New to this forum:what kind of jobs do you all have? I find it hard to work outside the home

Hi everyone! I have had migraines since I was 21 and mine have been handed down to me from generation to generation. I just hope that my son doesn't get them. Today I had to call out of work due to my migraine last night. My migraine went from head pain to vomiting to none stop bathroom use. I am sure that there are some of you out there that have gone thru this. So of course I was up all night and just wanted to die. So my question is what kind of jobs do you all have and how do you deal with having migraines and going to work? I get migraines from just about everything and my doc has not found any thing yet that works as a preventative. I work under flouresent lights all day that kill me and my pt's are older and wear way to much perfume for me to handle some days. I've tried looking online to see if there are real jobs that you can do from home but so far filling out surveys is the only thing you can do. I need some help with this. I just dont see me lasting much longer at my job or just going insane from having to go to work in pain all the time.

So does anyone have any suggestions?

If you can do computer work, phone sales,or technical support, those often can be done from home. Work where you can set your own hours, or where the hours are very flexible, like editing, is optimal. I run my own business, mostly from home, which is good as I can often work around my bad days. But it is also a problem because a lot of people depend on me and I feel like I can't do nearly as much as I used to, or need to. I likely will need to retire young. I just turned 50 and can't see doing this for too much longer.

Not sure what your office situation is there. You may be able to ask to have the flouresent lights turned off in your work area. I replaced them for some of my employees who had trouble with them. I also recommend a large sign on your desk requesting no perfumes or colognes be worn around you as you are allergic to them and they might cause you to upchuck uncontrollably on the wearer. (A little humor might work where common curtosy fails). Good luck!

Thanks migrainegirl! I work for a medical facility and where I work you can't get rid of the lights and if I couldn't help the the patients that wore perfume or smelled then I would be out of a job for sure. I'm going to try and see if I can do something from home but not sure how I can get started. Thanks tho.

If you are in the medical field there is a growing need for home health care workers, or companies who can help people find home health care help. Also people who can help patients negotiate the insurance system and patients advocates. Its always good to capitalize on what you know.

I was working fulltime doing clerical work but had to go on disabilty 6 months ago due to the migraines (long story). I also have a contract position that I do from home typing transcripts for our judicial system here in Canada. Not sure where you are from but you might want to look into it and see if this type of job is available. It's great pay and I run it as a small business which is great come tax time.

Hello Karen,

I'm an office administrator - 90% computer work. The sitting all day and pounding a keyboard is killing my back, wrists, neck and head. I was on disability as well last year. I'm now at the same stage as you; exploring jobs that would be more kind to my health. It just isn't worth it anymore.

I'm sure I speak for many people on here when I say that I have gone to work WAY too many times after vomiting through the night and loaded on medication. I really don't know how I function and last through these days at work. Other times I can't help but call in sick.

I must say that I am very lucky to have a boss who is understanding. She can immediately tell when I've got a migraine from just one look at my eyes. I am able to be honest with her and I think it helps that if needed I will go in on the weekend so my work does not suffer. Or if possible, work from noon to 8 (instead of 8 -4). I think things would be much different if I my work started suffering because of my absence. I'm trying my best to not let that happen.

-Christina

I work in a call center. The job sucks, but aside from that the fluorescent lights, wearing a headset that covers both ears, and the refresh rate of the monitor all can trigger migraines for me.

I've put in a request to have the light bulb above my desk removed, but haven't heard anything back on it yet. Don't disregard the refresh rate on your monitor. Although we can't see it, the computer screen flickers and the rate at which it does so can affect my migraines. Ask your IT person at work for help in adjusting your monitor refresh rate. Eye strain has been a big trigger for me lately. In the past few weeks, I've rarely been able to make it through at full8 hour work day.

I am so thankful for the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). My doctor filled out paperwork, giving me a certain number of hours off of work each month and my employer cannot fire me because of medical-related absenses. I believe that any company which employs more than 50 employees must comply with FMLA.

I hope you're able to find something that works better for your situation.

