DD (15) has bad headache

[TheTempest]

Hi,

DD is pretty tough and almost never gets ill. Maybe 2-3 times in her entire life. She’s been out with her friends this evening and asked to be picked up. she says she’s not been drinking/smoking/ doing anything else and she’s pretty open with me so I believe her.

She’s got a bad headache, says her neck is sore and lights are hurting her eyes. She’s got no rash and can put her neck onto her chest with no issues. She’s a bit pale but no fever.

I’ve given her 2 paracetamol, ice pack and she’s gone to bed with a flat Coke and various drinks. She didn’t even want to eat her maccies! My question is, when do I worry? Should I be taking her to a&e? It sounds like a migraine to me, but I have chronic illnesses so my threshold for hospital is higher than most!

I’ve asked her to wake me up in a few hours if she’s not feeling better and I’ll take her if she needs it. Any advice welcomed, I am struggling with my own judgement!

It does sound like a migraine - if it is, paracetamol might not help and you’ll need something stronger. Although sometimes a night’s sleep can knock it on the head. Get some migraleve or even better, triptans from the chemist if it’s still there in the morning.

I have terrible health anxiety, especially where my kids are concerned,so a headache with sore neck and lights hurting eyes would be something I’d take seriously. I’d ring 111 for advice from a medical professional.

Does she normally get migraines? The aversion to light would bother me. I would call 111 and keep a very close eye of her. Are you sure she hasn’t got a rash anywhere on her body? Take her temp frequently.

Thanks @Hotandbothered222 I’ve got some migralieve in the house so if it hasn’t shifted by the time the next dose is due then I’ll give her those instead.

I’m with @JulietSierra when it comes to my DDs I always err on the side of caution. Plus a rash can be one of the last signs of meningitis, if that’s why you were checking. I’d absolutely ring 111.

Take her straight to A+E. Sore neck = possible meningitis. Better to be safe than sorry. There isn't always a rash. Any cold hands+ feet? Yes it may well be migraine ( l get them) but sore neck is concerning.

Thanks @JulietSierra , if she hasn’t settled in a few hours then I’ll give 111 a call.

@Hairyfairy01 no she hasn’t had one before, I get them though and it does sound very much the same. Yes no rash anywhere, she checked and then showed me and I can’t see a rash anywhere. I’ve asked her to keep checking. I get aversion to light with migraines too, obviously it’s different for different people though.

I think the key here is she doesn’t suffer from migraines. I would be tempted to take her to ED to be honest. Like another poster said a rash is often one of the last signs, if it occurs at all.

@Ihavesomeideas no cold hands and feet. No fever and no vomiting and she can touch her head to her chest.

My friends DS had meningitis years ago and he was so poorly that it terrifies me. So I’m conscious of it and I just don’t want to overreact. Our local hospital is dire currently, with 12hour waits regularly and honestly the staff are pretty burnt out and a lack of empathy so I don’t want to make her sit in a loud bright room all night if it’s just a migraine. But of course my brain is going, but it could be meningitis.

A quick google of aversion to light, headache, stiff neck will tell you what to do - seek urgent medical attention.

This is exactly how I presented with viral meningitis. Especially the mention of neck pain. Please go get her checked, hope she's ok.

You were concerned to the point of asking on here where we are not medically trained (I mean, some are but you can’t verify that) so I would urge you to act on your concern right now by asking the right people at 111.

I’ve just gone to check on her, no rash and she seems ok in herself. She’s refusing to go to a&e and just says she’s tired but I’ve said if she’s not feeling better in 2 hours then we’re going and that’s the end of it. She seems a bit better to be fair.

I’d at least call 111 to get medical advice

You’re all right, I’m going to call 111 now. DH seems very casual about it and seems to think I’m overreacting. He had a heart attack in December and only went to the hospital because I made him so I can’t trust his judgment either!

Go to an and e and get her checked out. Don’t want to sound alarmist but I know someone who died with these symptoms - meningitis. Better to be safe than sorry.

Ibuprofen for a migraine, where in her head is the headache? Migraines can be hereditary, you say she is 15, is she heading into GCSE’s? Stress maybe?

Ring NHS 111
you won’t want a long wait in A+E especially a Friday night, without due cause

I think there might be something going round. Son 1 had a day off school earlier this week with headache and sore neck. Son 2 a couple of days later the same thing.

Go, by the time a rash appears with meningitis it’s more often than not, too late. Trust your gut on this one.

She’s just done her mocks, finished this week. She said it’s in the top and front of her head, I’ve just spoken to 111. We are waiting for a call back from a clinician, and then we may be able to get an OOH appointment. She said the headache and neck pain have eased off now, but I will keep a very close eye on her and if she gets worse or 111 advise us to then I will take her to a&e.

Migraines have to start sometime, theres always a first one or at least one that is so bad you realise you have migraines not normal headaches, so the poster saying 'no history of migraine' - that doesnt make sense

111 will give you what advice you need but more than likely say to go to A+E and at 15 you cant make her go although she might be persuaded to go if advised by them

Its hard not to panic about something like meningitis but on the other hand I cant think of somewhere worse to be than A+E on a friday night with a migraine, I think I would collapse.

A pre-menstrual or hormonal headache can be very intense or even a migraine - could this be the case for your dd?
but yes get her checked out. Once anything sinister has been ruled out some of the other suggestions such as triptans could be useful.

No she’s not at that point in her cycle- I thought it could be hormone linked so I checked. Gut feeling is that it’s a migraine, mine started around her age.

Of course if she gets worse, it doesn’t go away or 111 advise us to then we will go to a&e. Better to be safe than sorry, I’m charging phones etc while waiting for the 111 call back and she’s getting some sleep.

Sounds like a typical migraine. Light aversion, pain in the neck and head. She needs rest, fluids, darkness and possibly migraleave (not sure on the age they can have them) ice packs help too. Coming from someone who has suffered for years. They start at some point and can be scary the first few times. I have dancing lights in my eyes so watch out for auras too. Hope she feels better soon