Another A&E thread

[MyOtherCarIsAPorsche]

AIBU to take granddaughter to hospital this evening or will it wait?

She's been having headaches regularly this year. She describes pounding and pain in eye. GP said eye test - optician immediately said that she could see a large prescription. DG had glasses then three months later had another checkup and a stronger pair prescribed. She's due back in December. So I'm assuming that they're increasing the strength of the glasses in increments.

Her headaches have persisted. This current one she's had since last Friday. I picked her up from school on Monday and could tell that each footstep was making her wince with pain. She couldn't sleep Monday night because of pain and feeling sick. We've been alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen for pain relief. Saw GP on Tuesday who said it was nothing sinister but was referring her to paediatrician. This evening she was complaining of eye and nose pain and appeared to be light sensitive. She's woken in pain a couple of hours after she went to bed and her eyelid is drooping.

Is this worth a trip to A&E?

We're very worried.

I believe you OP. I’m so sorry your DGD continues to suffer. I know little about migraines but something that lasts for 9 days in a young child doesn’t sound right, particularly if she is vomiting and her eye is drooping. I have a child similar age and honestly I would be absolutely insisting on the need for a clear diagnosis and management plan - it’s not normal to leave a child in that amount of pain to suffer and wait for a paeds appointment. I know things are very stressed in the NHS but I know that’s not ok. Please consider getting your DGD to Leeds General Infirmary as soon as is possible and telling them your fears. There is a clear family history and yes, it’s probably a migraine, but that is utterly terrifying and so debilitating for a very young child.

I would also be insisting on an MRI scan. I'm not sure where in Yorkshire you are, but could your daughter go to A & E in Leeds or Sheffield Children's Hospital. It's so concerning. Have they said what about your granddaughter's symptoms make them sure it's nothing sinister?

one pupil bigger than the other plus photosensitivity and headache is a sign of uveitis. Its extremely painful
and you can lose your vision. I would take her to an eye hospital a&e not regular a&e. When I had it my optician could not tell, only the consultant at manchester eye emergency could diagnose it. Hopefully you have something similar at york or can get an emergency referral.

Could she possibly get her to a children's hospital? They are much better at dealing with children and have the facilities to diagnose what the issue is.

I don’t think you are going to get your daughter to take her again.

To be clear I think you should ask her to go again today

But failing that ring the duty doctor at the gp surgery in the am asking for an emergency app and the GP will refer them in

Or if you think they will say it fine there is a private gp at Leeds. Get them to ring on call paediatrics to see her

So sorry you must all be so worried.

On Friday the paediatrician said that the eyelid had self resolved. So I assume that's why they diagnosed migraine. I'm presuming they shone a light in her eye to look for other evidence. My daughter says that they put the high blood pressure down to the fact that my granddaughter had said 'please don't let me die' and that she was overreacting and anxious. I now know that some forms of migraine can cause a drooped eyelid.

My granddaughter described double vision to the optician as the optician asked if the saw double. DGD said that writing and objects were overlapping, side by side.

Tonight when DGD woke with pain and asked for painkillers her eye lid wasn't drooping - but it was drooping before she went back to bed. Mum took a photo. The eyelid isn't drooping all the time so I assume this is an indication of nothing sinister (as the paediatrician said).

The GP, paediatrician and optician have all used the phrasing - there's nothing sinister going on.

The vomiting and fall happened after these appointments. There's also dizziness now - granddaughter is currently up again asking for painkillers.

Mum is alternating calpol and ibuprofen.

Has anyone explained why her pupils were 2 different sizes? To me this is the most concerning thing. Are they still different in size? Do they react to light in the same way?

Just had a look at photos - her eye isn't red.

Her eyes (both) look (can't adequately explain) weak and tired. One eyelid is more closed than the other. She looks ill. But I can see that this is how you possibly look when you've been feeling sick for more than a week.

Chronic migraine sufferer here - sadly migraine can and does last for 9+ days - my worst run was several months of a migraine waxing and waning. I absolutely get what you mean when you mentioned about your Dad and the trains - this was always at the back of my mind during those few months. Thankfully it has improved somewhat thanks to Botox and Sumatriptan injections.
Anyway, I digress.
You mentioned your GD said about nose pain - this is something I get too with migraine.
that said I’d definitely be pushing for all the tests available even if all jt does is confirm migraine - 7 is very young for them to start, mine didn’t start until the onset of puberty. The changes in her glasses prescription would also raise alarm bells for me.I can’t offer much else in the way of advice but something she could try for the headache is ice lollies - I’ve sometimes managed to catch a migraine out by sucking an ice lolly until it induced brain freeze. It sounds bonkers but it has worked on occasion!

