Worried About My Young Daughter

By charra

2 min read

I had my first migraine when I was 18. They didn't start chronically until about 3 years ago, at age 39. I have 4 kids: 21, 19, 17, and 7. None of my older kids ever had a headache until after puberty, and, even then, they were either from PMS, not enough sleep, etc. You know, "normal" ones that went away with a couple of Tylenol.

My youngest, however, started getting headaches at age 5, the first one being a doozy. She was dizzy, couldn't even get up. I had to give her 2 children's Motrin and a cold pack for quite a while before she got relief. She had cold symptoms the next day. Thereafter, it seemed that every headache she had (none as bad as the first), were followed by colds. So, while her headaches worried me, I assumed they were just part of her school-of-germs illnesses. However, lately she's been getting them with no sicknesses following behind. Thankfully, it only takes some children's pain reliever, or even only a cold pack, and lying down for a while to help. Regardless, I've decided, because I have a family history of migraines, to start journaling her headaches, much as I do my own. I'm going to take her to a chiropractors of see if that helps, and also an opthamologist to see if there are any deeper issues to address. I want to have my bases covered before I go to her pediatrician who may say to just keep doing what I'm already doing.

Even when she doesn't have a headache, she sometimes says that her eyes are blurry and she can't see very well. I'm pretty sure I'm seeing the beginning signs of migraines in her. My husband thinks I'm exaggerating, much like he thinks about my own migraines. But...I see them coming. Since I've been getting emails from migraine.com, I've read of many who have had migraines since they were that young, something I didn't know was possible. Am I right to worry that she may be on the road to Migraine City? Or should I just relax and assume that it's just part of her particular makeup to have headaches? I can't stand the thought that the migraines that I suffer through could be her future.

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jennl Member
Hi Charra, Thank you so much for sharing your story, as well as concerns about your youngest. We really hear you and are glad you came here for support. Your daughter is very fortunate to have such a caring and proactive mom. While we can't answer specific medical questions via the internet (for your safety), it sounds like taking your daughter to see specialists is a very good idea. I thought this article on the different people who work with migraine might be useful for the future, depending on what the specialists with whom you have appointments say: <a href='https://migraine.com/blog/healthcare-providers-turn-to-for-help' target='_blank'>http://migraine.com/blog/healthcare-providers-turn-to-for-help/</a>. Additionally, these articles on children and migraine might be useful: <a href='https://migraine.com/migraines-in-children-and-teens' target='_blank'>http://migraine.com/migraines-in-children-and-teens/</a> and <a href='https://migraine.com/blog/yes-kids-can-have-migraines' target='_blank'>http://migraine.com/blog/yes-kids-can-have-migraines/</a>. Please do feel free to come here any time for support or to let us know how you and your daughter are doing. We'll be thinking of you! Best, Jenn (Community Manager, <a href='https://migraine.com' target='_blank'>Migraine.com</a>)
vhosman Member
I think it's worth looking into. For years, my mom told me it was "all in my head." Headaches, along with cramps, were nothing he'd ever experienced, therefore I wasn't experiencing them. I appreciate what you're doing for your daughter, and one day, she will too.
gnjyht Member
My daughter had her first migraine at 6. It lasted 3 days. Talk about mother guilt, I knew it was my fault, since I had my first migraine at 16 and they have just gotten worse (we have a family history or them as well). She is 15 now and still suffers from them, with no signs of them getting better. Take your daughter in now and start working with a doctor. Chances are they won't get better, but the sooner you start working with a doctor the more likely it is you can come up with a treatment that may help. If your husband doesn't believe that migraines are real (haven't we all delt with that at one point), even to help his daughter then I would make him go and talk with the doctor too. My ex was the same way. Migraines are very real and making your child feel like they are lying or faking is not healthy.