Is this common for Migraine Headaches?

Question

I'm about 18 years old and have been getting Migraine headaches since I was 10. I went to a specialized head doctor and he said that I may grow out of migraines later on in my life or I will have to live with them forever. I'm the only kid in my school who gets Migraines so when I used to go to the nurse she never believed me.

• I was wondering though how common was it for kids my age to get migraine...???

• If there were any medicine (non-prescription) that works on Migraines except Excedrin???

• and if it is common that when I do have a Migraine I get extremely hot, I throw up and yawn alot?

~~~Ron

Answer 1

I've had migraines since I was 12. They told me I had a brain tumor at first... then they decided they were wrong. No other meds are gonna work, so far as I can tell, except prescriptions. there are all kinds of side effects for migraines... i'm sure yours are normal.

Headaches are very common in children and adolescents. In one study, 56% of boys and 74% of girls between the ages of 12 and 17 reported having had a headache within the past month. By age 15, 5% of all children and adolescents have had migraines and 15% have had tension headaches. (www.webmd.com)

Moderate to severe pain (often described as pounding, throbbing pain) that can affect whole head, or can shift from one side of the head to the other
Sensitivity to light, noise or odors
Blurred vision
Nausea or vomiting, stomach upset, abdominal pain
Loss of appetite
Sensations of being very warm or cold
Paleness
Fatigue
Dizziness
Fever (rare)
Bright flashing dots or lights, blind spots, wavy or jagged lines (aura)
(www.webmd.com)

Answer 2

Ohh god poor you. I used to get intense migraines. Common symptoms of migraine include: - Throbbing or pulsating headache on one side of your head. - Moderate to severe headache intensity. - Your headache getting worse with routine physical activity. - Nausea, vomiting, or both. - Sensitivity to light and noise, and sometimes smells. Unlike other headaches, however, migraines usually occur on one side of your head, although the side that is affected can shift with each new attack. Migraines are also often accompanied by sensitivity to light and noise. If you are experiencing an "aura" a visual disturbance before the onset of the migraine, this is know as a classic migraine and one of the more severe types. Personally, I havent had a migraine in months and it's been great. I got them monthly during my period which was not fun. My doctor put me on the pill and this totally eleviated the migraines. Thank god. I think you should probably seek medical attention if you have multiple symptoms. Good luck. =]

Answer 3

Sorry to hear about your discomfort. Migraines can be awful. I have pasted below some information regarding migraines. I would have to say though that prescription meds are probably going to work the best. Is there a reason you don't want prescription meds? Best of luck to you & Take Care. :)


You can usually manage your migraines. First try an over-the-counter pain medicine, such as ibuprofen or naproxen. Brand names include Advil, Motrin, and Aleve.

If over-the-counter medicine does not work, your doctor can prescribe stronger medicine that stops the migraine as it is starting. You may not be able to use some medicines if you are pregnant or have other health problems, such as heart problems or high blood pressure.

When you feel a migraine coming on:

Stop what you are doing, and take your medicine. Do not wait for the migraine to get worse. Take your medicine exactly as your doctor told you to.
Take it easy. Rest in a quiet, dark room. Close your eyes, and try to relax or go to sleep. Do not watch TV or read. Put a cold pack or cool cloth on the painful area.
If the first treatment you try does not work, try something else. It may take time to find what works best for you.

Some people also use other kinds of treatments, such as acupuncture or the herb feverfew. These may help reduce the pain or the number of migraines you have. But experts need more research to see if they really work.3, 4

Be careful when you use your migraine medicines. Taking them too often can cause you to get another headache when you stop taking the medicine. This is called a rebound headache. If you find you are taking your medicines very often, talk to your doctor before a problem starts.


-------Acupuncture is a treatment based on ancient Chinese medicine. Traditional Chinese acupuncture usually is done by putting very thin needles into the skin at certain points on the body to produce energy flow along the body's meridians; other types of acupuncture may use heat, pressure, or mild electrical current to stimulate energy flow along these meridians.



Some people may use acupuncture to treat alcohol use or addiction problems, fibromyalgia, back pain, and many other conditions. There is some evidence that acupuncture may stimulate the production of the body's natural painkillers (endorphins, serotonin, and acetylcholine).



