Migraine suffers

Bobbi

Bobbi

Cathlete
Hi, everybody. My a5 year old has developed migraines and we saw her doctor who recommended that she take 600 mgs of ibuprofen as soon as she sees the dancing lights which herald an oncoming migraine. She said that once the migraine has taken hold, it's virtually impossible to stop it. Sydney has expereinced three so far. I want to be prepared in case her doctors plan of action fails. Will those of you who suffer please share what works for you. It will be greatly appreciated!
Bobbi "Chicks rule!"http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/tiere/animal-smiley-032.gif
Tell me what you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? -Mary Oliver
http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/linie/smiley-linie-008.gif
 
Hi Bobbi-

So sorry to hear your daughter is suffering from these.. I get them too, but fortunately only 3-4x/year. They are NO fun, and can be very very painful.

There are some prescription meds available to help, Imitrex is one that is frequently prescribed. I don't have any experience with it personally, as that I do Ibuprofen too.

I have found that if I take ibuprofen and then can lie down in a quiet dark room with a cold washcloth on my head and go to sleep the MINUTE the aura ( aka dancing lights) start coming that I can usually keep it under control. Your doc is right about not stopping the pain once it takes hold.. for me I start throwing up and pass out if I don't Ibuprofen and rest in ASAP.

Also, start trying to keep a journal on what happens around the time of her headache... some people have triggers that can be avoidable. I don't have a great handle on what causes mine, other than if I am doing too much physical activity and got dehydrated I would get them. ( Learned the hard way while I was training for a half marathon last year!)

My prayers are with you guys that you can keep them under control.

Take care, Lynn M.
 
Bobbi,
Sorry to hear your daughter has migranes :-( . I have suffered with them for years. I agree with the advice you have already gotten about taking medication ASAP. For me, I take excedrin as soon as I feel one and it knocks it out. If I don't get to take something soon enought, it all goes bad. As previously posted identifying triggers is also important. For me skipping meals is a big trigger. Stress can also be a trigger. Some women get them premenstrually, associated with hormone fluctuations.

hth
Catherine
 
I get them infrequently and I usually just use Ibuprofen. However, when I was pregnant I got them all of the time. The only thing that helped me was Acupuncture...believe it or not. It's actually one of the best known treatments for migraines. But I'm not sure how that would work for a 5 year old?? Hopefully you can find something that works for her...those things are horrible!!

Deni
 
Hi Bobbi,

So sorry to hear about Sydney's migraines.

From my experiences with them, and I have indeed had a lot, your doc is correct, it is virtually impossible to stop the headache after it starts.(Speaking from my pain only)

However, with me, I once read about an activity that actually worked the last 2 times I had one.(I figured that with pain like this, anything would be worth trying.) Of course, I took the necessary medicine, the Ibuprofen, then when the time allowed, I rested in a very dark room and I applied pressure to the space between my thumb and index finger.I pinched it really hard,as hard as I could stand. (Maybe some accupressure thing, not sure.) Please forgive me if this sounds hokey , but it actually allowed me to get relaxed enough to sleep which seems to always help. I am not sure why this relieved some of the awful pain, maybe it was due to the intense pinching of the hand, or maybe it was something else, but it did allow for some relief.

It has been several months since my last bout, and although what worked for me may not work for Sydney, maybe it is worth a try.

Best of luck...
jmurphy
 
Hi Bobbi,

I'm also sorry to hear about Sydney's migraines. I have had them for years (my mom said I got headaches as a child, but was not diagnosed with migraines then). I've only thrown up once and I don't HAVE to be in a dark room, although that sure is nicer. My neurologist said that since I didn't ask for help with them until I was in my late 30's that I got used to living with them in my daily life. Who knows? I think there are different levels. I see the aura, but not before I get a migraine. I get the aura with no pain. As for migraines, I usually wake up with them, so taking meds when I see the light or feel it coming on is hopeless for me. It usually takes me two separate doses of 100 mg. of Imitrex to get rid of them - about 2.5 hours apart. Since I wake up with them, sleeping them off doesn't help (although it helps my dad - who I inherited them from apparently - but I never knew he got migraines until I met him when I was 30).

