Thank you for writing to me.  That day I only gave her 50mg because I wanted to see what that did but it did not relieve the pain.  I was told by the doctor that he was putting her on this medication because we seem to not get the migraines/headaches under control.  She has about 20 to 25 migraines if not more a month with no relief from the medications they have tried.  Today she had an MRI done so we will see.  I also have her going to see a specialist in Boston, Mass end of Nov.  It is just so hard to see her suffer and I hate that people keep telling me that she is just faking it because she wants to miss school.  But does she want to miss her friends and the other fun stuff too. 

It is so confusing, frustrating and concerning all at the same time. 

Tamara

I feel for your daughter.  I missed a great deal of school myself... and skipped in order to sleep (not to many people can say that!)  My migraines are currently as frequent as your daughters... but at her age they certainly were not.  I can understand why they are using triptans with her.  Keep in mind some migraine medications when over used can cause rebound headaches, and with most triptans that means only using three times a week... which I know with migraines this frequent is very difficult.  Also given she is over ten a month she would be classed as having chronic migraines and even though she is young that usually means some sort of preventative medications that would hopefully decrease migraine frequency.  I sure hope the specialist can help her!

Thanks for the support.  I am at a loss when it comes to the missing school.  I send her but with all the medication and the migraine itself she doesn't remember much or she is sooo tired.  Plus the migraine just hurts.  Then I have teachers and family that think she is faking because she "doesn;t look that bad"  since she doesn't vomit and she is always pale.  But smells make her worse, the pressure from the weather, noise is a biggy plus she has ringing in the ears and dizziness.  So since she doesn't always havee to wear her sunglasses or sick in the bathroom "she must be faking it"  I have to admit sometimes I am not sure but I really do know that she is suffering when everyday she tells me to please mom help me make the pain go away.  Then I can't so I just try to help her with the work she is missing and give her the support she needs.  While we lay in bed together since she feels best when I am laying beside her with her head pressed up against my arm.  Oh this is such a life for her and me.  I so want her to be a normal kid again.  Plus the imitrex is doing nothing for her.  But today she was done to a level 4 headache since 4 weeks ago.  It was nice for the break. 

I hope for another day like that.

Thanks for the support I really need it.

Tamara

My daughter has suffered severe migraine attacks for 4 years now.  She is 16  and a junior in high school and so far this year she has missed at least 50% of the school year.  We have done/tried everything that has been talked about here.  We recently took her off of triptans after a 5 day hospital stay.  The hope with the hospital stay was to break the 15 day migraine cycle she was in.  No luck.  She got worse. Now with the guidance of a new specialist we are trying high dose magnesium and riboflavin therapy.  She has been on this for 2 weeks and it appeared she was feeling better, yet now she is back in bed in severe pain and vomiting agian.  To say I feel discouraged is an understatement.  I have been her strength through this, but also maybe she is dependant on me to get her through this??  The pain she feels, I feel.  I keep searching for a solution, for anything that can help her.  Our next step is the Diamond headache Institure in Chicago where she can receive inpatient treatment specifically dedicated to her condition, not a hospital that just wants to hit her with Morphine and send her home. For those who are not close to it, it is difficult to understand.  They think she is just "hormonal, doesn't like school, etc.  I can tell you that she loves her friends and they love her.  She has a wonderful understanding young man in her life and has always been involved in school activities and has been a cheerleader since 4th grade.  She would much rather be hanging out with them then spending day after day and night after night being in the darkness because light is too painful. Thanks for listening.