Tell me all your useful stuff on Migraines - my poor teenager...

[lborgia]

Hello and help, please.

My 14 yr old has been suffering from migraines for a few months. He’s had a couple of really awful ones where I was very scared - but otherwise, they’ve just been “normal” awful.

Because the first one was so dramatic, the GP sent him to hospital, and they were great. They’ve check for every kind of physical problem (brain MRI etc) because he was almost hallucinating, and lost use of his arms etc, so we know there’s no stroke, or, I’m not sure what else, but anyway, they’re confident it’s “just” migraines.

He has to take Triptans when he feels it come on, unfornately he often wakes up with it, so it’s already happening by the time he realises.. although once he realised before he went to bed, and took medicine, and woke up well.

I’ve looked up the Migraine Trust and love their help, but wonder if you have any experiences of how to be supportive, make it less of a horrible experience, but also because my H doesn’t seem to think it can just be migraines. He is sure that he’s trying to get out of school - not necessarily in a skiving way, but avoiding something. This is worse now because he was fine over the weekend, and then woke up with a migraine on Monday. THe reason I don’t think this is the case, is because he has discussed some really difficult stuff with us in the last few months, so I don’t think he’s bottling up, and also, when he is well, he works really hard to catch up, organises extensions for his assignments etc, and is out the door really easily on non-sick days.

I cannot imagine any teenager doing that if they fundamentally had a problem with being at school?

Here are a couple of specific questions I’ve got - but any small thing that has brought you comfort, or your child, I’d be very grateful.

1 - Have you tried feverfew? I remember it from my childhood for headaches, but have just seen it on a migraine website.
2 - He doesn’t get high blood pressure, in fact, if anything, it’s low, so the stuff you take everyday to avoid migraines, would that still work? My understanding is that its main job is to lower bp,
3 - Do you get back to work / child back to school during te hangover/afterwards stage? My son often wakes from a big sleep so much better, but a bit groggy, and my inclination is to go with it, whereas DH thinks he should be back in school pdq.

There is a whole extra level of crap, which I’m obviously already alluding to, where DH doesn’t necessarily believe something unless he’s experienced it himself, and our marriage is a whole other issue at the moment. My experience of a few migraines is that I was completely wiped out by them, but they presented very differently to this, and I don’t want to assume that DS is incapable, and feed the ...can’t think of the word, idea that he’s incapable/needs to stay home being pathetic?!

Anyway, too much waffle, but I’m feeling a little fried by many things, and just thought some practical help on this particular topic would be a good start!

Thank you if you got this far.

I really don't know what to say. I'm just so grateful for all the practical and emotional support. We are incredibly lucky that we live in a place with very easy access consultants, and at the moment can afford it... no point in worrying about holidays, we're not fit enough to go !

Really, stunned. Will work my way through all this.

Yes to the strong scents as pp said.

Only one pillow to sleep with or it knocks neck/spine out of alignment.
I also found that simple yoga type exercises for the head and shoulders work wonders if done regularly. Posture can be terrible when slumped looking at phone etc.
Weird one but I also find it hard looking at bright white paper with black printed ink. I wish everywhere used cream paper!

Oh I had migraines as a teenager and they were bloody awful - worse than the ones I get now because my hormones effect them. Your DS has my full sympathy.

WRT going back to school, if he feels better after a sleep, I think he should go back whenever possible. The hangover / tired feeling isn't going to get any better because he's at home, and school may distract him (just maybe avoid being active / sports). It would also help if school was onside so he could maybe sit somewhere a little darker / cooler / quieter when needed?

After working on mine for a long time, finding what works is a case of trial and error.
For me, cutting out cheese and caffeine, not letting myself have less than 6.5 hours or more than 8 hrs sleep, avoiding being in direct sunlight / heat all help.
When a migraine hits, try using something menthol (I have a vicks inhaler thing), 3 soluble aspirin (as a tip, these go down easier with a drop of squash added to the water and drunk through a straw), eating something with some sugar in, and a cold face mask all help (I have several which I keep in the fridge).

Being hydrated helps whether BP is high or low and dehydration can easily bring on migraines.

To support him, it's hard to know what's best. I like to be left alone in bed, window slightly open so it's a little cold, naked, with a mask, something to drink, curtains closed and silence.
My DF who also suffers, eats loads when he's mid migraine and will happily talk to you but it has to be in the dark and freezing cold.

Try everything people suggest because you never know what will work - but keep a diary - record sleep, water intake, what food is eaten, when, weather, activities and when the migraine starts. Note what treatment you tried and how it effected him (this is how I found the sleep limits and it's been life changing for me). You may find triggers and patterns.

