Update and A Smile

Well, apparantly once-a-week migraines is not enough of a problem to have tests done.  Because Dylan seems to be fine otherwise, they are not going to do anything until they start to come 2-3 times a week.  Since I am praying for NO MORE migraines, I desire that it will never get that far.  They gave me a diary to use, and record everytimehe has one.  I am hoping that will help.  Dylan does not eat MSG or aspartame.  I do most of the cooking, and we only eat out once a week.  We are not much for Chinese food, or anything, so I know it is not that.  I just will try to keep on top of it, and hopefully, I can keep them under control.  Enough of that, now it is time for a laugh.

I am going to get some stamping in today, so I will have something to show tomorrow.  Have a great day!

Comments

[Mary Hicken]

That video was amazing, I shared it on my Facebook page

[Lacey stephens]

I know that canada's health insurance is probably different than the US, but I would insist that they do a ct scan or MRI. Better safe than sorry. I suffered from migraines for awhile and they instantly had me do both an MRI and ct scan just to rule out anything serious. I would think they should do that for a child as well.

[Kim Wiseman]

So sorry to hear about your boy and his migraines. I know lots of people have so much advise to offer but I just thought I'd share our miracle with you :) My 9yo boy had suffered from migraines pretty much all his life, but they progressively got worse, more frequent and lasted longer and longer as time went on (we had one that lasted 10 days!) We tried heaps of different things and focused alot on food and additives, etc. We even started orthodontic work early in the hope that re-alignment of the jaw would help. Towards the end of last year our orthodontist then referred us to a paediatric osteopath and we haven't looked back. After several appointments/adjustments and 4 weeks of "Intermittent Hypoxic Therapy", three times a week, he is a different boy! We now go back to the osteopath every 3 months just for maintenance. He hasn't had any migraines since...a couple of headaches which we've been able to nip in the bud with Panadol...praise God!

[Bren]

Poor little man - and poor MAMA! There is nothing worse than having your child in pain and not being able to take it away. I feel for you!

Something that worked with my guy is sometime when he's NOT in pain, talk about relaxation exercises. I know, it's not much, but it can help a LOT. Ask him if he were holding a burr or some prickers in his hand and he clenched his hand up tight around them how it would feel. (It would hurt!) Then ask him how it would feel if he were to just lightly hold them without clenching. Practice with him the "unclenching" when he's already relaxed. Soham breathing helps, too. When he breathes in, have him say or think the word "sooooo" and when he breathes out have him say or think "haaaaahhhhmmmmm". It takes a while for them to get it but when they do it's like riding a bike.

My son has a mild form of Asperger's and for him pain is just not acceptable. (As to us ALL, right?) So we've had to really work at developing some skills so he can deal with not just the pain but the STRESS of the pain. The two things above have really worked for him and they were things I adapted from when I ran a Pain Center for people with chronic pain.

Anyway, good luck, keep us posted and we are all saying major prayer that this passes quickly.

[Tanya]

I agree with the doctors that once-a-week is not enough to have tests done...IF THIS WAS THE FIRST OR SECOND WEEK OF MIGRANES! Give me a break! UGH! don't they know what it's like to be a parent?

Anyhow, I wish you all the best and hope that you find answers soon. I'm sure it's already been mentioned to you that you should keep a food diary as it seems that is a common trigger. For me it was dairy, mainly cheese, and caffine. For a lot of people, caffine would ease a migraine but for me it was the opposite.

Best of luck!

[Alison Kirby]

Hi, Julie... My mother-in-law had migraines, with increased frequency, all her life and finally realized it was allergies to certain things. I think hers were most carbohydrates in general, but surely could be different for every sufferer. Hopefully the diary, if you are including what he eats, will help you to pinpoint if it is allergy related!

[Conniecrafter]

Sure pray that he will just be able to grow out of them.
Thanks for sharing the video, it was a good laugh!

