radiation headaches, anyone?

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karenn
karenn Member Posts: 35
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After
radiation headaches, anyone?
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  • karenn
    karenn Member Posts: 35
    edited August 2009

    hi everyone!  Hope you're all well!

    I am on my 20th treatment of 33 and experiencing daily non-stop headaches.  Nothing excruciating, just irritating and annoying. Anyone else have such?

    Wishing you all peace and great health!

    ~Kat

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  • NanaA
    NanaA Member Posts: 293
    edited August 2009

    Not having them with rads, but it has happened to me twice.  Both times when I took new meds.  It took about 2 weeks of taking the meds for the headaches to start and they did not stop for about a month after I stopped the meds.  It turns out it was the binder they used on the pills I was having a reaction to, and it took that long before I had enough for the reaction.  I now try to get meds I am going to take for a long period of time like my prilosec in capsules for instead of pills or caplets.  My generic prilosec comes in a capsule and when time for doc to write a new scrip we just make sure it is for same thing.  Have you been taking any new meds in the not to distant past.  Just a possibility.  Annette

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  • karenn
    karenn Member Posts: 35
    edited August 2009

    HI.  Thanks for your reply.  No, no meds.  Perhaps either stress headaches or from the uncomfortable neck position during rads which could be exacerbating an previous whip-lash injury.  Unfortunetely,  a brain MRI has been ordered for Tuesday, which I am petrified to undergo due to severe claustrophobia.  Enough torture already!  I am thinking that maybe after radiation is complete in 13 days the headaches might resolve on their own.  Hope things are going well with you.  Thanks again for your reply!  

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  • nas14
    nas14 Member Posts: 68
    edited August 2009

    I just started radiation treatments on Wed., & about 2 hours after the first treatment started getting a headache. With each treatment, the headache has gotten a little worse. It's not severe & mainly just above the bridge of my nose & at the base of my head--just enough to be quite annoying & with nausea. So far I've just been treating it with Tylenol & putting microwaved herb packs on it. I don't get headaches very often so this is irritating. Sure hope this doesn't last through the whole 6 weeks of treatment!!!

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited August 2009

    I was told to drink at least 2 liters of water a day while on rads. Could mild dehydration be causing headaches for you?

    Might as well try the water - at least it has no SE's!

    Leah

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  • nas14
    nas14 Member Posts: 68
    edited August 2009

    Thanks for the suggestion! I drink lots of water anyway, but it wouldn't hurt to push for more.

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  • LoriL
    LoriL Member Posts: 185
    edited August 2009

    I have a history of headaches/migraines, but had not had one for the past 2 years. About 2- 3 weeks into radiation, I had a 10 day stint of a constant lowgrade migraine. Then they went away and came back the week after I finished radiation. Again, lasted about 10 days. My Radiation Oncologist said it could have been from stress, but I honestly didn't feel stressed!  My theory is that there is a TON of natural chemicals released into our systems when there is so much tissue damage from radiation. Our body goes into "overtime" trying to heal the damage and it wouldn't surprise me if it triggered headaches. Best wishes!

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  • ggandara
    ggandara Member Posts: 2
    edited April 2013

    Hi Karen, i hope you are doing well. I just finished radiation 28 rounds one a half weeks ago, I have some strange headache, not much pain but some electric shock needle pains on top of head and side of forehead active. Rad doctors say there is no head ache side effects, but i attribute the head ache to the stress or fatigue from rad. How were your headaches?

    gabriela 

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