Ok, so I did a quick online search for 4yr old complaining of headache, and we are seeing the dr tomorrow for this, including looked for past headache questions. The answers I have seen are mostly about really negative things like lymes disease and migranes etc, so I will be honest in this I do not think I could handle it if there were another severe issue with my son. He was disgnosed with an immune disease that he has since grown out of (pediatric neutropenia), sensory issues and Adhd. My son had a very difficult time sleeping and has said that he is sleepy very frequently, this is odd because he must have melatonin to sleep (we have not yet been able to have an official answer of why) and does not tend to sleep on his own even when he is TIRED since birth so that strikes me as odd. I guess my main or real question is has anyone been thru young child headaches and had a simple explanation ... not one of the scary ones? This is a bit of a mamma's I need moral support here!
Ok, so as of now the dr gave us a "headache" tracker to see what can be linked or if there are any patterns to the headaches I guess some foods can cause headaches, or possibly hypoglycemic (sp) or vision among others so we are right now looking for patterns. But of course in true kid fashion he bruised his heel at the doctor's office jumping off the table as opposed to using the steps so now he is limping when he walks and if he is still doing that come monday we get xrays! I feel like Charlie Brown ... Oh bother!
Other reason for headaches; dehydrated, flu/cold, tired, eyesight/need glasses, stressed, body wanting something (certain vitamin, mineral), hit head on something.
It is good that you are going to the doctors. With headaches and children it is good to be cautious. I would not start worrying, just talk it over with the doctor and see what he/she says.
It could just be from lack of sleep? Headaches are common if you're not getting enough sleep. Checking the eyes was a good suggestion too! Does he take any vitamins? It could be that he's simply lacking a vitamin... Good luck and keep us posted! No fevers I assume?
Regarding the sleep issue: ADD kids often cannot fall asleep easily because their little minds keep churning away. They are also very bored easily and therefor say they are tired. Once in school, they will also be mentally tired. My 10 year old daughter takes Clonidine at bedtime and it makes her sleepy about an hour after taking it. She had really bad nightmares on Melatonin, even on 0.1 mg = very small dose. We have tried 2 meds for ADD but while they had great academic success one did not allow her to sleep (Vyvance lasted way too long but was so smooth and she felt no different during the day - I hope they make a smaller dose for kids soon) and one made her depressed (Concerta). We will try Adderall XR next, which is the same med as Vyvanse but slightly different formulation. Perhaps ask your doctor about Clonidine (generic for 3 months of pills costs us $5) since it allows kids to get into deep sleep which is also where the growth hormone gets made, so it tends to counter act any growth inhibiting issues with ADHD meds.
I get headaches when I am dehydrated and also when I am over tired.
Wishing you the very best.
I have had headaches since I was that old, I am now 38. I get several kinds; migraines, tension, and sinus. We never have found a root source to my migraines so when I get the aura I just react accordingly. Thankfully these are quite infrequent. Sinus is caused by a number of things not limited to food allergies, environmental allergies and barometric pressure changes. Tension, well those are obvious.
If you think I can answer any questions for you please feel to PM me. I have been there done that with "normal" headaches.
I had cronic headaches as a child. My parents took me to all sorts of doctors, trying to figure it out.. turns out that I needed glasses and I wasnt drinking enough fluids. After I got glassess and started drinking 8 glasses of water a day, the headaches stopped.
When my son was that age he was getting headaches for a while there and I took him to a ped neurosurgeon who examined him and said that he was fine. He said it could be from being in the sun and in the car. I am convinced now that that was what it is. Even now he will complain of headaches in the car when it is sunny. Hope that your answer is as simple as that.
Does he wear glasses? He might need to have his eyes checked. Good Luck!
Not been through it with my kids, but for myself...when I let myself get sleep deprived I tend to get headaches. If he has trouble getting enough sleep then perhaps his headaches are related?
Even an hour too little sleep for a few too many days in a row can bring on a nagging headache for me. A decent nights sleep (minimum of 7 hours, preferably 8 or more) will usually take care of it for me though.
my son did have migraines. It wasn't scary, just difficult on occasion. The sooner you discover what is the cause the sooner you can get it under control. Migraines have triggers you can sometimes avoid. My son went on medication for it during puberty and outgrew the migraines by the time he graduated college.
