[Abdulina]

Hello everyone. Try to keep this brief but you know me. Maybe one of you can help ease my mind. Okay, this is about our 10 yo daughter Yana. She's from Stavropol and been home about a year and a half. She has been getting headaches on and off for about a year now. Well, they began to increase in frequency and intensity. So, made an appointment w/ the neurologist. Since she's a new patient you have to wait of course. So, she will be seen on March 14th. In the meantime, the migraines are rough. Has to go to a dark room, much vomitting, nauseaness, etc. Tylenol and Motrin seem to take the edge off. The headaches don't last all day which is great. But still debilitating.

As if that weren't enough for her, she has not been herself for about a month now. Has a cold that she just can't seem to shake. Even teacher has noticed that she isn't her normal self. So, I took her in today and said she doesn't seem like herself, migraines, nausea, very lathargic, and that something is just not right with her. So, they ran a blood panel (not detailed one). No mono, which is good. Only thing that came back was her white cell count was elevated. Don't know by how much, they wouldn't give me the #'s. (I guess you have to ask for the #'s and my little RADish was running around the office--urghh). NP said it is probably just an infection but said we need to get to Raleigh Neuro as soon as we can. Told her we had an appt. already. She gave her Augmentin in hopes that it's some type of sinus infection. My gut says it's not. I'm concerned and my husband concerned by the symptoms she's presenting and the elevated white count. Oh, she also informed me that she used to get headaches in Russia all the time. Am I just a little too worried here? Anyone have anything similiar happen w/ their child? A little concerned right now. She's just not herself and rather miserable. Thanks for listening and for any suggestions you all may have.

Take care,

[kretzklan]

Not similar on the white cell count - but our oldest Rylie gets terrible migraines. After numerous cat scans and MRI we found out he has a cell mass in his frontal lobe. They said the cause could be birth tramau (his birth was long and hard) or a big fall (I couldn't think of anything major)...the bummer of all this is that kids this age (under 12) cannot take the migraine meds. At this point he takes a 200 mg ibuprofen along with a 250 mg aceteminaphin at the same time. It buffers but does not remove the pain.

Does Yana have any "precursors" for her headaches? Perhaps a change in vision or hearing. Many children with migraines do have these "early" symptoms. If she does - take the medication then - it can ward off the headache.

I'm sorry she is feeling so yucky...I really do feel for her. I hope you learn more about her blood tests!

[Jim_in_PA]

While sinus/other infection (and maybe eyesight) could be a source for pain, the increase in frequency/severity combined with the other symptoms is troublesome. If there is anyway to get your ped to help kick things in gear a little sooner...

[Vicki H]

For the time being, ask them if you could possibly give her excedring or tylenol migraine until the appointment with the neurologist.
Even if you have to cut them in half. I get migraines and these seem to help.

One thing I will say, if the neurologist suggests taking a medication daily to prevent them , get as much info as you can.

The neurologist put me on depacote and it was horrible. I now take something when I get a migraine and that helps much better.

[angelkisses0102]

All I can say is as a sufferer of frequent & severe sinus infections...I know when I am sick I get 'stupid'...my head hurts so bad it feels like it will explode...I am completely exhausted...sick, can't eat, can't function...am not myself at all. My sinus infections are caused by my environmental allergies...so I am constantly 'stuffy' with post nasal drip...when it gets bad...it also impacts my stomach. Sinus infections can be very stubborn too...I usually need a longer coiurse of antibiotics.

There are sinus cavities throughout your head...my infections get behind my nose and cheeks and then the back ones...can't describe it but if I massage the back of my neck...it feels better. My teeth actually hurt too...I get no fever but elevated white blood cell count.

Hopefully you will get answers soon...I hope she feels better!

[kretzklan]

Oh yeah - our neuro did put Rylie on a daily med to "train his body to not get migraines" - it was a low dosage (if you want the name let me know - I'm blanking right now)...but he took it daily for six months and it did work. He is off the med and his migraines went from 3/4 a week to 2/3 a month. A pretty drastic drop!

[Jim_in_PA]

A little caffeine (the secret ingredient in Excedrin) may help speed the analgesic...perhaps some tea.

