Teenagers with migraines

No help here.. I know my 11 year old is experiencing migraines but not to that degree. So I am following to see what others have to say. I know my kiddo missed a ton last year in 5th grade because of this. Doctor prescribed her (I don't have it with me) something that she puts under her tongue and dissolves. So far that has helped. Although last night she felt one coming on but I think we missed it as she went to bed pretty early and no complaints this morning...

It's hard to help, like you I have never experienced a migraine. I guess my grandma used to get them so bad she was in bed for a week. My mom got them but not that extreme. And back then there wasn't much they could do.

Hope you can get some good advice.

Have you been able to figure out what’s triggering them? My 12 year old get migraines with visual disturbances. The visual disturbance bothers her more than the actual headache. She had an MRI to make sure nothing else was going on and also saw an ophthalmologist to ensure it wasn’t something with her eyes. Dehydration has been a major trigger for her as well as lack of sleep. Even though she was drinking plenty of water, she needed the electrolyte balance from a sports drink. We have had success with reducing the number and severity by ensuring that she drinks Gatorade everyday and on days she has soccer games or intense practices she drinks more. Otherwise she just tries to sleep them off, she has a hard time functioning if they progress very far because of the vision issues. Sunglasses can help if she has to go out and has one. I wander if the classroom lights are triggering your daughter? Mine has a hard time with the lighting in schools and commercial buildings when they get bad.

I have had chronic migraines for almost 30 years. There are various other treatments you can try. Botox, Aimovig, etc to keep the migraines from happening. None of these has worked for me, but others have found success with them. When I have a migraine I get very nauseous, irritable, and can not stand light or sound. It is awful. Hopefully you will be able to find something that helps.

You need to get her to another neurologist. She shouldn't be having migraines that last days, much less weeks. There are more preventative drugs available than Topomax, including several new ones that are in a shot form that you take once per month - like Aimovig, for example. There are also other rescue drugs that may work better than Imitrex, which sounds like is not working very well at all. I take Maxalt MLT - it's a tablet that you put under your tongue and it melts. It takes care of most of mine within a couple of hours. You have to try different things to see what works for you.
On the non-prescription side, I find that a cold Coke along with a couple of Excedrines (either before or after taking Maxalt) will help kick mine out. I think it's the caffeine that helps.

If something salty is helping I wonder about her electrolyte balance. I would try Gatorade as a preventative measure— it’s not going to hurt her and may help

Hi. I’ve had migraines for as long as I can remember. Everyone’s are different. Trying to figure out the triggers is painful. I did realize some foods, poor sleep, hormone changes throughout the month, and arguing with Dh are major triggers. While the foods I understood through a trigger diary the rest I came to realize with time and maturity.

In my opinion, generic migraine meds have a very different release time than name brand meds. If I take generic meds they can take 1.5-2hrs to take effect and don’t last/work as long, just do to make up. I take axert and they’ve gotten rid of the name brand so I am stuck with generic. Nothing else works as well with no side effects. I have used the nose spray that has a very quick activation time but it didn’t last long enough for me. There is a powder you displace in water that is supposed to be amazing.

When it comes to migraines, release time and activation time are critical because it’s about catching the pain before it escalates (almost like dealing with menstrual cramps). If your meds aren’t working well then the major pain hits and it’s impossible to get rid of and you have to wait it out even if it takes a week or two. . Likewise, if your meds aren’t lasting long enough (like many migraine meds) the pain subsided slightly and returns. I take a naproxen with my migraine meds because of it’s long lasting effects. Your dd needs to find the cocktail that works for her? Have you considered this a side effect of hormone fluctuation. Just wondering if BCP could help the swinging. The hormone shift as not as much during periods as it is throughout the month. Although I know that’s not the only trigger.

I understand what your dd says when she says she can’t concentrate. My eyes won’t work properly when I have a migraine. Almost like I turn my head and my eyes lag behind. They’re slow. Almost like I’m still looking in the last direction but my eyes haven’t caught up to the new direction. I call my head weak. And my migraine might not be awful and it could even be getting better but my head could still feel weak Ike i need to nap.

