10 year old with debilitating headaches

[MuchADoAboutNothingInParticular]

For the last three weeks my 10 year old has been getting headaches that are gradually getting worse and worse. I think they are migraines. She has had her eyes checked/scans to make sure nothing is going on there and all is good. The last week her headaches have become debilitating for her. She goes to bed when she gets in from her clubs and is this evening clutching her head saying it’s so bad she doesn’t know what to do. Calpol doesn’t touch it. She feels dizzy, weak and generally awful. I will contact the GP tomorrow but due to a trauma when she was younger taking her to the GP is something she just cannot cope with and freaks out. I know she needs to go. I have tried calling the chemist for advice this evening but they are all closed or not answering. 111 seems like overkill and I will pop up and check in a minute but I think she may have just drifted off. Are migraines this frequent and debilitating? I would say she has probably had 10 bad headaches the last two weeks. Mainly first thing and last thing. Can be triggered by lights. Any advice is welcome, thank you.

I think you need to see your GP and get a referral for a scan to ensure all is ok . To be honest if it were me I would bring her to the ED but systems are slightly different here in Ireland . Good luck , I hope all is well . But she needs to be assessed asap .

My son had bad migraines starting around that age. Some would go on for many hours and he would be sick as well. He’s now been prescribed zolmitriptin and takes it as soon as he feels a headache coming on and it seems to stop it in its tracks.

Get a scan. That is a LOT of headaches in a short period of time of time. I’ve got two family friends with children who have had brain tumours this year.
my child had migraines but it’s about once a term. I would be extremely worried if he were having them more than once a week.

I have migraines and there have been two that have out me in hospital. i would take her to a&e and ask to be seen by neurology they can give her something stronger for the pain as it sounds like calpol isn't doing anything. hope she feels better soon its really not nice.

I would guess they are being brought on by hormone changes but definitely take her to the gp. As pps have said, that is a lot to have in such a short space of time.

Don't bother with calpol and give her ibuprofen for them, that might give her some relief. I can manage mine with ibuprofen as soon as they start and something sugary, caffeine too that has a similar effect to triptans. But don't delay the GP.

You shouldn’t just be covering up the pain. What is causing her migraines?

Please insist on further tests.
Poor girl, it must be awful for her.

Lifeling migraine sufferer here.
If it's migraine, calpol won't touch it. Migraine is a neurological disorder and it can be hugely disabling. Asthis is new for her, I'd ask for brain scans to rule out other causes.
In the meantime, keep a diary of everything she eats and drinks, the frequency and severity of headaches, and any other any other symptoms (e.g. visual disturbances, sensitivity to smells, balance problems, dizziness, excessive yawning, pins and needles anywhere in her body). Has she started her period? If so, record that, too.