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Original poster

Teen DD persistent headache

31 replies

Spiralcar · 11/05/2023 15:10

Here to whinge into the internet because I can't let it all out elsewhere. DD has had a headache for over 3 weeks. Nothing helps. It is sometimes worse, sometimes better but never not there. She can sometimes do her hobbies or go to school but then crashes - hasn't managed more than 2 days in a row at school. Have done everything suggested by the GP to no avail. Now waiting for blood test, eye test and paeds referral. Wish she would wake up tomorrow feeling better. Feel sad that I can't fix everything.

OP posts:
peachescariad · 11/05/2023 15:31

How old is your DD? has she just had her HPV vaccine by any chance?

Original poster
Spiralcar · 11/05/2023 16:13

She's 13 and yes, but the headache started over 2 weeks before the vaccine.

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peachescariad · 11/05/2023 17:05

My DD had something very similar but her headaches started in year 6 with the occasional migraine, so tied in with pre puberty etc.
Headaches continued into secondary school and she saw a paediatrician, eye tests etc. headaches also coincided with just before her period starting every month too.
Her headaches were 100% stress and worry related. She'd get them if she was tired/after a sleep over/ before any exam or test of any kind/dance auditions/dance shows and exams/tbh any sort of worry or nerves.
What really helped was the cooling strips ...we've gone through 100s over the years!
They continued right up until approximately 4 months ago when she's finally found her dream job...and hasn't had a single headache. She had 2 very stressful jobs up until then....she's 20 now! It just seemed to be the way her body handled worry.
I was never worried it was anything sinister but it was very debilitating for everyone in the family when she had one of her headaches.
We actually laugh about it now and she looks back and totally sees what a little stress head she was.
I did try to make it low key and not over fuss her when she was younger. Would try to take her mind of it and make things lighthearted etc which did help. A good sleep/ early night always got rid of them.

Original poster
Spiralcar · 11/05/2023 18:34

She has had occasional migraines before and is good at taking the meds and going straight to bed. Usually to wake up the next day tired but on the mend. I know from my own experience how much stress can impact things too. But it's the relentlessness of this which is getting me down. There's nothing to suggest anything particularly awful is going on at school. It's never been her favourite place but she says she would prefer to be able to go (on the days she's not been able).
Really good news about your daughter :-) so nice when someone finds their niche at last! I do have some of those gel strips as it happens. She hasn't asked for them this time around but it's probably worth a shot...

OP posts:
midgemadgemodge · 11/05/2023 18:49

Eye test

Original poster
Spiralcar · 11/05/2023 18:56

We have an eye test booked for Monday. I put it off because she had a test maybe 6 months ago and she has grown out of her prescription they said.

OP posts:
HU22 · 11/05/2023 20:07

I know its not what you want to hear but at that age its most probably hormones, has she started her period?

Original poster
Spiralcar · 11/05/2023 20:24

Yes she has, but it's never caused this to happen before.

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babygrootandstarlord · 11/05/2023 22:33

This is probably a long shot, but have you tried a mouth guard? I suffered from terrible unpredictable and sometimes prolonged headaches for about 30 years. Went through all kinds of migraine treatments and nothing worked.

In my 40s I got invisalign and it turns out my headaches were caused by gritting my teeth in my sleep, didn't even realise I did it.

I almost never get headaches any more, unless for some reason I forget to wear my retainer.

I hope your DD can find some relief.

SweetAndCrunchyLettuceMix · 11/05/2023 22:37

Could be a vitamin D deficiency? Hopefully the blood test will show, good luck 🤞

Original poster
Spiralcar · 12/05/2023 06:45

Mouth guard, I wouldn't have thought of! Glad you discovered that Babygroot. I will follow up on that if everything else comes up blank.

LettuceMix, we are doubling down on vit d, iron and multivits just in case but yes I hope that would come through on the test results. Have to wait and see I guess.

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Original poster
Spiralcar · 15/05/2023 17:53

Eye test found nothing. Suggested possible neck strain from looking at a phone and has suggested wearing (v weak) glasses for close work just in case - but these are not prescribed. Whilst it's great news he didn't find anything scary, it's also a bit of a nil result. At least we've established her eyes are ok!

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LillteSwim · 15/05/2023 20:19

Is it maybe worth if neck related to see a chiropractor? Is she sporty? Any injury’s in sport recently?
My DD can have a migraine when she’s on her period but not as bad as this

Original poster
Spiralcar · 15/05/2023 21:34

Not especially sporty and I don't think it's an injury or posture issue to be honest, but I'll encourage her to sit up a bit. Should have blood results in a couple of days and considering a private paeds referral as her appointment has come through and it's a month away...

OP posts:
LillteSwim · 15/05/2023 21:36

She can’t go on for a month with this pain. On a scale of 0-10 being the worst how bad is her pain?
has she been drinking loads to try help?

Original poster
Spiralcar · 15/05/2023 21:44

She has been drinking more than normal. Pain is usually 3-4 but it's sometimes worst and it's just the relentlessness of it that's the problem. Fingers crossed the private hospital can fit us in sooner. She was in bed by 6pm today :-(

OP posts:
Itsanotherhreatday · 15/05/2023 21:47

Nobody has mentioned teeth? Could be her wisdom teeth coming in.

Linnet · 15/05/2023 21:49

I’m not a dr or medically trained but you could maybe try vitamin b12. Maybe check with her dr first though.

My dd, who’s older than your dd as she’s 19, had terrible headaches earlier this year. We tried everything we could think of more water, dark rooms etc all medications, tried no medication in case it was too much. Tried migraine meds but they didn’t help she went to the dr who agreed she’d tried everything that she’d have told her to do. She then gave her more migraine meds which made her sick.

I then googled remedies for headaches and vitamin b12 came up. She got some and started taking them, we figured it wouldn’t do her any harm, and the headaches went. She does still get the odd headache but they are more normal compared to what she had been experiencing.

I hope you get to the bottom of it and your daughter feels better soon.

betaglucans · 15/05/2023 21:51

maybe keep a food diary, could be being triggered by something she's eating that she's developed an allergy to. Maybe try elimination diet to see!

Original poster
Spiralcar · 16/05/2023 06:43

I'll look into b12 thanks. Her multivit doesn't contain much it seems. I don't think it's wisdom teeth as she was at the dentist about two months ago and all ok. If we get nowhere with anything else we'll look at food. It's tricky as she's a bit fussy at the moment. The only thing that definitely seems to make things worse is being at school. But it's not as if she's suddenly better at home.

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Original poster
Spiralcar · 17/05/2023 12:43

Blood tests have come back normal, which is a relief but I was fairly sure it would show anaemia, which at least we could treat. GP is pushing for a quicker referral and we will have a letter for private appointment if we don't get anywhere with that. If the headache continues for 6 weeks and nothing else is found in the meantime it sounds like the next option is an MRI.

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TheFairyCaravan · 17/05/2023 12:50

See if you can find someone who does paediatric acupuncture in your area.

I suffer terribly with migraines and headaches but acupuncture really helps me. My pain specialist suggested it to me a few years ago and I had excellent results, but I let it lapse when we moved house so they came back worse than ever and in clusters. I started it up about 6 weeks ago and haven’t had a headache since and only a couple of migraines.

Original poster
Spiralcar · 18/05/2023 18:33

I made a private appt for next Tue and then was phoned by the NHS hosp and offered an appt next Thurs. In a bit of a quandary now. Is there much advantage in the one over the other (either way)?

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Original poster
Spiralcar · 18/05/2023 18:34

(to be clear I will cancel one of them first thing tomorrow)

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