Teen with Migraines

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had chronic migraines throughout my youth--vomiting sometimes so extreme I was hospitalized, plus aura, and light and smell sensitivity. The medications back then were either oral (so didn't stay down) or nasal opioids--which made me too high to stay at school anyway.

NutraSweet/aspartame was identified early as a trigger. (One doctor prescribed Maxalt as it would dissolve under my tongue and less likely I'd puke it back up--but it had NutraSweet in it.) Having chronic rhinitis treated made a big difference; my nasal passages are very narrow and any inflammation apparently is a trigger. Bright and/or flashing lights are still a problem, as is dehydration. The frequency overall is much less now, particularly since I was pregnant.

And yes it's genetic, and can skip generations. My grandma had terrible migraines and then I inherited them too.

me, too.. must be the hormones. But, also, I've just learned to manage it better.

[Anonymous]

My 14-year-old DD has chronic migraines. She has been going to the Children's Hospital headache clinic for about 6 months -- she is on a preventive medication and uses rizitriptan or Aleve as abortives (except she rarely manages to take them right as the headache starts, so efficacy is so-so). Things are getting better but she still averages 10-12 headaches/month. Triggers seem to be noise and dehydration. Exercise and generally getting outdoors seems to be helpful. Children's can be a pain to navigate but the care is good.

She has just started CBT to help her deal with pain -- getting connected with a therapist was a major effort so fingers crossed that it helps. Altogether, migraines have had a major affect on her adjustment to high school and her social interactions. She ends up missing a significant amount of class when she has a bad headache and can find it hard to participate when she is experiencing pain.

Best of luck for your son -- I don't think there is a magic cure but we are slowly getting a handle on managing this condition, I hope you do too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 14-year-old DD has chronic migraines. She has been going to the Children's Hospital headache clinic for about 6 months -- she is on a preventive medication and uses rizitriptan or Aleve as abortives (except she rarely manages to take them right as the headache starts, so efficacy is so-so). Things are getting better but she still averages 10-12 headaches/month. Triggers seem to be noise and dehydration. Exercise and generally getting outdoors seems to be helpful. Children's can be a pain to navigate but the care is good.

She has just started CBT to help her deal with pain -- getting connected with a therapist was a major effort so fingers crossed that it helps. Altogether, migraines have had a major affect on her adjustment to high school and her social interactions. She ends up missing a significant amount of class when she has a bad headache and can find it hard to participate when she is experiencing pain.

Best of luck for your son -- I don't think there is a magic cure but we are slowly getting a handle on managing this condition, I hope you do too.

Please get her a second opinion and a try different preventatives if she's getting that many. Some of the newer medications specifically targeting migraines are much more expensive but better for most people (they don't cure everyone but I'm finally having bit of success with one after trying all of them and failing all but who knows who long it will last). Find a doctor more willing to keep changing the medications every 2-3 months until you find something that works. 10-12 is way to many to suffer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 17 DS has had migraines since he was 5, but only 1-2 per month. Initially his triggers were bright artificial light, like laser tag, movie theaters, and video games in a dark room, maybe dehydration. In the last year the trigger changed to barometric pressure and oversleeping on weekends. Rainy days often come with a migraine. Sleeping in sometimes awakens with a migraine. We initially treated his childhood migraines with coffee and sleeping it off in a dark room. Then Excedrin. Then adding Ibuprofen. Then nothing worked. We finally saw a neurologist this year and she said he has "adult migraines" now, so less treatable with the caffeine/OTC options. He tried Imitrex plus Excedrin and it worked, but it caused a lot of flushing, so the doc prescribed Resitriptan, saying it's better tolerated. He goes to college in August, so we need a reliable solution by then!

Regarding gluten and dairy, dad and I are gluten intolerant, I'm dairy intolerant, and DS has the HLADQ2 celiac gene, so I often wonder if it's connected, but he's very healthy otherwise, so not willing to make a diet change yet. Had at least one celiac blood test growing up and due for another now. He eats very little bread and knows GF diet might be in his future.

In the meantime, the neurologist and friends with migraines insist he take magnesium, B2 ad feverfew supplements, but it's hard reminding him to take it!

Are you taking him to a headache specialist or a regular neurologist. GO to a headache specialist. Those supplements are the blow off treatments and don't do much. There is testing for dairy and gluten as well as vitamin B. Most regular neurologist know very little about actual migraines (having been to multiple).

Imitrex works best with Ibprophen, not excedrin (depending on the person) but some generics aren't great in terms of side effects and brand is better.

[Anonymous]

OP here. So very much appreciate all of the information and hearing about others experiences. DS gets the aura always so we know when it’s coming . He’s also at about 3-4 per month . Just started B2, magnesium, and amitriptayne ( so?) daily a week ago. Imitrex works when he gets one but he gets terrible stomach issues after . He’s missed a bit of school this year and doing things with friends. We also go to the headache clinic at Childrens . He’s set to start HS this fall at a very competitive private school he worked hard to get accepted at . I’m desperately trying to help him get this under control by then.
Thank you for all of the suggestions- I will look into food sensitivity and some of the other triggers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. So very much appreciate all of the information and hearing about others experiences. DS gets the aura always so we know when it’s coming . He’s also at about 3-4 per month . Just started B2, magnesium, and amitriptayne ( so?) daily a week ago. Imitrex works when he gets one but he gets terrible stomach issues after . He’s missed a bit of school this year and doing things with friends. We also go to the headache clinic at Childrens . He’s set to start HS this fall at a very competitive private school he worked hard to get accepted at . I’m desperately trying to help him get this under control by then.
Thank you for all of the suggestions- I will look into food sensitivity and some of the other triggers.

DD's private school has been pretty helpful with accommodations. (Mostly being able to drink water in class -- it had been prohibited b/o covid and masking, having a quiet place to leave class and go to when she has a headache and make-ups of homework/classroom work if need be.) Since you are already at Children's you may be working with their nurses already on school accomodation letters but flagging that they will do this just in case you are not. In DD's case the school counselor coordinated with classroom teachers and it has worked pretty smoothly.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone tried a Nerivio device yet? I am thinking of trying this for teen DC.

[Anonymous]

Amitriptyline should work. I take it daily and has worked great for me, after years of suffering migraines. I got them as a kid too. I have a PFO and while there is no "scientifically" proven connection, all the doctors involved were like oh, that's why.
If he is an athlete check his heart.
FYI, amitriptyline will prevent migraines, but he might still get mild auras when on it.

[Anonymous]

My DD started getting migraines at 6.The headache clinic at children's national has helped us tremendously.

[Anonymous]

Read books by Dr John Sarno and use Curable Pain app

It helped my tension headaches and teeth grinding

Good luck