I just got back from taking Jordan (10 yr old) to the doctor for a severe headache. The doctor thinks that it is the beginning of migraines for her. I have migraines but didn't get them until I was in my 20s. Is there any BTDT of what is the best way to help a kid with a migraine?

Thanks for any advice

By Insaneusmcwife on Thursday, March 8, 2007 - 04:29 pm:

I'm sorry, thats no fun at all. My ds was having really bad headaches and we found out that it was due to him needing glasses. He gets those headaches like clock work once a year when his prescription needs to be changed. Have you had her eyes checked?

By Yjja123 on Thursday, March 8, 2007 - 05:13 pm:

I started young and still get them occasionally. I started drinking coffee when they came on and it helped. You may not want to go that route I am addicted to coffee now. LOL.
When one comes this is what works for me:
Laying down in a dark room,
Putting a heating pad on my head or neck---a lavendar sachet that warms up (my friend made mine) helps the same as the heating pad.
Warm drinks (herbal tea) seem to help too.
(((hugs)))
Migraines are definitely no fun. You may want to pay attention to foods, etc. There are certain foods and drinks (champagne) that always cause me to have a migraine.

By Tarable on Thursday, March 8, 2007 - 05:22 pm:

Thank you for the answer and yes we have had her eyes checked. She got new glasses about 3 weeks ago. And the dr today made sure that they were the were not the problem.
I don't think I want her addicted to caffeine yet, Yvonne. :-) But we did lie in a dark cool room all day.

Thanks for the comments and she seems to be all better now that we slept most of the day away.

By Justanaunt on Thursday, March 8, 2007 - 05:23 pm:

I don't have any advice on migraines, but I'm sorry she's going through that. I had one when I was in high school and it was awful. I just wanted to be in a dark quite room.

I've also heard that food can trigger migraines, so you may want to start a food diary to see if you can determine what may trigger them.

By Kay on Thursday, March 8, 2007 - 05:24 pm:

I got my first migraine at age 11, and I've had them chronically now for 37 years. Unfortunately, my two daughters have inherited my tendency to have them, and hopefully they won't become as chronic as mine.

When they were younger, I gave them Advil, some Coca-Cola, and put one of those stick-on cold patches on their foreheads. That seemed to help somewhat.

By Luvn29 on Thursday, March 8, 2007 - 09:00 pm:

I started them in sixth grade. Severe ones that had them worrying I had a brain tumor. I went through CT scans, EEGs, etc.

I was the opposite as some of these other fine women. I had to go off of the caffeine completely. Caffeine free drinks, very little chocolate, etc. Because we found these to be my triggers.

I had the migraines where one side of my entire body would go completely numb, I couldn't see because of flashes of light, and I lost cognitive skills: couldn't remember my phone number, how much medication I had taken... I even overdosed on Bayer at school because I took it, forgot I took it, took it again, etc. I had to have my stomach pumped, activated charcoal, everything! And I stopped carrying meds with me.

The only thing that I could do was lay in a completely quiet and dark room and sleep it off.

Thankfully, they have great prescription meds now.

Keep a journal so you can pick up on any triggers.

By Nicki on Friday, March 9, 2007 - 12:34 am:

I hope Jordan is feeling better! I feel so badly for her. I don't think about children as young as ten having migraines. I hope she has some relief.
Adena, how awful for you! I hope the new medications help you.

By Tarable on Friday, March 9, 2007 - 09:55 am:

Jordan seems to be doing a lot better. She went to school today. The dr said to just monitor them and let them know if they continue and then we will head to a neuologist to get her set up on preventitive. Thanks for all the advice. I have been keeping a food diary since the headache started. And keeping her away from things that trigger mine and my mom's headaches even though i know that everyone's triggers are different.