posted
I'm sure I could raise him if I had to, but can anyone offer advice to help my daughter? She's never had one before and I'm totally inexperienced here. Any help out there?
-------------------- Getting older is when we would rather not have a good time than have to get over it. - Oscar Wilde Posts: 386 | From Radnor, PA - where the ticks run free | Registered: May 2006
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posted
Both my children had migraines as symptoms of having Lyme Disease. My daughter got terrible headaches/migraines when she started being treated by an LLMD; now she gets them less often. I tell her to skip the next dose of meds once she gets a migraine, and that usually helps - or skip 2 doses even, let the body calm down. Recently, switching to Minocin started a new round of headaches - every med change has done that to her.
As to what to do for the migraine, we were told to take 2 ibuprofen at onset (even a young child); a friend whose father is a pediatrician takes ibuprofen and coca-cola for the caffeine. My migraine meds have caffeine in them.
A dim or darkened room, lying quietly, perhaps a cup of tea or perhaps a soothing lukewarm bath?
I am not sure what you are asking - if you are asking about the occurrence of a migraine, our experience in this family is that it comes with the treatment.
Migraines can last for days and they are nasty nasty nasty. There may not be much you can except help her find what makes her most comfortable and be supportive.
Hope this is reassuring if nothing else ...
ESG
Posts: 424 | From Connecticut, USA | Registered: Nov 2003
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posted
Thanks for the reply. I gave her an advil - 200 mg. - and a Benadryl to help her to sleep. She's in a dark room with a CD player playing quietly - all the covers over her head until the sun sets.
I was hoping for practical advice on how to help her. Thanks for the ideas. I'll see if she would take another advil.
This is a first for her - I think I let her have too much junky food in the last day or so - got to tighten up there.
-------------------- Getting older is when we would rather not have a good time than have to get over it. - Oscar Wilde Posts: 386 | From Radnor, PA - where the ticks run free | Registered: May 2006
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posted
You might want to try small amounts of caffeine.
Our daughter (28 year old) has suffered from migraines for more than 6 years.
She's on huge load of narcotics for the migraine pain and the joint/muscle pain, but there are times when a strong cup of coffee will help as much as the narcotics.
For someone as young as yours, I'd take it slow with the coffee - upset stomach etc.
Dark room, quiet, lots of liquids.
Good Luck
Posts: 681 | From California | Registered: Oct 2005
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As a (former) massage therapist, and practically a professional migraneure, I offer the following advice:
#1 Cold Neck / Hot Feet Try an ice pak at the back of the neck, and sticking her feet in the hottest tub of water she will tolerate - OR if she can't stand the hot water, you can ALTERNATIVELY, try to wrap her feet in a heating pad.
(Penn, this next part isn't really for you....
Notice to the severe Lyme brains that will come along and read this...it's an EITHER the hot tub of water OR the heating pad wrapped around the feet. NOT both simultanously! Yes, there ARE stupid people in this world and they are not immune to Lyme. Remember water + electricity = death. )
Now, back to you Penn...
The theory here is that you are wanting to draw the blood AWAY from the head.
I can't remember the science behind this exactly because I have Lyme and it feels like it has dumbed me down tremendously. BUT I *think* that the blood will travel to the feet as the body will move to open the pores of the feet to cool them off. OR I could have just made that reasoning up in my head. Whatever -- the icepak / hot feet thing has worked!
#2 Magnesium I'm not sure what the appropriate dosage would be for a child, but it helps to relax the muscles which may be contributing to the whole vaso-dialation thing. Feel her shoulders and neck muscles. Are they tight? If so - I would really recommend the magnesium supplementation (stop if she gets diarrhea) OVER a massage because massaging her neck & head during a certain stage of a migraine could make it worse because massage actually brings blood TO the area -- NOT the effect you should be going after!
#3 Movement / Moderate Exercise If she feels up to it...consider getting her to try a good brisk walk to get some of her natural endorphins to kick in. Not a sure-fire winning approach - but sometimes you get desperate.
I usually don't even consider this as an alternative anymore because I have such faith in narcotics...but I'm a big girl and I'm generally too tired and lazy to exercise when I feel good. Suggest that I exercise when I have a migraine and I just might punch your lights out!
#4 Tight head-band Sometimes I'll get a scarf and tie it really tightly around my head like I'm Rambo. Actually there have been times I've tied it around my eyes because I thought my eyeballs would explode.
The theory behind this is that you are helping to slow down the throbbing flow of blood into the skull. I have to tie it as tightly as I can, as if I were typing a d*mn tourniquet on my head. Just be careful with her young skull...let her comfort level be the guide.
