My 7 year old son, Christopher (aka Chucklehead/Critter/Aqualung) has been having bouts with headaches, several times a day, at school and home. CH are rare, so my first instinct was to make sure he's drinking enough water. When I'm in remission (which I am now for a couple years) I usually do get "normal headaches." You know, the kind that makes you just want to find a dark, cool room and sleep, while slamming Motrin. I thought he was going through this. Well, more water wasn't doing the trick. Within a week or two, the school nurse was calling, and the teacher was griping. He hasn't spent a full day in school in almost a week.

Lately, we've observed him grabbing his head and sometimes eye and screaming out. We observe these episodes lasting 2 hours or more. Needless to say my heart was breaking. Then one night, he looked up at the wife with a half crap-eating grin, then resumed thrashing about. Show-over! We had his heels locked at attention and the interrogation began. With a few carefully targeted questions, we discovered that he does have these episodes, but ends up milking it a little longer than the pain does last. After a few threats describing an empty bedroom after school each day, the promise of no more deception was made. But the episodes resumed the next day. A little milder than before, but we could tell they were painful. Finally, he got in to see a Pediatrician today, with a referral to the Neurologist Monday.

When I got home today, I observed him head-banging pretty bad. Mom was at her Witt's end. I tend to be a bit more sympathetic since I can relate all too well with this. His episode lasted at least 2 hours. It seemed to subside (I can tell) but when I suggested it was doing better, the thrashing began again. The wife was coming unglued, but I held out, knowing that when it starts to subside, it will come again strong several more times before it goes completely away, at least with me. But he had that half-baked grin again. Finally I announced in a loud voice, "It's gone now, Christopher!" Then he went to playing with the puppy. Very interesting.

I know he's having episodes of something. He's also milking out the length. This is frustrating.

My question for you all is, Have any of you with children suffering had these doubts? Have your kids "milked it out" before? Can this be a case of a child not able to detect a difference in pain levels?

While I'm here, I'll let you know that the pediatrician thinks this is CH.  I'm a bit confused, because some symptoms aren't consistent with CH. Here's what happens:

His peak of pain is usually described as being centered on the forehead.

Very rarely does he suggest it to be around any of his eyes.

It's accompanied by a slight pain in the neck, but centered on the back.

It will usually travel from one side of his forehead, to the other side as well.

No change in the pupils. He has brown eyes, but I can still see enough pupil to tell.

He is getting dark rings under the eyes because his sleep is being disturbed. But no drooping.

He says neither nostril is stopping up, or running.

I haven't observed any tearing or red eye, but the wife noticed it for the first time today before his afternoon attack.

So, I ask further:

Is it possible for the early stages of CH in children be different than adults?

If this is a case of CH, will the symptoms "mature" over time into more "classic" CH symptoms?

Did any of you other parents experience a child not being able to explain locations of their pain accurately?

Most of you probably think I'm a monster for trying to admonish my 7 year old in a time of distress, but We've caught him toying with us before, and I need to know EXACTLY what's going on. Is this familiar to anyone else, and how did you handle it?

Thanks and remember  I appreciate it all.

By the way - when questioning kids NEVER ask leading questions or give them a hint as to answers! LOL I've learned that one the hard way! (Not with CH though, Jasper was too young then)

Ask THEM to describe the pain, don't ask "does it feel like"

Ask them where it is don't say "Is it in your eye" for instance

Don't say "does your nose get blocked up" ask "Does anywhere else on your body feel funny What about your arm? What about your tummy? What about your head?" and so on

I hope that helps!

You're welcome and good luck! I sincerely hope it isn't CH - I know from my own experience there isn't a med available that's safe for kids so young with the exception of Oxygen. I'll be crossing everything I have for you on Monday and I'm so glad you're being so level headed about it, it's all of our worst fears and sometimes that can blinker us to other symptoms. there is absolutely NOTHING easy about being level headed when your kid is hurting, I know, I seldom manage it. That's why I'm so impressed that you are doing your utmmost to present all sides

Warm wishes
Helen

Just wanted to say good luck for today - fingers crossed here for you all!!

Helen

Forgive me for this line of questioning, OK?

1) Any tramatic events in the family recently? Death, divorce, Iraq??
2) Is it possible he has headaches but is mimmicking your CH severity?
3) Anything strange @ school? New class, new teacher, bully???
4) Did you loose a pet recently?
5) Have a new addtion to the family recently?

I get a strange feeling that your son is enriching his behavoir and mimicking daddy's. Why? I don't know but you need to look around and ask that yourself.


Food for thought.
TomM