Sudden daily headaches in 13 year old girl

[MissisBoote]

DD had a migraine about three weeks ago - the first time she's had one and it wasn't until the next day that I realised what it was. It was pretty full on and she was sick several times. She was very tired before it came on so I think it was that that triggered it.

For the last few weeks she's been waking up with a headache on most days.
She's hydrated and pretty well rested (especially as it's been half term). A few days she's needed to sleep for a few hours as she's felt so terrible.

I'm going to try and get a docs appts this week, but I was wondering if it could be hormonal? She's not yet started her periods but I think it's not far off.

Other than that she's in good health, rarely ill, pretty active etc.

Any ideas or similar experiences?

[mikado1]

It couod be hormonal if she's ananythinlike me but I would get her checked out nonetheless as it could be something more sinister.

[MincemeatTart]

I think because it’s on waking, you should definitely get her checked out sooner rather than later.

[MistyMinge]

I'm no doctor but given her age I'd have a guess at it being hormones. I get a bad headache for two or three days leading up to my period. I expect the start of hers are imminent.

Still worth getting her checked out by a doctor though.

[HolyCatsWhiskers]

My teenager started having headaches and being sick, maybe migraines at school,
I had to keep picking her up from school, and it happened several times.
Months later she said it may have been the energy drinks she’d been having ( she wasn’t allowed them due to caffeine) as she’d noticed she only got this migraine after having them.
I was pretty annoyed. But thought it worth mentioning here.

[myrtleWilson]

I had a similar thread a few months ago about my 14yr old DD. She had days and days of headaches (but not on waking nor being sick) and her teachers were commenting that she didn't look herself.
We took her to the GP but before that appointment we managed to get her eyes tested (all fine) as we felt it likely one outcome of the GP appointment was going to be - could be eye strain - so we wanted to pre-empt that. Turned out it was a cold that was stuck in sinuses causing headaches - some use of nasal spray and all good.

Hopefully for your DD it will be hormonal or something straightforward too but given the headaches are there on waking I would agree with GP appointment.

[chocolateorangeowls]

Have you had her eyes tested? I had similar at that age and it turned out that I needed glasses

[MissisBoote]

Interesting others have had the same -
No caffeine or energy drinks in her diet and she had her eyes checked about 2 mths ago and no problems with her sight. I might take her back depending on what the GP says.

She's only had a full on migraine the once, the rest have been headaches and she's mostly been able to carry on with normal activities eh the help of painkillers.

Fingers crossed I'll be able to get her an appt on Monday.

[Witchend]

Dd2 gets migraines, and ds is showing signs he will.

What they told me to check with dd2 when she started:
Eyes, iron levels, dehydration, hunger, stress, keep a diary to look out for triggers/allergies.

Dd2 was only 9yo when she started, so hormone wasn't likely.
Ds I think he's allergic to hedrin as both times he's had it, he had nit treatment the night before.

Dd2 also gets cluster headaches. So if she gets one, she's more likely to get another etc. She has some beta blockers to take when that's happening.

[nancy75]

I have week long headaches before/during my period, at her age I would think there’s a very good chance it’s hormonal.

[Crispbutty]

I always knew my period was due as I got a banging headache and a pimple on the side of my nose every month without fail.

[SilverHairedCat]

For me it was, and still is, a combination of factors.

Dehydration, over heated bedroom at night, lack of oxygen, excess of caffeine. I'm helped by having the heating off in my room for hours before bed, and through the night; a window open - even a cracking is better than nothing, no matter how cold outside and monitoring my water intake.

After that's, it's postural issues. Sitting reading for too long, using my phone or my tablet for too long, sitting at a desk hunched over my work for too long - all puts pressure on the neck and creates horrendous headaches.

Are any of these factors she could be affected by?

[Thistlebelle]

Chocolate allergy?

[Ellapaella]

I get migraines and so does my eldest son. They tend to last about 3 days, not more than a week. Mine are hormonal and these usually occur at a very specific point of my cycle, there is a clear pattern.
As she had vomited with them and woken up in the morning with them I think you should take her to the GP and gets this checked out reasonably quickly.

[lovecomfythings]

Daily persistent headache?

[lovecomfythings]

But NDPH (new daily persistent headache) would have to be unremitting since the sudden onset.
Chronic migraine? Although you said she is not always having a migraine headache. Also it would be too early to tell at 3 weeks.

[theconstantinoplegardener]

Lots of possible causes here, but persistent morning headaches can sometimes indicate a more serious problem so GP appointment on Monday would be sensible.

[MelvinEugenePunymeyer]

This happened to me at a similar age and it turned out I needed glasses.

[feska5]

I would guess it’s definitely hormonal. I started with migraines around the same age. They became steadily worse through my teens. I suffered vomiting and partial loss of vision. Sometimes I couldn’t speak. in my pregnancies my migraines were horrendous. So definitely hormonal although stress is a big factor for me also. Migraines are horrible and debilitating. Seek help from your GP.

[cestlavielife]

Keep a headache diary download from this page
www.gosh.nhs.uk/medical-information/clinical-specialties/neurology-information-parents-and-visitors/clinics-and-wards/headache-clinic

First stop gp
Get referral to a paediatrician if needs be
Paed can refer to heache clinic

Keep keeping a headache diary

[MissisBoote]

Thanks - just waiting for the GP phone lines to open.

I've kept a headache diary so that'll be a good starting point.

I can't seem to think of what could be triggering them. Her room is cool (heating goes off at 7pm). She's well hydrated - I've been getting her to drink more since she's had the headaches. I don't think it could be chocolate as she rarely eats it. She's spend the usual teen amount of time on screens but we were away for a few days this week and she barely used her tablet /phone and she still had the headache. I've told her not to use it in the mornings though to see if that helps.

[BluebellTheDonkey]

It would be a good idea to get an eye test for her, the GP will almost certainly ask for this. My DS suffers from headaches but it is to do with hormones/growing for him.

[MrsRonBurgundy]

I started grinding my teeth at night and was waking with really severe headaches from
Tension in my jaw all night. Could it be similar? I didn’t realise until I went to dentist and she could tell instantly I’d been doing it and said it will cause bad headaches.

I have a night guard now to solve

[MissisBoote]

Back from the GP.

He suspects migraine headaches as they're mainly on one side of her head. He's referred to paediatrics to manage.

Fingers crossed we don't have to wait too long a referral.