I had what I thought was a migraine one day spent all day in bed feeling nauseous and headachy. Following day eyes were so itchy I thought it was hay-fever by lunch my face was dropping and swelling. GP at 1st thought possible mini stroke it was bells palsy luckily.
It maybe nothing and more than likely is nothing but eye dropping and sever headache I would definitely get to A&E to be sure as even bells palsy untreated or treated too late can cause permanent facial paralysis

I really feel for you. So much going on. It’s horrendous.
I think at the very least, you could call 111 or your gp cover, and describe the new symptoms, and how distressed she is.
I don’t know anything about childhood migraine meds but the calpol etc isn’t doing any good, is it, so they might find something more effective for her.

The pupils are different sizes. But I'm assuming they react to light as all involved have shone light into her eyes.

The optician has done all the usual checks - chin on ledge on those machines.

The optician said that her paediatrician would probably refer her for scans - we don't know when that appointment will be, but my daughter chose the hospital with the shortest waiting list - Bridlington. Three months.

She can’t wait three months in this state. Apart from anything else, is she going to be on calpol and ibuprofen indefinitely?

She needs to be seen and scanned asap.
If it is ’only’ migraine at least you will be reassured.

Take your child and refuse to take her home until she has been properly examined.

A friend of mine has it. She was diagnosed as an adult after her children was diagnosed and she realised she has the symptoms.
she had suffered for years with headaches, light sensitivity, fatigue

With a droopy eye, I would get checked ASAP

Is there any way your dgd can have a private scan? I had an MRI last year, cost £350.
Only other thing I can think of is a food allergy. I had migraines for years but one headache was so bad I thought I was having a brain haemorrhage . Took morphine in hospital to reduce the pain. Long story short it turned out to be a reaction to pineapple. It’s a long shot I know.

My migraines started at similar age to my granddaughter now. I went through puberty at 9. My granddaughter is the same build as I was - tall for her age, very slim. I believe early puberty stunted my growth.

I have naratriptan.

My longest migraines can drag on for up to 3/4/5 days but pain lessens over that time.

I once had 4 migraines in two days which were preceded by aura. That was awful. And I've been 'paralysed' down the left side by one particular migraine.

I know there are many types of migraine.

She's been having these long periods of headache most of this year - this is the worst one. Cannot get on top of hers with painkillers - which is concerning. She'll be ok for an hour and we think she's coming round and then she's quiet again and wincing upon movement. The astonishing speed of the deterioration in eyesight also causes concern.

I take one naratriptan and two paracetamol and 90% of the time I'm ok within the hour - bad headache but manageable. I really don't like the amount of calpol and ibuprofen given to DGD lately.

Twice doctors have tried to fob me off. I refused to take her home both times. The first time when she was 4 weeks old, the second when she was 22 years old. Both turned out to be life threatening events. Your instinct is the correct one. Take her to A&E and insist that she is properly examined. Hope she is ok.

@MyOtherCarIsAPorsche i found this example of private scan in Leeds
https://topmri.com/mri-scan/sg-mri-leeds/. If it’s possible financially , honestly I’d go for that. If nothing shows up it’s peace of mind for you all , I can’t imagine the stress you’re under.

She doesn't need a private scan, she needs the doctors in hospital to follow their clear guidance and do an immediate scan. If she goes back tomorrow with these new symptoms and pushes them hard on it (showing the nice guidelines etc) then the likelihood is they'll scan her there and then. Much quicker than going private, and if there is anything wrong they can deal with it very quickly if necessary.

Yes - we will try to get a scan somewhere as soon as it can be arranged.

She has been carrying around a 'sick bowl' all week, saying she felt sick. When she vomited today my heart sank. It doesn't seem to be going away like we were led to believe it would.

I can't believe there's nothing that can relieve a child's headache - we've been seeking help all this week (couldn't get seen at GP Monday).

that makes sense a little re your age and her age, I didn’t start having cycles until 14 which is when my migraine then started.

the deterioration in eyesight so quickly is what doesn’t seem to fit with migraine, so definitely push as hard as you can.

so sorry the wait list is 3 months, it must be awful to see her in that much pain.

That's doable.

We were at Spire near Roundhay earlier with DGD's brother not long ago.