Hey moms, just out of curiosity...does anyone else have a child who gets headaches occasionally? I have a 7(soon to be 8)year old son who has had occasional headaches over the past 3 or so years. It seems like it may have started after he got his glasses in pre-school. It wasn't like it happened right away. He got his glasses in February, and it seems like they started in the summer...around when we were moving. I also think stress or being overly tired triggers it. But still, it just doesn't seem like anyone else ever talks about their children having headaches. I am pretty sure it isn't a food allergy...the kid eats the same thing all the time but doesn't have headaches all the time. I would say he gets maybe one or two in a month...and sometimes has long stretches without one. The peds office suggested keeping a headache diary...like of what he eats...but I am sure that doesn't have anything to do with it. He has had a recent eye exam too. Thoughts? Your experiences?
Thank you everyone for your advice/suggestions/experiences! It's nice to hear he isn't the only one...you sort of panic when your kid has something happen you don't hear about often! Yes, I do get headaches, and my mom suffered from migraines too. Anytime I feel one coming on, I zap it with Excedrin! For him, I usually give him pain med and he takes a nap, and then is fine. He had one or two a few years back that were so bad he threw up. That hasn't happened for a long time though. I think I will keep a diary of EVERYTHING that day...not just food. It does seem to be more late afternoon, early evening...I don't think he has ever woken up with one. And yes, he does wear his glasses every second he is awake. Thanks again everyone!
See 'Three year old with headaches?' post a little earlier on this site, lots of good insight there!
Keep the food diary and consider getting the prescription for his glasses checked. Also, are you sure he is consistently wearing the glasses? O know many who wear glasses and get headaches when they don't wear them often enough. All the best!
My daughter has gotten them since she was at least 7. Often they are related to weather changes or high wind...almost predictable. Not the only time she gets them though but frequently associated with weather. Have just been told they are migraines. Not easy to diagnose the cause. Migraines have a specific pattern that can be different from stress and allergy/sinus headaches. You should be able to read on different types of headaches and see if they are the same as what he reports. Keeping a diary can't hurt, if for no other reason to rule things out. It also might help in discovering other patterns like time of day, weather, other factors. If you keep a diary,when a headache happens I would also write down other things such time of day, weather, is it a high pollen day, stress level and what activities he has been doing.
My 7 yr old dd has been having them on and off, too. I think I have realized it is related to her eating. I am guessing sodium content. Any time I am working hard to make healthy meals for all of us and cut out fast food and cut down on prepackaged food, she does not have them. Then if we have a fast food, or prepackaged meal, she has them. If we are in a pattern of not eating good, she has them much more often. It is always 100% of the time at bed time. I have her drink a big glass of water, go to the bathroom again, and I check on her in about 1/2 hr. If she is still awake and her head still hurts, I give her pain reliever and more water, then she falls asleep. I am pretty sure it is related to high sodium levels in food for my dd.
I would keep a diary. It could be something like the scent in fabric softener, lotion you are using on your hands, or could be something he eats or something in the environment. Stress certainly could be the cause, we know how stress effects us, as adults. Same with being over tired. During stressful times I would be sure he is eating healthy, getting fresh air and exercise, and drinking extra water, along with more rest/sleep. Good luck
S.
My son started getting headaches (migranes) when he was just 4 years old. He had a CT scan to rule out more serious causes but was diagnosed w/ migranes. Since your son has glasses (also around the time he started school I am guessing), it could be a vision thing. Maybe the prescription is wrong. Maybe the prescription doesn't allow him to focus on his work and back up to board. Check w/ doctor and eye doctor. See if teacher has noticed squinting...can she move him closer to the board?
My daughter has been having headaches since she was 8. I'd keep a food diary anyway because that will let you know for sure if it is or isn't allergy related. Make sure he gets plenty of sleep and doesn't eat a lot of junk food. Good luck to you!!
Ever thought of having him see a chiropractor. If every thing else checks out normal, I would take him to a chiropractor. There are pediatric chiropractors who are very gentle and specialized in treating babies and children.
My daughter was treated by Dr. Sarah Lloyd before she moved to West Des Moines. Check out: www.YostFamilyChiropractic.com
Dr. Sarah is very honest and has two toddler's herself...your son would be in good hands with her!
make sure he drinks enough. does anyone else in your family have them? my family does and i have had them since i was a small child. it could also be an allergy to something in the air in the house? maybe try an air purifier? when they come on...where is he usually? home or somewhere else?
Does he drink enough water? I sometimes get headaches if I am a little dehydrated. It happens late in the day or in the early evening when I've been too busy during the day to drink enough water.
Stress could also be a factor, as you mentioned.
