Year 10 and Chronic Migraines - how to catch up

[Iseethesilverlining]

My DD is in year 10 and is suffering with chronic migraines and chronic daily headache syndrome. They have been getting worse over the last two years, and so far this term she has been 70% absent. When she is ill she cannot concentrate on any work, and so has to try to catch up when she is well - although that's pretty stressful as she is always behind. School are being very supportive, but does anyone have any experience of a child missing a huge block of work in their GCSE years? And if so, how did you help them manage/catch up? I have looked into tutoring but it is hard to know when she might be well and so when to schedule it. She is under a consultant neurologist who just says it will take a long time and a lot of different interventions to get better. She is a bright girl - predictions were mostly 8s/9s across her 10 GCSE subjects at the beginning of the year. Thanks for any advice.

[Thislittlefinger]

My daughter suffered terribly at the same age. There was a huge improvement when we cut out eggs and snack foods with hidden msg. Also we found out later she was low in iron. She says now she feels that may have been part of the problem too. She never gets them now.

[Peridot1]

Went through exactly this with DS.

Daily migraines. Every morning. Tried everything.

He missed from December of gcse year. Worked at home when he could. Teachers would send work home. He did manage to go to some gcse revision courses over the Easter period. He did his GSCEs at home with an invigilator.

After the Easter he asked to see a psychiatrist as although he denied being stressed he couldn’t bring himself to go to school. He ended up seeing a private psychologist. His turned out to be stress related. He didn’t admit stress to himself and assumed everyone else was fine and coping so his migraines were his brain protecting him from stress and pressure in a weird way. They were definitely real. We tried everything. Even hypnotherapy.

[Thislittlefinger]

Oh sorry I just realised you were asking about school work.

[Iseethesilverlining]

Thank you. She’s been tested for food intolerances and was all clear, and is seeing a psychologist - stress from missing school rather than the cause though. What did your DS do after GCSEs Peridot? Did he manage to do A-levels or move into work?

[Peridot1]

He went on to do A levels at the same school. Didn’t do as well in GSCEs as he might have obviously.

We had a few bouts of migraines and missing school again in 6th form. Notably at points of pressure. He did A level mocks at home too. But then after a meeting with school he was determined to sit his A levels at school and he did. Hasn’t had a migraine since.

School were pretty good. Lots of support and encouragement.

And he did ok results wise. Didn’t hit predicted grades but that was more laziness than anything else.

Now on a gap year and has applied for uni and has an offer for his (new) first choice.

[TeenPlusTwenties]

I haven't got direct experience but for me I would:

• drop less important GCSEs. I'd do 2 English, 1 maths, Combined science only (2) plus 2 or 3 others = 7/8.
  

7 or 8 with good grades and an explanation will maybe be better and easier to achieve than sticking with the 10.

• Seneca / Tassomai for Science, plus revision guides & youtube.

[Iseethesilverlining]

Thank you!