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        Supporter's Corner >> Children and Cluster's >> 12 year old first timer?
        
(Message started by: susie on Dec 15^th, 2007, 12:38pm)

Title: 12 year old first timer?
Post by susie on Dec 15^th, 2007, 12:38pm

Here's the pattern beginning 7 days ago to my 12-year-old daughter:

Head pain comes with no warning; begins anywhere from 8:15 p.m. to 10:20 p.m. (so far); intense stabbing pain that causes her to cry out and press above her right eye and lasts for 15-20 seconds; this cycle happens like clockwork every 5-7 minutes for almost exactly three hours with no pain between the 5-7 minute attacks. She gets this "fireworks" effect as the headache is finishing, i.e. 3-5 stabbing pains in a row instead of 1 at a time.

We've tried ibuprofen, caffeine (seemed to delay the headache but then it returned and she still had to finish the 3-hour amount of time), imitrex, vicodin and percocet with no effect from anything.

Still just working with her pediatrician, very hard to get a quick appointment with a neurologist. We think this may have been triggered by hormones. She discontinued gymnastics training 6 weeks ago because she contracted mono and I think her body fat increased and caused a hormone surge. Plus, she's 12 so that could have happened anyway.

Any suggestions? We're exhausted.

Title: Re: 12 year old first timer?
Post by nani on Dec 15^th, 2007, 1:58pm

Hi susie. Welcome. Watching our children suffer is so hard. :(

The symptoms you describe do not sound like classic CH (thank heaven!) but getting a proper diagnosis is essential for her pain.
While you wait for a neuro appointment, start keeping a headache diary. Note time of day, location of pain and other symptoms, intensity and duration. This will help with diagnosis.

Also, have a look at this:
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/paroxysmal_hemicrania/paroxysmal_hemicrania.htm

The best thing about PH is that it's almost 100% responsive to indomethacin. It may or may not apply to your daughter. Print it out and take it to her pediatrician.

I wish you the best searching for an answer. Keep us posted, OK?

hugs and pain free wishes to your daughter, nani

Title: Re: 12 year old first timer?
Post by Linda_Howell on Dec 16^th, 2007, 8:25am

Hi Susie,

I'm with Nani in that your daughters symptoms do not sound at all like Cluster headache.

If the Neuro does in fact diagnosis her as having PH..Percocet and Vicodin will do NOTHING for her and I'm certain a Dr. who is more familiar with these types of headaches will attest to that fact.

I have 7 children so I totally sympathize with you in having to deal with watching a child go through pain. ANY type of pain on a continuing basis. I wish nothing but the best. :-*

Linda