LyLy

karen, i am 71 years old, and have had migraines since i was 29. i could never go back to my profession after my kids were raised because of migraines plus fibromyalgia and killer fatigue. i was a medical technologist once upon a time......

until i broke my leg a month ago, i worked in home care of the elderly and disabled. (now, i'm one of them, and i HATE IT). i'm in a wheelchair for now, but WILL heal and WILL go back to work. i have to, as i can't live on my small s.s.

you already know that workers in this field are in great demand, but the pay stinks. in big cities, the pay is much better, but still probably not as much as you are making. the point is: with this job you can control your environment.

i am highly sensitive and get very ill and migrainey from even small exposures to perfumed products and people. my supervisors are "trained" in this disorder, aka 'multiple chemical sensitivity' and 'environmental illness'. i quiz the supervisor when a new client is offered to me, and sometimes they are accurate "there are no smells", and sometimes they are not, because THEY aren't sensitive and can't even detect it.

the office is understanding if i arrive at a client's home and cannot stay. they don't necessarily like it, but since i am such a good worker they are willing to put up with me! it helps that one of the supervisors says she is also sensitive to smelly stuff.

this is one idea you might consider, though you may not be able to live on what you could make. thankfully, i do have that little s.s. my children are having to fund my existence right now, though.

good foirtune to you! dianne

Hi-
So sorry you are having migraines and having trouble working...there are a lot of members who are in the same position.

Once upon a time I was a Teacher/Special Education Teacher as well as an Advocate for People with Developmental Disabilities...now, I haven't "worked" for over 3 years.

I do teach Scrapbook Classes on a very part-time basis and I am an Independent Beauty Sales Consultant for Mary Kay...even these positions are not carried out with any sort of consistency, it's just when I feel up to it, I do it-at least the Mary Kay part...

I am blessed i don't HAVE to work, but I still feel guilty...

Carlajo:)

Well, Once upon a time I was a factory worker/college student. I took some time off from college, we had bought a house and were planning a wedding. I never got to go back. The migraines hit upon the return from my honeymoon. After that, I lost several jobs and filed for disability.

I am fortunate. It took 2 & 1/2 years to finally get the disability, but they did give me back pay. That at least got me caught up on medical bills and the sizable loan I had taken out to pay them! I also have a husband that earns a decent living. (he was recently let go due to downsizing, but was able to find another job) I did have a couple of part time jobs, and as long as I stayed under 16 hours a week I seemed to manage.

I worked in a restaurant, and in a dept store. Both had challenges. I was able to work there long enough to qualify for FMLA, and when I had to call in with a migraine I was not penalized. I now have a 2 year old, and my Husband and I have decided it would be way too much to try to work and take care of him. I wish I could do both though.

I secretly wish I could be "normal" and work a regular job 40 hours a week. I am lucky to be at home with my Son, but I also crave adult conversation. I do not get a lot on disability, as I am only 34, so I am not sure how I could ever do it on my own if I had to.

I've been hanging in there on my job. I'm an engineer but thankfully I work in an office. I do a lot of self-paced work and have flexible hours and such, so it helps. I have 24/7 pain so I don't have the episodic issues, but more of a constant wearing on my mind and body (I also have other health problems like fibro). Attendance isn't so much an issue for me, but I definitely come home and want to collapse. If I have a low productivity day, I can make up for it. I can hide in front of my screen. Honestly the way I've deteriorated I don't know how much longer I'll be able to work. We've been saving money due to the what if. I imagine my next step though would be cutting back on hours if needed. I haven't even told my boss or co-workers...little do they know how much better I'd be at my job without my health mess (I've had it all along)!

I think there are some true work from home jobs, but they are hard to find. More often the good ones start by you working in the office and then move to home. You could imagine all the people who would sign up to work at home but not really be doing it 100%. If you are more mid to late career for certain stuff, you can go the consulting route. That can be some great money and you can make your own hours and such. I've heard of all sorts of work from home stuff like travel agents, medical transcription, and basically anything that can be done on the computer/phone with little in-person interaction. Flexibility seems to be key for those of us who can still work. What about getting in contact with some employment agencies so you have a middleman who knows what you are looking for?

If you are to the point where you aren't reliable as far as being able to go into work and do your job, I've heard of people qualifying for disability even if they don't have the daily pain...more so that they can't be relied on to be there daily and functioning. Or, even based on the psychological aspects of pain. Having to go into work on less days or less hours a day could be helpful too.

I am an ebay seller....I resell clothing. When I am well enough, I can go to garage sales and thrift shops to find things to sell. Then I can list it for sale whenever.....
Not a lot of money, but it helps.

I am basically unemployed. I have not had a regular, steady, job since January of 2001.

I am too disabled to work, but not disabled enough to qualify for any kind of disability, or any other type of assistance, payments.

