How do you make it through work?

Taking annual leave is a great idea - unfortunately it isnt possible for me - unless I take unpaid leave which we cannot afford.

This is the price to pay when you are decide to live in a foreign country - all your annual leave is gone by going 'home' to stay with family and see friends. this is something I do on my own with our daughter so vacation/holiday is the last tags I would put on it!!! I had a fantastic 9 day holiday in January and only had 1 migraine!!!!!!!!

I am not sure an answer would necessarily be being signed off for a week or two as I might just get a taste for what my life could be like migraine/pain wise... probably better off just muddling through and see what happens...

Enjoy lunch with your mother!!!! I miss mine every day - so much!!

My work is quite understanding of it but I must say I dont think I am that productive on some days because I so tired/headachey but I seem to get through it. I often wonder what it would be like to be someone that just goes to work and doesn't have to deal with the whole headache/painkiller thing.

Sadly I cannot afford to work part time or leave my job because we need the money from my job. This may not always be the case and I feel as though my only hope is to look forward to that time. It is sad to wish your life away but that is how it feels.

Ah, so many issues are caused by migraines! Either they make you so ill you can't work or make you unproductive at work

On an upside, just saw a lady this morning who gets HM related to her hormone levels, we started treatment for her 2 months ago and she's now pain free and all of her symptoms have resolved. I just love it when we get results like that!

Gosh you guys are lucky - Which doesn't sound right does it... We have no employment laws In Jersey Channel Islands.
My employers can get rid of me anytime they want, no rules over here. The handbook says that we are supposed to be in an Insurance Scheme that pays out 75% of your salary if you are unable to work. However you have to be off 40 days consecutively before it kicks in. My employers told me that if I am off for 40 days consecutively then they are just going to get rid of me and there is now law against that. Great. That's a rock and a hard place!.

Good morning ladies and gents

The Migraine Trust have just set up an advocate system which includes help on employment rights - so if you get stuck do give them a call xxx

http://www.migrainetrust.org/advocacy

Hi as an Intensive Care Charge nurse I have battled with chronic migraine for years. luckily the people that i work with are generally very understanding many also have the same complaint but less frequent.. I have had to lie down on occasions often in the shower for peace and quiet when the pain is unbearable.
Once the cleaner Sue was very startled to see me and raised the alarm thinking i had collapsed. Luckily the NHS are very generous with sick time!!! however I have had very little time off and get back to work as soon as i feel able with the help of Migard the tryptan i take at the moment.Luckily my general health and energy is very good so i have been able to hold down this job effectively. I would like to try botox but my GP cannot get anyone to do this apparently. i think the funding is still being sorted out. This is a bit of a ramble as i had a bad migraine this morning. Kind regards Steve

How do I make it through work? I don't

I was fine when I used to just get an occasional migraine because they usually occurred in the evening or at weekends so I was ok to work during the day.

Since they became chronic, it's become increasingly difficult to work. The migraines now tend to start early in the morning and can last up to 4 or 5 days at a time. I only get about 10 migraine-free days each month and still have head, neck and shoulder pain on these days. I'm self-employed and have found that driving is the main trigger for my migraines. I've reduced my work down to about 5 hours a month, spread out over the whole month with lots of time in between for recovery. I've turned down any work which involves long distances.

It probably isn't worth me doing any work but I spent 3 years building up my own business and hope I can keep it ticking over until they find a way to resolve these migraines.

I had to give up full time employment about 13 years ago due to my migraines. I was a support specialist for a large computer company, often needing to drive up to 6 hours a day and being on call 24/7. So there was no way I could continue.

I then did part-time unskilled work until about 4 years ago when the number of times I got lost on the 20 minute drive from work to home became a concern to the family.

I do not qualify for any disability or sickness benefits as my wife is able to work part time. Being the "home-maker" while my wife works has some benefits (time to smell the roses etc.), but overall I would much prefer to be able to work. And we do miss our former income.

When I went back to work 5 years ago after a 18 month chronic migraine that prevented me from working at all, I started off part time. I was really worried I wouldn't be able to hold the job down but after 6 months was offered full-time work. I was so worried I was going to end up back at square one as I was still getting migraines 1 or 2 weeks apart. I have to have the brightness and contrast turned down on my computer and TV screens and find LCD much less likely to trigger my migraines (luckily I have had these in both of my recent jobs). Also, flourescent lighting is often a trigger so I usually have these turned off. People who work with me think I'm some kind of cave dweller!

Me too. One of my supervisors walked in one day and said "I've heard of man caves. Guess this is a woman cave!"

That's funny! Glad it's not just me! You know I actually forget how long my chronic migraines go on for. That one went on for 3 years, i was 18 months that I was unable to work for and 18 months of battling with my employer! Shows you how it messes your head up. Still the worry is always there that I'm heading for another chronic episode. I've almost made it through a 3-year contract but am getting migraines 1or 2 weeks apart with auras in between. I 'm really trying to manage my stress levels at work and am lucky to have a really supportive team. Still haven't let me line manager know about the HM migraines though, but may do so just before I leave...

Sounds like a plan!! I have informed my employers regarding recent events and kept them up to date with appointments. Goodness knows!!