#5 Sunglasses I remember the *old* song "I wear my sunglasses at night..."...but as a child if she's not literally vomitting from the pain she may want to try to divert her attention from the pain by watching (or listening) to TV. The flicker of the TV could aggravate the light sensitivity that can occur - so make her wear some sunglasses around the house & if watching TV. Call the glasses "magic" & call HER a movie star.
#6 Essential Oil of Lavender I like to use essential oils on occasion, and of all the oils, I think lavender is the MOST useful and versatile. Sometimes I have dabbed just a tiny amount on my temples, a bit on my forehead, behind my neck near my occipital bones and it has worked wonders.
Most essential oils require you to dilute them with a carrier oil (such as castor oil, olive oil, or even a regular vegetable oil) before application because they are too strong. But I have used lavendar oil (in moderation) at full strength on my skin as indicated. Since she is a kiddo and probably still has that baby-soft sensitive skin, you might want to proceed with caution and try out a small area first...OR just dilute a drop or so in some veggie oil and try that. (I personally wouldn't use lavender & olive oil together for a migraine. The smell of olive oil might make me want to puke.)
#7 A good bowel movement I know this sounds stupid & gross...but I learned this one from personal first-hand experience.
I had been experiencing one long-@ss migraine that my neuro at the time (sorry @ss that he was) said was really a "rebound" headache, and he wouldn't give me anything decent to rid me of it. I tried all the above methods to no avail...
Ironically - after several days of this, I had to prepare for the next day's colonoscopy because sometimes you just can't have enough fun with your body! As you may be suspect, I had to drink all this yucky crap to make me rid my colon of its contents.
After all the trips to the bathroom, all of a sudden, I didn't feel like popping my eyes out with a melon-baller! It was like a miracle! It was like my headache got flushed down the toilet!
IF you get to this point where you're wanting to make her go poo -- I would suggest upping that dosage of magneisum! (Magneisum tolerance is achieved when you get diarrhea.) If in doubt on how much to give her...reach for that good ol' fashioned bottle of Milk of Magnesia! It can't hurt.
Hope this helps & she gets over her migraine ASAP.
In closing...I might suggest that if she has a FIRST one, she's likely to have MORE. As a mother, I know I don't like my child to suffer the least bit of pain - so I trust you'll get on the internet, go to the bookstore, the library, etc. and YOU will soon become the MIGRAINE EXPERT...and next time - you too will be able to help another mom in need of advice.
Hugs & Kisses,
-------------------- DR. Wiseass NOT a real doc - just a real wise Posts: 792 | From USA | Registered: Jan 2005
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Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
Here is a product that does help sometimes:
The directions advise to squeeze the contents of the dispenser under the tongue, hold for 30 seconds, and swallow.
What I do is, shake the dispenser to distribute contents, and squeeze several drops under my tongue. I wait a minute, then do it again, repeating until the dispenser is empty. This usually takes 5 to 10 minutes, during which I lie down in a quiet room This works more quickly and reliably than my expensive prescription migraine med.
Also, Excedrin Migraine sometimes helps. It has the same stuff in it as the regular Excedrin, I think. Acetaminophen (tylenol), aspirin, and caffeine.
Heh, I suspect caffeine is the magic ingredient. But if you give it to her in the evening, she is likely to have insomnia.
Carol
Posts: 6956 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
I can't thank you all enough for your replies. She ended up sleeping for a little while and then wanted a warm cloth on her head (earlier on she had wanted cool). She fell asleep again and was much better. She ate dinner and has been fine, thank God.
I also had several people praying for her and I know that was what kept the whole incident to only 2 1/2 hours. I've read where they can last days on end. What a horror...
I will print out these responses for any possible future migraine. I plan to talk to the LLMD at our next appointment on Monday to see what he thinks.
Hugs and many thanks to everyone!
-------------------- Getting older is when we would rather not have a good time than have to get over it. - Oscar Wilde Posts: 386 | From Radnor, PA - where the ticks run free | Registered: May 2006
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shazdancer
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1436
posted
Yes, as was said before, catching the migraine early on, before it is a full-blown headache, is the best way to stop it. Your daughter may have them again. Perhaps she can become aware of how she feels just before the headache comes on. Dizzy? Eyes hurt? (I get sinus aches) See halos? Whatever.
Excedrin = aspirin + Tylenol + caffeine
Once she's in a full-blown headache, she knew what she needed: dark, quiet, stillness, and sleep. I like your idea of Benedryl, easy for kids to take, might relieve some sinus pressure, and relaxes them. A doctor recommended it for my son when he was having anxiety attacks due to Lyme.
Take care, Penn, Shaz
Posts: 1558 | From the Berkshires | Registered: Jul 2001
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