Hey guys,

Was wondering......when it comes to having to work a 9-5 job....what is your tolerance level as far as working goes?......How many headaches per day can you tolerate before you have to go on "sick-leave"?

I guess i'm asking how much is too much for you, before you have to stop working :P

I had to go on sick leave when I was having 4-5 HA's a day.....and they were all around the K6 or above level....
so.....  :P

Hey Lawrence,

I get whacked occasionally while at work and keep an e-tank under my desk.  I kill the hit and keep on working.  This place (and the last place I worked) are very tolerant of my CH.  The leave me to deal with it and then get back to work.

Having said that, I never get 4-6 hits a day so I'm luck not to be in the same boat.

Good luck...

-Dennis-

DennisM1045 wrote on Sep 10^th, 2009 at 3:36pm:

Hey Lawrence, I get whacked occasionally while at work and keep an e-tank under my desk.  I kill the hit and keep on working.  This place (and the last place I worked) are very tolerant of my CH.  The leave me to deal with it and then get back to work. Having said that, I never get 4-6 hits a day so I'm luck not to be in the same boat. Good luck... -Dennis-

wow. thanks Dennis......you are in a great position....
I'm down to one CH a day :)....and it usually comes from waking from sleep.....thinking about getting my butt back to work now....one hit day I can deal with... :P

Same as Dennis for me. Boss (who is domiciled 600 miles away from me), and all of my co-workers are very understanding. I, too, keep an e-tank and an o2ptimask in my office. I just close the door when the beast comes a'callin'.

I've not taken sick leave because of CH's.

I've always just hunkered down and dealt with the hits with O2 and/or Zomig NS, then gotten back to work.

Been late and have left early, but always busted my rear end to more than make up lost time.

Marc

Forgot to add - I've taken sick time twice in 18 years. For being hospitalized while receiving IV DHE treatments. The way they administered it to me it took 3 days each time.

I work with special needs kids who display challenging behaviours, so I need to be alert at all times. When I'm getting hit my colleagues are effectively one staff down and this is no good for the kids or them.

Unfortunately, I can get whacked anything from 5 hits up per day. The only up side to this story( if there's such a thing) is that I have a permanent contract and work for the Government, therefore I'm encouraged to take time off so staffing levels are at full compliment at all times. :)


Lefty..!

I also keep an 02 tank at my desk.  Everyone here has seen me get hit or knows about my ch so it's not an issue.  I've only missed two days due to ch and one of those days I had already taken a half day off to go to the Dr.  I got slammed on the way home, so I called off the rest of the afternoon to sleep.  I believe the other day I also took off because of exhaustion.  No sleep for weeks and constantly getting slammed; a person will get delirious and not function so well.

I want to note that I work for my hubby, but that doesn't mean I can call off anytime I want (I wish!).  I can count on my hands the number of days I've called off sick in the last 17 years.  Usually it was because I was in the hospital.

Keep whatever weapons you have handy, because you never know when the beast will show up.

pf wishes to everyone!
Beth

Some of you guys work in an office-setting type of environment....thats great.
I work in a blast furnace.....so when I get multiple hits a day I have to leave...not just for me....but for the safety of others....I'm a crane-operator, and an iron casting coordinator....its a dangerous environment.....most of my co-workers are cro-magnon type of guys who never heard of clusters.....if I get hit at work I have my injections.....now I also have Zyprexa :P

Most of the people I work with are understanding but the Company it self...well they could use some work.

No O2 at my desk, "fire hazard"  ::)  So if I get hit at work it's imitrex to the rescue.  They are understanding in that I may need a few minutes (usually spent in the bathroom) to try to recover a bit before attempting to walk back to my desk and pick up where I left off. 

There is only one other sufferer in the co. I work for That I know of (FYI the co. I work for has divisions in 5 different states & over 1000 employees in most divisions) and he's oddly enough in the same building as I am but, as he puts it he is only "mildly episodic", while I am chronic.  Anyway he hasn't had to take time off from work due to them, I on occasion have.  I try not to use my sick time or vaca time on it if at all possible, but usually do wind up using about 4-5 days worth or more on CH per year, the rest of the time it's take a shot and back to work I go "hi ho hi ho".  However if I can tell it's a bad one and the shot hasn't worked I'm outta there and speeding home or if I get hit three times in a day, I'm gone can't take another shot according to Imitrex rules only 2 in a 24 hour period.

