When Owen first started suffering from migraines, we had no idea what was going on.
It was a scary and uncertain time.
And though we are still not out of the woods (though migraines can hit at any time) we have begun to manage the ups and downs of his migraines.
We are learning as we go.
I should mention that migraines need to be diagnosed and you should always consult with your doctor. Particularly with children under the age of 18 – ask a doctor. This story is my personal experience with Owen’s suffering.
Migraines and Kids – Managing the Ups and Downs:
Owen’s first migraine hit late spring, when allergies were acting up for many and when windows were open for the first time. It was a cool afternoon, breezy, but comfortable.
Owen came in from playing out front with his neighbor buddies. It was getting late. Dusk maybe.
“Mom, my head hurts,” he said.
I’m sure I was busy putting away the dishes or preparing for the next day. “Okay,” I told him. “Um, let me get you something for it.”
He got panicky. “No Mom. My head really hurts. I think I have to go upstairs.”
The tone in his voice worried me. He never walked himself upstairs without prompting. Heck, he never stopped playing with the neighbors without a nudge or two.
“Okay,” I said. “I’m coming up.”
That night, we tried everything, but we could not find Owen relief from the pain of his headache.
I called our doctor frantically but got only instructions that ‘may’ help him. With headaches, she said, we never really know what will work. We just have to try different things until we figure out what works for each person.
That night, Owen took a hot shower. We tried warm compresses. We tried pain relief medicine. But nothing worked.
Finally, the pain became more than he could bear and he was sick to his stomach. Only then was he able to finally sleep for a bit. When he woke, his pain was more manageable.
After this first experience, several others followed.
Sometimes his pain would come mid-day. Sometimes it would come in the evening or early morning.
We never knew. We never knew.
We never knew when Owen would be hit with a headache so bad that he would be sick to his stomach and then forced to rest for the remainder of the day.
The uncertainty put us all on edge.
Would practice be missed? Would homework be skipped? Would Mom or Dad be busy comforting Owen and not be able to help Maddy or Cora with work or activities?
We tracked and recorded when Owen’s headaches occurred and what we did to help him. As is the case with many migraine sufferers, patterns were hard to distinguish.
He’d have a migraine every other week for two months and then not have one for six weeks. Then two weeks later he’d have another at different times of the day with no clear triggers.
What we did know was that we needed to be open and communicative with friends and with Owen.
Friends shared stories of their own children suffering from similar pain and what worked to keep the pain at bay.
Owen was quick to tell us when he felt a migraine coming on so we could get him pain medicine and water and put him in a comfortable place until it hit.
Studies show that 88% of young migraine sufferers feel misunderstood and anxious when asked about their migraines, even by those who love them most. So we wanted our boy to know that we were listening with open ears and open minds.
Sometimes the migraine came on like a bulldozer. Other times, it passed over him mercifully.
We never ended up finding out what caused our Owen’s migraines, but what we did find was a way to manage the ups and downs that migraines bring to a family. And we’re still learning–every day.
Migraines are an extremely disruptive and debilitating condition that impacts an estimated 36 million sufferers in the US. For families like ours, one of the biggest hurdles is simply trying to understand what our loved ones are going through when they mutter those awful four words: I have a migraine.
Excedrin® has created The Migraine Experience, the world’s first migraine simulator to drive empathy and understanding of the condition, by giving non-sufferers the chance to safely experience the symptoms of a migraine using augmented reality.
You guys. This site is amazing. It’s incredible. It’s something that both sufferers and non-sufferers should visit to learn more about what loved ones experience each time they are hit with a migraine. Visit here: The Migraine Experience.
Learn more about how Excedrin® is harnessing the power of augmented reality to bring true empathy to migraine sufferers and follow them on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
For a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card, leave a comment below telling us: Have you or someone you love ever suffered from a migraine?
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Mami2jcn
My husband gets migraines.
Mami2jcn
tweet–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/737984389007740928
Julie Wood
I suffer from migraines from too much stress. I have to ask others to help me with daily tasks because I get a migraine and have to take it easy.
Julie Wood
tweet-https://twitter.com/JewelWood/status/737985401160241157
Elena
I get migraines sometimes.
