Are migraines a disability?

kimberleyt2289

Hi all,

This is my first post so sorry if I get something wrong.

My question is, are frequent migraines something that's covered in a disability or other benefit.

OK so my story is, I get severe migraines triggered by the smell of coffee. As I work as a trainee accountant in an office this is a big problem. So far the doctors have me on beta blockers which increase my defended against them but I find myself constantly tired and confused at work, my vision going wonky. The coffee machine broke a few weeks ago and it was like I was finally alive. So technically I can work, but it makes me really ill and I still get the migraines when I get even slightly run down or an office cold makes the rounds. My worry is that I will become resistant to my beta blockers and they will no longer work. Fear it may already be starting to happen. They are the only thing allowing me to stay at my desk. If they were to fail, would I be able to get any help from the government?

Ps not married, living with partner.

Any advise would be amazing

DomRavioli

Definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010. You're disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a 'substantial' and 'long-term' negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities. - https://www.gov.uk/definition-of-disability-under-equality-act-2010

As it would only stop you doing a specific job in a specific place, its unlikely to qualify, but you would need a consultant to confirm whether this is correct in your specific case - do you have a neurologist for your migraines that you could ask?

Although I can't give specific medical advice, I've been on the same dose of beta blockers for four years, so you really are worrying over nothing. It is also quite safe to increase them on migraine doses, with very little side effects.

It is highly unlikely you would receive anything disability related, as they would just say get a job where you aren't in that environment.

paragon909

kimberleyt2289 wrote: »

Hi all,

This is my first post so sorry if I get something wrong.

My question is, are frequent migraines something that's covered in a disability or other benefit.

OK so my story is, I get severe migraines triggered by the smell of coffee. As I work as a trainee accountant in an office this is a big problem. So far the doctors have me on beta blockers which increase my defended against them but I find myself constantly tired and confused at work, my vision going wonky. The coffee machine broke a few weeks ago and it was like I was finally alive. So technically I can work, but it makes me really ill and I still get the migraines when I get even slightly run down or an office cold makes the rounds. My worry is that I will become resistant to my beta blockers and they will no longer work. Fear it may already be starting to happen. They are the only thing allowing me to stay at my desk. If they were to fail, would I be able to get any help from the government?

Ps not married, living with partner.

Any advise would be amazing

I doubt you would be entitled to PIP for headaches, Probably best to get referred to a neurologist to get checked maybe get sent for an MRI.

And the only way you could claim ESA is if your doctor will give you a sick note, But have you informed your employer of how coffee gives you a sore head.

Also constantly thinking about an illness and building up an anxiety can cause you stress which leads to tension headaches.

soolin

paragon909 wrote: »

I doubt you would be entitled to PIP for headaches, Probably best to get referred to a neurologist to get checked maybe get sent for an MRI.

And the only way you could claim ESA is if your doctor will give you a sick note, But have you informed your employer of how coffee gives you a sore head.

Also constantly thinking about an illness and building up an anxiety can cause you stress which leads to tension headaches.

migraines are not 'a headache' for many people the headache is just a small part of the issue.

However, I can't see them fulfilling the requirements of the equality Act especially if they have a specific trigger and whilst your preferred occupation might be office based perhaps you need to consider a non office type job?

Terrible things though, I used to get completely knocked out by them despite beat blockers , imigram etc and then one day they just went away.

Louise888

Hello

Yes, I receive ESA and PIP for chronic migraine.
It would depend on your symptoms though.
My symptoms are exactly the same as if I were having a stroke.
I suffer from them approximately 25-28 days every month.

To everyone who thinks a migraine is just a headache, you obviously have never suffered one! For me the headache is the easiest symptom to manage and anout 50% of my migraines don't even develop into a headache.

I have had 3 MRI's and there doesn't appear to be any reason for them and I've tried all sorts of medication but nothing has helped.

GwylimT

Migraines are not headaches, when was the last time your headache was caused by lesions on the brain?

I take daily beta blockers and an inhibitor called pizotifen three times a day. I also cannot consume strawberries, bananas, any caffiene, dark chocolate, red wine or large amounts of grapes. This works quite well as at the moment I am only gettind around one per month, without my medication I average four a week.

I do get symptoms every few days, inability to speak and numbness on my left side, when I get these I take rizatriptan which works quite well.

OP have you tried anything other than beta blockers? There are a lot of drugs available that could help.

tea-bag

I had a friend from school who was a very talented mechanic. He developed Cluster Headaches that are also Called "Suicide Headaches"

http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/local-news/headaches-forced-man-to-suicide-4237160

teddysmum

I think this would be a case of coping with the situation or finding work elsewhere, as it is only the coffee that incapacitates the OP.


I once met a lady, who was a hairdresser and developed an allergy to hair dye, which caused sores all the way up her arms (despite wearing long gloves). She had years of experience and training, she had to give up the job she loved and look elsewhere.


Likewise, a man, who lives in our road, had to give up HGV driving, after losing the sight in one eye and take other work.

[Deleted User]

Migraine is an illness, headache is a symptom. Some migraines cause a headache, some don't. Some headaches are caused by migraine, some aren't.

I get ocular migraines: no headache, just visual aura.

Soolin, my migraines stop when I stop exercising, and return when I resume. I didn't start getting them until I was in my mid forties.

soolin

jack_pott wrote: »

Migraine is an illness, headache is a symptom. Some migraines cause a headache, some don't. Some headaches are caused by migraine, some aren't.

I get ocular migraines: no headache, just visual aura.

Soolin, my migraines stop when I stop exercising, and return when I resume. I didn't start getting them until I was in my mid forties.

Exercise used to be a bit of a trigger for me as well as all the common factors like stress- but most horribly I got them when I was excited and happy about something. My only one in the past few years was at my son's wedding where I was really really ill and missed most of the event after the ceremony and part of the meal.

I had them from about age 12 to my mid 40s , several a month sometimes once a week and had all the classic hallucinations, one sided weakness, inability to talk- basically I looked drunk or as though I'd had a stroke.

Anchoress

tea-bag wrote: »

I had a friend from school who was a very talented mechanic. He developed Cluster Headaches that are also Called "Suicide Headaches"

http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/local-news/headaches-forced-man-to-suicide-4237160

I have only once had a cluster headache that felt like I had a javelin going through my eye and into my brain, terrible, terrible pain. Really sorry to hear about your friend, poor chap life can be so cruel sometimes.

I suffer from chronic migraines - 3 to 4 a week but they are secondary to the condition that I get ESA support for and don't know if I'd qualify on migraines alone.