Need YOUR Advice...NOW...PLEASE READ and POST - Headaches & Migraines Message Board

mollymadison · 07-07-2006, 10:50 PM

Hi! I am a 32 y/o female that has suffered with migraines since age 13. Now they are so severe and dibilitating that I have lost one job and on my way to losing another job from missing so much work from the migraines. Luckily I will have FMLA on my side this time! So legally they can not have my job! But to describe my migraines...They are on the Right side with sharp, stabbing, shooting pains behind the right eye lasting 30-45secs to 1 minute in durartion with a dull achy feeling on all the right side of the head. I could literally take out the whole right side out! Just pick it up and take it out! It's that localized! THIS migraine has lasted 12 days straight with SEVERE nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and pain ranging from a 6 to a 9! I also feel very out of sorts and have trouble concentrating and just do not feel myself. This is VERY depressing as I thought the migraines were under control with my new regimen of taking methadone 2 times per day instead of hydrocodone. The methodone was working really well until BAM!!! a migraine!!! and it has stuck every since 2 sundays ago! I actually went 3 months NO ER visits and 1 month no migraine. Little HA's yes but they were rid of with Tylenol which was very acceptable for me!

Now work is threatening my job when I have strict dr.'s orders for the past two days to be off and rest in total darkness and take phenergan every 6hrs for the next 48 hrs religously to help get the nausea under control. I DO have a DR's note from my pain specialist and my family practioner! All my other abcences can probably be correllated with dr visits or around them or procedures for the migraines (botox injections, nerve blocks, facet injections , (all failures and all had complications). I was reprimanded last week regarding my attendance last week for missing due to the same migraine. BEFORE THAT I had not missed in probably six weeks or more. Well since April except for planned vacation. My supervisor also stated that people were complaining about me looking "doped up or drugged" and asked if I was taking any pain meds at work? I replied NO! that I was not taking anything at work and I'm honestly not! That's just the way I look! So I take that as people think I look "stupid" and how am I supposed to act around my fellow co-workers NOW! Especially if they think I look doped and drugged out?! For the very first time I actually felt like I was going to break down and cry in front of a supervisor. I DIDN"T THOUGH! I didn't say anything! Couldn't! Then my sup said I was "off my game" when the very previous week she was praising me telling me - her exact words (NOT MINE)- "if you keep innovating your job like you are doing, we might just promote your job level to the next grade level which would mean more $$". So my question is this, how can i go from that to I"m not on my game???!!! in a matter of days just because I missed a few days. 2 to be exact for last week when this took place.

So what I need from you is how to go about this...has anyone else out there had this kind of problem with their employer or something similar. If so, can you give me some kinda plan of attack before I go in on Monday. I'm scared to death but, I want to stick up for myself as I want to keep my job that is rightfully mine. I am not just playing hookie here!! I need some help guys and gals.... HELP!!!!

Molly

Mz Migraine · 07-08-2006, 09:58 PM

You will need to be up front with your supervisor and/or director of your company about your migraines, informing them that you are under medication for same.

If the medications are interfering w/your job performance, you will need to inform your treating physician(s) to see if you can try some other type migraine medication(s).
There are migraine meds that come in "spray" form which has no "dopy" side effects. There are also migraine meds that control the nausea & vomiting.

Are you seeing a Neurologist that specializes in migraines/headaches?

If worse comes to worse, you may need to go out on temporary, permenant disability and/or Social Security Disability.

mollymadison · 07-09-2006, 01:26 PM

Mz.
I am under care of a Neurologist that specializes in Migraines since January and she is following my care closely as well. She is the one who sent me to the pain specialist. We have tried everything including the nasal sprays. The things is, is that I'm allergic to all Imitrex family of drugs and the migranal sprays do not effect me in any way. I do not know of any other sprays. But we have tried MANY. The pain specialist says we are at the end of treatment possilbilities. The methadone is really working for me except for this last migraine and it really does not give me a "dopey" feeling and my husband does not notice a "dopey" look to me nor does anyone else close to me. I have EVEN come off some of my other meds such as Klonopin which is an anti-anxiety medicine to help with the sedation of the methadone. It has helped tremendously! I have been really proud of myself-for the first time in many, many years, I have NOT been on any pain meds or sedatives. I have only been on the methadone and a very small dose at that. Only 5 mg in the am and 5 mg in the pm. Very small dose. My pain specialist is VERY conservative.

As far as work goes, I HAVE been very upfront with them. I have not told them my treatment plan as far as meds go because quite honestly I'm embarassed about saying I'm on Methadone. Because of the stigma that goes along with that. But, they do know that I am seeing a special neurologist and pain specialist and they know about all the injections (botox, facet, and nerve blocks). They have all been very supportive up to this point. I realize they have to run a business and the buck stops at me being that I am the assistant! I understand where they are coming from as a business, I really do. But, I don't think they have to be so sarcastic and crass about it.

I received an email from my director on Friday that said and I quote directly "please do not come to me and apologize as this will not excuse it and will only serve to further frustrate me." Why would I apologize for something that I can not help???!!! I AM SORRY!! BUT I CANNOT HELP IT!! I honestly tried to go to work on Thursday but I was so sick I could not even move...literally. Then Friday, I have, not one but 2 doctors notes.

As my husband said, I am going to continue to do what I do best and that is to do my job and to over exceed expectations as I always do so they can not get me on performance. That's all I can do and work on my attendance and work on getting better. In the meantime, I am going to work on getting better, physically, emotionally, and mentally. I am also going to seek out intermitten FMLA so that my job will be protected LEGALLY!

Thank you for your advice and please keep posting as I look everday, every hour for posts because I am so anxious about this situation. I just do not know what to do except what I am already doing.

Thanks,
Molly

Mz Migraine · 07-09-2006, 03:15 PM

Quote:

I received an email from my director on Friday that said and I quote directly "please do not come to me and apologize as this will not excuse it and will only serve to further frustrate me."

Quote:

I'm allergic to all Imitrex family of drugs and the migranal sprays do not effect me in any way. I do not know of any other sprays. But we have tried MANY.

Have you tried Zomig Nasal Spray?

mollymadison · 07-09-2006, 07:10 PM

I have not tried the Zomig nasal spray but have tried Zomig tablets and am allergic to it as well. It is in the same family as Imitrex (triptan family). Thanks though!

I KNOW!! re: the director's comments!!! I don't even know how to respond!! My husband has been trying to coach me all day today so that I am prepared to speak confidently and firm without being sarcastic and over-board. Especially this being the first time I've ever really stuck up for myself in a work setting. I REALLY hate confrontation. He just feels that I shouldn't feel bad about missing since I am really sick and not just missing to play hookie.

Thanks Mz Migraine! Keep posting...I am looking out for posts!

Molly