On Tuesday of last week my 6 y/o grandson came home from school early because he was feeling sick on his stomach. He vomited in the car on the way home and then again right after getting in the house. He went to bed for a couple of hours and was feeling pretty much like his old self when he got up. The following day he went back to school and did just fine. The next day, Thursday, I had to go to school to pick him up because he was complaining with a severe headache. He said the pain was mostly in the vicinity of his left eye. I also noticed that there seemed to be a slight amount of swelling in this eye. His eyes were very sensitive to light, and he kept them closed tightly much of the time. I gave him a dose of Motrin as well as a dose of Children's Benadryl, and within the hour he said that the pain was almost completely gone. The next morning was the beginning of his Easter vacation, and my daughter-in-law called to tell me that his head had started hurting again within an hour of his awakening. It was hurting so badly that he was crying. My dil gave him some Motrin and Children's Tylenol and called the pediatrician's office. They said that they were only seeing emergencies, and they suggested that she continue to give him the Motrin but switch the Benadryl to Children's Sudafed. The pediatrician's guess was that the headache was probably caused by sinus pressure. To give you some history, this child has had some problems with allergies in the past but has never complained with a headache before this past week. My dil decided that she would wait another hour or so and take him in to be seen on an emergency basis if his headache wasn't better. As had happened the previous day, his headache was almost completely gone an hour later. The next day, Saturday, they left to visit her family in Tennessee for a few days so she gave him his medication right after he got up. Yesterday afternoon she called from Tennessee to tell us that he had had another episode within fifteen minutes of arriving at church, and she had had to leave church to take him back to his grandfather's home. She had not given him any medication before going to church, but she said that she believed she would give it to him regularly for a least a couple of days. If he continues to have headaches after they get home tomorrow, she is going to insist that the pediatrician see him. We are really concerned about this. Neither of my sons ever complained with headaches. Do any of you have any experience with your children having headaches? If so, what were some of the causes?

By Happynerdmom on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 07:07 pm:

Well, I'm probably not the one to ask, lol. My son had severe headaches that ended up being a brain tumor. Sorry, mine really was the worst case scenario!! (It was benign.) It probably is just migraines, especially if he has a history of allergies- that can definitely trigger them. I have a friend whose 13 yr. old dd has had migraines for years. I would make an appt. with the dr. if for no other reason, than to ease your minds. If the headache is really severe, you can even take him to the ER. You're actually more likely to get a CAT scan that way. Good luck! Keep us posted.

By Gammiejoan on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 07:23 pm:

Thank you for your response, Michele. The possibility of a brain tumor is really what concerns me most. I really do want to get him checked out as soon as possible if he is still having problems when he gets back home.

By Gammiejoan on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 07:28 pm:

I need to make a correction on my earlier post. My dil gave him Children's Motrin and Children's Benadryl not Motrin and Tylenol.

By Pamt on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 07:46 pm:

Sounds like a migraine. I started getting them at age two and got them about once a month through highschool. I only had one in college and none since then. I think mine were hormone related and going through puberty really helped me. I'm concerned about them recurring when I go through menopause, but there are so many good drugs now.

I had severe agonizing pain in my right eye, nausea and vomiting, and visual auras. Sounds just like your GS. If it is a true migraine then Tylenol/Motrin and/or allergy meds won't help a whole lot. Caffeine will help some, as will sleeping in a cool, VERY dark room. It's just the getting to sleep part that's tough when you are in so much pain.

My youngest is showing a tendency toward migraines and the ped. suggested keeping a journal to determine his triggers. Right now we are treating conservatively with Motrin and that's working for now, but we'll go to a more potent prescription drug if necessary. For me a lack of sleep was a guaranteed trigger. If I went to a slumber party we could count on a migraine the next day.

I would go ahead and get him into the ped. ASAP even if he doesn't have another one soon, just so this can be documented and you can start to plan what to do when the next one hits. If your ped. doesn't really believe that children get migraines (they do!), then I'd recommend a pediatric neurologist. It really is a severe debilitating pain and I hope he gets relief soon!

