Ok, I'm back yet again! Haven't had much time to post or read posts lately. Rusty finished radiation to nasopharynx around Christmas. Felt very good following that and continued to work until weekend before last. Two areas from neck dissection haven't healed and were worsening steadily. Returned to ENT and he said, "more cancer" -- did a biopsy (and we spent two miserable nights) and found it was just the break down of the wound like I had thought. Another prayer answered! However, since then, Rusty has had severe, debilitating headaches. Cannot seem to function each day and they are only worsening. Saw radiologist last Thursday and he says is probably mucous (sp?) from radiation to nasopharynx plus tension on head from other muscles compensating to hold his head up since neck dissection. Gave him muscle relaxers to help. They have done nothing and he has now resorted back to the duragesic patch. This, however, nauseates him terribly so he swaps back and forth -- either throw up or have a headache. Have another appt with ENT today and we'll see what progress can be made. Has anyone experienced this and, if so, any suggestions? We're at ours wits end: no sleep for almost 2 weeks, nausea, you all know the story. If no direct help today, I want to move to another opinion, yet again. Rusty has had a full year of misery with only a couple of weeks respite and certainly deserves some relief! Radiologist says no exercises, etc until neck has had a chance to heal from both dissection and radiation. Any advice/info would be greatly appreciated!
Mark: I look at your "biography" and know it's possible to beat this! You're almost 4 years out and still kicking! Please post some advice as you've certainly been there and have probably experienced some of the same issues.
Thanks all and I'll check back tomorrow. Millie

Millie,

Have you tried an NSAIDs? Any narcotic type pain relief for headaches will usually make it worse, assuming the headache is from tension or muscle issues. Anti-inflamatories usually help more. Bextra is great if you haven't tried it.

With the patch or any narcotic type pain medication, anti-nausea medicine should be taken with it. One of the key benefits of the patch is that once the body adjusts to it, much of the nausea and higher dose specific headaches you get with short acting meds do not occur with the patch. Alternating with the patch and without will usually make it less effective in terms of loopiness, nausea, etc.

Ed

Millie
Ask the Docs about amtripaline sp? an older antideppressant with an unusal side effect of relieving headaches, my Mom takes them, no oral caner but they work for her.
Sunshine.. love and hugs
Helen