Three cheers for the lovely ROH staff

[amos73]

Not exactly doing dance, but I took DD to ROH matinee to see Francesca Hayward debut as Aurora in Sleeping Beauty yesterday. Tickets bought months ago, much excitement this week in build up. On the way she complained about something funny happening with her eyes but I thought nothing of it, as we arrived at the Opera House she says her head is hurting, we sit down in seats and almost immediately she slumps onto my shoulder and starts crying that her head is painful. I didn't know what was up with her but thought she needed to eat something as she had rushed out of the house without breakfast saying she wasn't hungry.

 

I asked her if she wanted to leave but she said she wasn't sure perhaps the headache would go. Within ten minutes she was saying she felt worse, so we got up as the curtain was about to go up and went outside into the foyer. A very nice steward saw us coming out and asked if we were ok. When I explained he said it would be such a shame for her to miss the performance and if she wanted to wait and see how she was he had a box free (big upgrade from orchestra circle restricted view!) It would be very private and she would have space to relax and maybe she could wait and see if she felt better. Another nice lady got her a glass of water and then when dd decided she would try the box they escorted us into the box then and there, not even waiting for an interval.

 

We sat in the box (what a view, literally best seats in the house) and watched the fairies in the prologue, but she didn't improve in fact started to feel worse. So we left just as the lilac fairy was about to come on.

 

As it turned out I believe she had a migraine (has never had one before but lack of food and being overtired I think created a perfect storm) and at least now we know she has to be careful on those fronts, and what the warning signs are - the blurry vision and funny lights in her eyes - but the staff were so kind and lovely, that I was really touched by their genuine concern and the lengths they went to, in order that she might be able to stay and watch the show.

 

DD came home and slept all afternoon, throbbing headache still present last night. Was very disappointed she didn't even see Frankie on stage, but made me laugh when I asked if she had taken any of it in, thinking in the state she was in probably she hadn't a clue what went on but she said  oh yes I saw Anna Rose O'Sullivan as the Fairy of the Golden Vine and she was wonderful.

 

 

 

[Pixiewoo]

How lovely of the staff, but your poor DD and poor you.

 

hope she feels better soon.

 

xxx

[Pups_mum]

Aww,your poor DD.What a shame. But yes, how kind of the staff to help like that. It certainly does sound like a migraine. I had my first migraine when I was about 10 or 11 just after a school trip to a planetarium and I thought I was dying as I'd never experienced anything like it before. It's very scary for a child - I hope your DD is OK now.Missing meals is definitely a trigger for me, and I can sometimes abort a full blown attack by eating something sugary once the aura begins. If she is unfortunate to get them regularly I am sure she will learn what her own triggers are and learn to avoid them as much as possible. If you haven't been to the GP already it's worth doing so as the medication available nowadays is much more effective than when I was young - though off the top of my head I'm not sure what age they are suitable for. My DD certainly was prescribed them in her early teens though. Best of luck - we are a family of migraneurs so I (literally)feel your DDs pain. Fingers crossed its a one off.

[amos73]

Thanks for the info Pups-mum I've never had one so don't know much about it. Will make appointment for the Gp then. She is almost 12. It was a bit scary yes. x

[Lisa O`Brien]

Oh amos how awful for your DD; and to get her first ever one at that particular place and time of all things. Hopefully it was just a one off and she can put the horrible experience behind her.

[sarahw]

I'm so sorry your trip was ruined but what marvellous staff!!

 

My dd had her first one at that age and it is often triggered by hormonal changes. (Joy!)

 

It is important to see your GP to clarify the exact type of migraine because with focal migraine they cannot take oestrogen in the future (some contraceptive pills - sorry to mention it but very important in future.)

[LinMM]

I had my first migraine at 14 and it coincided with periods starting etc and my first one was at school (and terrifying!) after a particular energetic afternoon and not having eaten much either.

The normally rather fierce headmistress was really sweet....first time I saw the other side of her....and I was very grateful the way she handled it.....saying lots of complimentary things about migraine sufferers which were probably not entirely true!!

She knew what it was immediately but had to check with Doc of course

Unfortunately had them about every 2-3 months regularly until I was about 35 ish when they dropped off gradually and now only rarely have them. I never found a food trigger etc but suspect they were hormonally linked. I found eventually that taking medication immediately the "aura" ( light patterns around the eyes) starts kept the worst symptoms at bay but resting quietly in a slightly darkened room seemed very effective and comforting.

 

Anyway to get back to your DD and the ROH staff what a wonderful experience for you and glad she enjoyed some of the performance hope you are able to get to see another performance when she is feeling well......though now may have a taste for the best seats!!!

[LinMM]

Sorry SarahW didn't see your post....and yes you are right about the oestrogen thing. I could only take the pill eventually for about six years and there was too much danger of a stroke for me apparently to continue!! But found this out down the line quite separately from the migraine issue.......after having problems with the pill....didn't realise the two were linked.

Edited February 17, 2017 by LinMM

[MAB]

As a long term migraine sufferer can I ask you to impress upon your daughter the importance of hydration.  Missed meals don't help, but it is essential to keep drinking. 

[MAK]

Oh no Amos73 your poor DD. Hope she is feeling better soon and what absolutely rotten timing ????

[Pups_mum]

Yes, around puberty is the classic time for migraine to start, though younger children can exhibit abdominal sypmtoms, so called "abdominal migraine". In our family the males are afftected at least as badly as the females (my brother suffered terribly as a teenager/young adult) so I am expecting my 13 year old son's first attack any time now! Maybe he will be the lucky one of the family though.

The good news is that the modern treatment is much better than anything that was available when my attacks were at their height in the late 1980s/90s, so hopefully even if your DD does go on to have more regular attacks it will be manageable.

And as others have said, most people find the attacks get less frequent as they get older - I get at most one or two attacks a year now, whereas in my late teens it was every few days. I think my first year at University was the worst - I spent a lot of that year lying in darkened rooms, and unlike many of my peers it wasn't because of hangovers!, But by my late 20's/early 30's things had improved significantly. i know that's probably cold comfort when you are 12, but I think it is worth stressing to your DD that even if she does have more of these attacks there is a good chance that a)they can be managed and  b ) there's a good chance things will get better when she is older.

Regards to dancing, I agree with MAB that she must make sure she drinks regularly, especially when exercising, and also to have regular small snacks. it might be worth mentioning to her teacher, as over exertion, lack of food and lack of fluid could well provoke an attack. A reminder  from the teacher to take a drink or quick snack, particularly in long or particularly strenuous classes might make a difference.

Edited February 17, 2017 by Pups_mum

[amos73]

Thank you all such good words of advice. She is the kind who can easily forget to drink water or eat too if she is absorbed in a task. Will definitely mention to her dance school. And am going to take her to GP too.

[Legseleven]

I second the advice to make sure that your daughter drinks and eats, especially when exercising and that you get medical advice as to the best treatments currently available. DD's older friend had terrible migraines, such that she wasn't coherent when she spoke and had to lie in a completely darkened room with pillows arranged to keep her head absolutely still. They happened usually just before her periods started for the first year or so after starting her periods. She still carries relief medication with her even now, 5 years later and during that year she took preventative medication too; this didn't stop the attacks but 'took the edge off'. She said she learned very quickly that not drinking enough (she agrees that she didn't drink enough water for someone who was so physically active) or eating properly was an easy way to make the attacks worse. She's now never without a bottle of water and a packet of nuts and/or a cereal bar, along with the medication just in case she feels a migraine starting. However, she has only had a couple of migraines per year after that first year, thank goodness.

[RuthE]

I had my first migraine at 14 and it coincided with periods starting etc and my first one was at school (and terrifying!) after a particular energetic afternoon and not having eaten much either.

 

I've had one in my entire life and it coincided with my first period. I was going to say this to the OP earlier but got distracted...

[Fiz]

I never had migraines until I began to take the contraceptive pill and I can't take HRT for the same reason. I don't get monthly migraines anymore but the odd one when the pollen count soars or it is very humid. I also get the so called "silent migraine" causing visual disturbance but no actual pain. Migraine can have many triggers but skipping meals is one of the most common. I hope hydration and eating regularly will make this the last migraine that your dd suffers, Amos73.

[sarahw]

I also find lack of sleep a factor.

[hoglett]

Lack of sleep is definitely my trigger. I had my first migraine in my 30s and I literally thought I was dying. ..my head felt like it was splitting into two and I just couldn't get out of bed...it must have been so scary for your DD. Lovely to hear you were well looked after. Hope she's feeling better.

[allthebest2all]

Hello. Does she wear glasses? My migraines started when I was on a run of shows and in the theatre a lot and i realised it was my eyesight. I still get them occasionally certain makeup and perfume trigger them but glasses were my answer. Here here for ROH staff I was also there with my daughter and I won't go into details but they kindly moved us and we were fortunate to get much nicer seats too! Health first always, I am sure there will be further opportunities to watch the up and coming starlets of RB! Hope she is on the mend.

