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        Supporter's Corner >> Children and Cluster's >> 6 year old with headache right over eye
        
(Message started by: IluvNorty on Aug 21^st, 2004, 1:01am)

Title: 6 year old with headache right over eye
Post by IluvNorty on Aug 21^st, 2004, 1:01am

Hi...I'm new to this board, worried, and looking for answers. My 6 year old daughter had a bad headache Monday afternoon. It came on fast. Her face was white, cheeks red. She was obviously in more pain than I've ever seen her in and she kept pointing to one eye, right over the eye, like where you would wear eye shadow. She was sniffling too, like she was stopped up so I just thought she was getting a cold. I gave her motrin and an alergy pill and she went to sleep.

Now tonight, 4 days later, the exact thing has happened. She was fine, playing, having fun.......then all of a sudden she had this awful headache. She was crying so hard and that just isn't like her. Once again, she pointed to her eye, right above the eyeball area, and said that's where it hurts. Then she went to sleep.

I have migraines so bad that I had to take a medical retirement so even though I don't have cluster headaches, I've heard about them and they crossed my mind as my husband and I sat by her all evening, watched her sleep, and worried.

I know I'm jumping the gun on just two headaches but .........does this sound anything like the beginning stages of cluster headaches?????

I've never seen her hurt so badly so quickly, then just go to sleep.

Thanks for your time and any input,
Cindy

Title: Re: 6 year old with headache right over eye
Post by Drk^Angel on Aug 21^st, 2004, 2:50am

From the reading I've done, it can be difficult to impossible to accurately diagnose a child with CH... Especially after only a few attacks. In children, the symptoms can be fairly irregular or atypical of normal CH symptoms. The best advice to give is that you should always have a doctor (Neurologist or pediatric neurologist if available) check out any headaches your child may have that concern you. The sooner you seek assistance, the sooner your child may receive an accurate diagnosis and a viable treatment plan. *hugZ* Good luck!

PFDAN................................... Drk^Angel

Title: Re: 6 year old with headache right over eye
Post by synergy on Aug 21^st, 2004, 5:19pm

So sorry you are having to go through this hun - welcome to the board hun but i do hope that it turns out that you dont have to be here.

I agree with drk_angel - get a good neuro involved in this.

Stay strong and keep posting as we are all here to give advice or just to listen.

luv and kisses being sent your way - love sarah xx

p.s - has anyone else in the family got or ever had CH?

Title: Re: 6 year old with headache right over eye
Post by IluvNorty on Aug 21^st, 2004, 11:47pm

Thanks so much for your responses. My daughter spent her first year of life in an orphanage. I know nothing about her birth family's health history. My daughter was malnourished when I got her and other than that and being told that she had stomach problems, I was told nothing.

I see a neurologist who specializes in headaches once a month so I will get her advice at my next appointment. I just wonder if I should wait that long. I keep wondering if I should take her to the pediatrician or wait and see if it happens again.

I never make the right decision. If I rush to the pediatrician, they act like I'm overreacting. If I wait, they want to know why I waited so long. I never know what to do.

This just seems like such a strange thing.......such a strange pain....and so intense.

And sadly, my life centers around my migraines, so I panicked.

Thanks again for listening and for your input. My husband actually watched her in a dark quiet room for several hours after the episode because he was so worried about her. He appreciates the input also.

Thanks,
Cin

Title: Re: 6 year old with headache right over eye
Post by synergy on Aug 22^nd, 2004, 4:18am

Its always hard to know whether to rush or wait - for fear of being called an overacting mother! I wouldnt hang around though - make an appointment with her GP or something like that and see if he can help.

Or failing that - next time (if it does happen again) take her straight to ER. that might start the ball rolling on getting a diagnosis.

luv and hugs

sarah xx

Title: Re: 6 year old with headache right over eye
Post by Drk^Angel on Aug 22^nd, 2004, 4:20am

Any doctor worth your time will not complain when someone comes in with severe head pain. Not trying to scare you, but sudden onset of severe head pain could be quite serious, and no doctor should take it lightly. Good luck to you and your daughter.

PFDAN............................................ Drk^Angel

Title: Re: 6 year old with headache right over eye
Post by IluvNorty on Sep 2^nd, 2004, 1:19pm

Hi......Thanks again for your advice and concern. I spoke to my headache specialist and she was concerned enough about my daughter to take her as a patient. I feel fortunate that I don't have to go through referals and waiting lists, etc. My daughter has an appt. and will be seen at the latter part of the month.

I don't know if there is any other kind of migraine that causes you to feel such an awful pain in your eye or not. I can't stand the thought of her having to go through life dealing with this. I guess I will find out more soon.

Thanks again.
Cin

Title: Re: 6 year old with headache right over eye
Post by Dave_Emond on Sep 3^rd, 2004, 12:27am

Hi Cindy,
First, what's your daughters name, would like to include her in our prayers.
Don't let any doctors dictate how often you bring her in, best to see if you can find out for sure what this is right away. I'd really suggest strongly you ask for a MRI, these won't show Cluster Headaches, put can at least rule out other possible problems and if there are any, will catch them early.
I'm the President of The Organization for Understanding Cluster Headaches (O.U.C.H.) and if you send me your E-mail address (which I would keep confidential) I'll send you an attachment of a booklet I spent a long time working on that can help you and your doctor log when the attacks hit, levels of pain, results of medications, CH information, etc.
This will be in pdf. file format, if you can't get it, let me know and I'll send you a MS Word file of this booklet designed for parents of children and teens with Cluster Headaches. Even if they turn out to be something different, the logs can still help.
God Bless your daughter and your family,
Dave
ExplodingEye@aol.com
(The OUCH website is going through some modifcations and soon we'll have this booklet linked there and ready for easy printing. Any other parents out there who'd like a copy of this handbook in the meantime, please let me know and I'll send you a copy.)

Title: Re: 6 year old with headache right over eye
Post by pubgirl on Sep 3^rd, 2004, 2:36am

Hi Cin

Loads of good advice here and more on its way from Dave.

You are doing the right thing, any doctor who gives you a hard time when you need help for a kid doesn't deserve to be a doctor

If it is any comfort, clusters in very small children are incredibly rare, unfortunately migraines are more common (and can cause severe pain in the eye) but often the child grows out of it. The good news is that there are quite a few treatments which small children can take for headaches with a paediatrician's guidance.

I hope you get some good help as soon possible, let us know how you all get on. In the meantime I will say a prayer if that's OK

Wendy

Title: Re: 6 year old with headache right over eye
Post by IluvNorty on Sep 10^th, 2004, 12:41am

Thanks for your offer to pray for my daughter. I do believe in prayer and would appreciate it very much. Her name is Isabella.

Thanks Dave for offering to send me the headache log. I will email you with my email info.

Thanks,
Cin

Title: Re: 6 year old with headache right over eye
Post by Dave_Emond on Sep 10^th, 2004, 3:39am

Isabella: "Consecrated of God"
What a beautiful name. I and many others here believe prayer is more powerful than any medication and pray the the Lord works through the doctors and proper medications.
Just got your E-mail and will send you the childrens diary right away. Hope it helps in some way.
God gave you Isabella and I'm sure she's blessed to have you and your husband to watch over her. Many prayers for your strength and Isabella's health.
God Bless,
Dave

Title: Re: 6 year old with headache right over eye
Post by IluvNorty on Sep 11^th, 2004, 11:43pm

Hi Dave,

Thank you for sending the children's diary and information. It looks great. Thanks for spending so much time on it, to make things easier for people like me who are just learning.

Thanks again,
Cin