As for your DH, if your ds wanted to avoid something, there are many other excuses to use which would be easier to fake than migraines. He needs to be onside with you, although I know a lot of people think migraine sufferers are being dramatic if they've never experienced one DM

Random thought but has his B12 been tested, DD suffers from severe migraines and has just been diagnosed with a Vit B12 deficiency. We don’t know yet if there is a link but Dr Google suggests there might be. She starts injections next week so fingers crossed.

I also have hemiplegic migraines with aura then numbness in one hand and the side of my face including my mouth. I had an MRI scan and lumber puncture because they suspected a stroke but then a consultant neurologist said definitely hemiplegic migraine. I cannot take triptans because they don't help this sort of migraine. I am lucky that I don't get severe pain or nausea. I have worked through them and I am a primary school teacher. I do tell my TA though and she keeps an eye on me.

I mainly get mine from smells and stress. I often wake up with one which is a pain if I can't go straight back to sleep. I get paracetamol in as soon as possible and sleep if I can. I do feel a bit confused for a couple of days and forget words but I can still do my job.

Migraines are different from person to person and different things work so try everything!

Normal painkillers like ibuprofen and paracetamol won’t even touch the edges of my migraines. So my advice is to find the right medication and over time he will learn his symptoms and be quicker at knowing when to take it. I take Zolmitriptan and because I have a very obvious visual disturbance, I know when to take it.

He may or may not have triggers that he can manage. Mine are dehydration, lack of sleep and hunger.

A small dose of aspirin every day has definitely reduced the frequency of mine. An easy change that has been so helpful.

I really feel for him and hope that perhaps it is hormonal and he will grown out of it

I had what I thought was migraines in my early twenties but since been diagnosed with herminicia continua. For me when I was young I couldn’t get hungry as that would trigger, or get too tired. Lucozade was the only thing thAt gave me any relief.

Now to control my head pain I have cut out all caffeine. Choc is a massive trigger.

Quick update, and another huge thank you, I spoke to the neurology secretary on Monday and they've found him a spot on Friday morning to see his neurologist, so will take a long list of questions!

Have you tried Syndol. I was recommended them when I had Swine flu and the headache was like the worst migraine ever. I’m sorry, but your husband pressuring your son is guaranteed to bring on another migraine when he’s struggling. Don’t let your son get dehydrated and get him to drink water and keep hydrated. I find if I take Syndol at the very first sign I can avoid a full blown migraine attack.

I suffered terribly throughout my mid teenage years and GP said it was hormonal. They later ramped up massively when I began taking the pill giving me focal migraines which were like mini strokes.
Anyway I tried allsorts to prevent/stop them over the years and as simplistic as it sounds - a pharmacist told me to drink lots and lots of water(I mean as much as you're stomach will hold) when I felt the feeling of one coming and it worked! He did say a massive reason for female migraines in particular was dehydration but it won't hurt to try in males too.
It is the first thing I do, to this day when I feel one coming. Sometimes it's enough but sometimes I might need to take a few painkillers too.

DO NOT try aspirin on your 14-year old ds unless doing it under medical advice - it is not supposed to be given to children under the age of 16, because of the risk of Reye's syndrome, which can cause brain and liver damage.

My daughter 15 gets migraines , usually hormonal of if she hasn’t had had enough sleep
She takes Maxalt wafer and ordansatin wafer or Maxalon. She usually goes to sleep. I have the cold forehead strips and she finds they help too. She’ll also take nurofen too.

You could try acupuncture for your son or reflexology.

I have heard that magnesium is meant to help too.

Hi my ds started getting migraines with aura at this age. Had ct scan and given meds. Each med made his heart race or feel awful.

He turned to acupuncture by our local GP. Had one session per week for around 12 weeks. Really helped.

I kept school informed around GCSE time and they were really helpful.

The things we've looked at for DD (just hit her 20s and they're ramping up):

Water - increased intake so hydrated
Tragus (?) piercing - it's made the migraines bearable as opposed to in bed in a dark room for a day or two
Caffeines - none
Fitness - increased, taken up running
Chocolate - none, except for the wrong time of the month as it doesn't lead to a migraine then for some reason
Wheat - reduced considerably (not easy as a student doing finals)
Stress - reduce where possible. DD's new saying is "That's something for future me to worry about" and that's working for her.

I get bad headaches, but only had two proper migraines. When I feel 'it' coming on I have full fat Coke, chocolate and crisps, and 2xAnadin Extra. No idea why it works, but it does as a rule. My major trigger is humidity. Dry heat I can take all day, but humidity does for me in minutes.

