abdominal migraine

6 September 2022

New Resource for Children and Teens with Migraine

The Migraine Trust has recently developed a new online resource for children and teens with migraine. They announced it along with their recent report, “Dismissed for too long: The impact of migraine on children & young people” (pdf).

The report highlighted the need for better communication and support for younger migraine patients. A visit to a good doctor is key, but children and teens also need support at home, school, work, and in the community in general. Many people don’t even realize that many children do experience migraine attacks, and that those attacks may or may not be different than an adult attack.

The new site is divided up by age group. Children and their parents can click around to learn how to communicate their symptoms to other people, how to find help at school, and how to help themselves deal with migraine attacks.

Each section is age-specific, not only in language but also in topics and specific health concerns. Older patients will be thinking about college and preparing for adulthood. Younger patients commonly experience abdominal migraine, so you’ll see information about “tummy aches“.

To check out the new resource, go right to Help for children and young people with migraine.

14 April 2022

Poll: Stomach/Gut Symptoms with Migraine

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Do you experience stomach/gut symptoms with migraine? You’re not alone. But symptoms can vary.

Here are the results of our recent poll regarding stomach symptoms:

The “winner” is no surprise – nausea does not always accompany migraine, but it does tend to be a tell-tale symptom. Here are a few tips for fighting nausea.

Stomach pain is also common – in fact, in “abdominal migraine“, stomach pain may occur instead of the headache itself.

Heartburn is close behind. It is possible that migraine and heartburn have some similar biological roots, as this study suggested: GERD prevalence in migraine patients and the implication for acute migraine treatment. But there’s another possible culprit – the medications we take.

Whether your heartburn is related to migraine or not, certain medications can make it worse. If you’re taking NSAIDs such as aspirin or ibuprofen, check out NSAIDs – Which One Should I Take For Headache?. But you’ll probably want to talk to your doctor about other options. Also, check out Why Headache Patients Are Running from Esomeprazole (Nexium) and other “Heartburn” Drugs.

Finally, general discomfort and bloating are also common in migraine.

For more, check out this quick graphic: 6 Key Stomach/Gut Terms related to Migraine

19 March 2021

Cyclic vomiting syndrome is on the rise in adults – and it may be Migraine related.

James Discoveries & Stats 0

A review recently published in Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain discusses treatment of cyclic vomiting syndrome, as well as a surprising rise in adult cases.

The connection between migraine and vomiting and nausea is not news. Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) has also long been connected to migraine – in fact, some have suggested that it may be a subtype of migraine.

But there’s still a lot we don’t know about CVS. In fact, as the Mayo Clinic puts it, “Cyclic vomiting syndrome is characterized by episodes of severe vomiting that have no apparent cause.”

Which is why doctors first need to rule out other conditions when (usually children) develop CVS. For example, a part of the intestine may not be developing in the right position (intestinal malrotation). A swelling of the kidneys (hydronephrosis) might also be a cause. So some tests will be required when someone is diagnosed. Anxiety or panic attacks may also bring on problems, in both adults and children.

CVS in adults may also come from certain diseases related to the gallbladder or liver.

Though the nausea/vomiting connection is the most obvious link to migraine, there are other symptoms that some patients get that make the link even stronger. For example, abdominal pain (abdominal migraine is more common in children, but adults get it as well), dizziness, photophobia (sensitivity to light), and, of course, headache.

Why is CVS on the rise in adults? Increased anxiety? Environmental factors? Dietary problems?

What’s the connection to migraine? Is it a gut-brain issue? Are there genetic factors? Lifestyle commonalities? Once more, we’re not sure.

However, the study recommends that we further our research into the CVS-migraine link, and try to diagnose CVS as early as possible. Early treatment, as with migraine, can lead to better results. And in the case of children, we often have the opportunity to catch both early, and so can avoid many problems later in life.

But doctors and patients need to look carefully for migraine-type symptoms, because migraine treatments may be able to conquer both issues.

Report abstract (and link to full report): Cyclic vomiting syndrome: A narrative review and guide to management

28 November 2014

18 Reasons to Suspect Migraine in Your Child

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Migraine in children can be very difficult to diagnose. If children have had their symptoms for a long time, it may be normal to them, and you might not even hear a complaint. Or, they will just know they’re “not feeling well” and not be able to explain why.

Child Migraine Clues So, here are 18 reasons to suspect that your child may have migraine. If you suspect migraine, watch your child closely and consider a doctor’s visit.

