How We Help Our Son Through Headaches/Migraines

I figured it might be helpful to those reading if I shared what we do for childhood headaches/migraines.  I know that other families must experience them too.  As an adult who had migraines as a child, I've figured out some things from remembering what my mother did and other things I've learned.  Here are a few things I've learned over the last few months.  When my son gets a headache or worse, a migraine, we:

1.) Validate that he knows his body by taking action and believing him, everytime
2.) Stop everything I'm doing, everything, but calmly
3.) Breath with him, "in your nose and out your mouth" slowly
4.) Medicate according to the doctor's recommendation (Since I'm not a Dr. I won't advise you on how to do that)
5.) Give him a nice big glass of water
6.) Sit with him for atleast 30 minutes while he lays down and we relax
7.) A cool face cloth on his forehead
8.) Turn out the lights or close the blinds


Daily things I do regardless of whether or not he's experiencing headaches that day:

1.)  Keep bags in the bathroom garbage cans, so they can be quickly removed and transformed into upchuck buckets at a moments notice.
2.) Ensure one room in the house can become the "dark room" quickly
3.) Ginger Ale and forks ~ It eases the stomach, but only if it isn't bubbly
4.) Keep a spare change of clothes in his backpack at all times (migraines with neaseau can appear quickly)
5.)  Keep extra medicine at the Grandparents house!
6.)  Always ensure he wears sunglasses when outside or in the car
7.)  Talk about it as positively and honestly as possible. 
8.) Keep the settings on one tv a little darker.  Television can be a wonderful distraction from the discomfort
9.) Keep bedtime and length of sleep consistent. It's best if bedtime is early enough that they can wake up on their own in the morning.  Lack of sleep is a big trigger.
10.) Keep carpet stain remover on hand at all times


We've also had Morgan's eyes tested again, just to be sure.  Glasses are ordered and on the way next week.  I have high hopes that they will lessen the effects of his migraines and also make them less common.  One less trigger is always a move in the right direction.

I'm also working on finding some fun, kid yoga to help his body learn how to process stress in a healthy way ~ the working on part is that I'm trying to convince him it's fun and cool.  So far he's not buying it.  ;)


Here are some links that I've found helpful:
http://www.bellaireneurology.com/headaches/migr_childhood.html
http://health.howstuffworks.com/pregnancy-and-parenting/parenting/your-childs-headaches-may-be-migraines1.htm
http://www.migrainepage.com/topics/childhood.html