Wilma Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 I have a kid who is super prone to the headaches. Like 6 of the last 7 days she's been headachey enough to disrupt her life. The kid is 9. Her vision has been checked. She sleeps plenty (8p - 7a, usually). No diet sodas or caffeine. Moderate amounts of exercise. Very limited screen time (well under an hour per day). We're beginning a Whole 30 to figure out whether it's some food thing (what??). The kid has been headachey off and on forever, it seems like, but with a definite uptick in the last couple of months. Any ideas? I mentioned it to her pediatrician, who offered medication (we may be back for that!) but little inclination to understand the cause. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pippen Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 I'd be swapping out her pillow, trying several different types. If that doesn't help, I'd suggest looking at a different mattress. I say this because even something as simple as a pillow change can make a huge difference--I've experienced it and so have my kids. My daughter was dealing with jaw issues--so much so that she had a referral to a specialist. She wound up having to sleep on our family room sofa for a few weeks, and she commented how much better her jaw was. When she returned to her bed we switched out her pillow and her jaw improved. Bought a new memory foam mattress and that's nearly taken care of the pain. Occasionally she'll have the chiro adjust her jaw, but it's more preventative. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 I have a kid who is super prone to the headaches. Like 6 of the last 7 days she's been headachey enough to disrupt her life. The kid is 9. Her vision has been checked. She sleeps plenty (8p - 7a, usually). No diet sodas or caffeine. Moderate amounts of exercise. Very limited screen time (well under an hour per day). We're beginning a Whole 30 to figure out whether it's some food thing (what??). The kid has been headachey off and on forever, it seems like, but with a definite uptick in the last couple of months. Any ideas? I mentioned it to her pediatrician, who offered medication (we may be back for that!) but little inclination to understand the cause. Whole 30 might help, but a more comprehensive elimination diet might be better. The Autoimmune Protocol eliminates dairy, grains (including corn and rice), nightshades (including white potatoes), and seeds/legumes. Dairy is one of the major triggers for migraines. Wheat and corn are close behind. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 I'd see a chiropracter, and if that doesn't help, a neurologist. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 Do headaches run in the family at all? If they are migraines, then increases in the summertime are not unusual. My family members who get migraines get double as many (or more) in the summer with the extreme temps, storms, barometric pressure changes, etc. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilma Posted July 31, 2016 Author Share Posted July 31, 2016 I'd be swapping out her pillow, trying several different types. If that doesn't help, I'd suggest looking at a different mattress. I say this because even something as simple as a pillow change can make a huge difference--I've experienced it and so have my kids. My daughter was dealing with jaw issues--so much so that she had a referral to a specialist. She wound up having to sleep on our family room sofa for a few weeks, and she commented how much better her jaw was. When she returned to her bed we switched out her pillow and her jaw improved. Bought a new memory foam mattress and that's nearly taken care of the pain. Occasionally she'll have the chiro adjust her jaw, but it's more preventative. I will try this! A pillow change would be a blessedly easy fix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilma Posted July 31, 2016 Author Share Posted July 31, 2016 Whole 30 might help, but a more comprehensive elimination diet might be better. The Autoimmune Protocol eliminates dairy, grains (including corn and rice), nightshades (including white potatoes), and seeds/legumes. Dairy is one of the major triggers for migraines. Wheat and corn are close behind. I'll read up on the Autoimmune Protocol -- I think the main difference between that and the W30 is the nightshades and seeds. We're not big on potatoes and this kid hates tomatoes anyway, but actually categorically eliminating them might give some insight. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilma Posted July 31, 2016 Author Share Posted July 31, 2016 I'd see a chiropracter, and if that doesn't help, a neurologist. I hadn't considered that it might be a chiropractic issue - thank you! A neurologist sounds scary, though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilma Posted July 31, 2016 Author Share Posted July 31, 2016 Do headaches run in the family at all? If they are migraines, then increases in the summertime are not unusual. My family members who get migraines get double as many (or more) in the summer with the extreme temps, storms, barometric pressure changes, etc. I'd say not. I'm honestly not sure of the difference between a headache and a migrane (I think of migranes as being headache++). But we do live in a land of extreme temps (Central TX, man!) and some weather events. So the weather stuff is an interesting idea - I'll try to notice whether the weather seems correlated. I wonder why some people react to weather with headaches... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 I'd say not. I'm honestly not sure of the difference between a headache and a migrane (I think of migranes as being headache++). But we do live in a land of extreme temps (Central TX, man!) and some weather events. So the weather stuff is an interesting idea - I'll try to notice whether the weather seems correlated. I wonder why some people react to weather with headaches... I've never understood why weather affects migraines so much either. Maybe someone else here knows why! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanalouwho Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 It might be allergy related. My son and I both get headaches with seasonal allergies. Sent from my HTCD200LVW using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommymonster Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 (edited) For the weather / headache connection, it's pressure. My family has weather-related headaches, and for some of us, it's when the barometer is rising. For others, it's when the barometer is falling. Many do better with something like Benadryl Allergy-Sinus-Headache (for adults, but with kids there are options). When a headache is coming on, you might want to give her a bit of caffeine. It helps to make the headaches less for some people. What do you give her for headaches? Does it help? Is she congested at all? Is it worse at different times of year? I'd start a headache journal, if you haven't already. Note daily food intake (all), record liquids (dehydration can cause headaches), then times that headaches start and when they start feeling better. What you do for pain management, if anything. It's really useful to be able to look back at the journal and see what trends you see over time. What type of eye exam did she have? COVD or regular eye doctor? My son had headaches due to his eyes not tracking well together (tracking + teaming issue), which was separate from his need for eyeglasses. The COVD diagnosed the issue, and after some vision therapy, the headaches improved. Hope you find something that works. Headaches are no fun. Quick blurb on weather/migraines: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/expert-answers/migraine-headache/faq-20058505 Edited July 31, 2016 by mommymonster 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilma Posted July 31, 2016 Author Share Posted July 31, 2016 It might be allergy related. My son and I both get headaches with seasonal allergies. Sent from my HTCD200LVW using Tapatalk Do your allergy headaches come along with other allergy symptoms, or is the headache itself the symptom? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanalouwho Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 I get congestion, but my son usually just gets the headache. For a while, I was worried it was his vision. After we had it checked, we started him on children's Zyrtec and the problem went away completely. Sent from my HTCD200LVW using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilma Posted July 31, 2016 Author Share Posted July 31, 2016 For the weather / headache connection, it's pressure. My family has weather-related headaches, and for some of us, it's when the barometer is rising. For others, it's when the barometer is falling. Many do better with something like Benadryl Allergy-Sinus-Headache (for adults, but with kids there are options). When a headache is coming on, you might want to give her a bit of caffeine. It helps to make the headaches less for some people. What do you give her for headaches? Does it help? Is she congested at all? Is it worse at different times of year? I'd start a headache journal, if you haven't already. Note daily food intake (all), record liquids (dehydration can cause headaches), then times that headaches start and when they start feeling better. What you do for pain management, if anything. It's really useful to be able to look back at the journal and see what trends you see over time. What type of eye exam did she have? COVD or regular eye doctor? My son had headaches due to his eyes not tracking well together (tracking + teaming issue), which was separate from his need for eyeglasses. The COVD diagnosed the issue, and after some vision therapy, the headaches improved. Hope you find something that works. Headaches are no fun. Quick blurb on weather/migraines: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/expert-answers/migraine-headache/faq-20058505 I've heard that caffeine can help, but for whatever reason I've been a little reluctant to involve the caffeine. We've been using either acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Usually it helps, but sometimes not. And sometimes when we've tried one without success, she'll take the other. There's no congestion. It seems worse now in the summer, but was a factor during the school year, too. I've been doing a more limited