Triggers for me can be too much caffiene (diet Coke or Pepsi, coffee which I rarely drink), Oreos - but not other chocolate, sometimes hormonal changes but not always, sometimes stress but not always. I can drink diet Coke or Pepsi or whatever for weeks on end until finally it must get built up in my system and I have to go cold turkey. Extra Strength Excedrin really helps the every day type of headaches, but all of the caffiene will eventually start the headaches and then I take Excedrin and then it becomes a viscious cycle of caffiene addiction and I have to suffer through a couple of days of headaches with nothing. I try not to take the Imitrex unless I absolutely can't stand it anymore. I hate the way they make me feel.

I apologize for rambling. I wish there was more I could say to help. Massaging her neck might help her just to relax. I get mine on my left temple EVERY time, but a nice neck rub temporarily relaxes me and helps for a little while. I know you can take beta blockers (or something like that) to lessen the frequency, but I don't know about that for a child. I think it's an anti-depressent and they give you about 1/3 of what someone taking them for depression would take. I chose not to go on them b/c I didn't want to take a drug every day if I didn't have to. I guess it would depend on her frequency. Good luck to you both.

Susan

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." - Anatole France

http://www.picturetrail.com/dogs2birds
 
I would get them as a result of caffeine withdrawal! If I waited too long to have my morning coffee I would get a migraine by the afternoon! The only thing that I have ever found to help at all is Excedrin Migraine. No other OTC pain reliever did a darned thing but that one! I never got a prescription because I can control it...if I get my caffeine in time, I don't get migraines. I am lucky it's that simple for me! :)

I keep Ex. Mig. in the house at all times though because I will take it for ANY headache I get. It cures them all!

I hope you get this under control! What an awful thing for a child to have to deal with!:-(
 
Hi Bobbi,

My DD and I both get migraines and we do exactly as your Doctor said. In addition, we do like others have advised: lie down in a quiet, dark room...away from ALL types of stimulation, cool washcloth on the forehead or over the eyes. If sleep comes, the headache will usually pass.

Personally, I have found the liquid-gel ibuprofen to be the best, because it kicks in faster than the tablets. (I always take mine with coffee, and sometimes DD does as well.) It used to be available at Wal Mart in generic form, but now I buy Advil Liquid- Gels. Oh, I suppose your DD might take a children's liquid.

I really feel for these kids who have migraines...hope Sydney gets relief.

Julie
 
I am so sorry for your daughter. I get them occaisionally now. I had them when I was a child. Cigarette smoke would trigger them(my dad smoked at the time) I never complained to anyone though so never got help as a child. I would try and open windows to get air. Going to school with a migraine was like walking around in a body that was not mine. As an adult I went to doctors a lot. Had many treatments and meds. As of now I take imitrex as a last resort, by the time that I see floating spots it is late. One of my dd's has them as well. She went to a neurologist finally and got a lot of help. He said not to ever take Exedrin. He also told her as an adult to avoid birth control pills which I know is not a problem, avoid certain foods and he took her off most of the meds she was on. She has been so much improved. She recently quit all meds in hopes of becoming pregnant. They came back some and her family dr had her drink OJ in the am when she gets up which she says helps when she feels one coming on. I try and avoid every med and I torture myself through workouts despite the nausea and feeling that my head is going to blow and do a cardio workout. This actually helps me a lot. By the time I am done it is better for awhile. I wish I could help. I feel for her because I lived with these for many years.
Diane Sue
http://wd.1ww.us
 
Bobbi,

I don't have any experience with this, but do you mind if I send your daugther a {{{{HUG}}}}?:)

Mom could probably use a hug, too...{{{{{HUG}}}}}:)
 
I took Keppra for a couple of years, and felt the side effects were too much. I started taking the herb Feverfew, and it helped quite a bit. I still get headaches...but not as often, and not migraines like I used to.
 
Hi Bobbi!
I am a long time migraine sufferer. Like Susan, I often wake up with mine so don't have the opportunity to kill it at the onset. But I do like your daughters doctor recommends and take a mega dose of ibuprofen and then I also have to take imitrex. This mixtures usually works for me but yes sometimes they get away from me and I'm down for a number of days. Sometimes if I'm already into the migraine I can't keep the ibprofen down (or anything else) so have to rely solely on the imitrex. Last year though my Dr started me on a very low dose high blood pressure pill as a preventive solution. Since starting this I have gone down from about 8 migraines a month to about 1 sometimes 2. During the winter I have less as I'm really affected by barometric pressure.

