Headache/Pressure - ugh

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Suze35
Suze35 Member Posts: 1,045
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

Just posting to get this off my chest and maybe get hopeful responses...



I've had a headache for 4+ days, and a feeling of pressure, like I'm wearing a rubber cap, but mostly in temples and across my forehead. It isn't really that painful, but enough to be noticeable. I'm not congested, and I've tried everything to get rid of it - Tylenol/caffeine, Sudafed, Oxycondon...no luck. I can't take ibuprofen as I'm having an upper endo in less than 2 weeks.



I'm calling my onc first thing tomorrow, but has anyone had this and NOT have brain mets? I had a clear PET scan when I was first diagnosed, but no brain MRI.



I appreciate any reassurance!

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  • mmm5
    mmm5 Member Posts: 1,470
    edited February 2011

    Suze-

    This could be so many things, my Son gets this very headache when he has sinus infections even without congestion. Do you have any sore muscles in your upper back or neck or eye strain all of these things can cause chronic headaches. 

    I will keep you in my prayers today and pray for it to be a simple benign explanation. 

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  • Suze35
    Suze35 Member Posts: 1,045
    edited February 2011

    mmm5 - thank you for the reassurance. I know Taxol has a reputation for sinus problems, and I just had my last dose Monday, so I'm hoping it's related. I finally said screw it and took ibuprofen and a Diet Coke, and I am seeing improvement. I can always move the upper endo to another day, but busting this headache is for my peace of mind! I'll keep you posted, but I am feeling better knowing the ibuprofen is helping when nothing else would.

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  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 25,634
    edited February 2011

    Suze.....Have you checked your Blood Pressure?

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  • Suze35
    Suze35 Member Posts: 1,045
    edited February 2011

    Seyla - I haven't, actually. I know my pulse is running high these days after chemo, in the 100-120 range. And my BP was high for me on Thursday, 118/85, which is when this started...I will have it checked tomorrow to see if that might be the case. Thanks!

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  • konakat
    konakat Member Posts: 6,085
    edited February 2011

    Both times I complained to my onc about headaches she did a brain MRI and it was clear.  My brain mets was found "by accident".  I had no symptoms and it was found during a scan for a clinical trial.

    Mention your headahces to your onc and get a scan to put your mind at ease. More often than not it's just a darn headache.  Good luck,

    Elizabeth

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  • mrsnjband
    mrsnjband Member Posts: 1,409
    edited February 2011

    Suze,

    I understand how you feel.  I was feeling the sam pressure.  I was having headaches everyday & I was having motion sickness.  So I use a scopolamine patch that is used for motion sickness.  It really seems to help me alot.  If I forget to change the patch, I would start feeling the pressure again.  It's worth a try.     Sending love & prayers,  NJ

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  • Suze35
    Suze35 Member Posts: 1,045
    edited February 2011

    Thank you Elizabeth and Norma! The headache is pretty much gone, but I'm still having "tightness" around my head, though not quite as bad. Of course, my onc is closed today for the holiday. I'm supposed to go to NYC tonight for the week - celebrating my end of chemo - so I think I'll go and if need be, can get to an ER.



    Norma - I've used the patch in the past, but after a few days, I really feel the side effects. Maybe I'll try it for a day and see if that eases the tightness.



    Elizabeth - doesn't it just suck that we can never just have a headache? I hate this. But thank you for sharing your experience. I'm sure I'll get a scan next week if this continues.

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  • Iamstronger
    Iamstronger Member Posts: 378
    edited February 2011

    Suze-This sounds like what i have been experiencing.  I had TCH+Avastin (Avastin was for a study) on round 5 of 6, I started to get this funny pressure on one temple.  Within a couple of months, both sides had this weird pressure and sometimes on my forehead.  Not really painful, but just a feeling of pressure.  It comes and goes.  Some days I have it like 10 times a day, and maybe other days none or just one or two.  It has been going on since May.  My onc wasn't worried about it and she told me to go to my primary.  In Dec I went to my primary and she ordered a Brain MRI.  MRI came back totally normal.  I was so relieved that it came back normal!!  So, I have decided to just wait and see what happens.  It isn't painful, just more annoying than anything else.

    V

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  • SAMayoFL
    SAMayoFL Member Posts: 958
    edited February 2011

    I am so glad I found you ladies.  For the last week I have had this same pressure headache and have been running a low grade fever on and off.  When I take a deep breath, I almost feel as though I have pneumonia, although I know I don't since there is no deep chest congestion.  My last complaint is that I have pain in my ribs on the side of the tumor. 

    This is the first time since starting chemo that I have really felt bad in a way that was not obviously related to a SE of chemo.  I desperately needed to hear you all say that we can get a headache or a fever and it NOT be because this dang cancer has spread.

    Susan

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  • Suze35
    Suze35 Member Posts: 1,045
    edited February 2011

    Vmarie - thank you for sharing your experience. It helps so much to hear other people with similar issues and a good outcome.



    SAMayoFL - it is scary how we can't even see a simple headache the same way again, isn't it?



    Both the pain and pressure have eased off a bit, but it is still there. One minute I'm convinced it is sinuses due to just finishing Taxol, the other minute I'm sure it is brain mets. I woke up at 5:00 this am with a headache, but it was gone by 8:00, no drugs. I will give it a full week, then call my onc. I'm sure she'll check for sinus issues and order an MRI, so I will know next week what's up either way.



    Thank you guys - it is good to have a place to vent my fears, my DH just keeps saying it's sinus or stress. He doesn't want to think of the alternative.

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  • Suze35
    Suze35 Member Posts: 1,045
    edited March 2011

    I just wanted to update that sometimes, all these crazy symptoms are just that...my MRI was clear for brain mets, yay! I'm still having some dizziness, a little pressure, and just feeling off, but my onc thinks it is related to anemia and stress. Stress? Whereever would I get THAT from, lol?

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  • americanpinay
    americanpinay Member Posts: 338
    edited March 2011

    Congrats Suze! I also had a brain MRI while on Taxol due to terrible headaches. The onc nurse said that the headaches could have come from bone pain in the skull caused by Taxol but ordered the brain MRI anyway to rule out mets. Take care.

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