Headache, tummy ache, feeling sick it could be migraine! Learn to manage your migraine Advice and tips for young migraineurs (people with migraine)
What is migraine? Migraine can make you feel very poorly and it can affect different parts of your body; it can make your tummy or head ache, your eyes go blurry or it can make you feel sick. It can be upsetting, sometimes scary and it can stop you from doing what you want like playing with your friends. There is no magic cure for migraine (yet!), but there are lots of things you can do to help manage your migraine. This booklet gives you lots of advice and tips. Symptoms of migraine There are many different symptoms which children can have as part of their migraine (symptoms are the signs that show a doctor that someone has an illness or condition). If you feel like you have two or more of the symptoms below it could mean you have migraine: You get a headache You get a stomach (tummy) pain or ache You feel sick or you are sick You think that normal noises sound very loud You feel that light hurts your eyes Your eyes go funny you may see flashing lights or zigzag patterns in front of your eyes (sometimes people call this sort of symptom aura ) You may notice smells more than you would usually You get tingling in your arms or legs You may find it hard to talk and you may get your words mixed up or feel a bit confused You have to stop what you are doing and want to go somewhere quiet or want to go to bed Web: www.migraineadventure.org.uk
What is migraine? If - when you feel poorly - you have a headache or stomach ache but you still feel like you could run around, play with your friends or do your school work then it probably isn t migraine. If you think you do have migraine, it is a good idea to tell your family so that they can take you to your family doctor who will be able to give you lots of advice. Fact: It can be called abdominal migraine when children get bad stomach pains as well as some of the other symptoms we ve mentioned. They may not get a headache at all, or the headache pain may be very mild. How often do migraine attacks happen? Some children get a migraine each week, others go for many weeks before they get another migraine. On average, migraines can happen about once a month. How long do migraines last? Some children have migraines that last for an hour; some children have migraines that last for 3 days. They vary a lot! Who gets migraine? People of any age can get migraine, from very young children to elderly people, and it affects boys and girls. Some children stop getting migraines as they get older. Some children keep getting migraines as adults. Fact: 1 in 10 schoolchildren have migraine so you are not alone. It is likely that at least one other person in your class has migraine. There may be a few children at your school with migraine (their migraine may be very different to yours and they may not even know that it is migraine!). You re not alone: 1 in 10 schoolchildren have migraine
More about migraine What causes a migraine? We are still learning a lot about what makes a migraine happen in some people and not in others. If people in your family have migraine, like your parents or grandparents, you are more likely to get migraine. (You can still get migraine even if you don t know anyone in your family who has it). The stages of a migraine attack Everybody s migraine is different but there are five basic stages to a migraine attack: The warning stage Some children notice that, up to two days before they get most of their symptoms, like a bad stomach ache or headache, they feel a bit different. Signs you may get that tell you a migraine is going to start can be: Looking pale Feeling confused / clumsy Getting dark circles under your eyes Yawning a lot Feeling tired Feeling like you have lots of energy Your warning signs may be something different. If you learn to recognise your own warning signs, it can be helpful. (You might be able to stop a full blown attack by drinking some water, having something to eat or resting). The aura stage Around 2 in 10 children with migraine will sometimes get aura symptoms. Aura symptoms include things like: Flashing lights or blind spots in front of your eyes Tingling or pins and needles in your arms or legs Feeling a bit confused The aura part of the attack which we know can be very frightening can last up to 30 minutes and usually comes around 30 minutes before a headache or stomach pain starts. The main attack This is when you get the headache or stomach pain and other symptoms (like feeling or being sick or being sensitive to light, sound or smell). You may want to go to sleep or be left alone. Resolution / postdrome stage At this stage the pain is getting better (often after sleep or if you have been sick). Recovery stage It can sometimes take two days to feel completely back to normal. Some children feel OK very quickly. Web: www.migraineadventure.org.uk
More about migraine Diagnosing migraine There is no actual test, like a blood test, for migraine. Doctors will ask you and your family questions about your migraine, for example, how often you get them, the symptoms and how long they last. It is really helpful for your doctor if you have a list of these details. You and your family can use a migraine diary sheet for this you can get a copy from us. Migraine triggers There are lots of things that can cause a migraine attack; these are often called migraine triggers. These are different for everyone but can include: Not drinking enough (especially water) or not eating regularly Eating certain foods (different for everyone, but can include chocolate, oranges or cheese) Feeling worried or excited Changes in sleep patterns (going to bed late or getting up early) Too much time watching television, or being on a computer or a video game without a break Exercise without enough food to give you the energy you need Flickering lights (like fairy lights on a Christmas tree) or reflections in water Keeping a migraine diary can help you to spot if any of these or other things may be triggering your migraine. Don t worry if you can t recognise your triggers not everyone can. Do you know what your migraine triggers are?
Tips to help you with your migraine Help to manage your migraines Everyone would like to stop migraines happening. This may not always be possible, but there are lots of small things you can do which can make a big difference to how many attacks you get or how bad they are. Migraine Action s top tips: Try keeping a migraine diary with the help of your family to record your attacks and to help spot any patterns. You may be able to find 1 or 2 things which may trigger your migraines Drink lots of water everyday (1 2 litres which is about 8 glasses) Eat regular meals, like breakfast, lunch and dinner, and try not to skip meals. (You may also need to eat snacks in between) Don t have lots of sugary sweets or drinks - try to eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables Try to sleep for 8-10 hours every night Web: www.migraineadventure.org.uk
Tips to help you with your migraine Talk about any worries you have with someone you trust. Worries about school work or problems with friends, can cause some children to get migraine Don t spend more than 3 hours each day watching TV, playing video games or on the computer. Make sure you have a break at least every 45 minutes and you stop at least an hour before you go to bed Wear sunglasses and a sun hat / cap when it is sunny (sunlight can cause some people s migraines) When you have an attack Tell someone you trust that you feel poorly as early as possible Try to drink some water or have something to eat You might want a cuddle or to just sit or lie down somewhere quietly on your own We know that migraines are horrible; remember that a migraine attack won t last forever and in between attacks you can do everything that you usually like to do Drink lots of water everyday
School and migraine If you are having regular migraines at school, there may be certain things which are triggering your attacks. If you think about what might be the cause, you may be able to do something to help prevent them: Do you go for a long time without drinking water? Do you sometimes skip breakfast or not eat much at lunch? Do you spend break-times inside so you don t get much fresh air? Do you worry about your school work or have other worries such as being bullied? Do you feel embarrassed about telling teachers or friends when you start to feel unwell? (Look at the tips on the page before for help). We know that some children don t like to tell teachers or other people about their migraine as they are embarrassed. Many people have migraine, including lots of famous film stars, pop stars and footballers it is nothing to be ashamed of. The sooner you ask for help when you start to feel poorly, the shorter or less painful your migraine might be. If you feel your friends don t understand your migraine, why not ask them to read this booklet or look at the Adventure website www.migraineadventure.org.uk. You could also play the chatterbox migraine game which lets you create your own story and helps your friends understand what happens when you have a migraine. If you haven t got a copy please get in touch. Web: www.migraineadventure.org.uk
School and migraine Take action early Everyone is different but some things which may help include: Stopping what you are doing Telling someone you trust that you feel unwell Trying to drink some water Having a little snack if you feel able Getting some fresh air Going somewhere quiet (and dark if possible) to rest or lie down If you have medication take this quickly (you may need to ask an adult for help with this) The Migraine ACTION! card You can use the Migraine ACTION! card by showing it to the adults looking after you (like a teacher or cub or brownie pack leader) when you begin to feel unwell. They will understand that you are having a migraine and you can then take action quickly. This can be very important (as you may feel sick or may need to go to the toilet). You or your parent / carer can order a free Migraine ACTION! card pack from us. Ask for help if you feel a migraine starting
Treating migraine Migraine treatments Many children find that after having a rest their migraines go away. Some children find that their migraine gets better after they have been sick. Other children need some medication to help them when they have a migraine. Some have medicines from the pharmacy or supermarket; these are called over the counter treatments. (If your parent / carer gives you a paracetamol tablet to help reduce the pain, that is an over the counter treatment). Other children need stronger medicine prescribed by their doctor. Doctors may prescribe: Acute treatments: these are the medications taken to help when we are actually having a migraine. They are designed to take the pain away. Preventative medicines: these are designed to help reduce the number of attacks people have and how bad their attacks are. Preventative medications are usually only given to children who get lots of migraines or whose attacks are very bad. If your migraines are making you feel very poorly you and your parent / carer can see your doctor who will be able to help. Some children also see: Paediatricians (doctors specialising in treating children and young people) Neurologists (doctors specialising in treating disorders of the nervous system which includes the brain and muscles) Some children also try complementary therapies to help their migraine. These can include things like relaxation and deep breathing, acupuncture (inserting small needles which don t hurt into the body to help energy flow). Web: www.migraineadventure.org.uk
More help and information Migraine Action is a charity which supports people of all ages who have migraine. Migraine Adventure Our adventure website (visit www.migraineadventure.org.uk) contains lots of information, advice, the latest migraine news, competitions, tips and feedback from other children with migraine. You can also sign up to a regular e-newsletter via the site. Get in touch If you or anyone you know wants further information please get in touch. We have a telephone support line which is open Mon Fri from 9am 5pm. Call us on 0116 275 8317 (please ask the bill payer for permission first) or you can email us at info@migraineadventure.org.uk. You can also write to us at: Migraine Action, 4 th Floor, 27 East Street, Leicester, LE1 6NB. Thank you This booklet was written by Migraine Action, with the help of: Ishaq Abu-Arafeh, Consultant Paediatrician, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow, and Stirling Royal Infirmary, Stirling Sue Lipscombe, GP in Brighton, and Headache Specialist, Royal Sussex County Hospital Members of Migraine Action s Medical Advisory Board Members of Migraine Action s Young Migraineurs Project Steering Committee Do different colours trigger your migraine? If you would like a black and white copy of this booklet just get in touch. Email: info@migraineadventure.org.uk
Web: www.migraineadventure.org.uk This publication provides information only. Migraine Action and its officers can accept no responsibility for any loss, howsoever caused, to any person acting or refraining from action as a result of any material in this publication or information given. Whilst this booklet has been reviewed for accuracy by members of Migraine Action s Medical Advisory Board and other experts, the information does not necessarily reflect the views of individuals. Medical advice should be obtained on any specific matter. 4 th Floor, 27 East Street, Leicester. LE1 6NB. Email: info@migraineadventure.org.uk Web: www.migraineadventure.org.uk Helpline: 0116 275 8317 Fax: 0116 254 2023 Registered Charity No. 207783 Copyright 2009-2011 Migraine Action Version 2 Amended August 2011 Next Review Date August 2014 Your charity: caring for you