migraine disability on TV

I just started watching a new series on SHO called "Shamless" that I really enjoy for its totally politically incorrect humor.

The disfunctional alchoholic father of the family is out on disability. The episode I just saw has him visiting the disability office for his periodic physical and review. In the waiting room he is telling the other people there that they should use "migraine" as the reason for their disability, like he does, because it is hard to prove that you don't have migraine.

That kind of pissed me off. As someone who was pretty much disabled by migraine symptoms for many years, I often considered what I would do if I could no longer work. It came very close to my having to take action on those options.

I knew that getting disability for migraines is almost impossible most places. I also resented them portraying what I think may be a common attitude about people who say they have severe migraines.

Of course, that is the type of stuff this show does and normally I enjoy it. The migraine subject is just one of those things that set me off ... too close and personal, I guess.

Is this our English shameless.
It is vulgar and disgusting and has a reputation for being so.
We all avoid it, and if you just started, trust me it gets a lot worse.

I hope you are not easily offended.

I just looked it up and it IS based on the British series by the same name. I didn't know that. But in the American version it is set in Chicago's South Side.

Vulgarity and such doesn't bother me, I'm a bit that way myself, but the depiction of abuse of the disability system did.

Is it easier to get disability for migraine in the UK than the USA? It is almost impossible here, which is why that plot item struck me as ridiculous.

It's damn near impossible here as well. It isnt seen as a constant so therefore the wont give it....

Hi,

I haven't seen the show. But I hate it when migraine is used as an excuse or way to get out of something by people who have no clue what real migraine is.

Here, it is hard to get disability for migraine, but not impossible. I was finally approved for disability in October. I was rejected at first, but pretty much everyone is, especially if you are young. I am 3O. So I had to appeal the descision, I had a good lawyer, tons of medical forma and witness statements. Mine was both for migraine and fainting. Often, they do not necessarily categorize as migraine, but mine is under something psychological- because it was the easiest way for the judge to give it. He did say, "This doesn't mean anything bad. It just means that I can give you this under a category that states you cannot work a full day." So I was lucky. My file was three inches thick. I don't think it is as easy to use it for disability as the guy said it was.

Also, pen, your migraines sound pretty constant. Do you ever have breaks in pain? Just curious. The difference in systems is interesting to me.

Pain free days,
sailingm

The migraines are every 2/4 days now, but the pain is constant.
Triptans are slow and half work and OTC is under constant warning and not very effective.
Thanks for asking.