Experience of Migraine, anyone?

[ljdksa]

My 15 yr old son was diagnosed with Abdominal Migraine a couple of years ago. The Doc prescribed Co-Dydramol for when he's suffering and said it was quite common at that age. He has been fine last few months. Today he has been sent home from school with a "Proper" migraine and the Teacher said this is usual progression from Abdominal migraine.

Does anyone know if they can be kept at bay? Or is it just treating with painkillers when they are present?

Thanks Everyone xxx

[craft1948]

I started suffering with migraines when in my late 20's and nothing seemed to touch them, it was just a matter of laying in a darkened room until they'd gone (the longest lasted 3 days) By sheer chance a friend gave me some soluble Solpadeine (other painkillers never touched it) and it vanished within 30 minutes. They are the only thing which ever worked for me, until the attacks disappeared when in my 40's.

[andy-hughes]

I sympathise - I've only ever had two migraines, and from my experience they are a two-stage condition -

for the first hour you are afraid you might die ...

for the rest of the time, you are afraid you might not ...!

I don't believe they can be predicted, although regular sufferers learn to recgnise the early symptoms, before the main event kicks in.

If he suffers regularly (hope not of course) he needs to have contigency plans in place to get somewhere where he can lie down in the proverbial darkened room with some water, and a bowl in case he vomits - an occasional bi-product - and just sleep it off.

His GP may prescribe some strong pain-killers, I believe standard medication is not really effective.

Good luck - and here's hoping its just his hormonies, and will grow out of this dreadful condition.

[Sqad]

Interesting........some people with typical migraine in the adult life have a history of abdominal pains and vomiting as a child. it used to be know as mesenteric adenitis, inflammation of the lymph glands of the intestine, but following further research,it has been named abdominal migraine.

It is very difficult in a bot of 15 years of age or indeed at any age, to keep migraine "at bay" Certain "trigger factors" e.g chocolate, missing a meal etc may be identified, but each attack will need to be treated on its merits and when it occurs.

Keep us informed.

[ljdksa]

Thank you so much, all of you, for your support. He is lying in bed now. He does tend to play football at school rather than eating lunch sometimes (much as I nag him to eat as well) so maybe that is a trigger. Not particularly into chocolate. Will keep an eye out and see if I can identify anything. And hope he will outgrow it!
Thank you x

[237SJ]

I get occasional migranes. The only thing that works for me are specific migraine medicines. If I take Migraleve right at the start, it prevents it developing further.

[LoftyLottie]

I find Migraleve very good, but I feel it is essential to go to bed in a dark room and just rest. Don't try to keep going.

I had abdominal migraines as a child that turned into proper migraines in my teens.

They took my appendix out when I was 9 because of the vomiting and stomach pains and then told my parents there was nothing wrong with my appendix. It was later diagnosed as abdominal migraine.

Migraines seem to come in stages. I have the odd headache but haven't had a proper migraine for some time.

[carrust]

I've suffered from cluster migraine since I was about 15. The only thing that will touch them is Imigran. You can get it tablet or nasal spray form. I really hope that his migraine aren't of the cluster variety. They can be really debilitating, my record is 7 in one day:-(

[LoftyLottie]

My son also has migraines as did my father! They can run in families.

[Sqad]

Lofty....i would just love to know how many children had been misdiagnosed as appendicitis, had their appendix out and had infact abdominal migraine.

[LoftyLottie]

Probably a fair few Sqad. I spent two weeks in hospital back then!! The wound opened up and got infected. All that trauma at 9 years old for nothing. It wasn't nice being in hospital for a young child back then!!

I remember so well all the vomiting and stomach pains!!

[Marijn]

What are the symptom of migraine? I'm asking because every period I get a pain in my right temple that goes on for three days that makes me confused and my speech and understanding slows down considerably?
BTW I take Syndol, as this is the only tablet that touches it.

[237SJ]

notafish, I have started getting pre-period migranes. Like you I feel thick-headed beforehand. The Migraleve sorts it out though.

[Sqad]

notofish....yepp, that sounds like migraine and if Syndol works....keep taking it.

One word of precaution precaution (I don´t know how old you are) just pop into the GP to see if a blood test is necessary in his opinion.

[LoftyLottie]

My son used to have weakness in one arm with his migraines and slurred speech. Quite frightening for him (and worried me too). He rarely gets a migraine now (at 27) but if he feels like one is coming he knows what to do. He was at boarding school when he got the first proper migraines and was also sent to sickbay where he was allowed to sleep as long as possible. The nurse there said that noone should try to do anything during a migraine.

[Marijn]

Sqad, what would the blood test be looking for? Sorry, to hi-jack the thread temporarily, ljsksa

[Sqad]

notofish....it is the description that you have given.

I would like to see a GP just feel the temporal region over where the pain is, to see if an artery is palpable, painful and tortuous. If it was and with the support of a blood test then an eminently treatable condition called Temporal Arteritis or i´ts more modern name...Giant Cell Arteritis...may be diagnosed.

This is only" little sqad" suspicious............it is almost certainly migraine.....;-)

[ljdksa]

No problem, Notafish. If it helps others too, is all good! Thanks everone for replies. Have made note of medications recommended and will check ok for his age group. Seem to be quite a lot of people affected!
Thanks again xxx

[Marijn]

Thanks Sqad. I've been having these headaches for over 20 years. There is a big visible vein there on my right temple. I don't know if that's significant. The headaches come every monthly cycle.

[Sqad]

notofish....if you have been having them for 20years then forget my suggestion.

It aint Temporal Arteritis.

[Marijn]

Thank you Sqad. Also thank you ljdksa for letting me hi-jack for a while.