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Trizzy

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Is this forever?!

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Maitland, FL
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Cluster Headaches and Working
Sep 7^th, 2011 at 2:41am

This may sound silly- but does any one find it difficult to work your job normally during a cluster cycle? I told my boss about the issue yesterday, telling him that I should miss that much time. I said during the day I may need to break away for 10-20 minutes if I have an attack. Also, that I may need to arrange a few doctor's appts. He gives me some spiel about intermittent FMLA.

I was just curious, do any of you have issues in the work place because of this?

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Batch

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Control The Beast With
O2 & D3 You Must

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Bremerton, WA
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Re: Cluster Headaches and Working
Reply #1 - Sep 7^th, 2011 at 3:08am

If the environment permits, bring an oxygen cylinder, regulator and mask to work.

There are a lot of CH'ers including chronic types who do this. It might take a little coordination, but once you get that worked out... it's really no different than a diabetic who needs to take a break, test sugar levels then eat an apple or take a shot of insulin. Your boss should understand that.

If you use oxygen therapy at flow rates that support hyperventilation (≥25 liters/minute), the average abort time is 7 minutes... less if you catch the CH early and obviously longer if you're late...

The anti-inflammatory regimen might help as well.

Check your PM for more details.

Take care,

V/R, Batch

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You love lots of things if you live around them. But there isn't any woman and there isn't any horse, that’s as lovely as a great airplane. If it's a beautiful fighter, your heart will be ever there

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wimsey1

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Re: Cluster Headaches and Working
Reply #2 - Sep 7^th, 2011 at 8:14am

Anyone who works outside the home, or goes to the grocery store for that matter, has to take CHs into account. Since I am chronic I tend to know exactly when a hit will come if it is going to come at all, and prepare accordingly. Since I am in a very slow part of my chronic cycle (yayy!) I still bring abortive measures with me-O2 and imitrex. Should a hit come while in public, either at work or at other times, if I can get to my O2 I will, and if not, a men's room to shoot up. Just one of those things for which you need to be prepared. Blessings. lance

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Guiseppi

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Re: Cluster Headaches and Working
Reply #3 - Sep 7^th, 2011 at 8:50am

I'm episodic, worked a law enforcement career for 30 years. I was fortunate enough to have understanding supervisors who knew what it was I was dealing with. I kept an E-Tank in the trunk of my cruiser, my beat partners knew there'd be times I'd log off for 10-20 minutes and they'd have to cover the beat. I was very fanatical about keeping up with my prevents and avoiding triggers.

What also helps, when I'm off cycle, I worked harder then anyone else on my squad did. You endear yourself to your supervisor, who will be that much more willing to work through the occasional slow periods, when you're getting creamed, cuz they can't wait to get that hard worker back! Wink

Joe

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"Somebody had to say it" is usually a piss poor excuse to be mean.

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NotH20

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Re: Cluster Headaches and Working
Reply #4 - Sep 7^th, 2011 at 12:46pm

I have an E tank in my office - just on the other side of my desk. I keep one in my car and then concentrators at home. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones - I've been at my job for 26 years and have had CH for 31 years. Everyone knows that when my door closes, I'm laying on the floor snorting O2 and taking a shot (so either my pants are down or my dress is up Huh

)

People that you work with should be understanding. Your boss should be understanding as well. I do not know what the laws are on this type of issue as I have never had to deal with it...but taking FMLA sounds a bit extreme for a headache that you can abort.

Good luck - stress on the job about CH while in a cycle stinks!!!

Mia

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Marijke

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Nice board!

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Re: Cluster Headaches and Working
Reply #5 - Sep 7^th, 2011 at 3:42pm

It is doable, if both sides are flexible. When in cycle, my collegues step in when things get rough, outside I make sure to more than compensate (and bake a few cakes)

Being a woman in a predominantly male environment, I have the luxury of having the ladies all to myself, so that is where I put my O2. But any space you can have for yourself for a while when needed will do.

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CDog CH.com Veteran Offline Posts: 163 Rockies Gender:	Re: Cluster Headaches and Working Reply #6 - Sep 7^th, 2011 at 7:40pm Hey Joe, I too am in law enforcement, 22 years as a dispatcher...
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Guiseppi CH.com Moderator CH.com Alumnus Offline San Diego to Florida 05-16-2011 Posts: 12063 SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA USA Gender:	Re: Cluster Headaches and Working Reply #7 - Sep 8^th, 2011 at 9:02am CDog wrote on Sep 7^th, 2011 at 7:40pm: Hey Joe, I too am in law enforcement, 22 years as a dispatcher... WOW! Pulling off being a dispatcher while in cycle, that's DAMNED impressive! Joe
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Skyhawk5 CH.com Alumnus Offline I love YaBB 1G - SP1! Posts: 1320 Ypsilanti, Mi. USA Gender:	Re: Cluster Headaches and Working Reply #8 - Sep 8^th, 2011 at 4:27pm Yes, I have lost 3 jobs in 21 yrs due to CH. All while working at two major Airports in my area. Two as a "Line Service Technician", driving fuel trucks, towing aircraft, etc, no O2 allowed. One as an Accounts Recievable rep. Don
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LasVegas

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Episodic CH since 11 yrs
old, now 50.

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north of the 60th parallel
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Re: Cluster Headaches and Working
Reply #9 - Sep 10^th, 2011 at 9:19pm

I haven't called in from work in over 8 months and that was to take care of my son while he was sick.

Missed going to work this past Tuesday as Monday night/early Tuesday am was a torturous attack.

Wednesday when I showed up, my boss asked me if I was feeling better and I replied "i'm alright". He asked if I ate something over Labor Day weekend that didn;t agree w/ my stomach and told him about my CH's.

He acknowledged with empathy, however began to share a tory about how he has migraines from time to time....uuugh! I went to my desk, printed off "the letter to employer, colleague, etc" and handed it to him, walked out of his office.

A few minutes later, he called me into his office and apologized for referencing his migraines and asked if I needed to take some time off work. Told him I would be ok, no thanks, and continued on to have a productive workday.

My boss is a micro-manager always questioning everything I do, everyday and I find it so annoying I often consider quitting my job. Since I gave him the printout, he has questioned nothing and completely left me alone all week.

Suggestion to others...print off "the letter to employer, colleagues, etc" and share it among your work environment; it might be helpful.

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Wishing everybody at CH.com less pain w/ more productivity in their lives in 2019

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JustNotRight

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Re: Cluster Headaches and Working
Reply #10 - Sep 11^th, 2011 at 10:36am

I am CH chronic and can't bring O2 to work...something about all that computer equipment and safety. Roll Eyes

I have been given the sh-peal about FLMA and did use it for awhile, just not worth the repeated aggravation between the FLMA co. we use and the Doctors office staff.

Our tech made the comment to me the other day that I am one person who should or at least has a valid reason to use the sick room when I get a CH hit, but I don't. At the time we were discussing another employees over-usage of the sick room. In her words, " You go take your shot in the rest room and come right back to work, I don't know how you do it." I told her it's better for me to have something else besides the pain to think about and I don't like the added attention the condition tends to bring with it. I usually spend about 5 min maybe a bit longer in the rest room after shot just to get a grip and let it start to work.

Working with/living with CH can be done we are a tough bunch who have spent years learning how to live/work around our CH hits.

It can be done, just remember you are stronger than you think you are.

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