Speaking of CH at work... I've had a roller coaster day  >:(  Shadows up, shadows down, repeat, repeat, repeat, now I'm home and it's still going, I WANT OFF THIS RIDE NOW.   >:(

I work at home as sort of a sub-contractor, so I'm clearly very lucky in that regard to have the M tanks and what not right by my side.

Not quite as lucky is that I have hard deadlines and a host of others I work with that depend on me completing tasks, so there's been no taking off from work. Pretty understanding guy I work for though, who realizes I'm not firing on all cylinders during my now rare episodes.

When I was out in the workforce I would lug an E tank to work when I could, or when the modern age came to be, I would have my trex injections.  8-)

I am a golf professional.  While my employers don't really get it, I have 3 members who are CH sufferers and they have made it clear to my superiors that I am not fooling around and that this is quite serious and that there isn't much I can do about it.  My boss acually told me that I need to get this "problem" straightened out soon because HE is tired of dealing with it.  When my CH members found out about it they all went to his office and tore him a new one.  I am very lucky that I have people who understand what I have to deal with and who are willing to stand up for me. 
As someone dealing with CH and trying to have a career, I don't want special treatment, just some understanding and maybe a little compassion.  When I am in my office fumbling with my Imatrex injection, trying to stifle my groans I don't need my boss coming by and lecturing me about closing my door or taking drugs while at work. >:(
While I wish that CH was more widely know I am glad it isn't, otherwise there would be more of us sufffering and I wouldn't wish this on anyone. 

Lawrence wrote on Sep 10^th, 2009 at 4:45pm:

I work in a blast furnace.....so when I get multiple hits a day I have to leave...not just for me....but for the safety of others....I'm a crane-operator, and an iron casting coordinator....its a dangerous environment.... :P

I am both fortunate and unfortunate to have ownership of my business and find myself working regardless. Even when being hit 8-12 times per day. I can without great repurcussions hide out or escape when needed. Even still I have to perform 10 times harder when in deep cycle
I am often in similar situations as you and simply turn the task over to others and get out of the way.

I think when like Lawrence and in dangerous environments where a wrong move can cause injury or death and you are a critical part of the operations than by all means see if there is a less demanding temporary position available first or temporary remove yourself.
Swinging 2000 degree iron over others is not the place to get distracted with a hit.

MJ wrote on Sep 15^th, 2009 at 1:53am:

I am both fortunate and unfortunate to have ownership of my business and find myself working regardless. Even when being hit 8-12 times per day. I can without great repurcussions hide out or escape when needed. Even still I have to perform 10 times harder when in deep cycle I am often in similar situations as you and simply turn the task over to others and get out of the way. I think when like Lawrence and in dangerous environments where a wrong move can cause injury or death and you are a critical part of the operations than by all means see if there is a less demanding temporary position available first or temporary remove yourself. Swinging 2000 degree iron over others is not the place to get distracted with a hit.

Exactly!

once i took a load of lumber up to fon du lac and brought back a load of hay in green bay that went down to mayesville kentuckey back in december of '08. at that time i was in high cycle  (kip8s and 9s) and i had the stomach flew ta boot. i dropped off my load in fon du lac around 10 am. sleep deprived and week as i was i still had to drag my tarps off my load and roll them up and put them back on the truck. took about 2 hours. then i crawled back behind the steering wheel and drove up to green bay stopping 4 or 5 time for hits to a sloppy muddy hay farm. took the rest of the day to get loaded and get my load tarped and tied down in that cold ass rain. but the physical activity kept me from getting hit.
        i pulled out of the farm about 10 pm and parked on a ramp and attempted to go to bed. woke up to an attack. after the attack i sat there looking at the traffic for about 2 hours. no hit. i got got out walked around the truck got back in dropped er down in 3rd and away i went. got a few kip5s between there and milwaukee but i could handle it. just north of chicago i got hit hard. had to stop. i took off again and between there and gary i stopped 7 or 8 times. full blown hair ripping screamers as traffic wizzed by as i sat on the narrow shoulders of the chicago freeways.         
    lawrance buddy i've seen trucks blow of the road in front of me out across wyoming, i've seen trucks jackknife, motorcyclists brains scattered out on the road, i've driven the rockys in white out conditions hell i've even driven through arkansas in an ice storm, but driving through chicago with the beast was the scariest goddamn ride i have ever had. no shit man. i got back home and took 10 days off. stick me with a frickin fork i was done.
    to me it was much better to suffer through financial hardship than to kill somebody trying to stay on top of my bills.
   before i went back out i had a couple o2 bottles strapped to the sleeper walls.

This is an interesting one.  I work on an engineering floor where co-workers stop by often.  I use to take an Imitrex pill before I was due for my morning cluster.   This would avoid the clusters all together.
As the years go on and as I quite smoking over 4 years ago, my cycles have gone from 5-7 weeks to 2-3 weeks with less Kip scale hits.  I still get a 8 or 9 here and there.  I use to leave the office and fight it out in the car.  That totally stunk.  I haven't gotten O2 or ever even used it before, but have faith that is will work whenever it is I get it.  It's weird too because I work above a fab shop where there is welders O2 all over the place.  I'm currently in a cycle and just gave myself the Imitrex injection in the past two mornings, but plan to stop that at once to prepare for another huge round of seeds that are in the mail.  For now, i'll drink Monster, shoot 4way nasal spray up my nose (for shadows) and do those pumping exercises that the Spaniard spoke about on here a year or two ago.  I never knew what happen to that guy.  On top of it all, I've been running every night which seems to help the cycle.  If the seeds crack the cycle, my days at work are easy.  I've had perfect attendance for 5 straight years.  I do have 3 weeks vacation though and I have used that in the past for bad cluster days.  Sorry for going all over the place.

I'm a TV weatherman. So far, I have received good compassion for my condition and have been allowed to keep O2 in the office. But my cycles have been 2 years or more apart. That helps them forget  ;) Been lucky there.
It does get interesting when I am in cycle though. There have been plenty of times I've had to do the weather with an ongoing K 7/8. The great thing is I only have to expose myself on the air for 3 minutes at a time. I can make it that long. Not much choice really!

been one hell of a ride this year, started in march CH confirmed in June 1 week later O2 (thankyou God) I average 3 hits per night with a max of 10 days pain free between hits (had a whole month Pf but heavy shadows) Ive not had a day of work (yet) guys in work dont, cant and will not understand about this condition so i dont mention it anymore. they sit around in the break room and talk crap over me and wait for me to call sick so they can confirm the BS they believe. just had 3 hits last night and im on late shift so off to work this afternoon feeling like crap, tired and hoping the sadistic git doesnt pay me a visit while im there. reasons i havent called in sick!! 8 years in the brit army (pride) i wont let the git get me down, I wont give my work collegues the satisfaction and my wife has size 9 boots and is not afraid to use them  :D

Mark (tired, ohh so very tired)

This topic is a reminder of how important the 2 pronged approach is to CH. My abortive is oxygen and the occasional imitrex jab. Just as important is my prevent, lithium. I'm episodic, when a cycle starts I ramp upthe lithium to 1200 mg a day. Once it's been in my system for about 10 days it blocks 70% or more of my attacks.

I keep an 02 tank in the cruiser while on cycle, beat partners have always been understanding when I log off unavailable for a bit! Fortunately for me, the lithium keeps those to a minimum.

Joe

Well, unfortunately, I lost my job, due to my CH's.. Two times.. Once when I was just turned 19, and now as I am 21..

I work construction, doing basement lowering, waterproofing, and a lot of cement work.. And well.. Lugging a wheelbarrel, or handling a shovel isn't what I like to do when I get a kip9 attack.. So, I took about.. 4 days off, telling my boss, I can't work right now, just give me a few days off, and I'll be fine. Well, he never called, and never answered his phone, so.. I'm going through a little bit of money issues, but I'll be okay. I'd rather wait 'till my cycle is over before I go back into the work force. Then I'll be good for another two years.

Strange thing is, I can work all day, lift CRAZY heavy stuff, but these CH's drain more of my energy, then working a full day. Crazy...

