Feeling really worried - DD frequent severe migraines

[YoScience]

My DD (15) started taking migraine about 2/3 years ago, initially she was taking one every couple of months but since October they are becoming more frequent and severe. 2 weeks ago we ended up in A&E.

She gets a full range of symptoms, visual disturbance, numb face, blind spots, pins and needles all over her body, her hearing goes, light sensitivity as well as the horrendous headache and vomiting that goes on for hours/days.

She was initially taking migraleve, then moved onto Sumatriptan and in the last few weeks has been taking a beta blocker propranolol as well ever day. As well as an anti sickness tablet as needed.

I was hopeful the propranolol would help but today has been the shortest between attacks she's experienced.

She is currently sleeping (I think all the meds have knocked her out) but I'm so scared of it ending up as bad as the last time when we were in A&E.

I'm on my own with her and feeling quite worried, like I'm waiting for something to happen. I feel so bad for her.

We have a neurologist appointment at the end of the month. Wish now it was sooner!

Poor her, they are so awful. Poor you, you must be so worried about her. I have experience of migraines, but I only get them every decade or so. Weirdly. I remember my DM got them almost weekly.

I hope you get some relief for her, and find a way forward

Utterly horrid, and very scary, be very persistant in your search for a solution, I lost a lot of my teenage years, and eventually found what triggered mine.

I am really worried, more so after the last time, I though the beta blockers might have helped more but seems not (although maybe they haven't had a chance as only been taking them for 12 days).

I've been trying to keep a diary to see if I can identify a trigger, but so far I can't. They usually come on mid afternoon 2/3pm, she's never had one on a weekend and never started one at home, always while out. That's the only connections I have come up with so far food/sleep/period makes no difference.

What was your trigger if you don't mind me asking?

Your poor daughter. My migraine s are still bad but not as bad asthey used to be. At school I used to have 3 days off a month.

Neurologist appointment sounds good. If that doesn't help try a migraine specialist. I saw someone in London years ago who was brilliant.

There is a migraine society that has lots of useful information too.

TriggerS for me include light or rapid changes in light. I had reactor light glasses for a while. Dehydration. Certain foods (not the normal and these were identified through specialist diets). Tiredness. Relaxing after stress. Neck tension or neck pain. Periods.

Probably more but those are my main ones. I tried various prophylaxis drugs but find if I deal with as many triggers as I can my migraine is manageable.

I have the mirena coil. I have massage. I drink lots of water. I watch my diet.

Good luck, she is lucky you are helping her.

I was on proprananol as a child you have to take it at the same time every day it worked for me and my siblings.

We all have different triggers. Mine are anymore than a little finger amount of brie anything lavendar citrus fruits and any diet drinks.

Nice to see you are doing all you can to help her

Thanks both, she is still pretty out of it this morning, but not as bad as last night thankfully.

Interesting to hear all the different triggers, I've had no luck in pinpointing so far. I did think dehydration was a cause so i have been on at her to drink more water and she has been doing this (well I think, she tells me she has anyway!) but I'm not not convinced that doesn't contribute. Neck pain in interesting as DD was complaining about sore shoulders the other day, I might look into that.

She takes the proplanolol at 7.30 am and 9pm, although the 7.30 is probably later on weekend days, do you think that could be an issue?

Thanks again for all your advice, I am finding it really helpful :)

One thing that I have found very useful with DD is when she has a migraine she takes the medication with regular Coke. There is science behind it the caffeine dilates the blood vessels in the gut aiding absorption of the drugs and dilated the constricted blood vessels in the brain which are the cause of the pain. The sugar in the Coke provides energy to the gut cells which promotes normal motility and reduces the vomiting.

Thank for that, I'll keep that in mind for future.

I've been looking into the daith piercing, people seem to have had some success in reducing migraines with that. Has anyone had any experience? DD is quite keen on the look of it, so thinking there's maybe nothing to lose by giving it a try.

I get frequent migraines and there are lots of other preventative treatments she can try if propranolol is no good, and lots of other painkillers to try too. The important thing is to just keep trying until you find the right one (not sure I have yet!). The National Migraine Centre are great and you don't have to pay for an appointment as they're a charity. I found them much better than the NHS neurologist.
In the meantime, she'll find ways of dealing with the pain as she gets used to it. For me, I need to eat stodgy food in the early stages and then keep my body warm but my head cold when the pain is bad. It's probably different for everyone though.

Keep on with the propanolol it takes few weeks and you might need to increase dose

When I was a teenager mine were triggered by periods, I could tell I was due to start every month. Nowadays I get them when I've had a run of sleepless nights.
I wonder if looking at bright screens for long periods is a likely trigger?