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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> Help me identify my sons symptoms
        
(Message started by: Ian_Mortiboys on Feb 25^th, 2004, 6:56am)

Title: Help me identify my sons symptoms
Post by Ian_Mortiboys on Feb 25^th, 2004, 6:56am

My 9 year old son suffers from very severe headaches. He hasn't had a headache for about 1 week and then for the past three days he has had mild headaches (approx 1 per night and last for about 1 hour) Then last night (about 6pm) he said he didn't feel very well and then within 10 minutes had got a severe headache then was sick and then fell asleep. From onset of feeling unwell to falling asleep took 20 to 30 minutes. When he falls asleep he will sleep solidly all night untill next morning.

This has been an ongoing problem for the past few years and the doctors just say give him paracetamol which we feel is only masking the problem.

Title: Re: Help me identify my sons symptoms
Post by pubgirl on Feb 25^th, 2004, 7:36am

Ian

I am sorry your son is suffering so much. It is horrible to see your child in pain and not being able to do anything. You describe something that could be clusters, but could also be migraine which is more common in children or other headache types also. (see below for how to get a good diagnosis)

There are treatments other than paracetamol, one of the children on OUCH Uk, the UK site for cluster sufferers (www.clusterheadaches.org.uk) has taken Triptans since your son's age and 2 kids use oxygen, so these must be an option when you know what is wrong with your son.

BUT

Treatment of headache in children is quite a specialised field and there are paediatric neurologists in the UK.

I would therefore suggest you do several things:

1.Get your GP to refer you to a paediatric neurologist, or failing this a neurologist who specialised in headaches so you can get a good diagnosis of what is wrong with your son.

2.Register on OUCH UK (you don't need to join) and talk to some parents there, and perhaps if you get a CH diagnosis, you can let your son talk to the two boys and a girl there who suffer (OUCH UK is censored so there isn't much there to worry about your son reading)

3. Go to the Children's section of this website as there are some great links and information about headaches in children and other parents to talk to.

Keep us posted and I hope you get something better than paracetamol soon.

Wendy

Title: Re: Help me identify my sons symptoms
Post by Filbert on Feb 25^th, 2004, 8:55am

Ian Sorry to hear that you're having such a worrying time with your son at the moment.Obviously your first priority is to try and get a diagnosis not always easy if it is cluster [ although some of the symtoms you report are not typical of cluster but i'm not a doctor] Other than that I can only echo what Wendy has already written. Hope things get sorted out soon!!

Filbert

Title: Re: Help me identify my sons symptoms
Post by aprilbee on Feb 25^th, 2004, 9:17am

My daughter was diagnosed with migraines by a pediatric neurologist 2 years ago, she is 11 now. You just described almost the exact same symptoms that she has, except the sleeping part, she'll rest, but sleeping isn't usually an option for her. I hope you can find some help for your son soon! I know how terrible it is to watch your children in pain. Wishing you strength and pain free days for your son.

April Bee

Title: Re: Help me identify my sons symptoms
Post by Camerooskis_Mom on Feb 25^th, 2004, 2:02pm

My heart goes out to you and your little one.

The symptoms sound familiar to my 8 year old. My son cycles on a different time table but when the severe (apex) HA hits he does vomit quite violently. Vomiting is not something that Adult CH sufferers do but I am running into more and more children diagnosed w/ CH that do vomit.

I know if I give him Benedryl, he wont vomit. The Pedio Neuro believes this is because Benedryl has a soothing affect quiting down anxiety and stress. My son states that vomiting makes him feel better and he is able to fall asleep after he vomits. If he doesn't vomit he is not able to sleep at all until the HA subsides.

After of over a year dealing with this, we are still only at a prelimanary diagnosis of CH. If you wish to compare more notes, don't hesitate to PM me and I will send you my email address.

I send you my deepest desires that you are able to end this soon.