headache journal - mentioning the headache, severity, duration and time of day. Adding all food and water intake to that sounds heavy, but I can imagine that it might help. She's had a regular eye exam at the eye doc's office (that's been a couple of years) and has yearly very basic eye exams at the pedi office. I am 99% sure all the kids here will eventually need glasses, but we haven't gotten there yet. When you found that your son had vision issues, were there other clues? This kid has no difficulty in reading and seems at least averagely coordinated with the fine and gross motor stuff. Does the pediatrician send you to a COVD person? Thank you for thinking with me about this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilma Posted July 31, 2016 Author Share Posted July 31, 2016 I get congestion, but my son usually just gets the headache. For a while, I was worried it was his vision. After we had it checked, we started him on children's Zyrtec and the problem went away completely. Sent from my HTCD200LVW using Tapatalk Wow, no kidding!? That's amazing. Did you do allergy testing to figure out that that was his issue? There are definitely seasons that this girl suffers from allergies (it's cedar in the winter and then oak I forget when for her), and that presents as the typical itchy eye and congestion mess. But we always have some kind of pollen in the air in Central TX... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TianXiaXueXiao Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 I have a kid who is super prone to the headaches. Like 6 of the last 7 days she's been headachey enough to disrupt her life. The kid is 9. Her vision has been checked. She sleeps plenty (8p - 7a, usually). No diet sodas or caffeine. Moderate amounts of exercise. Very limited screen time (well under an hour per day). We're beginning a Whole 30 to figure out whether it's some food thing (what??). The kid has been headachey off and on forever, it seems like, but with a definite uptick in the last couple of months. Any ideas? I mentioned it to her pediatrician, who offered medication (we may be back for that!) but little inclination to understand the cause. I would have her evaluated for tmj disorder by a dentist and I would have her vitamin d and thyroid levels checked. I would also do allergy and sensitivity testing. I would take these measures before making big dietary changes. I suffer chronic headaches and ever since I started taking super doses of vitamin d due to deficiency, I feel like a new person! Seriously, I used to have daily headaches that disrupted my life. Now I'm only getting them when I sleep wrong or during menstruation. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MasaMama Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 (edited) DS used to get headaches quite often. In his case, (I think) his magnesium level was low. We are also in TX and he sweats a ton when he plays outside, which is for hours when he does. He is on special diet due to his allergies. So, I don't think this is her case, so just my two cents... Anyways, now he drinks coconut water rather than water after exercise or playing outside and he gets magnesium lotion when we remember. He doesn't get headaches, any longer. I wouldn't do magnesium supplements without talking to a doctor, though. Edited July 31, 2016 by Masamiko 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanalouwho Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 Wow, no kidding!? That's amazing. Did you do allergy testing to figure out that that was his issue? There are definitely seasons that this girl suffers from allergies (it's cedar in the winter and then oak I forget when for her), and that presents as the typical itchy eye and congestion mess. But we always have some kind of pollen in the air in Central TX...No testing. We are in South Texas, and I have had allergies forever. His pediatrician said that may be the cause, so we decided to go ahead and try it. It worked like a charm. Sent from my HTCD200LVW using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pippen Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 (edited) I will try this! A pillow change would be a blessedly easy fix. Yeah, even a mattress change was cheap and easy compared to a TMJ specialist, etc. Also worth paying attention to her sleep position. I used to cram my head against the wall, no matter what pillow I used. Of course my neck ached. Seriously, the pillow and mattress is easily overlooked. My husband's grandma was in such severe back pain she thought it was going to be the death of her. Meds, trips the hospital, etc. Finally someone thought to check her mattress. It was 20+ years old and the source of the problem. Edited July 31, 2016 by Pippen 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilma Posted August 1, 2016 Author Share Posted August 1, 2016 Thank you all for helping me think about this. I have a list of things to look into now, rather than just feeling sorry and sad for my girl. Sent from my XT1094 using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie12345 Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 Dehydration is a huge trigger for my 14yo, and has been for years. Chiropractic and more water have helped. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