[mary]

I also suffer from migraines and determined mine often come from food allergies (specifically wheat products), dehydration (when I don't drink enough water) and second hand smoke. Wheat is the biggest culprit and often will give a belly ache too if he cannot tolerate it. Also how are his teeth? Does he clench or grind in his sleep? Are his teeth malaligned? If it is his bite orthodontics can help. You have lots of good tips from everyone hope something helps. Thanks for all your tips!!! Your projects inspire me. Mary

[Stacy I.]

I'm shocked that a child having a migraine each week isn't enough to do tests! So sorry you didn't get any answers. I don't know that this will help, but I used to work with a guy who said that as long as he had a chiropractic adjustment each month, he wouldn't get migraines. When he skipped the appt. they came back.

I'll keep you all in my prayers!
Stacy

[maurita wilkerson]

the video was a hoot, julie!! look at feingold.org and westin a price foundation. we have loads of food issues in my family - stuff you don't suspect like okra and chicken and cauliflower!!! haha we are odd! :-) those two will help loads with much unsuspected info. good luck on the migraines!! m

[Connie Jean]

So sorry to hear about your son :(

Wanted to share a site with you... http://www.purezing.com/living/toxins/living_toxins_containsmsg.html

This site is REALLY good. There is also a 16 page pdf that you can print out to have with you when shopping. Like someone else stated, MSG can be hidden under other names. Here is a short list of a few of them :
hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP)
hydrolyzed yeast extract
dextrose
maltodextrin
glutamic acid
sodium caseinate
and many others. Check the link. It is full of very useful information of what is actually in a lot of the foods we eat.

I was always taught... if you can't pronounce it, don't eat it. LOL

Praying with you that he will no longer have anymore issues with these migraines!

[Carol]

Glad they are not doing further testing. Having suffered with severe migraines all my life, I understand the pain. At 26 I had a mild stroke and beacame serious about the food aspect.I will list some food triggers. For me it is about lack of sleep compounded with stress. Add food on top and I am out of commission!!

Foods - chocolate, tea(tannins), citrus(oranges,lemons,limes), nuts, any lunch meat or bacon(nitrates), pickles(anything with vinegar) yogurt or aged cheeses
(fermented items) green olives. Those are all I can think of off the top of my head. My neurologist gave me the list. When life gets crazy, I try to watch out for those foods. It does help.

Give your guy a hug and I will say prayers for ya'll!

[Marisa]

That was too fun to watch! Those boys did a great job!!

Sorry to hear about Dylan. Celery is another food to beware of at it has a lot of msg in it -just found that out me hubby's partner who suffers from migraines regularly.

Question for you: How you you get the YouTube clip right on your blog? I tried to figure it out the other day but couldn't. If you have a minute and don't mind sharing, I'd love to know. If you're too busy, don't worry about it, just thought I'd ask.

[Cindy]

Julie, I found a lot of good information in this book, The Migraine Brain.
http://www.migrainebrain.com/
Interestingly, in children a migraine can show as an upset stomach. I hope you'll be able to help Dylan to get these migraines under control. I know they're no fun! I'll be thinking of you. :)

[Peggy parenteau]

I'm so sorry to hear how your son suffers. If you have a dr of homeopath in the area, it would be worth a consult. My homeopath has incredible, natural cures that work for my different problems. Good luck.

[Jessica Sitterly]

HI Julie. I'm sorry that your son has these migranes. I did want to mention though that as a child probably from age 10 to age 16 I suffered from a migraine once a week. I would lay in my bed sit in my bed lay in my bed because no matter what position I was in it would not stop. When having such headaches I was useless to the world and myself. I would cry but that made it hurt worst. My parents would tell me I was to young for migraines. Good news is I grew out of it. Bad news is I had to live with it for almost 6 years with no help because my parents were oblivious to the seriousness. There were Sundays that my I would get them so my parents thought I was just trying to get out of going to church. As a parent myself I wouldn't just let it go if you feel strongly about it!
I'm new to your blog but I think your stuff is great specially for a new stamper! Prayers with your son and family!

