Too Young for Migraines??

Updated on March 01, 2010
J.K. asks from Davis, CA
18 answers

Hi Mamas~
Today my daughter came home from playing complaining that she felt sick to her stomach and that she was cold. When I felt her forehead, she felt feverish to me, so I had her lie down on the couch and put a cold towel on her head. After some time, she said she no longer felt sick, but her head hurt. I gave her some tylenol and she's been sleeping (mostly) for 3 hours. (She didn't ever throw up.)

This happened one other time last year... I don't know if it's a migraine or just an intense headache due to not enough rest. She has an 8pm bedtime that is consistent and usually sleeps until at least 7am or later on the weekdays. On the weekends she tends to get up earlier (usually 6:30am-7am). She eats well and is active, but doesn't like to nap even when she really needs it. She winds down by drawing or coloring instead of sleeping, and has always been this way.

Has anyone had anything similar happen... any advice? Thanks for your help!

I forgot the mention her age... she's 6.

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N.A.

answers from San Francisco on

My granddaughter used to get headaches. i have her wear a necklace and drink a special shake and she has not had a headache since.

If you want more info let me know.

Have a great week.

N. Marie

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B.S.

answers from Sacramento on

My step son gets migraines and has since he was 8 or younger. The symptoms sound like what you have described. The doctor recommended giving him Motin as soon as the symptoms start (before the headache is at full force).

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U.P.

answers from Tyler on

Yes, unfortunately both of my kids get migraines. They are now 12 & 10 but they started several years ago & I just didnt realize they were migraines because just like you I thought they were too young. Fortunately they are pretty few & far between. I took my daughter to the Dr. for several issues and he questioned me about her head hurting after she mentioned it and told me that she is not too young and that is exactly what it sounded like. I basically "diagnose" their headaches as migraines if they end up vomiting because of it. They will then go to sleep and wake up feeling good as new. I really hate it for them & hope it is something they can outgrow.

1 mom found this helpful
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R.J.

answers from San Diego on

My 7yo was just dx'd with migraines this year, for symptoms that have been going on for a few years now. Our ped (who used to be a pediatric neurologist) says that the #1 trigger for childhood migraines is low blood sugar... and #2 is a vitamin deficiency. Note, triggers... not causes.

1 mom found this helpful

A.H.

answers from Tulsa on

I started getting headaches every day and migraines at least monthly at 5, so don't rule it out. The doctor had me start charting when I would get headaches and it was always after school when I was on the bus and whenever I didn't have enough sleep. Every one has a different trigger. Do you remember what was happening the previous time? As infrequent as they are, I don't think you'll be able to do much about it. You could mention it to the doctor at her next checkup. They tried me on a bunch of different medications and nothing ever worked for me unless I caught it right before it started and only ibuprofen worked for me then. It could just be that she was playing too hard or caught something that just isn't making her feel good. Hope she feels better soon!

1 mom found this helpful
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P.S.

answers from Fort Walton Beach on

My daughter gets a raging headache with the slightest fever. It's just one of her tell tale symptoms. Has always been that way for her. They are bad enough to make her ill, and have done so many times. I found that cool wet washclothes on her forehead and throat will help easy the pain and also help keep the ibu or asp down long enough for them to work their magic.

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R.F.

answers from San Francisco on

My daughter has had them since age 8. She is now 19. It is good to get it checked out by a neurologist to make sure there is nothing else going on, but be careful with medication decisions with someone so young. The pediatrician will also want to rule out allergies.

P.W.

answers from Dallas on

My son was probably 4 when they began. Ask your daughter where the headache is in her head. If it is on one side of her head that is the sign of a migraine. Also, if she loses vision, or it gets black, in part of her eye. Throwing up is another sign of a severe headache. Certain foods, like hot dogs, triggered the migraine for my son. When he got older I took him to a neurologist and got him a medication that would melt under his tongue for when he got them.

It wasn't until after my son outgrew his migraines that I became a Shaklee Independent Distributor and started reading about vitamins. I learned that increasing magnesium in the diet can help with magnesium. For your daughter I would just suggest a good multi vitamin with magnesium in it.

http://healinghappens.myshaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sk...

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J.J.

answers from Dallas on

I started to get migraines at age 7. I would keep a record of what is going on when she gets them - as well as what she ate/did that day, the weather, stresses etc. It helps to know your triggers.

I would take her to the dr. - a pediatric neurologist can be helpful and you want to make sure there is not more going on.

Good luck - sorry for your daughter - headaches are no fun!

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L.Q.

answers from San Francisco on

I have a nephew who suffered from headaches starting about this age - after several years they figured out it was a food allergy - in his case, dairy. The headaches were pretty much his only symptom, and as soon as he was off dairy they went away for good.

L.B.

answers from New York on

My 11 year old son has been getting migrains since about the time he was 6. I would just mention it to her pedi, he/she should be aware.

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S.B.

answers from Redding on

Dear J.,
Yes, young children can get migraines. My son has gotten them since he was around 5. He would get sick to his stomach and couldn't stand any light or sound whatsoever. His little head hurt so bad he would scream in agony which of course just made things worse. So, I would put in in a quiet, dark room and use breathing techniques to calm him.
It's really scary when they get that bad!
We learned to manage them. Even really little, he knew to tell me that he felt a headache coming on so right away I would give him something to eat and some motrin. He takes other medication that I won't mention because your pediatrician may suggest something different for your child. My son is 14 now and we are pretty successful at warding them off. They rarely hit severe status anymore.
It might sound crazy, and again ask your pedi, but when my son's headaches were raging, I actually gave him coffee, pretty strong and not a whole cup, but caffeine dilates receptors or some flipping thing, and it really helps. Excedrin has caffeine in it for a reason. Strangely enough, the caffeine did not have him bouncing off the walls or hyped up at all. It had the reverse effect. It relieved the pain so that he could calm down and usually he would sleep very soundly for several hours in a quiet dark room. And, he'd be fine the next day.
Keep track of when the headaches happen....at which time of day....after eating (or not eating) certain things....changes in sleep patterns, etc. Have her checked for vision problems to rule that out. Not all severe headaches are actual migraines, but they need to be managed none the less. If you can find what triggers these headaches, you can more easily alleviate them.

I wish you the very best!

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J.L.

answers from Sacramento on

My daughter is 6 as well and has teh same symptoms..but she's had a migrain buildup for the past 2 months or even more....she keeps telling me her head hurts...right between her eyes..but yet she can function....I thought it was sinuses....so started treating with childrens sudafed in addition to ibuprofrin and acetomenophin..which were not working by themselves.....

Finally last weekend, it was really bad....she through up twice and layed in my arms at a bouncy place bday party.....

She has not been diagnosed yet with migrains...but I suffered from migrains starting at about around age 5 and was not diagnosed until age 22....and hate that my daughter has to go through this..

We have already met with pediatrician about a month ago and we have our first cat scan today and appointment with neurologist next week..she will more than likely have to be on some medication daily to stop the pain.

Though I have to say.....she feels sooo much better after her episodes of throwing up a weekend ago.

She is light sensative..and pretty much when there is pressure in the air from rain or major change in temperature...is when it comes on ......Luckily...I'm affected by the same and can take excedrin migrain which does the job....but I can pretty much judge when she's going to have a bad headache....I so hope that the meds she gets do not "slow her down" or completely knock her out to where she is sleeping and misses school...though sleeping is really the only way to get through it at times when it truely is bad.

feel free to contact me as we go through this as well.

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P.T.

answers from San Francisco on

It is possible that she has migraines. My only advice is to watch foods that can trigger migraines. They are bananas, cheese, nitrates, chocolate, caffiene, MSG, Yeast risen baked goods. I get migraines if I eat MSG or cheese. I also get migraines if I don't get enough sleep. Keep a migraine log and see what she is eating that could be causing the problem.

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C.A.

answers from San Francisco on

My mom started getting migraines at around 7 or 8. I was prone to headaches as a kid but didn't start getting actual migraines until I was in my 20s. Similar to your daughter, I get overheated and feel nauseated and need sleep and coolness to 'reset'.

Whether it's an actual migraine or she's just headache-prone, I second the advice to take notes on what might've triggered it, and (especially) what makes her feel better so you can be prepared. I get heat-induced migraines, but that doesn't prevent me from playing sports, it just means I always bring several ice packs so I can get my body temp back down as soon as my game or race is over.

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D.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Greetings J.: Yes children can have migraines but if it is only rarely happening it may not be considered one. I have a child that had them regular each month and when she was older we found that her hormone levals peaked at certain times and natually went with her cycles which started at age 9. So it may be that she is tired, may have been overly active on the playground, or as our pedi doctor said" thinking about growing up to hard".
I with 5 children was never blessed to have a child nap after 2 1/2 so that sounds like a normal cycle to play, and wind down when needed as adults we aren't wise enough to do that. Just do like you are and love her through it.

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G.B.

answers from Boise on

My 13 year old is very succeptable to this syndrome. She has insomnia (among other health issues) so she has nights she doesn't get enough rest. I have noticed this tends to trigger the migraines...along with bright sunshine (she is light sensitive in the mornings when she wakes but I notice she is starting to also get headaches in the sunshine now). Also very important-watch out for dehydration, I think when they are outdoors it can trigger almost a type of "Dehydration exaughstion" like you would get with heat exaughstion.

Try to keep your child well, well hydrated, and also see if magnesium will help her. It is documented to help migraines. Take it at night, just after dinner.

I am also looking into NCD zeolite for her because she has so many illness symptoms. My DD could have a heavy metal buildup or other toxic overload.

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M.P.

answers from Portland on

My 9yo granddaughter gets a headache every once in awhile and seems to have similar symptoms as your daughter. We haven't thought of them as migraines because they go away with a snack, hydration and/or sleep. She also takes ibuprofen, lies down and falls asleep. It's usually before dinner and wakes up to eat dinner.

Ibuprofen can make one sleepy. As others have said, low blood sugar, not enough fluid or enough sleep will give us headaches. Children also feel the effects of stress, another cause for headaches. When I say low blood sugar I mean that the blood sugar level is normal, i.e. not related to diabetes, but is lower than what one is used to having.

I certainly wouldn't be concerned about headaches that occur this infrequently. Everyone gets headaches on occasion. Two in one year is normal. In fact on the good side of normal. My granddaughter gets a headache more often than that. Her pediatrician has said there is no reason for concern.

It's good to ask this question for reassurance but I'd relax, realizing that focusing on the possibility that an occasional headache is serious, increasing stress and makes headaches more likely.

I nearly always am nauseous when I have a headache or any other pain that lasts for several hours. Just an hour with a headache gives me nausea. I've seen a doctor and asked about this more than once and my headaches have not been diagnosed as migraine. The doctor always calls them tension headaches because the pain is in the back of my head and/or across my forehead. When the headache is more generalized a couple of large glasses of water along with Ibuprofen frequently makes them go away.

The location of the pain is a clue as to the cause. Again, tho, a couple of headaches in a year is nothing to worry about. My adult daughter has migraines. They last for hours and it has taken years to find something that works. So, even if they're migraines you've already found what works for her.

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