Bad headache and mouth sores

[sharon1014]

First chemo 10 days ago. Bad headache last 4 days. Taking Advil and drinking a ton of water. Will headache go away. Also mouth sores on tongue.

[BklynCatwoman]

So sorry you're going through this. I had terrible dry mouth that sometimes led to sores during chemo. It felt (and tasted!) like my mouth had ashes in it! I would get a yeast infection in the mouth after every infusion. My oncologist would give me antibiotics, which worked, but it would come back with the next infusion. Definitely tell your oncologist. He will be able to give you something for the sores and hopefully for the headaches. I hope you get some kind of relief as your body gets used to chemo.

[macor]

After my first chemo I had a bad headache also and they said it was probably from taking the steroid drugs they gave me. It did last for a few days and then went away. Thankfully I never had any mouth sores but was told to use a mouth rinse of 8 oz of warm water and a teaspoon of baking soda to rinse with if I did. Hope you feel better soon.

[IGotSunshine]

Hi Sharon, Exercise (yoga and walking) helped me with chemo side effects. I was told activity, as well as fluids, help move the toxic stuff out of your system, and it seemed to work for me. I still had a pretty bad time on the third or fourth day after chemo, but there was some comfort in knowing I was going through the worst part and would soon feel better. I was given a popsicle or ice to suck on during chemo to protect my mouth. Also I was told to rinse my mouth with warm salt water several times a day in the aftermath of chemo, and that seemed to help with the mouth sores, though neither the ice pops nor the warm rinses prevented them. But maybe they would have been worse otherwise. And of course, as BklynCatwoman suggests, let your oncologist know what you're experiencing, so that he or she can offer better drugs or advice on dealing with side effects. Chemo nurses are also great resources. Hope your next treatment goes smoothly!