Everyone has to find the right mixture that works for them and believe me it has taken years to find something that works most of the time. Prior to drugs like imitrex we just had to suffer. The key though is really finding the triggers. The good thing for me is that I believe keeping my self fit and balanced with good eating and sleeping habits really has a positive effect. Additionally staying away from sugar helps make a difference for me and I never drink. I can smell alcohol and trigger a migraine!

I am so sorry your daughter is going through this; I wouldn't wish these on anyone.

Jo
 
i had one last night, mild :( was sick, head was killing. no light this time though.... as it was mild. i take ibuprofen too, but unless i catch it when its just a headache i stand no chance. they are horrible and i'm so sorry that you're little one is going through this.
 
Hey,

I suffer from migraines too but I definately would not tell you what you what to do for a five year old's own. That, to me, is an individual choice. Do you really want advice on what drug to pump your child up with? I would take her to a new doctor and try to find suitable child remedies for this problem. Adults can tolerate medication that a child can't. Definately get other professional advice.

Give hugs to Sydney. I cannot imagine how hard this is for someone her age. I can barely tolerate mine much less her.
 
I saw a neurologist in Pittsburgh sbout 12 yrs ago. He put me on preventive meds, but, he told me 3 aleve at the onset then 1 immitrex every 6 hours if needed.
He told me ibuprofin can cause rebound headaches, like you can get addicted to them.
Then the diet::
No caffiene , chocolate, cheeses(only velveeta). No fermented foods.
Lots of water,,,,,
Good luck, they are miserable . I delt with them for 20 yrs till they went away.
Anne
http://www.picturetrail.com/acatalina
 
My 18 year old son suffers from migraines as I do. He started around age 5-6 and yes, the course of action will work. One thing to watch for is stomach upset. He started to get them from Ibuprofen, and he was not taking it that much(maybe twice a month), so if she is sensitive, she may have an issue. We tried the inhalent type of Imitrex with him, which worked, but it had such a dreadful aftertaste, that he tended to not want it. There are daily preventitives, that help not get them. One that I have tried, and my neighbor's son tried was a beta blocker. We both gained an enormous amount of weight, and it took us both many years to raise our metabolism up after going off, so I would not advise that.

Keeping a diary of foods, sleep patterns, weather, air pollutants is a very good idea. You need to find out a trigger. My son's issues are sleep and dehydration, and now I believe caffeine plays a part. Unfortunately, for woman, puberty makes them worse.

So far my daughter has been clear of them, turning 13 today. She had abdominal migraines up to age 5. One remody for that was benydryl. I had a pharmicist friend tell me a mixture of Benydryl and tylonel works, and that has worked for me. However, it knocks you out.

Good luck, migraines are frustrating, especially watching your child deal with them.
 
Thanks so much everyone. I am hoping and praying that Syd's migraines are few and far between. She's such a peach and this has been so distressing for her. She lost much of her vision as her headaches came on and we were beside ourselves with fear. Once the headaches came on, she was very ill and it was so hard to see her suffer and not know how to make it better. Dr. Swanson did indeed say that these are usually hereditary but I am not a sufferer. You have given me much to think about and I thank you so much. I am looking at Dorothy's advice on diet and sleep and hoping I can persuade Sydney to clean her diet and sleep patterns up a bit. Thank you for the support and kind words also. Dorothy, my heart goes out to your cildren, suffering at such an early age! These headaches are diabolical. Hopefully, we will find something that works from the start. As always, I am touched and gratified by the wisdom and support to be found here in the forums. Blessings!

P.S. Sydney is 15. I was not typing very well the day I first posted. :)
Bobbi "Chicks rule!"http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/tiere/animal-smiley-032.gif
Tell me what you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? -Mary Oliver
http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/linie/smiley-linie-008.gif
 
Bobbi - if you want to see what the "aura" looks like you can do a search on the web. I never realized that the "eye migraines" I was diagnosed with years ago by an eye doctor were the same thing that people see prior to getting a migraine. It was actually kind of cool to see that other people see what I see. Why I don't get them before I get actual migraines, I don't know.

I should also have mentioned that before I had Imitrex, a good run would help, but it had to be at least 50 minutes. I have no idea why, but it was amazing. It's tough to get out there though when your head is pounding, but if it means not having to take drugs, it's worth it.

And like others said - no alcohol - or only 1 or 2 drinks at the absolute most or I wake up with a migraine.

Good luck to you both!!!

Susan

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." - Anatole France

http://www.picturetrail.com/dogs2birds
 
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