I hope you can get to the triggers and find

DD (13) had this, ended up in hospital for couple of days in December, off school vomiting badly for a week in Jan, ones since have been milder. They think its hormonal and have given her Triptans and also recommended ibruprofen. Lots of good advice already, only other thing I read is Pot Noodle can cause them and she was eating a fair few Pot Noodle when bad ones struck. So we have cut those out. Might be coincidence.

The trouble is that so much of it is individual. What works for one migraineur doesn't do anything for another.
I've had them since a teenager but they ramped up with a vengeance about 15 years ago. It's often genetic -DM and DGM and,sadly,both my adult DS's more recently - so your DH needs to watch out (!).

I'm on permanent pizotifen which,despite the last neurologist saying it doesn't really work, does seem to work for me! I take it twice a day, don't have any caffeine and rarely even drink decaffeinated coffee even. The downside is weight gain through increased appetite,almost amounting to cravings at times,but it was a quid pro quo on that one as frequent migraines with aura are just incompatible with a normal life.
I also discovered that aerobic exercise brings them on so that had to be re-thought. Even a barn dance did for me! Also travel,esp through time zones can be a trigger.

I was member of Migraine Action and they were helpful but they closed.I think they may have merged with Migraine Trust. Just knowing you're not alone can help.

The usual advice about hydration, regular food,don't get over tired is good. Stress was/is a significant factor but that can be harder to manage. I do have sumatriptan for an acute attack and they do help but only after the aura has gone. I always carry them with me. I mean always!

Migraines suck and I'd do anything to prevent them. I hope your DS gets some good advice and useful treatment. I used to want to punch the person who said 'Chocolate and cheese cause it. Why don't you give them up' and other stupid comments.

Your DH, meanwhile,needs to give himself a stiff talking to.
Or send him round to me!!

Ah, more lovely mners, thank you so much.

We saw the neuro this morning, who was aghast that I had been speaking to mortals on a forum... that way lies madness!!

He agrees that we're not at the daily med stage, and have us some more advice about the Imigran (they only consider it too much if you're taking more than a dozen tablets a day), so we're all ok there, and he said there was some evidence for Vit B2, magnesium, and acupressure. DS and I have agreed to begin with the B2 and Mg, as that's not a hardship, and he agreed that routine was important.

I wasn't going to say, but someone else mentioned the aspirin issue - I was surprised when the hospital suggested it, but apparently they now think the whole Reyes syndrome issue was incorrect correlation... when I've a moment I'm going to look it up, was a huge finding when I was a child, so very interested it's now back on the list. Still, plenty to choose from before we get to that!
Thank you!
Maman de Migraneur

That should say 12 tablets per month, NOT day

I would look at your teenagers diet as well. Pot Noodles and fast food are full of chemicals. That, and drinking water and staying hydrated, won’t stop a migraine but will help one from starting.

My teenage son's migraines were vastly improved by chiropractic treatment to his neck. I'm open minded re alternative therapies but we had a freebie, so we went as a family. The therapist briefly examined him then asked 'do you have migraine'? Jaw drop moment. After 3 or 4 sessions he was virtually cured - from a couple of times a month it went to one or two a year. The therapist taught him how to release tension in his neck.

MrsMozartMkII
A bit personal but is your dd on contraception? in particular oestrogen?
If so and she gets migraine with aura and/or other neurological symptoms then she needs to go speak to her GP.
There's so many women that aren't aware of the risks or who make the link between their contraception and the migraines.
I certainly wasn't until I was suffering terrifying migraines that made me numb all down one side, affected my vision on the same side, also numbness and while having an attack I was unable to speak coherently. It was like having a stroke and is the reason I can not take the combined pill nor anything containing oestrogen.
If this happens it can put you at higher risk of actually having a stroke.
Once I stopped taking contraception my migraines improved, I still get them with aura but not the other stuff and absolutely nowhere near as often nor painful. .

pickledtickled Thank you. I don't think she is, she has a girlfriend so not much need, but I'll check. Any avenue that can reduce the pain is worth an investigate.

The doctor did say to our DD if hers didn't improve as they were happening around periods (just after) she could put her on hormone meds, not sure what exactly and hers have calmed a fair bit.

Glad you've been. My neurologist thought there was evidence for B2, not magesium and not feverfew but routinely suggested all 3 to everyone as 'things you might like to try'.

I was put off the B2 though as you needed to take enough to make your wee fluourescent yellow for it to work

I have done acupuncture and it did work but not nearly as well as a triptan However in case of emergency, and when you are out of triptans for the month, it's better than nothing to press on a stud behind your ear.