Horrible phone call with school😭

[ArseInTheCoOpWindow]

My dd has bad anxiety and severe stress migraines. She’s struggled in through all her exams with blinding headaches. She was diagnosed 5 days before her first exam and medications are a bit hit and miss. She’s hardworking and diligent.

Last night she started with the worst one ever. Was very upset about her history GCSE today. She was not in a fit state to go. All of her problems have been supported by lots of GP evidence. I sent the last letter in yesterday.

Conersation with school 1/2 an hour ago.

’It’s only an hour, can’t she come in’
’Can’t she take medication’
’Not sure what the exam board will do’
’You’ll need a doctors note’
”Can’t you just encourage her’

Like l was fucking lying!!!
She’s so upset, l was upset by the call. It’s all documented and this is what you get. Gilt tripping when your poor 15 year old is too ill to think clearly ‘Can’t she just come in for the hour?’🤬🤬🤬🤬

So she was taken to the exams office by head of KS4 and head of year after physics exam today.

All been sorted, special consideration going in for migraines for some and anxiety for others, plus l think for just being unwell during the exam period. ( I think, not sure)

So thank you to all the lovely people for all your support. Especially thanks to to those who said it wouldn’t be allowed or can’t be accounted for.

Thank you again.

Good, so the school are dealing with it well 🤷‍♀️

Really pleased for you and DD!

Going forward she should be eligible for lots of help - extra time, exam in seperate room, rest breaks for food/water, exam printed on coloured paper (can be helpful for migraine, autism & other sensory issues) :)

Well they are in Scotland.

No we’re not in Scotland! We’re in the North of England!

I'm so sorry your d's is going through this.it must be hell for her and hell for you to watch her in so much pain both mentally and physically.
Try to keep telling her she's got this
And that exams do not equal her worth.and that together you will find your way through.
She must feel so uncertain and fearful of when the migraines or anxiety will next come that it then even fuels them too! It's a vicious circle.one trick is to say to her and get her to say to herself that she's safe.iys ok if the anxiety comes because I'm safe.ill let it come and then it will pass,this won't last.im ok.amxiety works on fear.amd fight or flight running away.if you sit with it and in it it will ebb flow and pass.
Guided meditation and some mindfulness really helps.
And deep tissue message from mum when migraines hit haha
You sound like a wonderful mum.ypuve fought on and got her the help and support she needs.kerp doing this.there is blockers every step of the way for my health support.its f horrendous.
Also university can be grand.she will be fab.because again,fight for a good team to be there to support her either via campus or separate.that why it's really vital if she can get a good team and therapist behind her now.so they can follow her through.
People don't understand anxiety op.leave them be.just keep being as sympathetic and lovely to your daughter.she will feel so will feel so supported and that is key to recover or charting on through it.
Shes not alone.

So glad for you and your daughter. You will be so relieved. Glad they sorted it out in the end.

I'm glad you got this sorted. I suffered from migraines for years and while I can power through most things, migraines incapacitated me to the extent all I could do was lie very still in a dark room. Medication can help, but you have to catch them before they get to a certain point..

I've not read the entire thread but would say that anyone suggesting somebody goes anywhere with migraine, let alone take an exam, has clearly never had a genuine migraine. It's not just a headache and it's not something that can be negotiated

Try Botox for the migraine, worked so far for my DD

Migraine is not just a headache. It interferes with eyesight, causes nausea and is blindingly painful. Specific medications should help but if your daughter is suffering to this degree, have other investigations been made?

I think the school is unreasonable.

My teen daughter is on propanolol for migraines - how much propanolol is your daughter taking? If the dosage is not enough / timings not right it can make the headaches worse after a drop results in a blood surge to the brain.

She was only diagnosed a few weeks ago. We have a docs appt on Wednesday. I guess they’ll refer her then

My son has anxiety and let me reassure you that having GCSEs is of zero importance compared to your child’s mental health. You are absolutely doing the right thing. GCSEs are not the be all and end all, her chance of a rewarding career did not end this year. You and she will find a way through. I’ve got lots I could say on how unhelpful schools can be around this and the various carrots and sticks at play for them. You only have one consideration and that is her health right now. Don’t sacrifice it. Hope things improve rapidly, don’t take any chances.

Amen to that!

Is it actually working though? As it should also help reduce the migraine attacks, which it doesn’t seem to be doing from what you’ve said?

I take Atenolol for anxiety too. I was prescribed Propanalol initially, but then it was switched to Atenolol as I didn’t find Propanalol worked that well.

I find the Atenolol works extremely well. Not only to calm my anxiety symptoms, but it has reduced the volume of my migraine attacks also. Maybe worth a chat with the GP if the Propanalol isn’t calming things down much.

Glad you’ve managed to get things sorted for her exams. Bet that’s a relief!