[GCS]

Like Karen (Angelkisses) I suffered from sinus related migranes as a kid. Undiagonsed allergies contributed to this.
I only get them with sinus infections now and I keep my allergies in check without medication by avoiding certain situations. Mine are severe mold/dust allergies, so I keep a clean house and when there is the need to schlep into the crawl, DH is sent to get and dust off whatever we need. I still react a bit, but nothing like I used to. The allergy attack turned into a sinus infection pretty much every time. So it seemed like I frequently had bad colds.
I also had my diviated septum fixed two years ago - havent had a sinus infection since!

Christina

[mikeintexas]

My sister had migraines starting right around 12 or 13. My parents did everything possible medically and there wasn't anything that helped. Out of desperation, they took her to a chiropractor and the headaches diminished significantly. They eventually stopped. So, that might be another option to look into, but you'd obviously want to rule out all the other issues first. Mike

[momm2be]

Its hard to tell anything serious from 1 blood draw. If it indicated something critical, they would have sent her to the ER, not waited until the 14th. If you are still nervous tommorrow, call the doc back and ask again.

Its not that uncommon for kids to develop headaches/migraines around Yana's age

I know you know, but Mom's do know best and if you think there is something there, don't stop asking questions.

[angelkisses0102]

One more thing I thought of, watch the weather...specifically the barometric pressure (Lows) to see if that is a trigger. I can always tell there is a low around by my sinus headaches...during hurricane season...oh boy did I get some nasty pains...

And I agree...I would call the doctor tomorrow....

[Abdulina]

Thanks for all the replies. I know this is just one blood draw. Trouble is, I have absolutely no confidence in this healthcare center. It is my husband's onsite healthcare facility. We see all nurse practioners, no docs. Some are really good. They have misdiagnosed our family many times over. Sent one son home said just a virus. Serious UTI and was dehydrated. Had to have IV fluids. Misdiagnosed DH. Ended up having to have surgery on a spider bite. Told me Bojan didn't need a new leg and needed no surgery when he first came home. Just told me to get him new boots. So, these are just some of the misdiagnosis. The list goes on. My confidence in them is nill. I know it's one blood draw but I'd rather have another person doing it if you know what i mean. She's okay now and going to school tomorrow. School's aware of the situation and is monitoring her and contacting me if problems do come up. Just my gut is saying something's up. Going to get her allergy tested as well soon. I have SEVERE allergies and sinus troubles. And I do mean severe--no bluffing. Her sinuses are never hurting her. No cheeks or jaws hurting or teeth or places where I get my sinus pressure. --NP said the same thing today yet still diagnosed her w/ a sinus infection b/c she couldn't come up w/ anything else. March 14th is not that long. Her blood pressure was high too. Could that mean anything? Got to get going here. Thanks again for listening and for all the sound advice. Right now, going to wait for the neurologist. I see the neurologist for my other son on Tuesday. Going to ask while I"m there. --she doesn't specialize in headaches but I know for sure she knows more than me!

Thanks again.

[karenmarq]

Interesting that her blood pressure was high. I finally got relief from migraines that I had for 6 years by going on medication for high blood pressure.

Anyway, just wanted to send my best wishes. It is so horrible to get migraines and I had to push and push and push to find some relief.

I hope this new neurologist can give you some answers.

Karen

[ainsley]

I started suffering from migraines around the same age. Looking back I think it may have been related to hormones. But all I know is that I spent many a day in a dark room with tylenol and a cold wash cloth and feeling spent, tired, moody and downright depressed as I saw no relief and my doctor told my mom I needed to learn to "relax". Thirty years later I still suffer but due to medication I can catch them early and go on with my day. I saw every specialist when my mother realized this was not normal...neurologists, allergists, headache specialists, etc. I noticed that certain smells (perfume, smoke), certain foods (chocolate, carbs, later in life...wine), weather, stress all contributed. It is also important to keep a similar routine in terms of eating, sleeping and water consumption when dealing with migraines. Many times I was misdiagnosed as having a sinus infection as the symptoms are sometimes similar. I was also given Toprol which is used for high blood pressure but it made little difference for me. I currently use imitrex, relpax, axert or frova. I can so empathize with your daughter and you as a mom. I would rather have root canal than suffer from a bad migraine. You and your daughter are in my prayers. I hope she finds relief soon.

[pwnort64]

Maybe this is from left field, but have you had her eyes examined? Maybe the headaches are from needing glasses.

It doesn't answer the question about the elevated white blood count or the cold that she can't shake (I'm going on week 4 myself). That could just be a low-grade infection or allergies common to this time of year and unrelated to the headaches.