I am middle-aged and live with my, senior citizen, mother; who gets a portion of the Social Security that my late father earned.

I am 32 years and I work part-time at a Department Store. I work Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri and take a break on Wed mid-week.
I have Fibromyalgia, so I need to work short shifts. I take alot of sick days and use painkillers to get me through most days.

It is very hard working away from home, because you can't control your environment (like lighting and smells).

I have very sensitive skin and I am allergic to alot of things. I have to take anti-histamines every day to do my job.

I have thought about working from home, but I quite like going to work some days so I can talk to people and get some social interaction. I used to be on a disability pension, but I hated sitting at home all day alone.

I found it very hard to accept that I would never be "normal" and work a full-time job like everyone else. I had to accept that I was never going to earn as much money as all my friends and family. I am very grateful that I have a supportive Husband.

If you are a good writer, like to write and have the desire to work from home, freelance writing may be just the career for you. The first step is to develop a website for your freelance writing career, and include samples of your work. If you do not have any samples yet, just make some, but make them excellent depictions of the work that you do. It is important to showcase your talents, so that prospective employers can see the type of work that you will provide. The more you write, the better your writing will become.

Hi All,

I was 17 when the migraines became chronic. However, I was able to graduate from high school and from college on time. I did have a disability qualification for school- basically it meant that I had leniancy in attendance and was able to turn in work late. After college, I worked full time as an Interim youth director- which I loved doing, but I missed some things due to migrainel. I also did some tutoring work in an afterschool program- it was part time. I went back to school to get a Masters in Education, but had to put that on hold due to the fact that the fainting problem began and there was no way I could teach for a full day- and even had trouble making it to class.

Ever since the fainting began, it has been nearly impossible to work at all. I did do some contract data entry work and volunteered at an organization that tried to match volunteers with certain programs- again the fainting became disruptive.

I do have disability. Right, now, I am writing some Accelerated Reader tasks for a friend of mine's mother. I am usually able to volunteer twice a week at a local ementary school. I hellp the reading specialist, give AR tests, and work with a few students who have trouble reading. I really enjoy it- as it allows me to use some of my english and education skills. I have also found that six year olds don't mind when I faint. I have explained it to most of them in terms they can understand. But, it kind of makes me laugh when I fate in front of children and a parent or someone else sees it and the child says "Don't worry. Sometimes SS falls down, but she gets up again. The teachers there don't see it as a problem and several have said that they don't mind because it lets the children know that even people with problems are capable of doing things- just as they are.

I have about a three hour window during the day where I can really think and get stuff done. But anything more than that and I come home and collapse.

I would like to do some pain work, but that isn't possible right now. I hate it because I am only 31, but volunteer work is going well and it gets me out and doing more things. I have also learned more by actually working with students two days a week than I have in any education course.

Right now, I am trying to get the fainting under some control, but until then, I will just keep plugging away.

Pain free days,
sailing

Unfortunately, I had to quit working almost four years ago because the migraines got so bad. I get them every single day now, along with nausea, dizziness, vision changes, sometimes aura, ringing in ears, extreme light and sound sensitivity and lots of other symptoms that prevent me from working, even driving, at this point. It's sad, I'm only 33 and I want to work. I was a high school English teacher and I really miss it.

I have just finished up going back to school, and I'm now job hunting for a respiratory therapist job, so I'll be in a hospital setting on (most likely) 3- 12 hour long shifts a week. I'm looking for a night position, because they shut off many of the corridor lights, so I don't struggle with glare as much, and so that I'm at home during the daytime, when I seem to have more trouble with my migraines.

This is a tough topic since everyone's experience is so different. For me, I had occasional migraines for years and then suddenly around age 35 they became much more frequent. I was working as a teacher at the time. I eventually had to quit - -it's just not a job you can do half-heartedly, and there's no break. I took time off (which I am paying for financially, ever since).

Now I work in a clerical job at a hospital. Way below what I should be paid, but hey -- better than nothing. It's relatively close to home, which is important in case I have to get home in a hurry, and there are plenty of bathrooms. It's also a comfort knowing there's an ER right downstairs -- you just never know!

Sad, isn't it?

I work as a teacher too and some days I'm not sure how I do it. If I didn't have to worry about how many sick days I take it would be easier, but it is good to stay busy. I would miss it if I had to stop or were forced to take a medical leave. I take at least a third of the lightbulbs out of the ceiling to dim the lights since those fluorescent school lights are so harsh. That helps.