Migraines, You're Fired!

By sdnrckwd

1 min read

I recently lost my job. My former employer would never say it, but it was in large part due to my chronic migraine. In all fairness, I was pretty miserable at my job. I loved what I did, but the constant strain of trying to perform at work while having near-constant migraines was taking its toll.

Fired from my job

I will never forget the day that my boss called me into their office and told me I was fired. After the initial shock wore off, I felt a plethora of emotions. I felt relief, sadness, and anger (to name a few).

Relief

Luckily, my husband got a job right before I lost mine, so we still had income and insurance. I was relieved because, as I mentioned above, the strain of working with chronic migraine was excruciating. I finally had a chance to take care of my health and take stock of what I wanted. However, the relief did not outweigh the pain.

Feeling disregarded

As I thought about it, I got angrier. When I got fired, I was in the midst of applying for reasonable accommodations. I had all the paperwork filled out and everything. I gave my best effort to make it work, and my employer didn’t. It felt like I was not a human who was struggling with chronic migraine, but rather, a tool that could be discarded when I was no longer useful.

My employer could fire me, and never have to deal with my chronic migraine again; but I, for better or for worse, am stuck with my migraines. I don’t have the luxury of “firing” my migraines. Chronic migraine is part of my reality.

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Melissa Arnold Community Admin
I'm so sorry to hear this happened to you, scnrckwd. You are unfortunately not alone in that frustrating experience ... while we have made some steps toward busting the stigma of migraine, there is still so far to go, especially when it comes to the workplace. I'm glad you're in a place where your household still has income. We're here to support you with whatever you try to do next. And I totally agree with that sentiment -- "migraines, you're fired!!!"
mwcdeb8r Member
I feel as if this is my story, except that my employer used the guise of the pandemic to lay me off, so I could collect at least collect unemployment. I, too, was suffering from debilitating migraines, largely due to the stress of my job. My employer acted as if they were being understanding, but used some of the symptoms of my migraine attacks against me. I was in the process of filing paperwork for accommodations when the pandemic hit. We were sent to work from home and I never heard anything back. Two months later, I was laid off in the first round of layoffs at my company. Luckily, I was able to get government sponsored insurance and unemployment, but I still had to change doctors. I have to fight my insurance for every single drug and treatment, along with forgoing my Emgality injections entirely, in favor of Botox alone. I, like the poster above, was relieved, angry, and even ashamed about what happened to me. I'm currently working part-time, which is much less stressful, while I look for full-time work.
azreynolds Member
This is similar to my story too. After 22+ years of loyality, working with fibromyalgia, migraine, IBS and arthritis of the spine, never missing more work than my sick days or vacation days allowed, nor using all of my sick days per year, I was forced out because of migraines. All because I made the comment, "Maybe I should consider taking medical leave?" I didn't mean I wanted it, but rather that I just didn't know what else to do to get better. Nonetheless, my new boss jumped on the comment, insisting that I had to take it since I brought it up. Needless to say, when the 3 months were up, there was no job I qualified for because they had changed their hiring practices over the 22+years I worked there. I never finished college, and now they only hired college educated so I was underqualified. Tricky move! But the truth be told, I wasn't well enough to return. My chronic migraines turned into daily, and now days, I only get 2 or 3 days a month migraine free. Life with 26-28 days of migraine per month is definitely a challenge, but at least I can run my day at my own pace now. If I don't sleep that night, I can sleep late if needed. If I need to lay down with ice packs in the middle of the day, I can. Being forced into retirement 6 years earlier than planned has put a squeeze on our retirement plans, but with careful planning we should be ok. The best thing about being home for me is that I only have to please my husband and myself now....and now, we both are very happy!
pigen51 Member
I was fired via a false positive on an alcohol test, taken after 7 hours at the place I worked for 35 years right from high school. Things worked out, and I am now 60 years old, on SDI, still fighting migraines, but able to deal with them at home. Best wishes and stay strong.
carolmarol Member
I was recently fired for work missed from migraines. I really needed the job and I felt so powerless. I don’t know how I’m going to get another job when my migraines can last from 2 or more days. I liked my job. And I had just gotten past the 90 days and began the knowledge applied stage of a new job. I started to feel more confident. Which is hard. I’m very discouraged.
1. sdnrckwd Member
 Yeah missed work was one of the reasons I was fired. I feel super discouraged too. Sometimes it feels like I'll never be able to work. I hope things work out for you.