Looks like the headaches may really be gone after all. Nothing at all today – the Beast was just toying with me yesterday, it seems.

Anyway……. How do you guys go with combining a CH cycle and work?? Do you take much time off during a cycle? Is it the attacks themselves, or is it the exhaustion from night-time attacks? I have a job where I sometimes get given tasks with fairly strict (and short) deadlines, so I am worried about how I will cope if I’m being expected to do stuff like that when I’m in CH mode. I’ve never been one to stick my hand up and say “Hey I need some help” – I’d rather just work myself into the ground and get it done. Maybe I need to re-think that now, and make sure that I’m not the only one who knows how to do my job

Anyone got any super-dooper advice or experiences to share?

It takes a lot of planning and luck! My prevent, lithium, keeps a fairly tight rein on the beast. I'd keep an e-tank in the trunk of my cruiser. When beasty came knocking I'd advise dispatch I was out of service for a bit, huff my 02 for 10 minutes, and hopefully be back on the beat. Occasionally it'd take an imitrex shot to get me thru it. A few times I just had to give up and go home.

Not to pat my own back....(but God I love doing that!!! ;D)....the rest of the time I worked harder and produced more then anyone around me. So the few times it really did get me down, my supervisors were quick to forgive. Kinda building up a work "IOU" bank! ;)

Joe

I've been able to combine work with having CHs pretty well, although I'm "lucky" in that I get most of my CHs between about 6pm and 10pm, which means I get a good nights sleep and few during working hours.

At work, the people I work with are aware that I get CHs so I may have to jump out of a meeting or similar with a few seconds notice to grab my oxygen to head somewhere away from people for a few minutes. They also know that if I've got a can of Red Bull in my hand I've got shadows or am feeling like a CH may come on. I'm currently working away during the week, so work has even organized and is paying for oxygen cylinder rental / refills.

So whilst I may take 10 minutes out from work at times, they know I put a lot more than that 10 minutes back.

So yes, it's very much possible to combine CH and work, as Joe said, it's a case of planning and educating people before hand, then making up for it afterwards.

Echo the previous posts, particularly what Joe said about building up an "IOU" work bank. When I'm having good days or good weeks I try to bust my hump so that the boss understands when I need to step away from my desk or take some time off.

I'm also fortunate that I got approved for FMLA for paid time off. So anytime I have a bad cycle or just a bad previous night, I can call my boss and I don't have to worry about the time I miss.

All good advice, Giuseppi's work IOU sounded true to my thoughts as well.

Also, my boss's are understanding, because I spent the time to explain to them EVERYTHING about Clusters.  Now that they know I love my job, and am doing all in my power to work around missing time, they're forgiving.  I can duck out of a meeting at any notice and give myself a shot of Imitrex, be back in the mix 10 minutes later.

I've had to take some sick days for plain exhaustion, but, again my supervisors all know about my condition and are understanding.   We're all human... at least in my office.

any lawyers out there?

Im in law school currently and this all just started... Im having a very difficult time keeping up with my school work.. if this was my first yr Id be in trouble...

still even if I can get through the bar... I dont know what I can do about this.

I find dealing with work very difficult...not because of the big attacks, due to my really short big attacks and the fact they tend to come between 8 - 10 at night or 6 - 8am, they don't tend to effect work too much...but I have pretty much constant ache with smaller stabs of very levels throughout the day. Given that I work at a computer all day at work that can be crucial if something is missed - it's very difficult. Some days are easier to get through then others...

I'm up to 6 months now of this pain in a row and I feel like every time I start to get my leave hours (sick and rec.) back up at work, I have a bad day and have to take time off...it does get you down :( Particularly when mentally you want to be there but physically you just can't...

For those of you who have understanding bosses, you are very, very lucky. I have been with the same government department for nearly 19 years, and through 2 ugly divorces, 2 pregnancies, 2 stints of maternity leave and part-time work, sick children, a couple of my own illnesses, and my father’s long battle with cancer and eventual passing, I have always had wonderful, understanding bosses who were flexible and kind. However, since June last year I have had the double whammy, first of the drama with my optic neuritis and the Maybe-Multiple-Sclerosis path that that has led me down, with lots of visits to the neurologist and all the tests, then since November, 2 x 7 week cycles of Cluster Headaches. And really, really sucky bosses.

I had it out with them on Tuesday in a meeting with my Union rep and a woman from our Human Resources department, and she seemed genuinely shocked at the way they had treated me. The outcome is that they were told to back off, and quit hassling me about the time I’ve been taking off work. My plan is to go and see the HR woman in a one-on-one meeting, to go quite in-depth about the whole CH thing, what happens with the headaches, what it will mean day-to-day when I’m in a cycle. My bosses will not stop being dickheads, but she is in a position to make my life easier because if they are not doing the right thing, and I have the union AND the organisation on my side, then they get in the shit for it

I have been feeling so down about work and so unenthused – and definitely rebellious – but you guys are so right, the best way to keep up with the demands of the job is to work my guts out while the beast is leaving me alone. I guess that is true in other areas of life too, isn’t it. Especially since I have little kids. Might as well take them to the beach this weekend – next weekend, the beast might be back.

Glad to hear you have somebody in your court. Praying your cycle's getting close to being done with you. Hang in there.

Joe