be suspicsious of someone who has

[lorelilee]

been signed off from work for 2 weeks due to 'Migraines'?

oops cross-post re caffiene. Itsallforthem seems to have this much better covered

you should be raising the issue of your workload with your line manager imo

If I'm going down, I'm taking you all with me.

YABU - I have been signed off for 2 weeks before for stress-related unrelenting migrainous headaches. Or rather, I was signed off for 2 weeks for stress - which induced the unrelenting migrainous headaches.

Chocolate does not trigger my migraines, thank God, but it used to be a trigger for my Dad until he started taking blood pressure pills.

Even though you are her colleague and have been affected by her absence, what passes between her and her doctor has nothing to do with you - who are you to question the doctor's integrity?

Ive been in lots of situations where people are off sick and you end up doing your work and theirs- sadly thats life. I'd feel devastated if I pried into why someone was off and found they had something very serious going on.

I've had it happen whilst driving too and I always carry Mars Bars and a box of ribena in the car with paracetamol in my handbag. It's horrible drving with bits missing out of your vision but you're right, half an hour stationary with sugar and pain killers usually sets me right again.

Without it the vision goes worse, my speech goes and I can't make sense when I try to talk, I get numbness done one side of my body, and then the most appalling headache.

Bring on the Ribena!

She may have been off with something totally unrelated but got her GP to put migraine on her sicknote as it is so personal she doesn't want people to know. I've been offered alternative sicknotes for time off for miscarriages before.

So, YABU. If you are not happy with your workload talk to your line manager.

Lapin - I get the most awful eye problems before a migraine starts with me. I get a zigzag line across both eyes, then a blind spot, soemitmes it's black. Within 20-30 minutes I am floored.
Thankfully I don't get them as much as I used to, and I don't have a trigger either. I think if someone has never had a migraine before, ever, then they aaume it's "just a headache" and think paracetamol will shift it

I think you are combining 2 things that are unrelated.

No YANBU to be pissed of at having to do twice the workload, anyone would be.
YABU to be pissed off at your colleague as she hasn't gotten ill purely to piss you off. Far better to be pissed off at your bosses for not having adequate cover in place.

YABU to be suspicious as, quite frnakly, it is none of your business.

Am reading this with interest because I still haven't figured out my triggers and solutions!

I know that stress is major trigger for me and I find when I'm upset/angry/frustrated it also sets off a migraine.

I can't drink coke or coffee (can't stand them) so can't use that to help but I do find sugary stuff helps, particularly chocolate (I find it soothing), contrary to my years of believing a Dr who said chocolate is a trigger.

(A different) Dr gave me a magic pill which if I take immediately it often stops the migraine (well the headache/lights part - still get the nausea) but I can't take it too often else I'll get addicted/dependant on it. So I avoid taking it more than once a week....

Conclusion : OP YABU. Migraines are NOT just bad headaches, they are debilitating. My Dr compares it to diabetes and says they do not always have triggers.

I get migraines in clusters and they are usually triggered by hormones or stress. The lack of proper vision and coordination is still evident between attacks so I can't drive. I've never had a cluster last 2 weeks but I've certainly gone a full week before fully recovering. Luckily, it doesn't happen very often.

I've signed people off for 2 weeks with migraine. They are frequently worsened by taking too many painkillers and people end up in a vicious circle. Going cold turkey can really help in the long run, but means that they can get terrible headaches for a week or two and not be able to take painkillers or work.

Why would you be suspicious??

I have been suffering from migraines for 32yrs now, since i was just 3 years old. I used to bang my head against walls/floors to try and relieve the pain which was closely followed by sickness, ear ache, not being able to see properly, diarrhea and tiredness.

I am now 35 and regular as clockwork once a month i get a migraine which lasts for a week right before my period is due. I have to keep going as a mummy but there are times i am sobbing with pain.

I have had migraines last 2 weeks and it was not nice!!

Something i have found works - stopped taking medication at the age of 18 after having taken it for 13 yrs, are lucozade/dextrose energy sweets.

Yes, YABU

Unless ther is more to it, I wouldn't be suspicious of being signed off for two weeks for migraine.

YABVU

If your workload is too much speak to your manager. It's not your colleague's problem how this is organised while she is sick.

I have a friend who has migraine attacks which last up to 4 months so 2 weeks off work during one of these episodes would NBU.

my hubby has suffered with them for years,when he gets a bad one he is in bed for days,he had a ct scan last jan and it turned out he had a brain tumor that was removed last march it was the size of a 50p,you wouldnt believe how many of r family and friends said "i thought he was faking them" so i would never doubt anyone!!!

Fluffydonkey, have you tried lemonade with soluble aspirin? Gets in your system really quick - advice I was given at the london migraine clinic.

OP I think YABU, but you've probably got that by now! Another chronic severe migraine sufferer, I am currently trying to persuade my employer to acknowledge that I have a 'severe underlying medical condition' that would mean I am not pulled up over having more than 6 episodes of sick leave within a 12 month period. Ridiculous! I have a note from my consultant to the effect that they should expect me to need a day a month.

About 2 week migraines - I usually only suffer for 1-2 days a time but I am currently 9 weeks pg and so can't take any of my normal meds...only paracetamol and codeine, which is a joke TBH. Last week's lasted 6 days (coming and going)

Migraines suck. It doesn't help that they are a common excuse for a sickie - gives us all a bad name

For a start how come you know what is on her sick note? You have no right to know what she is off sick with. If she has told you herself then fair enough. But if it is office gossip then it is a different matter.

If you are unhappy with covering her work as well as your own speak up about it, your bosses may be able/willing to split her work between several people or get a temp in.

BTW Migraines are covered under the Disability Discrimination Act

another coke and acetaminophen fan here - although weirdly i can't take meds with caffeine in them as they give me palpitations and make me feel 100x worse...

thankfully v rare here though, although my mum was another who was floored once a month for four days. fortunately the menopause has knocked them (mostly) on the head.

i also want to know how you know what was on her sick note? loving the confidentiality!