A close family member has migraine: If so, the child is much more likely to develop migraine than the general population. Do not, however, assume that the child will have the same symptoms or pattern of attacks.
Trips to the bathroom: Vomiting is common in children with migraine. A child may go to the bathroom to throw up and not tell anyone.
Changes in behaviour: Remember, migraine usually isn’t constant. Watch for days when there are changes in your child’s behaviour.
Headache: Migraine attacks in children do not always include headache. But if your child is complaining of headache, it’s not normal. Try to find out as much as you can – how long it lasts, what kind of pain, etc.
“Patterns of avoidance”: Children may not even consciously think about what is bothering them. But a parent may be able to tell if a child is bothered by light or noise. Children also may avoid physical activities that they usually enjoy.
Car sickness: Car sickness may not be migraine, but it may be a sign that the child may develop migraine. Watch for nausea and vomiting when you’re not travelling.
Depression: A child may be depressed because of their symptoms, but depression is also a condition that often goes along with migraine, although scientists aren’t 100% sure why.
Trouble paying attention: Again, remember that a migraine in children will normally last for a day or two at most. Watch for certain days when your child is having trouble concentrating. Ask them how they feel.
Abdominal pain: Often, instead of headache a child will have abdominal pain or discomfort. If you start seeing this come and go, it may be a sign of migraine.
Puberty: Although children do have migraine, it is much more common after puberty hits. In girls, watch for monthly attacks. Do not brush these headaches off as “normal”.
Tiredness: Sleep disorders are common in children with migraine.
Retreat: Children may retreat to their rooms, or go lie down in the dark.
Head trauma: A concussion can lead to certain headache disorders. Be sure to see a doctor and try to avoid further injury.
Trouble at school: Teachers can use these clues as well. But if parents find that their children are having trouble at school, they may discover that migraine symptoms (difficulty in concentrating, avoidance of physical activity, hiding symptoms) may explain some of the problems.
Changes in appearance: Shadows under the eyes, looking flushed or pale.
Hyperactivity: Yes, migraine symptoms may actually cause some hyperactivity. Again, watch for changes in behaviour that last a few hours.
Changes in eating patterns: Avoidance of certain foods, or craving for certain foods.
Headache with Congestion: Congestion, runny nose, watery eyes – all common migraine symptoms.

As you can see, many of these clues could relate to other conditions, or even to just having a bad day. They are not proof of migraine. Also, remember that you may only see one or two of these clues – every child is different, and no child will exhibit all of these.

Watch for something that follows a pattern – you notice certain symptoms on three occasions that go away in a day or two. If you suspect migraine, keep track of the symptoms as much as you can and talk to a doctor.

10 November 2014

Abdominal Migraine in Adults

James Discoveries & Stats, Information, Medications, Treatments 0

Abdominal pain – likely a nauseous feeling – recurring again and again. It can be very hard to get a diagnosis, but it could be abdominal migraine.

Abdominal migraine in adults is not often recognized, even though the medical community has been talking about it for almost a hundred years. Abdominal migraine is well recognized in children, all the more reason why it’s overlooked in adults. And to be fair, it probably is a rare condition.

As with most types of migraine, abdominal migraine brings on recurring symptoms. It usually lasts from a couple of hours to three days.

Unlike migraine headache, the pain in the abdomen isn’t one-sided. It could be very severe, or just a dull ache. During an attack, there is usually nausea and/or vomiting, or you may become pale and lose your appetite.

To be technically diagnosed with abdominal migraine, there should be no headache associated with the attack. In other words, instead of headache you have abdominal pain. However, it’s true that other types of migraine may include abdominal pain as well.

Other characteristics of migraine may be present, such as an aura before an attack.

Abdominal migraine usually starts in childhood and disappears in adulthood (or “changes” into other types of migraine). But there have been cases of abdominal pain from migraine appearing in adolescence and early adulthood for the first time.

Diagnosis of Abdominal Migraine in Adults

If the above description sounds like you, you’ve taken the first step. But your doctor will still want to run some tests and rule out other possibilities.

Be sure to tell your doctor how many attacks you’ve had, and what the symptoms were. She’ll want to rule out various other conditions, such as gallstones, irritable bowel syndrome, infections, and even abdominal epilepsy, which can be quite similar.

A common feature of abdominal migraine in adults seems to be a family history of migraine. If you know anyone in your family who may have had migraine, be sure to mention that. Also, your doctor will want to know if you had migraine symptoms when you were younger, or possibly cyclic vomiting syndrome.

Treatment of Adult Abdominal Migraine

Because it is so rarely diagnosed, there’s no standard treatment. However, there are some treatments which have been used successfully.

Triptans, a common migraine abortive, such as sumatriptan, may be tried. Pizotifen (pizotyline, Sandomigran, Sanomigran), a serotonin antagonist, has been used for abdominal migraine in adults. Other migraine treatments such as topiramate (Topamax), calcium channel blockers, beta blockers, and valproic acid (Depakote) may be tried, depending on the patient. Antihistamines have also been used.

For more information: