Headaches while on the machine

[sassy]

I am temporarily on HEMO for 6-8 weeks.  (Previously on PD).  I have been going for 4 weeks now and 2 out of the last 5 treatments, I have gotten a headache before the end. I was able to drive home, but then as soon as I got home, the puking started and I was very tired the rest of the evening.  Just wondering if this is just part of the HEMO..........and is there something you can take, or they can give you while on the machine to prevent the headaches?.  I have tried taking tylenol (doesn't work very well for me).Tried Advil too, but that didn't work either.  Does anyone know what might cause them or any suggestions? I told the tech I was getting a headache and he pretty much just said "yeah that happens to some patients sometimes - want some tylenol". 

[MyssAnne]

I took tylenol before getting on, that helped somewhat. Just make sure you have a bottle of water with you
when you go in. I had to do a temporary hemo in center and I ended up taking water in a tote bag. Nobody said anything to me about it.

I did the puking up too. I was eating mostly crackers during those two weeks. That's about all I could handle.

[silverhead]

Believe it or not, for Sharon we found out accidentally that a cup of coffee wipes out the headache right away, when she was in-center she was almost constantly having the end of treatment headache, one time she mentioned that she had a desire for coffee when these came on (we normally have just 1 cup each in the morning), so I started making 3 cups in the morning, then before I left to go get her, I heated it in the microwave and put it in a travel cup, I usually arrived about 30 minutes before she was done, and about the time the headaches came on, it did the job almost instantly for her, we figure the little shot of caffeine must have some affect on the blood vessels. Now that we are on the NxStage at home and she does not experience them like that anymore, but she likes to have a cup after the treatment just the same......
Tom

[okarol]

In Jenna's case, the headaches and nausea were directly related to how much fluid they took off. Discuss your dry weight with the nurse to be sure that it is realistic for you. Since Jenna was still urinating she didn't need to take off as much fluid as the average, and the percentage on the machine had to be manually over-ridden to change the default setting. The techs would fight it every time, but the charge nurse would agree to try it and it helped immensely.

[Lori1851]

Hello All,
Dustin still gets migranes after dialysis. His Dr wrote him a script for some pain med. Tylenol did nothing for him. I think its Phenergan it helps his head and the pukes he gets with it. And he is also on hemo. He also takes his Clonidine and Tpoamax before treatment. One is a bp the other is for the migrane.
Lori/Indiana

[CW]

When I first started I would have terrible headaches and extreme sensitivity to light so bad I found myself in the hospital being evaluated for a stroke. I cannot say this is normal I agree with okarol I think you might need to determine of there is too much fluid being removed. Does your BP drop dramatically near the end of treatment, are you cramping a lot etc. These would be a couple of signs too much fluid is being removed. Also I see you say you tried taking advil to my understanding ibuprofen (advil, motrin etc.) is bad for kidneys. This may be something to discuss with your doc/nurse.

Good luck

[stauffenberg]

When I began dialysis and still had completely normal urinary output, I got headaches at the end of dialysis.  My nephrologist said this was because the amount of fluid withdrawn from my body for the treatment process itself was causing me too go below my dry weight, so the headaches were due to dehydration.  He was able to stop the headaches by eliminating the sodium infusion for the last half hour of dialysis.

[Jill D.]

When I was doing dialysis, I would get killer, pounding headaches at the end too. One of the nurses that was my favorite (and has been a dialysis nurse for 20-some years) told me that sometimes it helped to "run cold", meaning they would lower the temp of the machine. It did help, but was very uncomfortable because instead of just getting cold, I would get cold from the inside out. No matter how many blankets I would pile on, it was impossible to stay warm. I don't think this would be a good idea for everyone.
Wish I had known about the coffee trick!

[angellady07]

I have headaces during and after my hemo sessions. Nausea was a problem in the beginning, not so much now. Sassy, I hope your treatments get easier and you are back on PD soon. 

[Joe Paul]

I cannot offer advice, just a hug & hope that your time on hemo goes fast, and you can get back to PD again