By Pamt on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 07:53 pm:

http://www.medem.com/search/article_display.cfm?path=n%3A&mstr=/ZZZIAZF99CC.html&soc=AMA&srch_typ=NAV_SERCH

http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro02/web3/aoconnor.html

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000709.htm

Some helpful info

By Peggy13 on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 07:54 pm:

My daughter (now 18) started getting migraines in 2nd grade - she would get at least one or two a month and vomit & miss school because of them. The pediatrician put her on Inderal (preventative medicine). She continued to take that thru jr. high. Once in high school, she still got headaches, but a Motrin would do the trick. Now my 9 year old son has started getting them and the pediatrician won't give him anything - he says he would have to see a pediatric neurologist. We haven't gone that route yet, but I may have to.

By Karen~moderator on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 08:16 pm:

I started getting migraines around 2nd or 3rd grade, it sounds like it could be migraines. There is also something called cluster headaches, which are more common in males than females, although I don't know if they affect children.

Many things can trigger migraines, from hormones, to stress to environmental or chemical allergies to foods.

I'd start keeping a record when he gets them: include what he's eaten in the past 12 or 24 hours, what his activities are, if he's been in a different environment, if he's been upset or stressed over something.

I saw a neurologist for mine in my early 20s' because I was getting them so often. I would definitely think about taking him to see someone though, just to find out for sure. I hope he's OK.

By Coopaveryben on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 08:17 pm:

My Son and Myself get them badly with sinus this time of year, we have also had swollen eyes from it. My Sinus Headaches are usually behind the eyes and the only thing that will clear them is allergy/sinus medicine.

But certainly, I would definetely take him to the doctor, it's better to know it is nothing than to worry.

By Gammiejoan on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 08:31 pm:

Thanks to all of you. His mother just called and said that he has not had another headache since yesterday morning but that she has been giving him the Motrin and Sudafed once in the morning and once in the afternoon.

By Marcia on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 08:59 pm:

My 11 year old has had a few episodes like that within the past few months. She passed out once, and almost did a couple of other times.
I got her in to the pediatric neuro right away. Her CAT scan was fine, and she has an EEG booked for May. I figured I'd rather have her over tested than to miss anything. I'm sure it's homonal.
Sounds like your gson is going through the exact same thing, minus the passing out. The doc told me to use motrin instead of tylenol, because t tends to cause rebound headaches.
Ihope they get everything figured out quickly, so the poor little guy can get back to normal.

By Amecmom on Tuesday, April 13, 2004 - 09:07 am:

I get them and so does my son. It sounds to me like a sinus thing caused by allergies. Zyrtec and Rynatan (not together, but on on different occasions) have helped my son. Does he also have some nasal symptoms or a post-nasal drip? If so, it could even be a sinus infection.
Nothing helped my son until he took a course of antibiotics, and now he's much better. I hope your grandson feels better, too.
Ame

By Gammiejoan on Tuesday, April 13, 2004 - 07:59 pm:

I spoke with my son around 4:00 this afternoon, and he told me that Justin had been fine today until around 3:00 when he began complaining of some nausea. This episode seems to have been rather minor, and this was the first episode that has occurred in the afternoon. School starts back tomorrow, and they are planning on sending him unless he gets worse. I am still very concerned and am encouraging his parents to go ahead and make an appointment for him with his pediatrician.

By Gammiejoan on Tuesday, April 13, 2004 - 08:02 pm:

In answer to your question, Ame, Justin has been complaining with a stuffy nose since this started last week.

By Momaroze on Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 11:20 am:

Sounds like a sinus infection? It is a horrible painful thing to go through. I went to the emergency room one year. Never experienced pain like that. It was a sinus infection allright.

By Gammiejoan on Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 06:03 pm:

Justin went to school today and hasn't had a headache or nausea. He has a runny nose and is coughing a little but says that he feels fine. His mother says that he is definitely going to the doctor if has one more headache or bout of nausea this week.