Migraine

Hey everyone, new here, I just recently found this site and came to the forums for advice from people who speak the same langauge.

I've been having migraines for about 8 years now. At first they were few and far between but by '07 they were almost constant. I take propranolol and nortriptyline to mitigate the headaches, Topamax is my preventative and Imitrex is my go-to rescue med...this is all besides the meds that I take for depression, which, the more I talk to people on the site and read info on, the more it seems it goes hand-in-hand with migraines.

I have two kids, my son who is ten and my daughter who is only 22 mos. So far nether of them has shown any signs of migraines thank goodness, however, I still worry because I didn't get my first attack until I was in my twenties. I don't want either of my kids to follow in their old man's footsteps.

Isn't there a medical test or some kind of genetic screening that can tell whether or not your kids are likely to develope migraines?

JDMCM -

Hi I hope one of the hosts may have a more definite answer for you, but I'm pretty sure the answer is no. For Familial Hemiplegic Migraine, a rare form which causes temporary paralysis, there is genetic testing. You can read about Hemiplegic Migraine here.

Research is ongoing into genetic basis of Migraine and I've never heard of testing for any of the other, more common forms. I'm just hoping we get some real medical breakthroughs before our kids have to suffer the way we do!

- Megs

Thanks Megs! My daughter is really the one that I worry about, migraines is so much more prevelant in women and she's still so little.

I heard somewhere that migraines is passed on through yur mother's side, but I'm not sure if that's true. I have a wife who is very understanding, supportive and doesn't have migraines so I hope my kids get her genes and dodge a bullet.

My mother and grandfather on her side both suffered from migraines so maybe there is something to it.

I don't want my kids to go through this...if there was any way to detect and prevent it I'd do it. Hopefully, if either of them does ever get migraines then the medicine will have advanced by then to the point that they can live normal lives.


I appreciate the input.

At the present time there really isn't a way to prevent migraines if your children are going to get them; therefore, genetic screening is not generally done. Even if you found one of your children had the gene, if he/she did not encounter his/her trigger, or had a high "trigger threshhold," he/she might not get a migraine til middle age or later, or even never. And some people only get one or two migraines in their lifetimes. Then you would have worried needlessly for many years. Realize that this board collects the "worst of the worst" of migraineurs.

Instead, just be aware of what your children try to communicate to you. Also, be aware of a type of migraines children sometimes get that are not very common for adults:

Abdominal Migraine - The Basics

Be sure your childrens' doctor(s) are aware of the family history of migraine, too.

You could help us, yourself, and your doctors by using the "standard" language to describe your meds. We generally use the term "rescue med" to describe pain killers that we use if our "abortive med" such as a triptan fails. This article will give you more info:

Preventive, Abortive, and Rescue Medications - What's the Difference?

Take care of yourself. I'm so glad you've come here to learn, which is what we are all here for--me included. And I know every parent on this board hopes fervently that their children won't inherit this disease.

Great material Nutcracker, and thanks for the tip on the meds, I'm still getting to know the actual "lingo" so I appreciate your being patient with the new guy.

No, it's not true that Migraine disease is passed down through the mother only. It can come from either or both parents. If one parent has Migraine disease, a child has a 50% chance of inheriting; 75% if both parents have it.

quote:

Originally posted by JDMCM858:
Thanks Megs! My daughter is really the one that I worry about, migraines is so much more prevelant in women and she's still so little.

I heard somewhere that migraines is passed on through yur mother's side, but I'm not sure if that's true. I have a wife who is very understanding, supportive and doesn't have migraines so I hope my kids get her genes and dodge a bullet.

My mother and grandfather on her side both suffered from migraines so maybe there is something to it.

I don't want my kids to go through this...if there was any way to detect and prevent it I'd do it. Hopefully, if either of them does ever get migraines then the medicine will have advanced by then to the point that they can live normal lives.


I appreciate the input.