Daughter had "migraine" for 5 days now

[naughty40me]

Please anyone with any experience?

My daughter age 10 has never suffered with headaches before. Started complaining of a bad head on Sunday morning.

Now, unfortunately her step sister whom she has contact with a week ago (as of that day) is in hospital with bacterial meningitis and is obviously very ill. She is still in there now.

So, being cautious I explained the situation and 111 said to go to a&e...he ruled out meningitis due to no fever or rash.

She was still no better come NYE so took her to drop in. Dr wasn't happy and sent her to children's assessment ward telling me they would run tests.

Drs there again ruled out anything but did not perform any bloods or scans and diagnosed migraine. Said to give calpol and ibuprofen which we have been doing already. Also had 2 doses of sumatriptan over the past few days and that doesn't work either.

We spent NYE in hospital more so because I couldn't get home (no car and no taxis available and we live 30 mins drive away)...nightmare.

Got home yesterday and come last night she was crying and holding her head.

She has slept last night for 13 hours which is long for her but I thought it would help so left her.

She's now up and refusing to come downstairs. Just wants to stay in bed. Have just given her calpol and a sumatriptan but I'm so so worried.

Surely she shouldn't be in this much pain for 5 days?? Even if a viral thing she would be fighting it off by now?

I'm not concerned about meningitis but I do think the drs focused on ruling it out rather than trying to find the cause of this pain.

Tbh I'm thinking of brain tumours now and all sorts

I'm going to ring GP and ask for bloods and a scan or is that being dramatic?

Single mum with no help and no one else really to sound off. Help please.

Poor her and poor you. I hope you get some help today. This doesn’t sound right at all. Keep pushing.

If she can’t move her neck well are you sure it’s not an alignment issue?

I get bad migraines from neck misalignment. Can you take her to a chiropractor for an assessment?

Also, rub her shoulders and upper back and see if they are tight, are there knots in her shoulder blades?

I’d also raise hell and get the blood tests done.

I feel for her. I’m sorry. Migraines are shit. Yes, they can last so long, and chronic headache / migraine is also, depressingly, a thing. Hopefully this is not the case for her.

Do keep pushing though - if she has no previous migraine history it does need to be looked into fully, especially given her contact with someone who went on to become ill with meningitis.

Re relief:
Triptans do work best when given at the onset so giving her another now probably won’t have an effect. Giving something for the pain and nausea may. Using dissolvable painkillers has worked for me but I’m not sure if they’re rougher on the stomach or not. I’m prescribed Catafast, which disperses in water and is easier to get down when the nausea is overwhelming. Anadin extra, ie paracetamol, caffeine and aspirin also works for me. I know aspirin isn’t ideal for children under a certain age though?

In terms of relief, as another poster said, using either heat or ice will possibly bring some relief. She will probably know which is right for her. Some days when I feel like I literally can’t cope with the pain, a hot water bottle on the neck (like, on my pillow and me lying on top of it) quickly gives enough relief for me to drop off for a couple of hours.

Peppermint oil (I know, it sounds stupid) on the point of pain can also provide relief. It won’t get rid of the migraine but if it can make her feel less bad, that may be worthwhile?

I’m in the midst of an awful one this week and am off to the chiropractor tomorrow at ten. I’m not normally into alternative medicine but the sensation when she relaligns my spine is that of a migraine, just for an instant, and afterwards my migraines are fewer, for a week or two at least. If she’s suffering neck pain, it might be worth a shot? Again, I’m not recommending this instead of going back to the hospital / Doctor and pushing for more help. More for relief in the meantime.

I know I’ve listed lots of airy fairy sounding stuff. I’m under the care of a neurologist (we don’t know why I get them) and he agreed that literally anything is worth a try 😂.

Thank you all x

I will try with your suggestions @Straightintoit ...sorry you are suffering too. I get headaches a lot myself but never migraine, dizziness or nausea.

Thank you for taking the time to offer so much advice.

I'm probably over worrying but it's hard when it's your child; I just want them to rule everything else out, still waiting for the drs call back x

Oh the poor lass, she (and you!) must be feeling so miserable.

I started my periods at 11 and had my first migraines about the same time - although thankfully I never had one lasting more than 48hrs.

If the neck pain didn't come on until a couple of days in, is it possible she's been tensing up her shoulders against the pain, and that has led to stiffness?

Giving her an indian head massage (loads of tutorials on Youtube) may give her some relief.

Has she been eating? If not (or very little) that could be causing the dizziness.

Could she be experiencing stress/anxiety about something? Changes in the family unit - separation, house move, new childcare arrangements, new sibling. Arguments/fallings out with friends at school. Being targeted by a bully. Has a test/exam/activity coming up which she is afraid of. Stress is a major trigger for my migraines.

