I’m struggling!
Spent my 10 days isolation doing absolutely nothing. Feeling very fatigued. And up and down with my symptoms during that time. went back to work on Tuesday and had a 16 hour attack that evening that was one of the most painful I’ve had in a long while, no relief with triptans. Didn’t go to work on Wednesday back in on Thursday got a written warning as I’ve had five days off in 12 months 
struggled through Thursday Friday then Saturday another bout. I’m just still so fatigued and it triggers an attack.
Fed up.
I am not surprised you’re fatigued, both migraine and Covid does that so it’s probably a double whammy. You most certainly are a dogged soldier. Back to work so soon after developing Covid. Reading between the lines I doubt very much you have access to Occupational Health at work somehow but this is a job for them to sort out. Otherwise contact your own doctor and get a certificate for sick leave. Chronic migraine which persists over more than 6 months is classed as Disability in UK. You must surely be entitled to sick leave, and sick pay. Fuller info is out there on line. I think the Migraine Trust has more advice and actually offers an advocacy service or at least they did til quite recently. Check it out. Btw did you have to have test for all clear before returning? Helen
I didn’t have to have an all clear test. I returned back after the required isolation period. I suppose I’m so used to just dragging myself around the real world with my migraine that I just did what I always do and try to carry on through.
My immediate boss is sympathetic and spent most of my “return to work interview” apologising for having to give me the warning but had to as it’s HR company policy if you have more than 4 instances in a12 month period. He felt it was ridiculous as I’ve actually had less time off than many other staff members. In fact some of these instances I came in for half the day.
We do have occupational health - but there’s not really anything they can do that my neurologist / gp isn’t already doing.
1 Like
Could be the time is fast approaching for you to fully appreciate that there’s a huge difference between ordinary classic migraine and the chronic version. With the latter trying to just keep pushing on through can make people far far worse. OH need to become more aware of your current situation. It’s totally unfair for your company to be putting you under such pressure. The extra stress is probably as instrumental in producing migraine as the fatigue.
As I said chronic migraine is classified as a Disability under the Disabilities Acts. OH need to carry out a full assessment of the condition. This usually involves them bringing in a specialist in the condition who then writes a detailed report for your employer with recommendations of how they can best accommodate your medical requirements and their needs.
My assessment was carried out long prior to my MAV diagnosis whilst I was still living under the vertigo umbrella. It was subsequently agreed that I should be able to request to reduce my screen time as I felt necessary and others would be made available to cover if needed and that I would no longer have to maintain my ability to be mobile (able to drive some distances) between office sites which was part of my contract of employment. This agreement actually helped them as much as me because I was able to attend whilst recovering from what were still episodic attacks. Another poster on here quite recently found her report advised her employers that the condition can change not just daily but hourly so they need no longer query why she sometimes had to leave mid shift and also led to some financial arrangements for her travelling by taxi as public transport was a main trigger.
The problem is these things are all just tick box exercises. Chronic migraine is defined by 15 days of affected days in one month, and I don’t (quite) fall into that category. The last 30 days I had 13 migraine affected days. According to both my neurologist and OH my migraine will not be defined as chronic.
Our OH is carried out by an external company- they don’t ‘care’ they just get paid. They do some hearing tests, drug and alcohol tests and get drafted in for various Muscoskeletal problems and VDU issues then go away again.
1 Like
Indeed there are far too many tick box exercises practised in medical circles. I suffered misdiagnosis for 12 years as a result of one myself.
‘Only’ Thirteen, eh. Two short. Being rather pedantic there the lot of them. You have my sympathies. There you do have a problem. I suspect, as I am sure you have already realised, unless the MAV settles down pronto, unfortunately you will very soon ‘qualify’ and it’s a club few if any would rush to join.
Hi @flutters, I’m doing well all things considered. Thank you for asking! 
CoVid is definitely a tricky one with MAV, it really ramped up my dizziness, which is a real shame since it was so well controlled.
I now am 14 days post-diagnosis and went back to work today.
We had 6 people out with CoVid last week, so it went through my offices quickly.
I have some lingering intermittent congestion and a near-constant headache but otherwise feel good. @Jools, I’m so sorry you’ve struggled so much! If the recent absence from work was CoVid related, I would think there are laws to protect you from being reprimanded. There are here in the states. Hoping good things for you Jools!
Well done ladies for soldiering on. Although rest as much as you can. Covid sounds awful and worse to ramp up already annoying symptoms. Getting reprimanded for 5 days in 12 months… wow! They don’t give you much room to be sick do they! Wishing you both a speedy recovery x
2 Likes
In Australia, you get paid from the government to have your covid sick days off. Lucky no covid at all here anymore.
1 Like
You can guarantee that in parts of the UK such a policy would guarantee permanent COVID, forever! 
1 Like
Yep 4.5 days in 12months- kind of makes me think next time instead of the day I may as well take the rest of the week off and as for coming in half the day pfffft! I did that during Covid furlough times when we were working with minimal staff and I dragged myself in in the afternoon to make sure the planning had been done for the next day manufacturing. Should have just let them shut down the machines.
I have now had a formal letter of disciplinary - funnily enough I’ve had migraines every day since. My immediate boss has apologised to me more than once, he thinks this is wrong but has had to sign the disciplinary note as his hand has been forced by HR. (We got a new HR manager in January)
I have arranged a meeting on Monday. They will have to rescind the letter as I was never asked to sign the new terms and conditions instigated by the HR manager so therefore my terms and conditions were as I originally joined the company. I also want it to go on record that their way of dealing with this is likely to cause my condition to get worse as every time I start to get symptoms I am going to worry it will impact work (not). But we all know Stress exacerbates migraine.
I have printed out the log I keep for the neurologist which shows in the last year I have had 113 migraine days but only 4.5 days off. I’ve also withdrawn my goodwill. I was asked to help out and do some testing on Thursday which would have meant having to stay a bit later and I refused. It’s something I often do, to help out my work colleagues really! but I don’t get paid for extra hours as I’m salaried. If they are going to reprimand me for having half a day off then they can find someone else.
2 Likes
@dizzyZACH I think you would find @naejohn and @Jools reaction to COVID pretty typical. Any extra strain on a MAVers system from the common cold to hay fever is likely to cause any increase in symptoms. I only need a very slightly stuffy nose from hay fever to feel twice as off balance as usual. It’s a result of the hypersensitivity that comes with the condition unfortunately. Frustrating but there’s not much point worrying about it. It’s not going to affect your chances of catching illness or of subsequently recovering again. That too shall pass.
1 Like