To call 111 (posting for traffic)

[WorriedmumNo1]

Grateful for any advice or shared experience!

DD 4yr, just in the last 4/5 months, has suffered from headaches followed by vomiting. It’s happened three times over the 4/5 months. She probably vomited 3-4 times in her life before this, including as a baby. Ive noticed it seems to coincide with busy days with a fair amount of running around in the warm sun. Today for example when I picked her up from nursery she and the other kids looked very flushed and weren’t wearing their sun hats despite it being fairly sunny and about 23c. Could it be heatstroke? No high temperature, and she doesn’t feel overly warm to touch. She falls asleep quite quickly afterwards (so complains of headache, vomits once after an hour or so, then sleeps), and then is right as rain the next day. Then it happens again a few weeks later.

Should I call 111? I wasn’t too worried until I had a quick check online and saw that headaches in young children can be considered cause for alarm, especially if it’s a new symptom and accompanied by vomiting. I can’t see any rashes and she didn’t have any particular aversion to light when she was awake, so I’m not too concerned about meningitis right now 😕

Any advice gratefully received!

Not sure about 111 if the immediate risk has passed but definitely speak to your gp about this.

Please, please call. And don't let them fob you off.

I've known of this to happen to a young teenager and luckily they pushed as something was found. I also know of someone else who was not as lucky.

I don't want to give you the details here as 1) it's possibly outing and 2) I don't want to scare you for something that is, more often than not, something about growth etc.

But you are their mother and you know when something is not right.

I would say she is almost certainly fine but it’s always worth getting a little one checked out, even if just for your peace of mind.

@GettingAlong

Please, please call. And don't let them fob you off.

I've known of this to happen to a young teenager and luckily they pushed as something was found. I also know of someone else who was not as lucky.

I don't want to give you the details here as 1) it's possibly outing and 2) I don't want to scare you for something that is, more often than not, something about growth etc.

But you are their mother and you know when something is not right.

You couldn't have made that more frightening if you'd had a skeleton jump out at the end.

It would more be something I’d call the GP about to be honest but pp has freaked me out a little

@GettingAlong I think you need to say what the problem was rather than being so vague so at least the OP can eliminate it as a worry with health professionals Rather than worry about something unknown

While I think there is absolutely no harm is ringing for advice if you’re worried….if she is settled and symptoms have passed currently, I’d wait and contact GP in the morning. You say this has been happening intermittently for 4-5 months now, so sounds like an ongoing issue rather than an emergency per se, have you contacted GP before now? If not, has something about the symptoms changed today? If not, I’d keep an eye on her this evening and contact 111 if she worsens or develops any new symptoms that you are concerned about. Then make an appointment with GP to discuss further. But do stress to contact 111 if you become more concerned at any point tonight.

I’m 111 (Scotland) staff by the way.

Sounds like migraines to me. Both of my DC get them. They're fine if they either sleep in a dark room before it kicks in or they throw up and then feel loads better but always need to sleep after.

I'd get her to the GP tomorrow rather than 111. If it's been happening over a few months then I wouldn't have thought it was sun/heat stroke?

Is it always following nursery? Is she getting dehydrated there? I'd ring 111 for advice.

Why would you not call them? It's very little effort and 0 cost to have your mind put at ease or get the help she needs.

I'm a nurse, I'd say 111 (not paediatric trained and I've left since having a baby) but that would be my first thought I always err on the side of caution. But trust your own instincts above all op. Xx

Ask your GP rather than a bunch of randoms on here.
& maybe think back or keep a food diary to see if it's an allergic reaction.

Thanks very much for your replies.

I haven’t spoken to a GP about it as this is only the third time it has happened. I can’t remember the exact circumstances of the first time but the second one was three weeks ago after running around in the sun then eating a big lunch, so I kind of chalked it up to that. I’m a big worrier and try to think logically to stop myself going off the deep end, but now it’s happened a third time I’m starting to worry.

@ThinWomansBrain I was hoping other users would post similar stories that didn’t result in a serious diagnosis tbh, as well as finding out what more experienced mothers or health professional would suggest.

Does sound like dehydration leading to migraines to me, I used to get them when I had a very physical job and only sleep would fix it. If you think you will keep worrying call 111, but if you don’t definitely go to the GP in the morning and make sure all is well. X

I’m no expert, but this sounds like migraines to me. I used to suffer with them terribly as a child and they would always come on when I was tired. Blinding headaches followed by vomiting, aversion to light and a need to sleep for 12+ hours. Luckily, I grew out of them by the time I was about 16.

My mum has since told me she was absolutely terrified that I had a brain tumour or something!

I’m sure it’s something as simple as that for your daughter but definitely go to the GP as they were able to prescribe me meds to stop them if I started feeling them coming on (although that was over 20 years ago!) it also has some repercussions later on in life with what contraceptive pills you can have and things so it’s best to get it logged.

Hope that helps and you get it sorted!

Does she seems brighter after throwing up? I used to suffer from migraines as a teenager. I would get a really bad headache (sometimes with flashy lights), but as soon as I was sick I would feel well enough to sleep. They were often triggered by sudden changes in weather or air pressure.

Sounds like classic migraines. Trigger (hot weather, dehydration) —> awful headache —> vomiting —> sleepy —> fine. If it was something more sinister it would be unlikely to follow this exact pattern in a cyclical fashion. As she is little (it’s not impossible to get migraines at this age but unfortunate) I’d be checking in with the GP, just to make sure you are not missing anything. No GP would mind seeing a 4 year old for this at all.

This is going to sound stupid because I’m an adult, but I have a bit of an aversion to drinking and it leads to dehydration, quite frequently. When I let it get too bad I vomit - could it be dehydration?

If she seems ok now I would probably leave it till tomorrow and call the GP.

I'd call 111 just to reassure yourself then make an appointment with GP.

This sounds very similar to my son. We mentioned it to his consultant (we see him for another, unrelated issue) who suggested abdominal migraines. He didn't seem overly concerned and suggested we keep a record and food diary.

If she's fine in herself and they're not getting more frequent then I think a routine GP appointment might be more appropriate.

Sounds like it could be migraines. I suffered dreadfully as a child (still do); especially when dehydrated and/or exhausted. I’d make a GP appointment, and try to keep them hydrated, and note down anything, if it happens again.