I used to suffer 5/7 days per week. Now I get a migraine 5-7 times a month or never in a month, depending. I hope your dd finds some coping strategies. I would try a neurologist again.

Have you tried a food diary? Many of my triggers are food related and by keeping track I was able to identify that and now know to stay the hell away from aspartame. Just a thought...

Also, the above suggestion about Gatorade is a good one too. Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance can play a part too.

I do agree that days long migraines are concerning. Get her on the cancellation list at the neurologist just in case they can see you sooner!!

Good luck!

My daughter was diagnosed with migraines in 3rd grade. She is now 37 but I remember many times if she could just throw up she felt better but we finally figured out caffeine in soda was a trigger. Also my father had them and after 30 years a neurologist finally told him if you go to bed without a headache and wake up with one it is most likely something you are eating. It could be anything consumed in I believe it was the past 24 to 36 hours. Sure enough Daddy worked the night shift and came home and cooked all our breakfast and while cooking he would occasionally nibble on peanuts. Finally figured out it was nuts and the eggs he was eating for breakfast. Amazing the results for both my daughter and father once those foods were eliminated from their diet.They still would have a migraine but no where near as bad and not very often. I would try to maybe figure out if it could be a food.

I would just suggest keep track of her headaches and level of pain.

When I've gone in and the dr said, "how are you?" and I said, "my head hurts" I don't get as good of care. But when I can say "I've had 10 headaches a month on a pain scale of 10" They understand the problem a bit better.

The Migraine Buddy app has really helped me to identify my triggers. I started getting migraines at 19, and am now 44. For years my migraines were mostly hormonal or due to stress. Now, however, a major trigger for me is barometric pressure changes. The thing I would wonder is if she is actually having migraines, or possibly cluster headaches, with them lasting for so long. Mine have increased dramatically in the past 2 years, and they seem to be related to the 2 bulging discs that I have in my neck. anyway, I would suggest downloading the Migraine Buddy app to help identify her triggers. I am taking Botox now, and it hasn't really helped much, so I am waiting on a Neuro workup to see if there is something else going on.

My DD started having migraines probably at around 13-14yo. She’s now 18. She’s tried a few different preventative meds. She’s currently on propanol and maxalt as a rescue med. she only gets a migraine once or twice a month now. Once in awhile she will take a generic form of excedrine migraine (headache relief-Walmart brand) when she feels one coming on. The only thing Topomax helped her do was lose weight, it didn’t help her headaches. Well it helped a little, they just lessened them, kind of what it sounds like happened with your DD.

There are enough preventatives out there that your DD shouldn’t be having headaches for days or weeks. Keep trying to find one that works. I suffer from migraines as well and I would shoot myself (not really, but but no one should have to suffer tha long) if I had to deal with a monthly migraine that lasted for days or weeks😳 I take topomax (no weight loss benefits for me) and lisinopril and then Zomig as a rescue. I get maybe 2-3 on avg and maybe have to take Zomig once a month as I can usually knock them out with the Excedrine. But they don’t last more than a day.

MY daughter was diagnosed with them at 14. No real triggers that we could work out which isn't unusual for people who have a strong hereditary history. My grandfather, Mum, myself all suffer from chronic migraine. The doctor at the time (she is now 22) said that the only 2 preventative drugs available for kids her age (in Australia, might be different there) was Topomax and propanalol. I wanted to avoid the Topomax as I had such huge side effects so we went with the propanolol and it worked for her. She has had to adjust it a few times but it has worked really well with few side effects. She may also need to change her rescue drug. I use Naramig where my daughter finds Zomig more effective for her.

One thing that is really important is for the rescue drug to be taken at the first signs. Aspirin also helps at the first signs. Hopefully the school with let her go out of class to take the meds and if she gets the meds in early they may not develop.