Daughters headaches--have questions

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Hi. I would appreciate some advice. My daughter is 10. About 4 months ago, she started having a bad headache. Advil, Tylenol--nothing would get rid of it. She said it did NOTHING to relieve the pain. I took her to the Urgent Care Center after two days and no relief. No other symptoms. No n/v, dizziness, photophobia, etc. Well, needless to say I was not thrilled with that visit. So I took her to her pediatrician's the next day. She ordered sinus xrays--neg. and a CT-also neg. Wanted us to try Naproxen and Allegra. We did--did not help. Eventually after about 3 days, the headache went away. Now it is back. For two days now. Nothing is helping. The Naproxen helped she said--"for a little bit." She rates it about an 8 or 9. She also complained earlier of a "weird pop" that intensified the headache. She has no other symptoms. Just a headache over her entire head-it is not localized. Any suggestions! Help! I can see in her eyes how much she is hurting. She is not faking this--unlike what the Urgent Care Dr. tried to tell me. When should we see a Neurologist???

Specializes in HIV/AIDS, Dementia, Psych.

You and your daughter are in my thoughts and prayers.

My daughter is 9 and has had intermittent headaches since last year. I did mention them to our doctor, but she said it's nothing to worry about, that it's probably due to hormonal changes. My daughter only gets a headache about once every two weeks or so and it only lasts about an hour so it's not debilitating to her, but maybe your daughter has the same type of thing in a more severe form? Good luck! I'll be thinking of you!!

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Did miss it or did they check for ear infection?

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ok, I am not a doctor or anything (hahaha) but my sister has TMJ and she has all of the symptoms that you are describing. Her dentist diagnosed it and gave her a mouth guard to use while she slept and it helped her incredibly. She never actually had jaw pain it was always just headaches that is why she had it for years without anyone knowing what it was. Just a thought

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Thanks for all your suggestions!! We did go to the Dr. Even though her ONLY symptom was the headache-- she suggested that I double the Motrin doseage and start on Extendryl possibly due to allergies. (She has a well defined hx of allergies/asthma) and if that didn't help, then try Imitrex, which she gave me an RX for. Well, I'm sorry but when your daughter has had an excruciating headache for three days, what do ya think I did??? Yep, headed straight for the pharmacy. Gave her the Imitrex and within a half hour--headache went from a 9 to a 4. She has been sleeping soundly now for 2 hours. Miracle drug. Boy I knew the stuff was expensive--thank god for insurance. 9 pills (my insurance limit) was 187.00. Copay $25.00. Although if I had to--I would have paid the full price to get relief for the poor kid. Thanks again for your help. I just hope that this dosent become a cycle. I will keep a diary of diet, etc. and watch more closely--maybe I can discover a trigger.

Robyn

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Well, the Imitrex worked--until morning when her headache was back at a "6." Got ahold of the doctor at about 9 am, they ended up sending me to the neurologist--who promptly said, "Let's get one thing straight--this is NOT allergies!" Gee-I could have told you that@!!! So she gave her Zomig nasal spray, waited a half hour--headache gone. And had me give another oral Zomig in 3 hours. That took care of it. She said that the Imitrex is too short-acting, and since the migraine had gone on for so long--we needed bigger guns for it!! So now she has a Zomig at home, dad's, school, and in her backpack, so she can take one instantly at the first sign of a headache!!!!

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Specializes in NICU.
Now, don't go crazy !!! take a deep breath... an aneurysm that "poped" would mean certain stroke and untreated... death... hasn't happened.

I don't agree with this statement. Aneurysms can kill you, but about 30% can survive without surgery. It depends on how lucky you are. I lived for ten years following a misdiagnosed SAH. After the aneurysm was found, I had surgery, and had a much better prognosis because I did not have a fresh bleed. I have no deficits...well, my spelling and math got much harder.

As far as the little girl is concerned, she needs a pediatric neurologist ASAP.

Glad I finished the rest of the posts, and she did see a neurologist, amazing what the right meds will do!

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