Daughter's Headaches

[nieu11]

I have a 14 year old daughter who suffers headaches on cruises. She is to the point she does not want to go any more. I tried non-drowsy Dramamine last time but it made her sleep the whole time. Can anyone give me information on how to help her. The doctor won't give her the transderm scop patch which is what I wear. All the over-the-counter meds seem to be for motion sickness such as dizziness and nausea. Help please!

[Keith1010]

I realize you asked your doctor but I would not rely on information from anyone other then the medical community. Did the doctor not offer and suggestions and if not maybe contacting a doctor who specializes in travel would be a good idea assuming she normally doesn't have headaches other than cruising.

 

Keith

[sail7seas]

Please take my comment in the best possible way but it occurs to me that perhaps you should not take her on cruise ships. If you have consulted her doctor and he has not provided you with suggestions/Rx, he seems to be saying she should not be cruising. Her doctor knows far better than any of us what is medically best for your daughter.

 

[temple1]

Does her Dr know why cruises cause her to have headaches? Does she have them at other times? Could it be an undiagnosed allergy or sensitivity so something like monosodium glutamate?

 

I have pretty severe motion sickness and headache is not one of my symptoms. I know everyone has their own way of reacting, but I've not heard of headache alone. Also, perhaps she doesn't enjoy cruising and it is a stress headache. I agree with sail7seas, perhaps discuss it with her to find out the problem.

Edited July 22, 2014 by temple1

[nieu11]

All I talked to him about was the transderm scop and he said she was too young for it. Plus it again seems to be for nausea and dizziness. I thank you guys for the concern and rest assured I wouldn't do anything without our doctors permission. I was just thinking I might get some suggestions about what to talk to him about. I wonder if it might be the pressurization. She is flying to California in a few weeks, if she has a headache on the plane then that would be logical. Again, I am not expecting anyone to give me medical advice, but I see lots of post on here about different symptoms and others have the same symptoms and post what they did.

 

We have a big family cruise booked for Thanksgiving. After that I won't take her on anymore as I wouldn't want to go under those circumstances either. Just looking for some relief for this upcoming trip.

[temple1]

A suggestion - if Dallas is not as humid as the east coast, could it be sinuses? I have had clients have a terrible time adjusting to our low country humidity.

Edited July 22, 2014 by temple1

[sail7seas]

Does she say she wants to go on that cruise or is she indicating she would rather not?

[BlueRiband]

I can relate to your daughter. As a child I suffered from terrible motion sickness and absolutely hated the annual family fishing trip. It was nothing but nausea and "feeding the fish" for me.

 

Since cruising is agony for her, perhaps she can stay with a relative while you and your significant other go alone? It's not punishment - just acknowledging that you like to cruise but it's torture for her.

Edited July 22, 2014 by BlueRiband

[Ethel5]

Just an FYI...headache alone can be a symptom of sea sickness. I would bring it up again with her doctor and see what he suggests.

[cruiserfromalabama]

Has she ever tried cruising without taking any motion sickness meds? Possibly she is sensitive to these! We have cruised many times and deep sea fish, do all kinds of watersports and my kids have never used motion sickness meds at all. I know some people need these meds, but it could be that she does not. Also, I do have sinus headaches and sometimes traveling blocks my sinus with the pressure from flying and the wind on the ship blowing constantly.

[BeagleOne]

Perhaps she simply does not like to cruise and says she has a headache as a way to indicate that? Hope you, your daughter, and her doctor can figure things out!

[donaldsc]

I certainly would not want to make any suggestions regarding medical issues or drugs, especially for a minor. As a parent, I would not want to take the advice of a non-professional who is posting to any WEB site, even if the responder was well meaning.

 

I realize that the OP is trying to figure out what she can do to make her child feel better on a travel trip and she means well but in today's sue-happy culture, just think of what could happen to the people who respond to her post.

 

DON

Edited July 22, 2014 by donaldsc

[temple1]

I certainly would not want to make any suggestions regarding medical issues or drugs, especially for a minor. As a parent, I would not want to take the advice of a non-professional who is posting to any WEB site, even if the responder was well meaning.

 

I realize that the OP is trying to figure out what she can do to make her child feel better on a travel trip and she means well but in today's sue-happy culture, just think of what could happen to the people who respond to her post.

 

DON

 

 

Gee Don, did you actually read any of the posts? No, I can tell by your response. So, she is going to sue me and the others for suggesting:

1. Discuss it with her daughter, perhaps she doesn't like cruising.

2. Discuss it with her doctor. Now that is a law suit waiting to happen. :rolleyes:

3. Try taking her without giving her the otc meds she tried in the past.

 

Wow!!! Looks like civil court material to me.

[marshhawk]

What happens when you don't give her meds. You are obviously giving her meds because you need them-which could be making her sick-you are also showing her that being on a ship causes illness, so perhaps she is creating her own.

 

If that is true, it is not medical, but a mental headache-are you letting her go to kids camp? are you giving her free time to be by herself, at 14 that is important. does she have headaches at other times, other situations? Or is she getting a headache, either because of what you are giving her- or is she associating cruising with illness.

 

If you are a kid, and you see your parents take a drug so that they feel well then it is possible to create your own illness. just saying, I don't think we have all the facts, ma'am. I hope she does well on her next cruise.

