Son with migraines -- support and advice, please

[Anonymous]

My son started having migraines at 6 (he's now eight). They are escalating in frequency and we have an appointment with a new neurologist in November. His triggers seem to be changing barometric pressure and allergies. So far, the only thing that ever helps is if he gets pain reliever the second he feels a headache coming on.

I feel so terrible to see him in so much pain and not to be able to do much about it. He cries and holds his head, needs to block the light, and gets nauseous. Anyone have a child with migraines? Is there any great remedy or treatment plan you follow that works? What should I ask the doctor? Any advice or words of encouragement you can offer will be much appreciated!

[Anonymous]

I just saw a doctor at a seminar about migraines and they said that they are hereditary/genetic and that most GPs or pediatricians don't get much training in dealing with migraines in med school. It's good that you're seeing a neurologist or a specialist with migraines.

The thing they also said is that OTC headache or migraine medicines can sometimes backfire and cause more harm than good. He probably needs to be on a regulating medicing for migraines (with triptans?) all the time, and then one to take when he has attacks.

Definitely see a doctor, I only play one on TV.

[Anonymous]

OP, I don't have any experience or advice with this, but I am so sorry your son is going through this. I know you said you are seeing a new neurologist--I highly recommend you see a pediatric neurologist associated with a major university teaching hospital. They will have access to latest research, case reports, specialists and treatments. They will also be aware of other possible causes. Has your son been seen by a neuro-opthalmologist? Best of luck to you.

[Anonymous]

they also said to keep a migraine diary--how often they happen, what you ate, how you slept, if you took an OTC pain reliever, etc. to track exactly what happens.

[Anonymous]

here are some other resources from the handout I received:

www.achenet.org
www.headaches.org
www.ahsnet.org

[Anonymous]

I had migraines growing up and have had my share of pounding headaches as an adult, plus a couple of occular migraines. It turned out that as a kid, my headaches were caused by Nivea lotion, which I stopped using when I moved out of the house but used when I came home to visit (and got pounding headaches).

I get headaches from lotions, shampoos, perfumes, scented soaps (the smell of most anti bacterial hand soaps stays on my skin for hours even after a lot of frantic rinsing), dishwasher detergent, some make ups -- in short, anything scented can set one off. No doctor will tell you it could be from these triggers. I've told a lot of people with migraines about my triggers and gotten responses like, I can't switch shampoos because my hair is frizzy. Or, it can't be my lotion because I've used it for ten years. It makes me wonder if they really have migraines. I would have tried ANYTHING to get rid of my headaches.

Can you try washing your son's hair with just water for a week, using no lotion or only unscented lotion, get unscented laundry detergent, etc? Everyone is different, but I hope that helps for your son. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

OP, I had severe migraines as a child, right through adulthood, when they only seemed to intensify and become more frequent. I went to countless doctors who prescribed various medications for pain relief but these only put a dent in the pain and didn't ultimately take them away. At times the pain was so bad I had to be taken to the emergency room and be given a strong dose of medication, but that was after writhing in pain and throwing up, etc.

I know migraines have many causes but some people, like myself and maybe your son, get migraines due to a chemical imbalance triggered in the brain. I finally found a neurologist here in DC named Dr. Stephen Macedo with the Washington Medical Group (202-785-2400), himself a suferer of migraines, who proscribed a medicine that finally worked for me. I can't overstate what a relief it has been to be able to function without pain anymore.

I take Gabapentin daily as a preventative and when I feel a migraine coming on (I still get them) I take a Treximet (Imitrex) pill and within 15 minutes it's gone.

All I can say is keep going to doctors until you find a solution. Hopefully it's something simple like a new prescription for glasses but the science on this has advanced a lot in recent years so you'll get to the bottom of this, I'm sure.

[Anonymous]

I've had migraines for as long as I can remember. Seeing a specialist is a very good idea. For me the drugs are a godsend, but it required some experimentation to figure out which ones worked best (some just made me dopey). I have no idea if the triptans are approved for young children. If they aren't, or if you are hesitant to have your son use them, there are other options. My sister, who has auras with her migraines (and was therefore diagnosed more promptly than I was), got serious, specialized biofeedback training to prevent/ treat migraines, which helped some. I got accupuncture when I was preganant, and that was almost as good as the drugs (but again I have no idea if such treatment is suitable for an 8 year old). Finally, I can get a lot of relief from heat/cold therapy and back/ neck massages.