[xanthe]

Your poor DD - I get migraines and they make you feel so horribly unwell.

 

If you are not a coffee drinker then a small coffee can stave them off, otherwise there is a wonderful drug called Zomig that I have found miraculous and doesn't make you feel as icky as some of the migraine meds can. A hefty one like you describe is rarely shifted by the OTC remedies. There is a Zomig nasal spray for 12-18 year olds.

 

Unfortunately they are often linked with drops in oestrogen levels and it's very common for them to occur around ovulation and menstruation... joyous.

 

So nice of the ROH to do what they did and I hope you enjoyed what you did see.

[Petalviolet]

Hope she's feeling better and gets to see Frankie another day xx

[Moomin]

What a shame for you both but I'm glad that she has now recovered. Just to stress that it is vital that you take her to the gp who can do a basic neurological examination as those symptoms could be many other things too. Yes, it is most probably migraine but could be other things as well.

[amos73]

Thanks all! I have left message for the Gp surgery, apparently they have a new triage at our surgery where the GP calls you and decides if they make you an appointment? Very odd.  Anyhow am going to insist on appointment for her to get seen.

 

It does sound like lack of water, food and over tiredness all played a part. And she is nearly 12 so hormones are no doubt firing off (if her mood swings are anything to go by  ).

[Nicola H]

Phone triage is quite effective. Some GPs are very good with this and if it means you get the right appointment all the better.

[LinMM]

I used a phone service to GP for the first time in January.

 

It was very good they rang when they said they would and it only took a brief discussion on this occasion for us to decide no appointment was required ( which I sort of knew anyway) and what medics to get. Much better than hanging around the surgery to be told the same thing!!

[alison]

My surgery abandoned telephone consultations about 18 months ago, which I thought was a really bad idea.  Thankfully, they appear to have reinstated them, because when I suddenly needed some medication re-prescribed which I hadn't used in a year or two they were able to talk the situation through with me and leave a prescription to be picked up.  There are so many things which really don't require the hassle of a GP appointment, but where you do actually need to speak to the GP.

[ParentTaxi]

Amos, your poor DD!

 

DD suffered regularly from migraine aged 10-11 - she had her first one at a dance festival and insisted on still taking her part in a large group dance despite acute visual disturbance (walls bulging in from her peripheral vision, narrowing what she can actually see to a very small area). I was afraid she'd fall off the stage.. The GP we saw was very emphatic that she should balance food, drink and exercise better, and we have found that really keeping an eye on regular meals and drinks made a difference.

 

She then had a long gap, but had another one recently and lost all sight on one side for a significant period, which was scary for all concerned.

[amos73]

PT that sounds very frightening. 

I can see we need to keep a close eye on her going forward.

 

Poor DD has recovered now, though still tired. Yesterday I was reading her some of the reviews of the performance on the performances seen forum on here and she was so disappointed to have not seen Francesca dance a single step (by all accounts her and Alexandra Campbell were simply breathtaking, fish dives like no other etc etc). We joked that next time we go to the ROH she should feign illness again and see if we can get upgraded to a box!

 

At the time when it happened I wasn't sure what was wrong with her, I thought she was coming down with a nasty bug very suddenly, plus DD is very good at playing down any physical pain or injury. She was in a lot of pain though, we ended up at one point locked in toilet cubicle while we waited for husband to come and collect us (no way we could have got train home) she insisted it was the only place she felt safe, with her curled up on floor with coats under her and head buried in them. Thankfully the ROH toilets are literally so clean you could eat your dinner off the tiled floor. 

[amos73]

ROH general loveliness update -

 

I emailed customer service to pass on our thanks to the staff there for being so kind and helpful last week and got an email back yesterday saying they would like to offer us tickets to another ballet as poor DD missed out! They are checking what is available as it is near the end of the season and will get back to me with options.

 

Seriously, how nice are they there??

[Aklf]

Agreed! I also had a health issue during a performance once and the staff were exceptional. Absolutely can't fault them, they really do go above and beyond to take care of their patrons. All the best and hope your dd is much better now Amos73.

[LinMM]

Wonderful news Amos73!!

Hope they offer you a box!!

 

The staff are also very good at Sadlers Wells but lovely to hear of these kindnesses

[sarahw]

Wow!!

[Fiz]

That's so nice to hear! I hope you get something really special.

[dramascientist]

So people still do care about each other, how lovely, it actually brought a tear to my eye!