Interesting Observation

My family has had a horrible summer with migraines. My husband, who has never had migraines, got two this summer! My older daughter, bless her heart, was getting them every other week and sometimes they stayed for 2-3 days! I also got them about every 3 weeks. None of us had them at the same time so we couldn't pinpoint it to anything in particular, but we think it's from the relentless heat that we've had. (I think we are on 70+ days of 100+ weather...I've lost count! Sadly, 90 degrees feels good to us now!)

Caitlin is the only one who has not gotten a single migraine! With her history of having really terrible headaches that would land her in the ER for CT Scans, this has been great! Caitlin said the other day..."Mom, I think the Plaquenil is helping. I've noticed that I haven't had any migraines and my bones don't hurt much at all anymore." Hmmmm...I didn't know that Plaquenil could help fend off headaches. She still gets "normal" headaches every once in a while, but they are due to either fever or not eating at the right time. She is still doing great, but she went to school last week with a black eye one day and then the next day with 4 bruises on her face. All from her desire to do acrobatic skills and not knowing her limits! Finally emailed her teachers when two of them asked her if there was anything they should be concerned about. I actually forgot to email her teachers this year before school started about her ITP because she has been doing so well!

Pauline:

That is interesting. The only thing I can think of is the APS-migraine connection. Plaquenil can inhibit those antibodies, as well as act as a mild anti-coagulant and is supposedly protective against APS symptoms.

I don't remember if Caitlin has tested positive for those. At any rate, good news!

She tested negative and the rheumatologist as well as the neurologist thought she would test positive for sure because she had severe headaches so often. She was probably 6 when they started so it had been going on for years. I also think she was about 6 when the ITP started as well.

It is just such a relief as a parent to hear your child make a positive statement about a medication. It was such a struggle to get her to remember to take it everyday and now she takes it on her own because she doesn't want the headaches. I'm the same way with my BP meds...I can tell by my headaches if I've skipped a day!

Good for Caitlin! I'm glad she is feeling better. I was hoping Plaquenil would help her out.