I agree that a detailed "headache diary" is a very good idea: note what has been eaten/ drunk in previous 24 hours, sleep patterns, stressors, weather, how long headache lasts, how intense it is, how you treat it. PP who suggested that smells can be triggers is right. Part of what you and your son need to do is detective work to see if you can pinpoint what his triggers are, and the diary is a very useful tool. It is also useful for getting doctors to pay attention.

I hope this helps. Thank you for taking this seriously on behalf of your son.

[Anonymous]

OP, my 13 year old son has had migraines since he was about 8. I have them also, as does my mother. What helps my son at this point is a glass of soda if he feels one coming on. The caffeine really helps him. I also try to watch what he is eating. MSG will give him migraines. Strong perfumes will as well. He usually needs to go into a cool, dark room and just rest. Advil and tylenol usually do not help him.

[Anonymous]

I had migraines growing up. And I still remember how sick I got from the smell of play-doh! Ick. Please remember that something at his school could trigger them too. Also, I was not a good eater so being hungry probably triggered a few as well. Right before it rains real hard I get them, or playing out in the hot sun too long. MSG (Chinese food or anything processed like bologna, pre-packed lunch meats etc.) always gave me migraines as a kid too.

I would also be careful of the preventative meds, triptans? the ones that shrink the blood vessels. Because, for me as an adult (also recommended to me by a neurologist) they said to expect to gain weight and lose your sex drive. Of course, you don't have to worry about that. But, since exercise is very good for preventing migraines anything that would make your son lathargic probably would be counter productive. I don't remember what the other side effects were, but I think there were a few related to kidney function as well. So, imo do that as a LAST resort and monitor it very carefully if you do.

Please post back with more questions or progress. I would hate to see any child go through that when solutions and culprits can be thought out.

[Anonymous]

My husband has had migraines since he was a child -- the really awful ones called cluster headaches, where he'd get multiple headaches each day for two or three months, and those headaches made him throw up and sweat and his heartbeat would slow down and speed up. He tried lots of medications, and would also inhale oxygen. The triptan meds helped the most. AND THEN WE DISCOVERED THE EFFECT OF DIETARY TYRAMINE. If he avoids tyramine in his diet, he does not get migraines. If he consumes tyramine, he gets headaches. I am also sensitive to tyramine, and it sometimes triggers migraines in me, too. Google "tyramine-free diet", and see what comes up. Try an elimination diet to see whether he can tolerate low levels of tyramine. Tyramine is a byproduct of the breakdown of an amino acid called tyrosine. So, aged proteins are often a culprit, but some other foods also naturally contain tyramine, like lentils, chocolate, overripe bananas...

[Anonymous]

As an acupuncturist, almost all of the patients I see for migraines have very positive responses to treatment. Usually we also do some observation / detective work similar to what other posters have mentioned in order to discover triggers. If the migraines are related to allergies, I would especially look at diet and try cutting out the major mucus-encouraging foods: dairy, wheat, and sugar.

For your son, acupuncture might be very helpful, or he might respond so well to acupressure, massage, or other techniques that needles wouldn't be necessary (this is often the case with kids.) The needles themselves are very fine and seldom involve any discomfort; I'm currently treating a 10-yr old boy and he does great. One big potential benefit of acupuncture is that it might prevent your son from having to deal with the side-effects of taking medications long-term. Acupuncture helps the body to re-regulate itself and return to healthy balance, so catching this early for your son could prevent it from becoming a life-long issue.

Depending on where you are, you can start looking for an acupuncturist near you by checking one of the following websites. Call a few folks and make sure to ask if they are comfortable with / experienced in working with kids.
www.maryland-acupuncture.org/ (MD Acupuncture Society)
www.acusova.com (Acupuncture Society of VA)
http://dcacupuncture.org/ (Acupuncture Society of DC)

One other option would be to look into a very gentle form of bodywork called Craniosacral Therapy. I know that Nishanka Lahr at the Teal Center in Arlington (www.tealcenter.com) specializes in working with kids.

Hope this helps & I wish you son well!