[Just B]

Julie, first of all, you look wonderful. This may or may not be of help to you: my DH had migraines so bad they put him in the hospital twice. He watched all the food triggers, took meds, had MRIs, etc. He always got his in the middle of the night - never had an "onset" while he was awake. Anyway, a few years ago he got surgery on his nose, to straighten a deviated septum and to laser out one side of his nose that had grown closed (not medical terms, but the best I can do). The doctor said he highly doubted that had anything to do with his migraines. However, he hasn't had one since. So, next time Dylan is at his doc's office, even his regular pediatrician, ask them to have a look up his nose. As always, love your site, and your upbeat attitude.

[impotenta]

@Krista: you should change his diet. i changed mine and i`m OK now.

[Jo R.]

Hi Julie, My 9 year old niece suffered migraines very badly last year. She was having 4-5/week, and missing a lot of school. My sister took her to a chiropractor after the doctors were no help, and she is rarely getting a headache now at all. I hope you too can find some relief for your son.

[debbie]

I'm sorry to hear of your son's migraines! I've had migraines since I was about 3 years old and there are many triggers that are surpising. Things I stay away from are bananas, chocolate, aged cheese, lemon or lime, sulphites, nitrates, anything with "fake" cheese like Kraft Dinner, Cheezies etc. Its just amazing what can be a trigger. I sure hope you are able to identify his triggers early, that would be wonderful. :-) A diary is a great idea, I started one a few months ago and really wish I'd done it years earlier. Also a food can trigger the migraine up to 24 hours after ingesting it, just to complicate things more :-)

Good luck!!

[Sue from Oregon]

Sorry to read of your sons troubles...so very frustrating! Had to send the video on to my daughter...she is a cheer and dance coach...I am sure it will make the rounds of her girls as well...

[Pam (PeeJay)]

I'm sorry to hear about your youngsters problem. I started migraine at the age of 4, just when I started school. No food 'trigger' was found and it was put down to 'stress'. This was over 50 years ago now (I'm 59). Mum & Dad were told that I would probably 'grow out of them'. Bearing in mind I was suffering at least once a week but they mostly lasted 2 or 3 days a time, it wasn't much of a comfort! However, grow out of them I did and I haven't had one for a number of years now. I grew to recognise the early warning signs and if I took action at that point I could normally avert it - but not always. I rarely suffer even a headache now but ... Both my sons suffered from travel sickness when they were young and I found out that's related to migraine (which doesn't necessarily have to affect the head!).
I feel for your youngster but hopefully he will also 'grow out of them' as he grows older. In the meantime it will help if you all learn to recognise the early warning signs so you can act as quickly as possible.

[Heather B.]

Hi Julie,
Migraines are such a bummer! When I was a kid, I would get them once a week, too. Doctors told my mom that it was stress (???I was 4-5 yrs old) and triggered by certain foods with nitrates like lunch meat or hot dogs. My son who is now 5 started to get my wonderful genetic gift about 2 months ago :(
Good luck!
Heather B.
p.s. you look AWESOME!!

[Marge Magnus]

Julie, my granddaughter had terrible headaches when she was about Dylan's age.
The culprit turned out to be caffeine. It
was in the soda she drank and in chocolate and a few other things. Her headaches were so bad she would become physically ill. After nixing all caffeine products, we nixed the headaches. Just our experience fyi. Meanwhile, prayers for Dylan daily.

[Kim]

Ugh! That must be so frustrating! Make sure you keep pushing on the docs!

ps. I SO needed that video today! that was fantastic!

Kim @ http://frostmeblog.blogspot.com
party inspiration

[Rebecca MI]

Don't forget MSG hides in many forms (most common at the moment is yeast extract), also try to make sure he doesn't' get sulphites or nitrates, those can be triggers as well. The chiropractor is a good idea as well. I know that I would suffer more if I didn't have mine. You might want to try some Rekki as well. I have not tried that yet, but have heard some good things about it. Keep trying and blessing on your family.

[Krista]

I'm so sorry to hear of his migraines. I have a son who also suffers. He started around age 5 and is now 10. About a year ago, I started taking him to a chiropractor. That has helped a ton. She has also stopped a migraine before it gets bad. I found his food triggers to be chocolate and red dye. There are others, but for him, those are the absolute can't have. Please feel free to email me if you want more info on what works for us! Hugs to you. It's no fun seeing your small child suffer like this.