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.

Poor thing. I’m no expert but I’d say she needs to go to the GP as soon as. It’s not normal obviously as you know.

After the scan did she not get any medication or advice? My dc was given a couple of different tablets for similar pains

So it was eye scans to make sure there was nothing going on with the nerves in the eye or behind her eyes. Sorry, it wasn’t a scan of her head. Because it was nothing to do with her eyes the optician suggested keeping a diary of her headaches and then seeing the GP. I have a diary of them anyway from the last few weeks. No meds were therefore offered. I have through work private healthcare for us so I wonder if that would be the most efficient way to go. I’m guessing it would be with a neurologist, I googled who to see if you have headaches/migraine and it suggested that, I guess that’s maybe more the right person to see than the GP?

I would go GP first port of call. If you describe symptoms as here I’m sure they would see her as soon as. If she’s phobic of GP surgery maybe request phone consult.

I used to get horrible migraines as a child. Hallucinations, nausea, extreme fatigue, vomiting, even seizures.
I can only say now that I've grown out of them after about 17. The really bad ones do strike about twice a year only now.

I would recommend cold therapy, so iced water with a flannel. Does her head and eyes feel boiling hot? Without fever? Mine did. My mum used to put freezing cold teabags on my eyes.

It did sooth it but I hope she can get some medication also.

Definitely use aspirin, and paracetamol in the meantime and make sure she gets loads of sleep.

DS1 started getting migraines at a similar age. His were classic though and followed by vomiting.

The GP recommended taking both paracetamol and ibuprofen as soon as the headache started, and this worked well.

I think he had to be 12 to take pink migraleve - but this works really well.

See if you can get a telephone appointment with the GP.

There is an awful virus going around us that’s severe headaches lasting weeks.

I would pursue getting migraines ruled in or out though.

I get bad migraines and they’re really debilitating. With her being so young I’d definitely ask to see a specialist, it could be cluster headaches, they are vile and last for days. I use migralieve and was once prescribed Sumatriptan, both help. Sumatriptan is sold in pharmacies but is expensive.

Talk to a pharmacist in the morning for advice, sometimes they’re more helpful than the G.Ps. All the best, I feel your daughters pain, I was in bed all day Saturday with a migraine, they’re bloody awful 😞

Has anything changed that started them? My migraines started around that age when I got braces, but could also have coincided with the start of puberty.
Things that may help when she has one: “4head” headache stick, cold gel pads for the forehead, sugary tea, eye mask, essential oils. And to help prevent them: blue light blocking glasses, not skipping meals, getting good regular sleep.
Start keeping a diary of the patterns/triggers to eliminate what you can. Unfortunately if they’re hormone related this could be just the start of a long term issue but as she gets older there’ll be other options to help.

I’m surprised you think 111 is overkill and haven’t already been to the GP as 3 weeks is a long time. Would see GP asap.

I suffered exactly the same thing as a child, at the same age. My mum thought it was hormonal at first but then realised it was a daily dose of penny sweets after school from the sweet shop next to my dad’s work! It was the e numbers - or so she thought at the time. She may have been totally wrong but it wouldn’t hurt to rule out any food or drink that could trigger your child’s headache.

After all these years I still remember the headaches would be so debilitating I’d have to go to bed where I would be totally out of action for a couple of hours.

Hope you get some answers from the GP and wish you both all the best x

She needs to see a GP tomorrow. If that's not possible A&E. She should have a head scan ASAP and be referred on.

My gp referred my dc to the hospital and they called him in for an mri within days - nothing wrong from that point of view though, but did then get two types of tablets which helped a lot.
sorry I thought you meant she'd already had that.

It’s unusual to have that many migraines in quick succession. I know some will say it happened to them, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t unusual. I used to get migraines. Mine lasted a day at most, then didn’t come back for weeks. I had visual aura and vomiting. But I also had what I imaginatively called my ‘other headaches’ which were very painful (but not migraine level as I could still function to an extent) and which often recurred and recurred over a couple of weeks in the same way you describe your daughter’s. I had them on and off right up until I got pregnant with DS1 at 40, then they mysteriously disappeared, which makes me suspect some sort of hormonal involvement. Anyway, whatever your daughter’s headaches are, they should certainly be investigated. I wish I had sought advice on mine. Some people are just very ‘headachey’ but an underlying cause should be ruled out. Headaches can be scary as well as debilitating. Poor girl. Hope she’s ok

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 .

Hey Op. How is your daughter? Did she get a scan and get seen by a GP?
I hope so. Sounds so horrific for her. Hope she is feeling better and that you got reassurance too x

Don't give aspirin to a child under 16.
Are the headaches there when she wakes up, and relieved when she sits up? Or made worse by pressure (e.g. bending down/forwards)?
My child had a benign tumour that everyone insisted was migraine-but the waking with a headache prompted the GP to insist on a brain scan-I would ask for a scan to put your mind at rest.
https://bettersafethantumour.com/

How is your daughter doing now @MuchADoAboutNothingInParticular

In response to the 'needs an urgent scan' advice above - IF she has had an optician assessment and an OCT (scan of the back of the eye) to rule out raised pressure inside her head, then it is much less likely there is a worrying cause of the headaches. However, it would be important to get an urgent phone appt with your gp (if really cant get her to go) for you to discuss the symptoms and make a plan for next steps

Oh sorry - see this is an old thread. Hope things are better.

Hope she is ok.