts to blur or become hazy (he gets an aura a lot of times before the migraine starts), to take an Excedrin with a little can of Coke, and to lie down for about 20 minutes in a dark quiet room. If he doesn't, the migraine will progress until he is throwing up and in a lot of pain. The school nurse has the same protocol at school. He just spent 1/2 the day in the nurses office yesterday doing this. He is under the care of a Pediatric Neurologist and has had EEG's and MRI's done to rule out anything physical, both of which, thankfully, came out fine. He has probably had migraines his whole life, but he's only been able to identify them to us since about age 5 or so. Looking back at the symptoms and his behavior changes before/during a migraine (he gets really crabby), I'm pretty sure he was having them as a toddler, too. He's generally a very easy-going, sweet kid, but before we knew about the migraines, there were times when his whole demeanor would change and he would just throw up out of the blue. We would put him to bed thinking he was coming down with something, but he would sleep for a few hours or overnight and when he woke up, he would be perfectly fine. At the time, we thought he must have just had a 24 hour bug or ate something that didn't agree with him...it wasn't until he was about 7 or so that we started to realize that the throwing up came with a headache.

 

[wishesuponastar]

I'm so sorry for your son at such a young age with migraines.

 

[aprilgail]

Have your kids or you when you were a kid have headaches? My 15yo daughter says she gets a headache in car rides but she also gets a headache about 2 weeks before her period. Taking her to pediatrician this week to see what is going on. If you can please share what treatment your child was given and if they are cured of the headaches.

My daughter complained about headaches when she was younger- first thing they did was send her for a CAT san to make sure there was no brain tumor- there was not but I was so happy they took that route. My godson started having headaches and it turned out to be a brain tumor so I was happy they ruled that out first thing. I would check with her Dr but I would be surprised if they didn't want a CAT scan done.

 

[DisAuntie]

Does she wear sunglasses in the car? It is very likely she is squinting from the brightness, causing headaches. When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras.

 

[Poohforyou]

It's mostly on long car rides in the front and back seat. Her eyes and ears are good all checked. Don't want to just start giving meds without talking to doc first.

Really? Wow, we'd spend 1/2 our life at doctors if we went for every ache and pain. I'm one to try OTC meds and if it doesn't resolve the issue or the pain gets worse then we go.

 

[scrappydew]

I get headaches in the car, too, especially on long rides when it is sunny. I link this, personally, to the fact that I am very prone to motion sickness, and the headache is one of the symptoms. If I don't take anything, I will get nauseous. I often choose to be the driver because I don't get sick while I am driving - just as the passenger, especially in stop and go traffic. I have always gotten a headache at a particular point in my monthly cycle - I think that's pretty common. Neither scenario for your daughter stands out as anything I would worry about. Honestly, she's 15, so I would just tell here where to find the Tylenol or Advil and call it a day.

My 10 year old son gets migraines. He is on a daily medication (Elavil) to try to prevent or decrease the frequency, and he knows where the Excedrin is. He knows that if he starts feeling a headache coming on or his vision starts to blur or become hazy (he gets an aura a lot of times before the migraine starts), to take an Excedrin with a little can of Coke, and to lie down for about 20 minutes in a dark quiet room. If he doesn't, the migraine will progress until he is throwing up and in a lot of pain. The school nurse has the same protocol at school. He just spent 1/2 the day in the nurses office yesterday doing this. He is under the care of a Pediatric Neurologist and has had EEG's and MRI's done to rule out anything physical, both of which, thankfully, came out fine. He has probably had migraines his whole life, but he's only been able to identify them to us since about age 5 or so. Looking back at the symptoms and his behavior changes before/during a migraine (he gets really crabby), I'm pretty sure he was having them as a toddler, too. He's generally a very easy-going, sweet kid, but before we knew about the migraines, there were times when his whole demeanor would change and he would just throw up out of the blue. We would put him to bed thinking he was coming down with something, but he would sleep for a few hours or overnight and when he woke up, he would be perfectly fine. At the time, we thought he must have just had a 24 hour bug or ate something that didn't agree with him...it wasn't until he was about 7 or so that we started to realize that the throwing up came with a headache.

Did you go to a neurologist for your son? My DD15 has headaches almost every day (just like her dad.) We've seen an ENT, no obvious sinus issues. However, Excedrin or typical over the counter stuff just doesn't help. She doesn't have the vision or nausea, just had headaches. I'd like to get her relief, but don't know what step to take.

 

[Poohforyou]

Op, is your daughter drinking enough on the long car rides? I get headaches when I'm dehydrated. Usually a drink will resolve it but sometimes I take some ibuprofen as well.

 

[Lilacs4Me]

Did you go to a neurologist for your son? My DD15 has headaches almost every day (just like her dad.) We've seen an ENT, no obvious sinus issues. However, Excedrin or typical over the counter stuff just doesn't help. She doesn't have the vision or nausea, just had headaches. I'd like to get her relief, but don't know what step to take.

