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.

Thanks for the well wishes everyone.

Scan is at 11am. I'm sure it will all be fine, just want her to get better.

She's had loads of infections and been run down for about 18 months now on and off. I'm surprised the bloods didn't show anaemia. Has her appendix out in June aswell poor kid.

Aw bless her, she's had a really bad run of it. Good luck for the scan, let us know how she gets on.

Hope it all goes well OP. Sounds awful for your dd. Mine is mostly better but still getting sporadic crushing headaches but they pass. She never got as bad as your dd but a milder version with very similar pattern

@HannaYeah we absolutely have Lyme disease in the uk. It's increasing especially here in Scotland

Hope you get some answers quickly

Hope you get some answers today OP

My dd 12 years has had a headache and dizziness since yesterday evening, headache is a pain in the middle of her forehead, I sent her to bed thinking it may be a mild migraine,took her temperature this morning and was low 35.5, she’s been sleeping for almost 13 hours now, currently waiting for a callback from 111.

It’s interesting to hear others say it may be hormone related as I think she will probably start her periods before the end of the school year based on her development.

I didn’t realize Lyme is a problem there, too! Please demand a test for that and check her for any target looking red spots.

I’ve known at least 3 people that had symptoms like you described where Lyme was the cause. One was a child with sudden headaches like this for no apparent reason. Mother asked for the test and they acted like she was stupid, but eventually that’s what they found. Another friend was going blind! Took 2 years to diagnose.

It’s a simple, cheap test but sometimes here we have fight to get it. I say try everything until this is fixed. Healthy people don’t just start getting sick for no reason.

God your poor DD, you must be so worried. I hope you get good news and a plan soon.

Hey OP, I hope all went well and she begins to feel better soon.
I had a similar attack at the age of 10, and they first thought it was to due with my epilepsy but it wasn’t.
They diagnosed it as Vestibular Migraine and the attack went on for just over 10 days it was horrific . I can’t believe the run around you’ve had , it’s ridiculous . I hope you get answers soon xx

Good luck.

How is your DD today?

Thank you everyone for your comments, it's very much appreciated 

The MRI was clear 😃 so I am so relieved about that!

However she is still poorly, swaying all over and feels sick and in pain.

The drs can’t decide what it is; migraine or not, virus, something affecting her middle ear, basically no one knows for sure and he even thought I had found the answer on google when I showed him! (Vestibular migraine!) @HelpMeGetAGrip

So we have to see how it goes and return to GP in a few weeks for review. Also get eyes checked again. At least it’s nothing serious in the brain which is what I was so scared of.

Hell of a day, left at 8.30am and just got back home. Shattered. She cried all way through the scan and had 5 attempts by 3 different doctors at getting a canula in which in the end they didn’t need. 🥺

I hope your dd feels better soon too @LoveSummerLife

@happycamper11

Glad your dd is on the mend 😊

So so sorry for her (and you!)

Migraines can take hold and be hard to get rid of. My 6 year old was diagnosed with abdominal migraines after 10 months of tests, scans and specialists. Thats 10 months of crying every day cos he hurt so much and being sick. Saw a neurologist (mine actually) who put him on a daily preventative treatment. Took 4 weeks before it reduced them significantly and another 4 weeks before the pain went completely. He literally became a different child.

Good luck

Thank goodness for that. I'm so relieved for you. I hope you get to the bottom of this very soon - I hope your girl feels better asap. x

That’s good news. I had labyrinthitis a few years back and was swaying, room was spinning, I was sick too. I had no pain but ear problems can cause horrific dizziness and sickness. Hope you find the cause soon and she feels better.

Glad that scan was good news. Have they considered vertigo?

Relieved for you - you must have been very worried. I hope you find a cause soon and get on top of it so the poor love can start to feel better.

Poor love. Thank god the MRI is clear.
I’ve had a bad headache for 15 days now. Started out of nowhere with extreme fatigue and painkillers didn’t touch it. After about a week I had some symptoms like sinusitis including dizziness and nausea. They’ve improved now but still got a bad head. I’ve been to the doctors and they can’t help. Nothing touches the pain. I’m going to book a private MRI but if it’s clear it’ll probably suggest a virus like these poor little kiddies!!

Start a headache and symptoms diary eg these from gosh www.gosh.nhs.uk/medical-information/clinical-specialties/neurology-information-parents-and-visitors/clinics-and-wards/headache-clinic

omplete aheadache diaryand fill in aPedMIDAS form.

You can also get referred to neurotology /audio vestibular clinic
But probably headache clinic best
My dd did well on propranolol as preventive for a few years

Relieved to hear nothing was found in the scan.

Hoping your DD gets some relief soon

How awful, poor thing. What a horrible thing to go through at her age. I hate migraines. By the way Triptans can work if not taken at the beginning, I take Sumatriptan and sometimes I find it works better 2-3 days into a migraine than at the beginning. Hope she gets better soon x

Well she’s fortunate to have a great Mom pushing for answers!

When I had a migraine I had to stay in a dark room hanging onto my bed it was spinning so much

So glad to hear the MRI was clear, good for you pushing for it. I really hope whatever it is that it lets up soon so your dd can be on the mend.