Any Doctors around that can advise ? TEEN WITH CONSTANT HEAD PAIN

[Seashellsandsand]

Hi I’m just looking for some advice or ideas regarding my DD age 16. For the last 18 months she has had a headache or migraine every day or at least 4 days a week. Her migraine affects her vision and sometimes she vomits. Her headache is a constant cap of pain. We have been fobbed off with tension headaches etc and been back and forth to GP. Sometimes she gets dizzy when standing up and gets pains in her legs and chest. In January they requested blood tests which kept having to be repeated due to elevated platelets. Platelets are consistently high. She has been taking Propranolol for the head pain for about 10 months which has reduced the migraine with Aura frequency v slightly. She has tested negative for Iron deficiency but the Haematology consultant requested a specific test for under lying Anemia? I think. Her score was 12 which is the top figure . If under 12 Haematology would see her.
Haematology have told the GP to treat with high doses of Iron for 3 months then they will see her if platelets not reduced.
Im really concerned and I feel we are being fobbed off.
My DD’s quality of life is affected. Every day she is taking painkillers or in bed with pain .
I would be grateful for any insights.

Legally his employer should have done an assessment of his work station. He is also entitled to an eye test paid for by the employer.

www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ck1.htm

DD did have braces for two years and now wears a retainer at night.

@Seashellsandsand personally (and I have experience of this as I work in paeds) - I would try calling the paeds dept and tell them exactly what is going in. Ask if you can speak to a paediatrician as your GP, you feel, is delaying things / not taking things seriously and your daughter is suffering. We had one parent very recently who was fobbed off and the parent phoned in and spoke to the paeds team and it turned out there was something very serious and because the GP dismissed it ("low chance of it being something bad" etc), urgent treatment was being delayed. Not to worry you, but sometimes GPs forget that they are just "general" and not specialists. I would tell your GP you want advice and guidance NOW from a paeds consultant at the hospital.

This is the problem though is that GP’s don’t like to be told what to do and it worries me. I will request this when I next speak to GP. Thanks

@Seashellsandsand I know, it is so hard isn't it! There was a user on here back in June who was finally referred to neurology after her DC (7 I think he was) had headaches, morning vomiting & nausea for over a year and even the consultant didn't think it was anything serious but agreed to do a MRI as a routine. The mum pushed for an urgent one and it turned out it was a tumour and a blockage in the spine. I only say this to show that a lot of the times, the squeaky wheel gets the most oil. Every case is different and a lot of times, symptoms can be entirely innocent, but when it's you child, sometimes we have to shout to be heard.

When your dd is tested for coeliac make sure she has been eating lots of gluten in the weeks before. Don't try going gluten free first as it could affect the results.

Ds1 had migraines at 14, but turned out to be due to a squint which was giving him double vision. Must be a nightmare when there's so many things to consider as causes.