To take DS to the GP again?

[Rosietru]

I don't want to be 'that' parent but...DS 14 has had a migraine since Sunday morning. Started with visual disturbances then headache across front of head. He slept on and off all day. Felt v sick.

Monday morning same, so took him to see advanced nurse practitioner, said to just continue with paracetamol and ibuprofen. She made me feel like an over anxious mother tbh.

Very quiet all day, not eating much and crying in the evening with the pain.

Today woke up feeling the same, very upset.

Temp slightly raised at 37.8 since yesterday.

He's had one migraine before last year, which lasted 36 hours.

Do I still carry on just waiting this out? He's not picked up his phone since Sunday morning, as an indicator.

How horrible for you and him OP! I would definitely request a GP call.

Of course things can be checked with migraines ignore rude pp... my DD has them and she has had blood tests and she is prescribed sumatriptan which has been great.

DD doesn't get a temperature with a migraine so I would want to check it's not something else.

Has he had his eyes tested recently?

If you can get syndol original (had to be the yellow tablet). Ok for children over 12. From a household of migrane sufferers

Is he taking his GCSEs this year ?

Has he been reading a lot and using his laptop a lot to study ?

Overuse can cause migraines and in extreme cases seizures

I get Sumatriptan, and something else but prescribed by GP. Best thing is paracetamol and ibuprofen.

Does he have any other symptoms other than headache and possible raised temp?

It really doesn't sound like a migraine to me, he could have a viral infection or COVID type infection. Take him down to your urgent care centre so he can be assessed and see a DR not a GP.

If he's 6 foot he's an adult size so can process medication for an adult

Just bear that in mind

That's all I'm saying on the matter

Ignore this poster. No aspirin for under 16 unless advised by GP. And absolutely NOT 900mg.

Cocodamol isn't recommended by the Migraine Trust either

Do not follow the aspirin advice. Aspirin is not to be given to children at all, especially not a larger than recommended dose for adults. That's why the nurse didn't recommend it. She probably thought that, as a parent, you knew about that.

Keep an eye on his temperature

Keep an eye on any changes with his breathing pattern ie faster or slower than normal

Check his pulse is it racing really fast or slow

Normal is 80 per minute give or take 20 or so

Is it regular ie when you feel his pulse is the beat a regular rhythm ie same distance between every beat

Good point

Thanks all, a few answers.

Yes to recent eye test, he's not doing exams atm, in y9. Would love to say he's been studying lots but sadly hasn't! He did have funny vision just before, now very bad headache at the front, feels v sick but hasn't been sick, no appetite. Slightly raised temp. Looks v flushed. Nothing else.

No urgent care round here, just gp or a&e.

Op, ask your GP for a prescription for Sumatriptan and 500mg Naproxen.

I suffer from 72 hour migraines and those medications combined are the only things that relieve the pain. It does come back after they’ve worn off and also makes me incredibly drowsy but it’s better than the god awful, relentless pain of a migraine.

I'd take him back.
When I first started to get migraines, they would last a week and paracetamol wouldn't touch the sides. They can give you stronger pain relief to help control them.
I'd also take a diary of what he was going before it started, what eaten and drunk.
Mine were caused by food triggers (sugar, diary and caffeine) I control mine mostly by avoiding certain foods now.

I was advised by 111 to take one of mine to A&E - they were brilliant. I think you’ve had several days now and the temperature would concern me. The A&E doctor was initially checking for brain issues.

I get migraines which wipe me out and have a triptan which I take alongside regular paracetamol. They can last 3-4 days.

My granddaughter started with headaches and described visual disturbances/eye pain.

She was prescribed daily tablets to prevent migraine and just has calpol when bad.

A later MRI revealed a tumour in the paranasal sinuses.

She'd seen several paediatricians by that time. Took almost a year for diagnosis.

Then you know better than to call them headaches FFS

I’d also take him to the opticians - they get a far better look at the back of the eye for pressure etc. it’s not about his distance/near vision rather the health of his eye being a good indicator of health.
so high pressure/papiloedema etc ruled out is very reassuring.

regular analgesia/fluid/some caffeine can help. Sleep is good. Triptans can help at the right time.

can return to gp for a second look but if migraine not a lot else to do presently

If you can’t get back to the GP, ask the pharmacist for Sumatriptan. You can buy a dose over the counter. They’ll advise if it’s safe for DS to take, and if it’s a migraine, that should sort it.

Big lad crying in pain after 3 days of headache? I’d be considering A&E or at least talking to GP to rule out anything more serious.

What signs are you looking for? Terrible headaches and sleeping a lot absolutely are signs of a brain tumour. While I doubt this will turn out to be the case here, having had a child go through this I would say ruling it out it's important.

Paracetamol and ibuprofen never did anything for my migraines but triptans are brilliant and I think you can buy them over the counter now.

However, the raised temperature could be cause for concern.

Is the temperature coming down with paracetamol?
If not then an urgent appointment is needed to rule out meningitis.
Regardless I would likely get him seen unless he's generally like this with illnesses. For my DC crying with pain would be a major concern, unless he generally cries easily when ill then that doesn't seem typical.

Poor lad :( Go back and ask about triptans. They're the only meds that do anything for my migraines.

Temp is staying the same. Not adverse to bright light, although preferring dimly lit room and chin ok down to chest.

He is also drinking plenty, someone asked earlier. He never usually cries.

It is not 'JUST a headache!' Migraines can last for days, literally making you want to die, so please don't belittle this young man who is clearly in a lot of pain.

OP, if he can't see a doctor today, please go to see your pharmacist and ask what they'd recommend. You can buy stuff for migraine over the counter, so if you try something and it works, all well and good, but if not, please keep going back until they find a solution. I suffer from migraines occasionally, and it's AWFUL!