Hope she gets some relief soon

You mentioned her sister being very ill - could this be stress related?

I appreciate all the comments...it means a lot.

No she's not stressed by anything, it's her step sister in hospital and she's 18 and they are not very close/don't see much of each other really.

No family upset or house move etc.

Been sent on a wild goose chase tonight and I am absolutely fuming and could cry with fear/anger.

The 111 service said a Dr would call back within the hour. It got to an hour and half so I rang back. They said they were behind and it is Sunday etc. I said that's perfectly understandable but I just wanted to check she hasn't been lost in the system.

Another 2 hours pass and I get a call from a nurse asking if my daughter had deteriorated at all...I said no she is still the same.

She tells me that the call back from out of hours GP will now be another 5/6 hours and did I prefer to take her to the local urgent care centre instead. (This used to be our a&e but got reduced down to a walk in centre type thing. 3 miles away) I asked if this would be the best option or should I just take her to the main hospital (10 miles)....she tells me the closer one will be fine.

Book in there and wait. Triage take one look and tut and ask why 111 sent us there?! Nurse said that all the specialists are at the main hospital and that this one is only in call GPs and they won't perform any scans...and she agreed with me that she most likely needs a scan.

So, I ask her to reassure me that if indeed I do make the trip and ask for a scan they won't tell me no because it's Sunday...she says no, they do them 24/7.

So off we go...get there and let then know that I'm really concerned and daughter is literally hold on to me and walking like she's drunk. They put us straight into a cubicle.

Dr then comes and asks a few questions. Says she thinks it's just migraine. Goes away to speak to colleague and comes back to tell me that they think her headache is worse due to all the pain relief. (She has been given regular calpol/ibuprofen...AT THEIR INSTRUCTION!!) so they recommend stopping everything immediately and hoping it improves. If not, then back to GP who can refer to neurologist.

I asked about a scan. She told me that they only have CT available at this time and that it won't show anything. Only an MRI would be sufficient and it's not available. Also she doesn't think it's a tumour or bleed or anything like that as daughter speech is ok and no lobsided face.

Blood tests show no signs of any infection (thank god!)....so I say that I am happy to accept migraine as a diagnosis but only after a scan is performed.

She says to go back to GP as she cannot refer from a&e.

So that's that. Back and forth and told upteen different things.
Bear in mind I'm also a single mum on benefits with no transport and taxi fares tonight have cost me just short of £40

I just wish they had been straight with me from the off.

My poor DD is really in a lot of pain and I know I may sound neurotic but I'm very worried now.

So GP in the morning and a visit to an ophthalmologist. Also going to try any herbal remedies.

Sumatriptan only works at the onset and Calpol won't work. She needs ibuprofen. If doctors are struggling for answers I would suggest hormones are the cause. My migraines are always caused by a hormone imbalance i.e.going on the pill, coming off the pill, my period. When I went back on the pill I had a migraine for three weeks! Swapped to a lower dose pill and felt so much better.

How is she this morning op?

@Nogodsnomasters

Just the same

I've told her to go back to sleep whilst I ring the doctors.

I've been on since 8am when the lines open and I'm 73 in the queue , nightmare

Thank you for asking after her

It sounds like you are going through hell op, good luck today

Oh god that's awful, did you ever get through in the end to the GP?

Her vision went funny this morning. She says everything is swaying from side to side so it's like she can see 3 of everything and it's also blurred

GP said she needs a scan in his opinion but he couldn't authorise it so we got sent back to the assessment ward at the hospital.

They are going to do an MRI but no slots until tomorrow. I'm not sure how much of a priority she is or not but I'm just glad something is going to be done.

She's so pale, but she is managing to eat small things. Just in a lot of pain.

Hoping the scan is all clear and then I will have peace of mind.

Dd s chronic migraine began age 12 so similar
But wait for mri scan .
If mri clear ask for urgent referral to headache clinic.

Poor girl, hope she has some relief from the headaches soon.

This is horrendous. Without a scan they haven't a clue what's going on. I really hope you got sorted today.

OP, you are not in US, right? Lyme disease can cause these symptoms but that’s limited to US because it’s caused by a tick bite and only carried by ticks here.

I'm really glad she's getting a scan. It's so important to keep advocating for your child, as you're doing. Take care & good luck for tomorrow.

Poor child, at least you know you're getting a scan for her tomorrow that's definitely an improvement in the diagnosis.

In getting the diagnosis* that should say, sorry.

Oh OP how awful for you and your DD.

Is she drinking ok?

Hope your daughter is ok and they are able to help her. Sounds like you are going through a really tough time, must be so worrying for you.

Sorry to hear she’s no better. Fingers crossed the scan can get done ASAP.

I hope all goes well with the scan.