Elena
https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/738000312892424193
jodi -mom's favorite stuff
My husband suffered from migraines as a kid. When my son got a cluster of bad headaches, we were really worried, but it turned out to be a sinus infection.
kayla Aimee
My baby sis used to hit her head on the floor or the edge of a table because hers were so bad 🙁 It’s a weirdly vivid memory from my childhood.
Jessica To
I have a co-worker that suffers from migraines.
Kelly D
tweet
https://twitter.com/Kellydpa/status/738117150045523968
Natalie
My mother deals with chronic migraines and has dealt with this for her whole life. Growing up my brother and I would have to leave her in a dark room and not disturb her when she had a bad migraine. I really felt bad for her! I get occasional migraines but they are nothing compared to hers.
Natalie
tweet https://twitter.com/yarbr012/status/738130065410514945
Will G
My wife suffers from migraines.
Will G
https://twitter.com/willgriesmer/status/738140656141406208
Jessie C.
I get migraines and often accompanied by sensitivity to light and sound.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
BusyWorkingMama
My husband suffers from migraines and swears by Excederin. aleksnearing gmail com
Sara @ Mom Endeavors
Poor owen! So sorry you all have to deal with that! But glad there is some work being done bringing awareness.
Steve Weber
My girlfriend gets nasty migraines
groogruxking40 @ gmail dot com
Jo-Lynne Shane
That is SO scary. I am glad you’ve figured out how to manage them. poor little guy!
Jeffrey
I’ve never had a migraine but know people who deal with them often. Someone I used to work with had to go home about once a month due to migraines. She would have blurred vision and even got to the point of passing out on rare occasions.
Jeffrey
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/FireRunner2379/status/738832270707036161
CR Williams
Thank God I don’t and no one I know suffers from migraines.
OFG
https://twitter.com/OneFrugalGirl/status/738925317734162432
OFG
Thankfully I do not get migraines. I do get stress headaches, but they aren’t as painful.
Lisa Brown
my husband suffers from migraines but will not take anything for it, will just let it run its course. I am the same way with headaches, no meds. jslbrown2009 at aol dot com
Lisa Brown
tweet-https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/739453471057805312
jslbrown2009 at aol dot com
Amy Tong
yeah, my hubby does. no fun when it hits. he need pain killer and long rest until it’s gone.
amy [at] uTry [dot] it
Amy Tong
tweeted:
https://twitter.com/uTry_it/status/739555661386678272
amy [at] uTry [dot] it
Madeline
I don’t get migraines but my mother-in-law does.
Robin
Thankfully, I have never had a migraine. Excedrine Migraine does help my tension headaches though.
Margaret Smith
UNFORTUNATELY, I suffer from migraines and get them every few weeks. I do use Excedrin, but recently also got a prescription from my doctor.
Margaret Smith
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/peg42/status/740340228599255040
Thanks again
Rachel
I unfortunately get migraine headaches.
Rachel
https://twitter.com/RachelGriesmer/status/740731879733657601
Mary Cloud
I suffer from Migraines – although I don’t get them too often
Erika
I’ve had migraines for years. Very painful and very draining!
chambanachik(at)gmail(dot)com
shelly peterson
My daughter gets migraines and she often gets sick from them.
cshell090869 at aol dot com
shelly peterson
tweeted https://twitter.com/cshell202/status/741823884761006080
cshell090869 at aol dot com
Cheryl B
I suffer from migraines, I have struggled with them for almost 20 years. My son also gets them during stressful times.
Cheryl B
https://mobile.twitter.com/arress83/status/742055616462651392 tweeted
natasha Lamoreux
https://twitter.com/Natashalamoreu1/status/743557691965063168
natasha Lamoreux
I do not suffer from migraines but my mother did all her life.
Stefanie Gladden
MY mom suffers from migraines all the time
Stefanie Gladden
tweeted https://twitter.com/stephcouponsxx/status/747568042071179270
Kristen
Nobody in my family gets them, but a close friend does.
Kristen
tweeted
https://twitter.com/rubylorikeet/status/749080010560933889
Barbara M
I am so fortunate to not have migraines.
I have a close friend who really struggles with them.
thank you
Barbara M
Tweeted https://twitter.com/JalapenoMama/status/749080662808879106
maria cantu
No, I do not get migraines.
Amanda Sakovitz
my best friend gets migraines
Amanda Sakovitz
tweet
https://twitter.com/aes529/status/750063186100031490
Rebecca
Thankfully, I do not get migraines, but I have friends that do. I know that they can be really hard to get rid of without taking strong medication.
Rebecca
Tweet
https://mobile.twitter.com/Michael64263870/status/750785331251871744
Janice Cooper
I have a friend who suffers from migraines and its a pain. she sometimes has to leave work early because the lights and noise make it worse.
Janice Cooper
https://twitter.com/disneyfan40/status/751262948925014016
Tina W
My sister gets migraines, I am lucky and only get bad sinus headaches.
Tina W
tweeted: https://twitter.com/tinawoo21/status/751329202499035136
Cynthia C
One of my sons suffers from an occasional migraine and I feel very sorry for him when it happens.
Cynthia C
Tweet
https://twitter.com/clc408/status/751480937377046528
Susan Smith
Yes, I suffer from migraines on occasion. I have to lay in bed in the dark until it goes away.
Susan Smith
https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/752238913117310976
Stephanie Phelps
My husband gets terrible migraines and has to sleep for like 3 days and sometimes he has to go to the hospital with them!
Stephanie Phelps
I tweeted
https://twitter.com/my4boysand1/status/752542526268116992
Elle
Yes. My aunt has suffered from migraines for years and it has greatly affected her life. She doesn’t know when she will have a good day or bad day and the bad ones are pretty much bedridden.
Elle
Tweet: https://twitter.com/PrettyHotPink6/status/752878902926716928
Elizabeth pergande
I have had migraines in the past. NOT easy to deal with. truckredford(at)gmail(dot)com
Elizabeth pergande
https://twitter.com/eliza_elliott/status/752930371445018624
DEBBIE b
I am fortunate that neither I or my family members have suffered from migraines. I do have a co-worker that gets migraines periodically
Debbie B
I am fortunate that neither I nor my family suffer migraines – I do have a co-worker that gets them periodically
Debbie b
I posted a tweet here:
https://twitter.com/purplepanda1966/status/752965700365357056
Dawn Sandomeno
Great post and important to share this information. It breaks my heart to see children suffer with migraines.
BRIANNE
How scary! I get headaches all the time, but my kids have yet to experience them. GREAT TIPS ON HOW TO HANDLE THEM!
Thomas Murphy
My mom gets migraines.
Thomas Murphy
tweeted
https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/753447935443173380
Ellie Wright
I suffer from migraines and so does my oldest son.
Ellie Wright
tweeted
https://twitter.com/eswright18/status/753466131428487169
Kerry
My son also gets them. It is very sad to watch him suffer through them!
angie
Yeah. I get them just about every month on the first day of my period. I have since I was in my mid-20s. I even ended up in the er when I got my first one at work because I didn’t know what was going on and had tunnel vision. fun.
angie
I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/MsTofuFairy/status/753573002789486592
Betty C
My daughter has suffered from migraines. It’s terrible feeling to see her in pain.
Betty C
Tweet – https://twitter.com/willitara/status/753586412537077760
Kerry
tweeted: https://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/753590155848495105
Jerry Marquardt
I have suffered from a migraine back when I worked at the Olive Garden. I went and seen a doctor, who prescribed a medicine to help out.
Jerry Marquardt
I publicly Tweeted this giveaway: https://twitter.com/versatileer/status/753689479920123904
Denise L
I don’t get them thankfully, but my brother-in-law does. It’s really horrible to see someone you love go through that. he is normally out of commission for a full 24 hours when he gets hit with one.
Denise L
tweeted – https://twitter.com/dmarie824/status/753697921489526785
Tabathia B
Yes, i suffer from migraines and my youngest daughters suffer also
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Tabathia B
tweet https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/753710872321748994
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Kristin
thank you for this! I started getting migraines as a teenager and it took my so long to figure out how to cope with them!
LaTanya
my husband suffers from migraines
LaTanya
https://twitter.com/sweetums82/status/753737498430365696
Linda
When I was young I suffered from them, horrible! Haven’t had one for a while thank goodness.
Linda
Tweet https://twitter.com/Lindiac/status/753739791502454784
Susan Carraretto
I struggle with migraines as an adult and i can’t even imagine having a child have to deal with the pain.