Yes, he is under care of a pediatric neurologist. He also has what the neuro thinks are abdominal migraines....we've been to a pediatric gastroenterologist as well and had every test possible that ruled out anything medically wrong, yet DS has a stomachache and vomitting on a regular basis, with or without a head migraine. So as best as they can figure, he has cyclic vomiting syndrome, or rumination syndrome, or abdominal migraines, or more than likely a combination of all three. It's been a rough few years.

If otc relief isnt working, and allergy/sinus issues have been ruled out, I would ask her pedi what the next step is. Have you considered stress and anxiety as contributing factors? It is for my son....he is mostly pretty easy going, but is a type A crazy person when it comes to performing well in school and sports and gets himself worked up when he's feeling stressed. At this point in his diagnosis (no medical/physical cause for any of it), we are leaning toward psychological help.

 

[Anesthesia Fine]

Op, is your daughter drinking enough on the long car rides? I get headaches when I'm dehydrated. Usually a drink will resolve it but sometimes I take some ibuprofen as well.

I was just about to say. I keep kids' acetaminophen around but my first line of defense is always water. Being in the car can really dry you out.

 

[wilkeliza]

I had headaches as a kid and now. I have sinus issues and that is the #1 cause. I also have TMD and since that developed about 2 years ago now (my jaw has always "popped" but just became a problem recently) I have had more headaches. TMD and sinus issues combined really stink. Thankfully most days when it gets too much OTC meds help.

 

[DLgal]

Yes, I have had migraine my entire life. My mom says I started having "bad headaches" at 4 years old. I have two sons and both of them get headaches about once or twice a month. Both wear glasses so we know it's not vision related. They likely inherited my migraine.

OP, your daughter likely is having migraine if hormones are triggering headaches (mid cycle an right before period are very common times to get hormonal migraine).

Let her have some Aleve or Ibuprofen. There is no reason to make her suffer while waiting to see a doctor. OTC Tylenol won't help much for headaches that present with throbbing pain...You need an anti inflammatory agent.

Dehydration can be a culprit, but not likely in this case.

Oh, and I am not cured of my headaches, nor are my kids. Migraine, in particular, is a lifelong battle. I spend approximately 10 days a month with some sort of head or neck pain. I tried preventatives and they did not really help me. I treat each headache as it comes.

 

[bellebud]

My first guess would be her car headaches are from motion sickness. Bonine is the non-drowsy form of Dramamine. Sold over the counter, or you can get a script for Meclazine (same thing). I'd try that first.

 

[mom2rtk]

Yes, I have had migraine my entire life. My mom says I started having "bad headaches" at 4 years old. I have two sons and both of them get headaches about once or twice a month. Both wear glasses so we know it's not vision related. They likely inherited my migraine.

OP, your daughter likely is having migraine if hormones are triggering headaches (mid cycle an right before period are very common times to get hormonal migraine).

Let her have some Aleve or Ibuprofen. There is no reason to make her suffer while waiting to see a doctor. OTC Tylenol won't help much for headaches that present with throbbing pain...You need an anti inflammatory agent.

Dehydration can be a culprit, but not likely in this case.

Oh, and I am not cured of my headaches, nor are my kids. Migraine, in particular, is a lifelong battle. I spend approximately 10 days a month with some sort of head or neck pain. I tried preventatives and they did not really help me. I treat each headache as it comes.

Just make sure if you are looking for an anti-inflammatory effect from ibuprofen that you're taking a high enough dose for a long enough period of time. Lower short-term doses really just have an analgesic effect.

 

[DLgal]

Just make sure if you are looking for an anti-inflammatory effect from ibuprofen that you're taking a high enough dose for a long enough period of time. Lower short-term doses really just have an analgesic effect.

Yep, I know that. I take 2 Aleve gelcaps at onset, along with Imitrex. I continue to take 2 Aleve every 12 hours for a couple days. My kids get an adult dose of Ibuprofen every 6 hours as needed.

Regardless, NSAID have been proven more effective than acetaminophen for the treatment of migraine, even in the short term.

 

[Allison]

Over the counter pain relievers. We have never been to the doctor for headaches so no other treatment considered.

 

[Magpie]

One of mine got frequent headaches, but he also got rashes and tummy aches and cheek twitches and was just generally a bit of a stress bunny. Therapy helped. So did carefully monitoring his diet (he's hypoglycemic, as well).

Headaches can have many, many causes. I get migraines, which can be triggered by hormones, salty food, lack of sleep, stress, etc. I had a headache all day yesterday due to having woken up in the middle of the night with an acute case of indigestion. In general, unless it was impacting their ability to function, I didn't worry about my kids having headaches.

In your case, I'd take a good look at what your daughter does when she's in the car (reading, texting, staring at screens, etc) and where she sits (front, back) and look at whether you can change any of these factors, and see if that helps.

 

[wishesuponastar]

Really? Wow, we'd spend 1/2 our life at doctors if we went for every ache and pain. I'm one to try OTC meds and if it doesn't resolve the issue or the pain gets worse then we go.

I meant to say I didn't want to start loading her up with Advil for a headache and would prefer to see the pedi about it. Also, we have given her Advil for a headache but she says it doesn't help.