Hi all, I've been suffering with CH for a good while now. the neurologist says it's chronic with migraine. I get usually between 6 and 12 headaches a day, sometimes more. There's been so many times I felt like jumping into the river, or taking a bath with the microwave. I've been keeping a diary since I was diagnosed, it's so upsetting to read back through them. They're muddled, some days I haven't written a thing and other days there's just lines dug into the page.

I've been signed off work for months and I'm on Illness Benefit. I've got an appointment with a Medical Assessor so the Social Welfare can judge to see if I'm fit for work, and if that's what they decide, I'll be taken off benefits. The Medical Assessor is someone who's sole purpose in life is to save the state money. I completely HATE being dependant on Social Welfare but I'm unable to hold down a job and I occasionally like to spend money on silly things like food and rent.

I guess I'm just looking for some advice. What's the best way to convey the impact CH has on someones life. Should I just give them the diaries and the report from the neurologist or should I tell them how there are times where I want to take an angle grinder to the side of my head. Any advice would be brilliant.

Thanks guys.

Make a copy of the diaries and have your neurologist draft a report of your condition. The angle grinder angle sounds a bit too drama queen, even though all of us know what you're talking about.

Also, try giving them a copy of this:

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Good luck, and let us know how you're getting on.

I wish I had better advice but I think Brew has it just about right. My suggestion is to do everything you can to explain that this in definitely not a migraine. No one sits still for this horror. The last thing in the world a clusterhead can do is to "take it easy" as a solution.
This is a whole new level of pain and agony.

Good luck.

Charlie

You might also show them the Youtube clip of Chuck getting hit:

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...if there's internet access during your interview.

Thanks very much for the advice lads, everything worked out great. Surprisingly enough the assessor's first comment was that he sympathised. He understood completely. He's not allowed to give any advice but after he read a couple of entries in my diaries he started telling me how I should be careful as I could end up with Chronic Pain Syndrome. He advised me to contact the Migraine Association who may be able to get me an appointment with a neuroligist I can afford. I'm just so thrilled it worked out.

So thanks again lads.

Dx

Glad to hear it's working out for you. Have you touched base with OUCH UK yet? They may have "site specific" advice for you. Good luck on the journey!

joe