migraines and mood problems during radiation

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cfdr
cfdr Member Posts: 549
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

I am about halfway through radiation. Tonight will be my 17th treatment. I've had virtually no skin problems, just a little pink, and have not had any issues with fatigue.

I have a history of migraine dating back 40 years. My migraines became much less severe after menopause. But in the last couple of weeks, I've been waking up with headaches almost every day! Or sometimes in the middle of the night. Sometimes they come on mid-day. Most are mild but a few have been bad.

I'm also having mood issues, but not constant. I'll be fine one day, and the next be so depressed I can't function. Unable to focus, feeling overwhelmed, and can't think of anything that sounds like it would be fun or pleasurable to do. Also feeling a constant low level of anxiety...I'll be mentally relaxed, reading a book, but suddenly realize that I'm clenching my teeth for no good reason.

I'm doing yoga, walking, eating well. I've meditated for years, and continue to try to do so but it has become difficult, too.

My breast cancer diagnosis came a month after 6 very stressful months where I was the caregiver for my dying mother. Also, just before radiation, I had a severe allergic reaction to pool chemicals, and ended up on 12 days of prednisone, and had awful anxiety side effects from that--insomnia, irritability, hair-trigger temper, crying jags, and an appetite like a teenage boy. In the middle of the prednisone taper, I found out that my Oncotype DX indicated the need for chemo, which had not been part of the plan up until then.

I had about a week or so where I was feeling mildly anxious, but not depressed...in fact I felt more energy than I've had all year. Then the headaches started, and the depression following them. Ironically, I have no fatigue, and my treatments are in the evening, so you'd think I could be working full time...but I can barely focus and function to work a few hours a day.

I'm talking to my onc team about antidepressants, and also about migraine management during chemo. But I'm wondering if anyone else had either migraine or mood side effects during radiation. My husband's theory is that the fatigue is not manifesting itself physically but mentally. 

I also have mild sleep apnea--not enough for them to prescribe a CPAP machine--but I'm wondering if that has worsened, as that can cause both migraine and depression symptoms. If anyone has sleep apnea, I'd be interested in knowing if radiation affected that at all.

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  • Elizabeth1889
    Elizabeth1889 Member Posts: 1,036
    edited August 2011

    cfdr:  Wow, my heart goes out to you.  You certainly have had more than your share of problems lately and that is putting it mildly.  The loss of a parent and a cancer diagnosis are two of life's most stressful events and you have had both in less than a year.

    I have not had migraines since menopause so I do not have any advice for those except to continue to consult your onc team.  I definitely have experience with mood problems since beginning rads.  Sometimes, I just do not know what is wrong with me.  My nickname where I volunteer is "Sunshine," but lately I have been anything but sunny.  I feel like crying much of the time and I have lots of trouble sleeping.  Also, I snap at people at the drop of a hat for little reason.  I have been taking celexa for about three years and my PCP has added ativan to the mix.  I take it before bedtime and it helps a lot.  Maybe one of your doctors would prescribe that for you.  Also, I started seeing a therapist and if nothing else, it helps to vent for an hour.  I believe I will feel better emotionally when rads are done and I hope the same happens for you.

    This forum is wonderful.  Write as often as you want.  We are always here with cyberhugs for you. 

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  • cycle-path
    cycle-path Member Posts: 1,502
    edited August 2011

    "My husband's theory is that the fatigue is not manifesting itself physically but mentally."

    While I was reading your post, this was exactly the thought I had. I think fatigue can certainly cause migraines. My sense (only a sense) is that you could be supressing the fatigue, which might use up a lot of mental energy and bring about depression.

    And there's that old saying about how depression is only anger without enthusiasm (which I think is supposed to be funny but it's partly true). I'm not saying you're actually angry, but that depression can be, as your husband points out, a manifestation of two other things. 

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  • Hermione57
    Hermione57 Member Posts: 1
    edited August 2011

    Hi CFDR,

    I'm sorry to hear that you are suffering with this while you are also grieving for your mother. What a challenging year for you! I wish you well and hope my experience helps in some way. It has helped me to hear your experience.

    I just finished my fourth week of radiation treatments and I have many of the symptoms you describe. I had a mild headache for the first couple of weeks of treatment, but that has now subsided. My doctor didn't think it was from the treatment, but I'm not a person who has had headaches in the past, so I'm suspicious. Like you, I am struggling with my mood. The hardest part is that I feel very easily overwhelmed. This is new for me, I usually feel comfortable juggling several things at once. I also have waves of depression, feelings of "shakiness", and find it hard to concentrate. I get weepy at odd moments. These feelings are intermittent, but seem to be happening more often as I work through my treatments. I fall asleep easily but wake up often with vivid dreams and general anxiety. I am also feeling almost constant low level fatigue.  I'm glad that you don't have that to deal with. It makes me feel like I am slogging through my days.

    I consider myself generally a strong, healthy, and fairly emotionally balanced person. I got through my diagnosis and lumpectomy with relative ease, but this radiation therapy has been harder than I anticipated because of the mood and energy issues. A woman who had been through this last year told me that she wanted to move to a desert island until it was over. That sounds good to me! Now, where did I leave my paddle? ;)

    Best wishes on your healing journey.

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