-johnny- wrote on Sep 15^th, 2009 at 1:11pm:

once i took a load of lumber up to fon du lac and brought back a load of hay in green bay that went down to mayesville kentuckey back in december of '08. at that time i was in high cycle  (kip8s and 9s) and i had the stomach flew ta boot. i dropped off my load in fon du lac around 10 am. sleep deprived and week as i was i still had to drag my tarps off my load and roll them up and put them back on the truck. took about 2 hours. then i crawled back behind the steering wheel and drove up to green bay stopping 4 or 5 time for hits to a sloppy muddy hay farm. took the rest of the day to get loaded and get my load tarped and tied down in that cold ass rain. but the physical activity kept me from getting hit.         i pulled out of the farm about 10 pm and parked on a ramp and attempted to go to bed. woke up to an attack. after the attack i sat there looking at the traffic for about 2 hours. no hit. i got got out walked around the truck got back in dropped er down in 3rd and away i went. got a few kip5s between there and milwaukee but i could handle it. just north of chicago i got hit hard. had to stop. i took off again and between there and gary i stopped 7 or 8 times. full blown hair ripping screamers as traffic wizzed by as i sat on the narrow shoulders of the chicago freeways.              lawrance buddy i've seen trucks blow of the road in front of me out across wyoming, i've seen trucks jackknife, motorcyclists brains scattered out on the road, i've driven the rockys in white out conditions hell i've even driven through arkansas in an ice storm, but driving through chicago with the beast was the scariest goddamn ride i have ever had. no shit man. i got back home and took 10 days off. stick me with a frickin fork i was done.     to me it was much better to suffer through financial hardship than to kill somebody trying to stay on top of my bills.    before i went back out i had a couple o2 bottles strapped to the sleeper walls.

I hear ya man. What you just wrote is inspiring.

Weatherman wrote on Sep 15^th, 2009 at 6:58pm:

I'm a TV weatherman. So far, I have received good compassion for my condition and have been allowed to keep O2 in the office. But my cycles have been 2 years or more apart. That helps them forget  ;) Been lucky there. It does get interesting when I am in cycle though. There have been plenty of times I've had to do the weather with an ongoing K 7/8. The great thing is I only have to expose myself on the air for 3 minutes at a time. I can make it that long. Not much choice really!

That's amazing man.  More power to you.  I thought I could handle pain, but delivering the weather for even 3 minutes on the air with a kip 7/8 is truely being a trooper. 

For those of you who haven't checked out that "colleague letter" you should give your boss, give it a shot so they know what we're going through.  Make them read and understand it.  My boss has a copy and was very understanding after he read it.  

START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

Guiseppi wrote on Sep 16^th, 2009 at 3:03am:

. Once it's been in my system for about 10 days it blocks 70% or more of my attacks. Joe

theres another good point.when your trying meds, give it a week or 2 before you decide its not going to work. and don't overdo your meds out of frustration and desperation. if you need to overdo something make it o2. the more the better and it won't rot out your innards. ;)

one point i wanted to make to lawrance was that you seem to be doing well with this. you really have to become obsessively fascinated by this condition in order to defeat the beast. ch is a wicked ruthless game of strategies and angles. its good that your getting on here and posting questions.  i've been pf for almost 2 years now and i still get on here and post questions.

For those of you who haven't checked out that "colleague letter" you should give your boss, give it a shot so they know what we're going through.  Make them read and understand it.  My boss has a copy and was very understanding after he read it.  

START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE
[/quote]

[smiley=thumb.gif]  Good advice!

-johnny- wrote on Sep 16^th, 2009 at 12:39pm:

theres another good point.when your trying meds, give it a week or 2 before you decide its not going to work. and don't overdo your meds out of frustration and desperation. if you need to overdo something make it o2. the more the better and it won't rot out your innards. ;) one point i wanted to make to lawrance was that you seem to be doing well with this. you really have to become obsessively fascinated by this condition in order to defeat the beast. ch is a wicked ruthless game of strategies and angles. its good that your getting on here and posting questions.  i've been pf for almost 2 years now and i still get on here and post questions.

thanks [smiley=me&mb.gif]

I work for myself and so am lucky that I can take time off whenever I want. The problem is, I have clients with deadlines that I cannot meet if I do that so I have to be careful about what work I take on. When I have CH there in NO WAY I can look at my computer monitor!! Fortunately I'm episodic and so enjoy several pain-free weeks at a time.