In general, acupuncture is safe when done by a certified acupuncturist. A state license ensures that the acupuncturist has a certain level of training and follows certain practice guidelines, such as using sterilized needles that are disposed of after one use. In the United States, acupuncture needles are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as therapeutic devices.

Answer 4

Lets see..
" Ten percent of children get migraines, and an even higher percentage of teenagers have them"

Being hot/ throwing up are common syptoms with migraines. Its usually just your body's response to pain. Usually the more pain you are in the higher your blood pressure will be, and the syptoms will get worse.

Over the counter meds-- from my own experience with it-- Aleve (naproxem) helps, also Benadryl Allergy & Sinus (it combines benadryl, tylenol, and sudafed). I also sometime put icey-hot on my forehead-- works well for me, but can actually trigger migraines in my hubby! Watch out on the excedrine, it contains a lot of caffeine-- for some people that can actually make your migraines worse!

As far as school goes-- you can get on a 504 plan (its a health plan, mandated by law). Essentially it gives you rights, like you can time in a dark room to rest, recieve medication, extended time to finish missed assingments, etc. You just need to get a statement from your doc.

Answer 5

I had migraines since age 10.
When 36, one day taking 2 Vanquish (like Excedrin) I had no effect on that, it was like having taken a piece of sugar. Nothing.
Started to examine myself and determined that I had a totally stuffed up nostril on the same side as the migraine. Experimentally I took one Contac (decongestant). The migraine was gone shortly.
Got a hold of a doctor friend and asked him for sample of various prescription decongestants. He gave me about 6 different types. I tested one after the other. looking for the best result and the least side effects (like drowsiness).
Finally settled on Rondec-T. From then on, when the pain struck, one Vanquish, 1 Rondec-T and I was OK.
In 1998 I was diagnosed with elevated blood pressure and prescribed Norvasc (a beta blocker, and HCTZ, the diuretic that drains the water held back by Norvasc).
From that day on, no more migraines. A absolutely fantastic side effect. At one point the clinic tried to switch me to a different beta blocker, but my migraines came back. One month and I was back on Norvasc.
Over the years I reduced my dose of Norvasc from 10mg /day to 5 mg every second day and that works perfectly for me. Also, the Norvasc supposedly inhibits the libido, but at my dosage that is not the case.
BTW, I was able to buy the Norvasc in Sri Lanka for about 15% of what it costs here, with a prescription from here. I buy the stuff at the 10mg level usually for 100 days, which with my half dose every second day means that each filled prescription lasts me for about 13 months.
Sorry this was kind of lengthy, but I wanted to give you all the info I have. Also, not everyone's metabolism works the same, but it may be worth a try. Whenever, before 1998 I asked doctors whether anything new had come out and told them how I handled it, the answer was always, if it works, stay with it. So without this serendipitous discovery, I would still be on the self invented regimen which I used for over 20 years.

Answer 6

According to WebMD, migraine begins before the age of 20 in 50% of cases and after the age of 50 in 2%; the highest prevalence is from 25 to 50 years of age. About 70% of migraineurs have a positive family history in a first-degree relative.

Abortive drugs—used to stop a migraine attack—include:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin or ibuprofen, which may be tried first to reduce migraine symptoms.
Triptans (serotonin receptor agonists). These are usually the first type of drug tried to quickly stop acute migraine attacks.
Ergotamine derivatives, such as Cafergot, although these medications may not be as effective as triptans for treating migraines.
Midrin, which is a combination of the drugs isometheptene, acetaminophen, and dichloralphenazone.
Preventive drugs—used to avoid or reduce the frequency of migraine attacks—include:

Beta-blockers, which relax blood vessels.
Calcium channel blockers, which reduce the amount of narrowing (constriction) of the blood vessels.
Antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant, which has been shown to be effective in preventing migraines.6
Anticonvulsants, such as topiramate, which was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for preventing migraines.


This site has a lot of interesting information. Good luck to you!

Answer 7

It is very common for your age. The poor diets and lack of sleep usually associated with kids and teens is a big factor. Not to mention the social pressures etc. This site has some helpful info. Good Luck !

Answer 8

hi yes, my daughter and I both suffer from them, she gets numb in her arms and slurs her speech, I get an aura and see a light show..we swear by Mortrin 800 but the excederin work good for her..take it with caffeine and it works faster. I dont get as many as I used to now that i am in my 50s but yes throwing up and hot and just feeling miserable are all the symptoms