City Mouse Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 when did the headaches start? If it has been two years since the last eye exam, it could be her eyes. A child's vision can change a lot in that amount of time. You might look at Irlen Syndrome (scotopic sensitivity) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 Given her age, if there's been an uptick in the past few months and you haven't made any lifestyle changes (no changes in diet or sleep habits or whatever, I mean) my first guess would be puberty. But we have a family history of migraines, and there's a definite correlation there for us. A week long headache is nothing to take lightly, especially if you don't have a family history of migraines or headaches. I would definitely go back to the doctor, tell them you're concerned, and that you'd like a referral to a neurologist. There's good odds that really, one of the simple fixes mentioned upthread will help - but just in case, you should always take new neurological symptoms seriously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junie Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 (edited) Poor little girl. :crying: Why are you hesitant about the meds? I understand that you want to find the cause of the headaches, but I'm sure that your daughter would like to have relief. I think you should start her on the meds the ped suggested or take her to a neurologist. Trial and error with diet could take a very long time. I have had almost daily migraines since Christmas. Yes, I would like to know the cause of my headaches, but when they are bad enough to affect what I can do with my day, I want to have the relief first. As long as the headaches go away, I'm not sure that I care what has been causing them. ETA: Many pediatric specialists have a months-long waiting list to get an appointment. You could make the appointment now and then work with diet or whatever while you are waiting to be seen. Edited August 1, 2016 by Junie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommymonster Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 I've heard that caffeine can help, but for whatever reason I've been a little reluctant to involve the caffeine. We've been using either acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Usually it helps, but sometimes not. And sometimes when we've tried one without success, she'll take the other. There's no congestion. It seems worse now in the summer, but was a factor during the school year, too. I've been doing a more limited headache journal - mentioning the headache, severity, duration and time of day. Adding all food and water intake to that sounds heavy, but I can imagine that it might help. She's had a regular eye exam at the eye doc's office (that's been a couple of years) and has yearly very basic eye exams at the pedi office. I am 99% sure all the kids here will eventually need glasses, but we haven't gotten there yet. When you found that your son had vision issues, were there other clues? This kid has no difficulty in reading and seems at least averagely coordinated with the fine and gross motor stuff. Does the pediatrician send you to a COVD person? Thank you for thinking with me about this. Wilma, I get being concerned about caffeine, but there is science behind the recommendation. This is a quick article on using caffeine, but there are medical journals with more information if you want to do a deep dive. You don't need to give her 64 oz of Pepsi, just perhaps some tea... it doesn't have to be ridiculous amounts. http://www.headaches.org/2009/07/24/does-caffeine-trigger-or-treat-headaches/ If you are thinking about doing an elimination diet, you're going to want to do a food journal -- otherwise it will be difficult to know what is triggering the headaches. And yes, it's a total hassle. No doubt about it. I figured out though, that migraines are triggered by aged cheese and red wine. Talk about a sad, sad realization. DS10 had headaches after reading as his primary indication. He had no issue with gross motor stuff. In any case, we started with our optometrist, and explained DS10's issues. She referred us to a COVD, but that's not always how it goes. You can find a COVD at COVD.org. Best of luck in getting to the bottom of this. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 If it has been a while since the eye doctor I would revisit that...esp because kids don't always know they aren't seeing correctly. Allergies gave me a terrible headache yesterday. I would also not rule out neurologist as my daughter has migra seizures which are headaches caused by mini seizures....well treated now with meds. She also has a Chiari I malformation and one main symptom is headaches. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 This has probably all been covered, but: Is she hydrated? Not just enough water, but does she need salt? Have you had allergy testing done? Food and environmental. Wheat triggers migraines here. Her vision was fine? How about an eval for vision therapy? Convergence insufficiency comes to mind, and vision can be 20/20. Any chance of tick diseases? Caffeine helps migraines. You said no caffeine, but it might help. An ER nurse once told me to drink Coke. For relief, till you find the cause, please consider meds if these headaches are impacting her life. Other measures: ice pack (the squishy kind); heating pad on low or rice pack; neck massage at the base of the head - shown to help migraines sometimes; icy hot applied to same area. Lavender oil on a cool compress. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theelfqueen Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 Does she have other symptoms? Migraines in small children sometimes you'll see auras and nausea but they might not present in a way the child can describe. Does she say light hurts her eyes or that sounds hurt or make her dizzy? Do you find her trying to cool her head (kids will press their heads against the tile floor or the base of the toilet sometimes)? Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnionJack Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 Our oldest (10) used to get headaches frequently (starting around 5 or 6 years old) and migraines in clusters. We've tried quite a few things but the thing, for him, that seemed to be most effective was PT to help him with his posture. He slouched a bit (still does to an extent; not totally fixed...we put PT on hold during baseball season and haven't returned to it...) and his neck kind of hung his head forward, if that makes sense. He still gets headaches and migraines sometimes but not nearly as often. Might be worth getting an evaluation (we did it while also seeing a chiropractor) to see if posture could play a part in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnionJack Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 Oh, also, our son hadn't ever had caffeine until the past year or so, when we started giving it to him (in small amounts) when available to help him get rid of a migraine. We're not soda drinkers but my husband loves cold brew and we sometimes have that on hand. A couple sips is enough (fortunately/unfortunately, our son apparently really loves coffee). One time this past year, I took him to a piano performance at the concert hall in downtown Seattle and we had to leave partway through it because his head hurt so bad. I took him to a nearby restaurant and bought him a shot of espresso. I felt totally crazy because it was about 9pm and I never thought I'd be buying him coffee as a child, much less at 9pm, but a couple of sips got rid of the migraine. And I felt so bad for him that I let him drink the whole shot (he loved it....I can barely swallow a taste!!). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 (edited) I had chronic headaches as a teen. some things to ask and look at: hydration? thyroid? (yes, kids can have low thyroid. my friend's dd was put on thyroid when she was 7.) how much sugar? (sugar absorbs water - meaning the more sugar -in ANY form - consumed, the more water that must be drunk) how are the electrolytes? (my mother never salted anything -just one contributing factor to my chronic headaches. looking over the lists of symptoms, I also probably had both low adrenal and low thyroid - even as a teen. I'm finally getting the right tests and treatment - many decades later.) eta: keep a food diary, and see if there are any patterns. excedrine was the only otc that worked for mine. the caffeine dilates blood vessels, so if it's a "throbbing" headache (where the blood vessels alternate dilation and constriction) - caffeine helps by preventing the constriction part of the pattern. cold compresses on my forehead and the back of my neck also felt really good. the cold would constrict the blood vessels - also breaking the pattern. Edited August 1, 2016 by gardenmom5 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthwestMom Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 You are getting good advice. Additionally, I have an app on my phone called Migraine buddy, which would work for headaches too, that allows you to track different characteristics of each headache in order to determine triggers. I like having it on my phone so I can do it as the problem occurs, when everything is still fresh in our memories, as we tried to figure out my DD's migraine triggers. I heartily recommend it, and there are lots of others that do the same thing. Check it out! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilma Posted August 1, 2016 Author Share Posted August 1, 2016 when did the headaches start? If it has been two years since the last eye exam, it could be her eyes. A child's vision can change a lot in that amount of time. You might look at Irlen Syndrome (scotopic sensitivity) We do the cursory eye exam each year at the pedi well check visit. So can you see these letters from there? Great. Can you read this thing up close? Great. It's been a good couple of years since the actual eye doc did the more complete exam (precisely the same year I came to understand that the pedi could do the screening exam). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilma Posted August 1, 2016 Author Share Posted August 1, 2016 Given her age, if there's been an uptick in the past few months and you haven't made any lifestyle changes (no changes in diet or sleep habits or whatever, I mean) my first guess would be puberty. But we have a family history of migraines, and there's a definite correlation there for us. A week long headache is nothing to take lightly, especially if you don't have a family history of migraines or headaches. I would definitely go back to the doctor, tell them you're concerned, and that you'd like a referral to a neurologist. There's good odds that really, one of the simple fixes mentioned upthread will help - but just in case, you should always take new neurological symptoms seriously. We're headed back to the doc tomorrow to see what we can get figured out. Because, yeah, a week of headaches. I haven't seen any other signs of puberty - she's still definitely a little kid. But I understand that it starts somewhere. Headaches would be a bummer of a start, though. Growing would be more fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilma Posted August 1, 2016 Author Share Posted August 1, 2016 Wilma, I get being concerned about caffeine, but there is science behind the recommendation. This is a quick article on using caffeine, but there are medical journals with more information if you want to do a deep dive. You don't need to give her 64 oz of Pepsi, just perhaps some tea... it doesn't have to be ridiculous amounts. http://www.headaches.org/2009/07/24/does-caffeine-trigger-or-treat-headaches/ If you are thinking about doing an elimination diet, you're going to want to do a food journal -- otherwise it will be difficult to know what is triggering the headaches. And yes, it's a total hassle. No doubt about it. I figured out though, that migraines are triggered by aged cheese and red wine. Talk about a sad, sad realization. DS10 had headaches after reading as his primary indication. He had no issue with gross motor stuff. In any case, we started with our optometrist, and explained DS10's issues. She referred us to a COVD, but that's not always how it goes. You can find a COVD at COVD.org. Best of luck in getting to the bottom of this. Tea fixed the headache this morning! And my hangup was exactly what you said -- I imagined a Coke when people suggested caffeine and thought it couldn't possibly be the right thing. But a nice cup of chai, that I can do. I'll try the food journal. Do you think a month would be long enough? I think I could do almost anything for a month. And thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilma Posted August 1, 2016 Author Share Posted August 1, 2016 This has probably all been covered, but: Is she hydrated? Not just enough water, but does she need salt? Have you had allergy testing done? Food and environmental. Wheat triggers migraines here. Her vision was fine? How about an eval for vision therapy? Convergence insufficiency comes to mind, and vision can be 20/20. Any chance of tick diseases? Caffeine helps migraines. You said no caffeine, but it might help. An ER nurse once told me to drink Coke. For relief, till you find the cause, please consider meds if these headaches are impacting her life. Other measures: ice pack (the squishy kind); heating pad on low or rice pack; neck massage at the base of the head - shown to help migraines sometimes; icy hot applied to same area. Lavender oil on a cool compress. Hydrated - I think so. Plenty of water for sure. Would I know if she wasn't getting enough salt? We haven't done allergy testing, but I think that's on the horizon. Vision was fine, I'll ask about the other vision options. She's a stellar reader and doesn't seem to be having vision troubles, but it's worth an ask. Tick diseases?! We've all had ticks at some point, though it's been a good while (hello, summer trip to WI). I understand that these things can be weird, but would I have seen other symptoms? She's generally a healthy robust little kid. We used a cup of tea to combat a headache this morning with great success -- thanks for suggesting it. And we're headed back to the doc tomorrow to ask for some preventative type medication. Thank you for all the suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 We do the cursory eye exam each year at the pedi well check visit. So can you see these letters from there? Great. Can you read this thing up close? Great. It's been a good couple of years since the actual eye doc did the more complete exam (precisely the same year I came to understand that the pedi could do the screening exam). My daughter was having headaches and it turned out she needed glasses. Her pediatrician and a standard eye doctor did not catch that she had vision issues. My son also gets headaches upon occasion. Turns out his visual acuity is perfect but he has developmental eye issues. Only a COVD doc was able to really delve in and find out what was happening. A COVD doc can sort out all the various vision related issues that may be present and can usually do it much more in depth than a standard eye doctor. If you have one in your area, see if you can get your child in for a preliminary screening (not the full workup, which can be very costly). If they find anything that looks hinky they can do a more in depth evaluation. If not and her eyes are normal then at least you have eliminated this as a possible issue and you know that her eye sight is still good enough that she doesn't need glasses yet. If she has normal vision problems then you now have a prescription and you can get her glasses and see if that fixed the issue or at least helps. Win, win, win. :) See the site below... http://www.covd.org/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilma Posted August 1, 2016 Author Share Posted August 1, 2016 Does she have other symptoms? Migraines in small children sometimes you'll see auras and nausea but they might not present in a way the child can describe. Does she say light hurts her eyes or that sounds hurt or make her dizzy? Do you find her trying to cool her head (kids will press their heads against the tile floor or the base of the toilet sometimes)? Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk Sometimes there's nausea -- yesterday this kid told me her headache felt "hurlable" but didn't wind up barfing ever. Light seems to make it worse when there's a headache, and she avoids sounds. Those things come along with the more severe headaches, which are maybe half of all headaches this kid has. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam L in Mid Tenn Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 My son used to get severe several times a month. Sometimes several times a week. A few months ago he was put on a preventative medication. He has only had a couple of mild headaches since then. NO severe headaches at all. Don't be afriad of traditional medicine if that is what your child really needs.You might try the more holistic approaches first and if that does not help talk to your doctor again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilma Posted August 1, 2016 Author Share Posted August 1, 2016 Oh, also, our son hadn't ever had caffeine until the past year or so, when we started giving it to him (in small amounts) when available to help him get rid of a migraine. We're not soda drinkers but my husband loves cold brew and we sometimes have that on hand. A couple sips is enough (fortunately/unfortunately, our son apparently really loves coffee). One time this past year, I took him to a piano performance at the concert hall in downtown Seattle and we had to leave partway through it because his head hurt so bad. I took him to a nearby restaurant and bought him a shot of espresso. I felt totally crazy because it was about 9pm and I never thought I'd be buying him coffee as a child, much less at 9pm, but a couple of sips got rid of the migraine. And I felt so bad for him that I let him drink the whole shot (he loved it....I can barely swallow a taste!!). Wow, I bet it felt loony buying the kid a coffee at 9p! I did offer a cup of tea this morning for a headache and it helped immensely. All my other girls were completely flabbergasted that this kid was drinking caffeinated tea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilma Posted August 1, 2016 Author Share Posted August 1, 2016 I had chronic headaches as a teen. some things to ask and look at: hydration? thyroid? (yes, kids can have low thyroid. my friend's dd was put on thyroid when she was 7.) how much sugar? (sugar absorbs water - meaning the more sugar -in ANY form - consumed, the more water that must be drunk) how are the electrolytes? (my mother never salted anything -just one contributing factor to my chronic headaches. looking over the lists of symptoms, I also probably had both low adrenal and low thyroid - even as a teen. I'm finally getting the right tests and treatment - many decades later.) eta: keep a food diary, and see if there are any patterns. excedrine was the only otc that worked for mine. the caffeine dilates blood vessels, so if it's a "throbbing" headache (where the blood vessels alternate dilation and constriction) - caffeine helps by preventing the constriction part of the pattern. cold compresses on my forehead and the back of my neck also felt really good. the cold would constrict the blood vessels - also breaking the pattern. I think the kid is adequately hydrated. Plenty of water, anyway. And not ridiculous on the sugar by any stretch. Currently 0 sugar besides what naturally occurs in food. Do you know whether the thyroid stuff would be checked as a matter of course? We're going to the doc tomorrow and I'll ask to have her vitamins and minerals and whatnot checked - would that be included? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 I hope you get answers! On the tick diseases - I think you'd see something else, but if you can't find any other cause, it might be worth checking. Headaches were one of my first symptoms, as an 11 yr old. I think there are many things to rule out first though, if there are no other symptoms. Maybe look at some of the comprehensive lists of TBD symptoms, just to see if they fit? Some of the symptoms are so weird, we don't even think to articulate them, until they've insidiously crept up upon us and become our "normal." And - did the headaches start after a tick bite? That would be something important to consider. On the salt - maybe add some type of drink like Gatorade? I actually add a tiny bit of sea salt to my morning water, and it helps. I finally found a headache preventative that works for me 6 months ago. Oh my. Life without that headache agony is good. So, wherever you find answers, I hope you find them soon! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JanetC Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 I like the book Mommy my Head Hurts for info on childhood migraines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilma Posted August 1, 2016 Author Share Posted August 1, 2016 You are getting good advice. Additionally, I have an app on my phone called Migraine buddy, which would work for headaches too, that allows you to track different characteristics of each headache in order to determine triggers. I like having it on my phone so I can do it as the problem occurs, when everything is still fresh in our memories, as we tried to figure out my DD's migraine triggers. I heartily recommend it, and there are lots of others that do the same thing. Check it out! That sounds brilliant!! Thank you for mentioning it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilma Posted August 1, 2016 Author Share Posted August 1, 2016 My daughter was having headaches and it turned out she needed glasses. Her pediatrician and a standard eye doctor did not catch that she had vision issues. My son also gets headaches upon occasion. Turns out his visual acuity is perfect but he has developmental eye issues. Only a COVD doc was able to really delve in and find out what was happening. A COVD doc can sort out all the various vision related issues that may be present and can usually do it much more in depth than a standard eye doctor. If you have one in your area, see if you can get your child in for a preliminary screening (not the full workup, which can be very costly). If they find anything that looks hinky they can do a more in depth evaluation. If not and her eyes are normal then at least you have eliminated this as a possible issue and you know that her eye sight is still good enough that she doesn't need glasses yet. If she has normal vision problems then you now have a prescription and you can get her glasses and see if that fixed the issue or at least helps. Win, win, win. :) See the site below... http://www.covd.org/ Okay, yeah, it makes sense to check up on this stuff, doesn't it? I'll find someone. We're in a major metropolitan area, so I'm sure there's a doc that could screen for vision issues. Thank you. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilma Posted August 1, 2016 Author Share Posted August 1, 2016 My son used to get severe several times a month. Sometimes several times a week. A few months ago he was put on a preventative medication. He has only had a couple of mild headaches since then. NO severe headaches at all. Don't be afriad of traditional medicine if that is what your child really needs.You might try the more holistic approaches first and if that does not help talk to your doctor again. Would it be rude to ask what your son is taking for the headaches? If it is, please forgive. If it's not, I'd be interested to know. Did y'all figure out what was causing the headaches, or get right to the getting rid of them part? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilma Posted August 1, 2016 Author Share Posted August 1, 2016 I like the book Mommy my Head Hurts for info on childhood migraines. Thank you, I'll look for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilma Posted August 1, 2016 Author Share Posted August 1, 2016 Poor little girl. :crying: Why are you hesitant about the meds? I understand that you want to find the cause of the headaches, but I'm sure that your daughter would like to have relief. I think you should start her on the meds the ped suggested or take her to a neurologist. Trial and error with diet could take a very long time. I have had almost daily migraines since Christmas. Yes, I would like to know the cause of my headaches, but when they are bad enough to affect what I can do with my day, I want to have the relief first. As long as the headaches go away, I'm not sure that I care what has been causing them. ETA: Many pediatric specialists have a months-long waiting list to get an appointment. You could make the appointment now and then work with diet or whatever while you are waiting to be seen. You're right. I'm trotting her back into the pediatrician's office tomorrow. My feeling was that having information about what causes the headaches would help throughout the kid's life. If I knew, for example, that eating or doing XYZ would cause a headache, I could make a choice about it. But not knowing means there's no power in the choice. Or if there is some sort of underlying issue, I'd really want to get that sussed out and dealt with rather than covering up the symptom, kwim? But I hear what you're saying. We'll sign up for some preventative medicine and see where that takes us. I hope your headaches get better, too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theelfqueen Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 Those symptoms sound like they could be migraines ... but not definitely. I'd definitely be seeking doctor's aid. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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