[SadieN]

...................She is flying to California in a few weeks, if she has a headache on the plane then that would be logical. Again, I am not expecting anyone to give me medical advice, but I see lots of post on here about different symptoms and others have the same symptoms and post what they did.

 

..............................................

 

Have you cruised without flying? If you drove, did she still get headaches?

Has she had altitude sickness in the mountains? (such as traveling to Colorado)

Does traveling in general a stressor? Does she have a water phobia?

 

Does she get headaches at other times? If so, what are the triggers?

On cruises do you use anything different? Different lotions, toiletries, detergents?

Eating different foods?

Drinking caffeinated drinks (soda) when they are not drank at home? Some sodas that you think are caffeine free aren't - Mountain Dew, Barq's Root Beer and Sunkist Orange all have caffiene in them. I'm sure that there are others.

 

***

 

This is not medical advice but, as a mother, it is good the get other's opinions to know what to ask the doctor or be able to recognize.

 

Might want to keep a diary of what was eaten, products used and activities.

 

No need to answer the questions to anyone but yourself.

[DonnaK]

Does she get headaches at other times, or only on cruises? If so, how do you treat those headaches?

 

Motion-sickness headaches are often an inner ear issue - consider seeing an ENT specialist? It might be as easy as using a decongestant to keep the eustachian tube open and equalize the pressure - this is something you can consider asking the doctor about.

 

You can also research safe non-medical treatments to try, like acupressure or meditative videos/audio for headache relief.

 

(This is not medical advice - just some ideas that you can look into further and discuss with your doctor.)

Edited July 22, 2014 by DonnaK

[Treven]

Gee Don, did you actually read any of the posts? No, I can tell by your response. So, she is going to sue me and the others for suggesting:

1. Discuss it with her daughter, perhaps she doesn't like cruising.

2. Discuss it with her doctor. Now that is a law suit waiting to happen. :rolleyes:

3. Try taking her without giving her the otc meds she tried in the past.

 

Wow!!! Looks like civil court material to me.

Touché!

[temple1]

Touché!

 

Sorry, can you tell the "everything is a potential lawsuit" posts snaps my garters? :D

[Dayenu]

I have a 14 year old daughter who suffers headaches on cruises. She is to the point she does not want to go any more. I tried non-drowsy Dramamine last time but it made her sleep the whole time. Can anyone give me information on how to help her. The doctor won't give her the transderm scop patch which is what I wear. All the over-the-counter meds seem to be for motion sickness such as dizziness and nausea. Help please!

 

Is the headache caused by cruises, are you sure? Does she get bored on cruises and get tension headaches, or you are sure it's caused by motion sickness? Is it really headache, or just her way to get out of some family activities?

 

If this is motion sickness, have you tried ginger capsules?

[Treven]

Sorry, can you tell the "everything is a potential lawsuit" posts snaps my garters? :D

Oh, really? I hadn't noticed.

There is a 4th item to your lawsuit list: leave her at home.

Edited July 22, 2014 by Treven

[Cretia]

From my personal experience primary care doctors are generally less than helpful when it comes to headaches, probably because there are so many different causes. I wish you the best of luck in finding a fix for her.

 

Motion-sickness headaches are often an inner ear issue - consider seeing an ENT specialist? It might be as easy as using a decongestant to keep the eustachian tube open and equalize the pressure - this is something you can consider asking the doctor about.

 

That was my first thought.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I realize that you have talked to your doctor and he told you not to give her the transderm scop patch that you take.

But surely he can suggest something just for her.

[temple1]

Oh, really? I hadn't noticed.

There is a 4th item to your lawsuit list: leave her at home.

 

Well you never know - most children are molested by a family friend or relative. Or if they leave her home alone at 14 they could possibly get charged with child endangerment. Also she could burn the house down, throw a wild party and trash the house, get pregnant (not necessarily in that order) many more problems than if she were forced to go on a cruise she didn't want to go on in the first place.

 

But then again, we have all been stuck in situations with a recalcitrant child that doesn't want to be there and makes life miserable for everyone. Then there is the possibility of all the lawsuits for vacations that were ruined by their child.

 

Oh the possibilities!! :D

[Jane2357]

This might not be related to any type of physical reason - this may be due to other reasons. Perhaps she finds the "cruise" stressful, scary and doesn't know how to express that. I can say one thing - if it were my daughter under these conditions - our next trip would be a land vacation. I can't believe you are going to put her through this again. :(

[S.A.M.J.R.]

All I talked to him about was the transderm scop and he said she was too young for it. Plus it again seems to be for nausea and dizziness. I thank you guys for the concern and rest assured I wouldn't do anything without our doctors permission. I was just thinking I might get some suggestions about what to talk to him about. I wonder if it might be the pressurization. She is flying to California in a few weeks, if she has a headache on the plane then that would be logical. Again, I am not expecting anyone to give me medical advice, but I see lots of post on here about different symptoms and others have the same symptoms and post what they did.

 

We have a big family cruise booked for Thanksgiving. After that I won't take her on anymore as I wouldn't want to go under those circumstances either. Just looking for some relief for this upcoming trip.

What made you think pressurization? If you've flown to cruises, presumably you've flown back. Do the headaches last after you get home?