For those of you who missed it, Asher was diagnosed with abdominal migraines in mid-September. We took him to the doc after three severe episodes of vomiting. If you are like me, you’ve never heard of this before, (of course), so here is a quick run-down, courtesy of Web M.D. (Thankful for the internet). What IS IT with our kiddos getting obscure diseases? (J had Bell’s Palsy and Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease while living with the Wheelers-not to be confused with Foot IN THE Mouth disease which I contract on a regular basis).
An abdominal migraine is a variant of migraine headaches. It usually occurs in children who have a family history of migraines. Abdominal migraines are rare in adults, but about 2% of all children may get abdominal migraines. Females are more affected than males.
Children that experience abdominal migraines typically develop migraine headaches when they get older.
Although abdominal migraines are in the migraine family, the pain occurs in the belly. Usually, it’s near the navel or midline. Abdominal migraines frequently occur as a reaction to a migraine trigger. They can cause severe stomach pain, nausea, abdominal cramping, and often vomiting.
What Causes Abdominal Migraines?
No one knows what causes abdominal migraines. One theory is that abdominal migraines are caused by changes in two chemicals, histamine and serotonin. Both of these occur naturally in the body. The chemical changes could contribute to both migraine headaches and abdominal pain. Experts now believe that daily stress andanxiety can cause fluctuations in these body chemicals. There is increasing support for the theory that unexplained abdominal pain may have a psychological trigger. . . .
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Abdominal Migraines?
Symptoms of abdominal migraines may include:
- Acute, severe, midline abdominal pain that is associated with nausea
- Vomiting
- Pallor
- Inability to eat
The abdominal pain may last for one hour or up to three days.
Migraine headaches are generally preceded by an “aura” by which the migraine sufferer can sense that a headache is coming on. Abdominal migraines, though, are frequently sudden and quite severe. They can occur without any warning signs and can increase anxiety in the person who gets them.
How Are Abdominal Migraines Treated?
A specific treatment for abdominal migraines has not yet been established. Because little is known about treating abdominal migraines, doctors may treat them like other migraines.
For some patients, certain serotonin blockers and tricyclic antidepressants may be useful for treating abdominal migraines. Doctors have had some success treating older children with nasal sumatriptan, which is a drug in the triptan class. However, the triptans used for migraine headaches have not been approved for use in children.
Ok, so if you slogged through all that, then you have an idea of what we are dealing with. His pediatrician ordered a GI study (X-ray), to ensure there no other issues in his digestive system. We completed that Tuesday (and may I just say thank you for all the prayers because he behaved beautifully although he wasn’t allowed to eat for hours.) Tentatively, there were no issues visible during the study so we are working with the original diagnosis. He takes an anti-histamine allergy medicine nightly that is commonly prescribed for this and has been successful at treating this in children. He has had one episode since starting the meds. I believe one of his major triggers is teething pain, which is discouraging, because he currently has three teeth, with three more coming at the same time.
Moving forward, our biggest issue is re-starting solid foods. He has had fevers and colds amidst the tummy troubles so his appetite, which was gargantuan pre-Sept, has waned. He was eating solids like a champ until this began and I suspect he equates vomiting with the solids. Currently, he purses his lips and turns his head every time I try. We have had some success with finger foods and snacks but he still chokes a little as he learns to swallow so we have to watch him like a hawk. He is gaining weight so I haven’t gotten too spun up about it, but it is hard not to worry.
Please pray for the food issue to resolve naturally, for the medicine to be effective, and for me to RELAX. Additionally, all but one of his episodes have happened at night, so please pray that he won’t choke while he is throwing up. Children tend to grow out of these, although that is no guarantee, so we are resting in God’s providence and perfect plan for our family.
Thanks for your prayers and concern.
We love you all.
~M.