I remember going to work one evening because no one could be join to replaced me. My boss had to be in for a reason, when se saw me she sent me home. She did the shift for me. Apparently it was all over my face. That was only one time but gee..! I did appreciated, specially the night shift with a migraine, you want to die.
I know of many who used the excuse, So sad for us.
This kind of P's me off, because I myself have "not" done this. Let me repeat, I have "not" done this. I had FMLA for work when I did work, and did not use it as a way to get out of work. I went to work when I could. If I had the flu, I said I had the flu. I never had to fake a migraine, it was written all over my face. So, those of you have done this........shame on you! That makes it hard for people like me who tried to work, and was accused of maybe "not" having one at times. P's me off. Sorry, but that's my feelings on this. For us who suffer badly, we don't fake it, and I wish I could still work.
Denise
no way now how. my co-workers have seen me suffer through enough when i try to work with one, and they are very understanding.
but no i have never and will never use a migraine aas an excuse when i don't have one. i know one person who has, and karma got her in the end.... she got a really bad one on a night that we had NO help and she had to stay.
In defense of those that have used migraine as an excuse to call in sick. . .I say as long as you have been diagnosed and actually have the disease, go ahead. I've called in a few times in the past decade and I don't feel guilty. I don't care that my co-workers had to let my work sit on my desk until I returned - not when they call in for every ache and pain they have. I have gotten so much crap over the years for having migraine from my boss and co-workers. If I need to stay home to rest and can't actually say that as an excuse, I will say I have a migraine. Will they know the difference? I tried to be the best I could with this disease, taking on more and more work, working through migraines, listening to the crap from them, and rarely calling in if I could help it. But it just came with more criticism. So. . .I will call in and blame my disease when I want to watch TV and rest all day to prevent a migraine later. Suffering from daily headaches is no party, and taking more meds than you are supposed to just makes it worse, so sometimes you just have to do what you have to do.
i think the key difference ( or at least from what i read) is you are resting to try and avoid the migraine.
now if you had said you called in saying you had a migraine so you could go party, i'd tell you off in a minute,
i've had days that i should have called in ( all the warnings were there) yet i pushed myself to go, and paid dearly.
so sometimes it has to be a judgement call.
We all have days when we simply do not feel like going to work. Still, life with Migraines is hard enough without making it harder. And I do think faking a Migraine to take off from work can make things harder. For one thing, it would make the employer think your Migraines are more frequent than they are. For another, it gives the overall impression that Migraineurs are less dependable.
IMO, faking a Migraine to miss work is despicable. But, Karma is a beautiful thing. 
Shalom,
Abi
I was discharged from the Navy because of my migraines (when I really wanted to stay in and retire with my husband). I'm now working for the federal government in a job that I love and I'm having problems with them again. The prophylactic medication is no longer working and despite my track record of outstanding work ethic and only calling in when I actually have a migraine (and bringing a doctor's note if it lasts more than 3 days), they are making noises about putting me out on disability. They hired me as a disabled vet in the first place, knowing full well that the migraines were my disability! Unfortunately, this commanding officer doesn't understand migraines. They are just bad headaches, right?!?!? I've discovered that people who have never suffered from one have no idea just how debilitating they can be! I'm glad that my department head and my immediate supervisor are willing to fight for me. Fortunately, they have both suffered from migraines in the past, so they understand.
As the boss of someone who has taken a minmum of 30 days sick leave every year sometimes 35 days, this is very difficult to manage.
In my case we have an intelligent member of my team who unfortunately also has a habit of building up prior to getting her migraines.. so much so that I have recently had to have a meeting with the rest of this person's team because they are feeling totally let down by her. So I am face with teh situation that I know this person genuinely has migraines BUT NOT ALL OF THE TIME!
She also happens to be the sort of person who looks after number one only which does not help matters.
Unfortunately she is giving other genuine sufferes a bad name, has totally lost respect within her co workers and managers.
Hi Teri, no I don't mean that I have been reading up on migraines because of this person and am aware of the build up you are referring to. In this case the person i am talking about starts talking to her colleagues days before about a kidney infection coming up or flu or migraine....My personal opinion is that she does genuinely suffer from migraines but she also uses this to take days off.
One incidence last year ,she was supposedly sick with a migraine and was seen at the stables.
Regards
Sam.
Featuring Content From:
By using this service, you accept our Terms of Use. Please read them. The consumer health information on is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. You should promptly seek professional medical care if you have any concern about your health, and you should always consult your physician before starting a fitness regimen. Copyright © 2012 Remedy Health Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
I am sad about the results of this poll, but it once again reminds us of how far behind we all are about educating the non-migraineur public(and law makers, health workers, etc.). I hope we all make a lasting comittment to this issue. Everyone will benefit. I am sure others go through the same thing with other debilitating conditions. I now find it easier to be an advocate for all people with chronic, life-interrupting disease. In a positive way, it connects me to many, many more people and makes for a more compassionate for all. Let's all keep up the essential education processes, both on a personal and national/global platform. Thanks Teri!!!!
There have been days where I didn't have a full-blown migraine and probably could have gone in to work, but I know that if I did, by the end of the day I would have a severe migraine that would take me out for at least two days so I chose to stay home for one day with a so-so headache instead. I've gone in like that before and been so sick by the time I got home it's all I could do to literally crawl up the stairs and tumble into bed. By the time you're in that state, you can't talk, eat, and are in so much pain you can't even sleep.
So I don't feel bad about calling in when I don't have a full-blown migraine. I know how to judge my body and my symptoms to make sure I stay as healthy as I can to be at work as much as possible.