Migraine and Disability
I've had migraines on and off for most of my life (since I was 10). I'll get them for a few years, manage it, they'll go away for a few years. Then I get them a few more years. Endless cycle.
Each time I get them they're worse, and this round (third time around) has not been fun in the least. I've done everything I have in the past, nothing seems to work as a preventative. I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place here. I can't function with migraines. When they first started coming around this time I'd have a migraine for 48 hours where I couldn't hold down food making me essentially stuck in my room for 72 hours at a time (an extra 24 hours to recuperate from not being able to eat). Now if I don't take the medicine for my migraines it's all just one long migraine. it effect my memory, mood, everything. Really having my medication on me has taken over my life because it's that bad.
But then there's the flip side of the coin. Taking my medication (ie the only thing that works). I get dizzy, hungry, and tired. However, the caffeine in it makes it impossible to sleep. At nights when I have a migraine I have to consider pros and cons of my medicine. It's nice that I can go out with friends, but even those I work with admit I'm useless with a migraine whether I take my medication or not. All the medicine does is makes it so I'm useless at the office rather than useless in my bed crying.
I was wondering if migraine sufferers have considered signing up for disability? I hesitate because my medicine makes me sort of function, but it really hinders my brain function. It's obvious I can't function without my medicine. I'm afraid it's really ruining my work life, and I wanted an opinion on this before consulting a doctor.
Hi Faeriefate,
Thank you for your post. So sorry to hear you are experiencing such debilitating migraine attacks. It seems to be significantly impacting your quality of life, which is probably so difficult to endure. In relation to migraine symptoms, perhaps you will find the following articles helpful - https://migraine.com/blog/a-list-call-for-creature-comforts/, https://migraine.com/blog/community-responses-what-are-your-go-to-techniques-that-bring-you-comfort/. They provide self care tips for managing migraine symptoms while in the midst of an attack. Hopefully you can find something helpful! Regarding your question about disability, many chronic migraineurs do sign up for disability due to the impact their illness has on their quality of life. The following articles go into depth about disability, provide resources, and discuss ways to obtain it - https://migraine.com/blog/disability-means-not-mean/, https://migraine.com/blog/social-security-disability-insurance-benefits-the-basics/, https://migraine.com/migraine-basics/social-security-disability-insurance-benefits/, https://migraine.com/blog/yes-migraine-is-a-disability/, https://migraine.com/blog/can-you-receive-disability-benefits-if-you-have-migraine-disease/, https://migraine.com/blog/disability-income-preparation-guide/. I hope you find this helpful. If you have any additional questions please do not hesitate to reach out. We love hearing from you. Wishing you all the best today.
Warmly,
Meaghan (Migraine.com Team)
Thank you, Meaghan! Those were helpful! I do have a follow up, though. I've mentioned in another thread that my migraines come in cycles (learning so many migraine terms here!). I'll have them for a few years, be safe for a few years, etc. Would this affect my ability to sign up for disability? If I can have a few years perfectly fine with the exception of smell triggers, would I still be taken seriously?
faeriefate, I thought just the way you do when I first considered filing for SSDI. It was my MD at the time that made me understand that the migraines were at that point really affecting my ability to hold a job because let's face it, who wants to have an employee that has to take sick days alot, leave early for Doctor appointments, etc. So I hired a disability attorney and my case went before a law judge in approx. 6 months and I had my first check before the year was out. My attorney said the key to the whole thing was that my MD had 10 years of records for me and included a letter to the judge about how much my migraines impacted my life. It was a little difficult because I had to quit working before I could apply so we just had to get by until my back pay check came. It was worth it I guess but I still really miss having a work family to go to everyday. Anyway, give it a try. Call a disability attorney in your area and see where it goes from there. Very best of luck to you.
I'm not sure if this is where I ask this question but it has to do with SSI. I just received a letter from the. Treasury Department. telling me they were going to garnish my Social Security Benefits check to pay off my Default Student Loans. Can they do this?They're going to leave me without any money. Thank you. Beverly Militello
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