Dehydration headaches

Published

Specializes in Cancer research/ Orthopedics/ Surgery.

Does anybody else get these during or after a shift? I just started in rehab and I wasn't able to hydrate as often as I'm used to; I had a splitting headache all day. It felt like a cluster headache, mainly concentrated on the left side of my head, behind my left eye. It's finally gone, after 12 hours! My plan for tomorrow is to take a big jug of water and try to hydrate more often. Unfortunately I know it's going to have me running for potty breaks all day.

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Specializes in Surgery, Tele, OB, Peds,ED-True Float RN.

Yep, I was like this too. Also ended up with Pyelonephritis. The doc told me it was my own fault, he laughed and said that nurses do this to themselves by not drinking and not peeing for 12 hours. He was right too, I was lucky to pee once for a 12 hours shift. He said that I would quickly have an "old lady's bladder" if I didn't smarten up! I'm trying, but I'm still not very compliant! Everytime I get the urge to pee I'm be busy with a pt and put it off.... :nono:

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I get headaches alot by the end of my shift too. Its hard to stay hydrated when you are not allowed to have any drinks at the nurse's station but its too busy to get to the break room for a drink.

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Specializes in ER.

Yes I do notice this. I try to drink during the shift but sometimes its so hard. I try to drink a little extra before and after my shifts to make up for it. I stick with water, tea, or crystal light. It seems to help.

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Specializes in LTC.

I got one of these the other night. By the time I came home I was almost throwing up.

If I didn't think everyone would make fun of me mercilessly for it, I'd get myself one of those Camel-Paks (or whatever they're called) and bring it to work with me every day!

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

Try to avoid anything with caffeine in it, when you do get a chance to drink something, since caffeine dehydrates you even more. I've heard you should drink something non-caffeinated every time you drink something caffeinated on a 1:1 basis, so you can replace what the caffeine removes. I know it's tempting to drink caffeine, because we all like it, it's in the vending machines, to stay awake, and get rid of the lack-of-caffeine headache, but it isn't always the best thing.

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Specializes in Cancer research/ Orthopedics/ Surgery.

I'm winding down my from 8 hour shift today and I'm glad to report no headache today! I took a BIG jug of water (it's 2.2L) and kept it in the break room fridge. I slipped in there at least every hour and chugged! It was gone by the end and I'm so happy I was able to escape feeling so awful! Apparently my plan worked.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

I get wicked headaches after my 12 hour shifts. I alternate days and nights; they're much worse after my day shifts than the nights. Even when I make a point of guzzling water at the beginning and end, on each of my breaks and for hours after I get home, I still have a chorus of blacksmiths banging out the Halleluia Chorus in my head. Often it hangs around until mid afternoon of the next day. And I have symptomatic crystalluria... It's lovely.

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