Headache and vomiting

[worriedmummy1234]

My 13 year old has an awful headache and vomiting - just for last few hours. Can't keep painkillers down because she just throws everything up. Google is scaring me. She's chatting just quiet. She can put her head back and doesn't have a problem with light.

Any advice would be hugely helpful.

I’d phone 111 to be honest. Almost certainly a virus but why muck about?

Migraine? I'd try not to panic just yet if it's just the headache and vomiting and only been a few hours with no other symptoms. Try tiny sips of water or ideally sucking an ice cube to ward of dehydration if she can and then keep a close eye on her. 111 or A&E with any determination depending on the severity.

I vomit with migraines so it could well be that.

It could be a migraine or a virus? I would call the GP anyway, if you don't you'll continue to worry.

As well as head back can she touch her chin to her chest?

If she isn't diagnosed with migraines though I'd be calling 111 if GP surgery closed.

I used to vomit with migraines. Suffered for years as a child/teen. Thankfully grew out of it, think it was hormonal as my mum had the same and how my son occasionally gets them too.

I can't thank you all enough. GP referred us to A&E - diagnosed probable migraine although it wasn't totally typical because the vomiting was persistent and there was no aura. Have any of you experienced just severe headache and constant vomiting that didn't relieve the pain?

Glad you got her seen @worriedmummy1234 , how's she feeling now?

How is your DD, OP? I think the GP did the right thing by sending you to A&E. I hope your DD is ok and feeling better soon

Much better thank you - but I'm still so worried there is something underlying. I don't normally worry but I have never seen her so unwell.

Bless her, did she have a neurological check / CT scan? Hope she improves and it was just a nasty virus x

I can have migraines that are only vomiting, migraines that are only headaches and migraines that are a mix of the two.

For me the thing that always makes me think they are migraines are that the vomiting and headaches are made worse with moving my head, noises, screens, smells and tastes. Drinking a glass of way too strong cordial was enough to send a niggle of migraine into a 2 day migraine lying very still in a dark room.

For me my biggest trigger for migraines is changeable weather and as soon as unexpected rain or a storm blows in I get a migraine. My sister's are the same and it's not uncommon for me, my mum and sisters all to have migraines on the same way.

Speak to the GP or pharmacist as there are anti nausea meds that you can pop under your lip so you don't have to swallow them. I don't know if they can be given to children though.

I would keep a dairy of the symptoms often with headaches and nausea the cause is identified by looking at the patterns.

Thank you this is so helpful. They didn't do a CT scan - I don't think I expected them too. If it's a migraine we will cope with that I was worried it was something worse. I'm worried she is under unnecessary stress that is causing this,

My son is 15 and has had migraines for 4 or 5 years. He used to get vomiting with is headaches and this could go on for hours. Since starting on zolmitriptin the migraines don’t usually last or lead to vomiting.

My DD had her first (and so far, only) migraine last year aged 17. She did have the aura but it presented as confusion and weakness. The headache pain and nausea came later and nausea only lasted a few hours. I was recommended to take her to A&E due to the neurological symptoms and they did a CT scan of her brain which I found reassuring. The neurologist we saw in the hospital said it is not uncommon for adolescents to have one migraine and never have another one, so hopefully that will be the case for your DD. Triggers include hormonal changes, stress, lack of sleep. DD now pays more attention to keeping herself healthy, fit and getting enough sleep.

A friend had her headaches fobbed off by GPs as migraines for several years. Eventually she went to a neurologist who specialises in headaches who thought her symptoms didn’t sound like typical migraines. She ordered a scan ‘just in case’ and found a brain tumour. Obviously that’s a rare case but just worth bearing in mind if something doesn’t feel right.