Migraines and work

Trauma Columnist · Sep 5, 2008

If you have scripts for these meds, there is no reason to be concerned. Good luck in your new career and welcome to the world of nursing!

AmyBRN · Sep 5, 2008

Hi,

As a fellow migraine sufferer, I think that you should take whatever medication works for you. When I just started my current job, I told the employee health PA that I have migraines. She just asked if any of my medications for the migraines would show up on the drug screen, which they didn't. But I'm sure that even if they did, as long as I told the truth and had scripts it wouldn't have been a problem. Don't worry, and good luck in your career.

Amy

shelly304 · Sep 5, 2008

I so agree with Trauma. Please do not be so hard on yourself. I have suffered from migraines since age 13. Imitrex is my best friend! Preventatives have never worked for me. It is hard for some people who have never had a true migraine to understand the magnitude of pain these bring on. I have such empathy for those suffering great pain. I am able to say to a patient, "I understand how you feel".

allnurses Guide · Sep 5, 2008

:icon_hug: Aw hon.... no reason to be hard on yourself because you are taking the only cocktail of meds that has shown to help you! Anyway though, when you go to take the drug test, simply let them know what meds you are on and why you are taking them, and bring the bottles because they may want to see them..... and you should be fine! Best of luck!!!

Dolce, RN · Sep 5, 2008

You are not the only nurse suffering with migraines. I have worked with excellent nurses who deal with migraines. They have a lot of compassion for others because of their own pain that they deal with.

sissiesmama, ASN, RN · Sep 5, 2008

Hello all! I have a concern. I am graduating in 26 days and will probably sit for boards sometime in late Nov early Dec. I am so excited and have worked so hard! I have been suffering from extremely bad migraines for many years. I manage to keep them under pretty good control by watching what I eat (limiting caffine), wearing sunglasses in the sun, and taking Topamax 4 times daily. But I still get a few migraines a month. They are so hard on me and I see a really good doc that has sent me for all kinds of tests and tried all kinds of meds. Okay this is getting long I said all of this to say...I am nervous about being looked down on when I go to get a job because of the medications that I take when I get a migraine. My doc prescribes me Fioricet, Xanex and Soma for my migraines and it actually helps. We have tried so many other things that have not worked. I am worried that when I go to take a drug test and hand them all of these prescription bottles they are gonna look at me like I am a risk to divert meds. Will I be seen in this light? I am crying as I typing and mad myself for being weak. I am willing to stop taking it all and suffer if it means that it could make me look bad and hinder my chances at showing a facility what a great nurse that I know I will be. Please no one flame me for any of this...I am not a pill head...I don't mean to sound defensive but I kinda am. I am just looking for input. Thank you so much in advance for your comments and advice.

Price - Hello, it is nice to hear from you, but I am sorry you have to put up with migraines like I do. I would not wich them on anyone. I started having bad migraines when I was 18, and now I am 38, with really no end, I guess in sight. My MDs, including my neurologist, are still not sure what the culprit is. My primary MD is one of the most compassionate, caring women I have ever met. She, thank God, is one that actually sits and listens to you instead of checking her watch every 2 minutes while doing the "smile and nod" technique.

When I call my MDs office with a really bad migraine and I have already started throwing up, they will fit me in to either see her or at least let me come in to get something IM for pain and nausea. She knows me well enough by now that I don't just call the office or show up drug seeking. And, yes like you I have had test after test and still hurt.

She gives me Soma rx for kind of a "first line defense", so to speak, if OTC stuff are not working. I do take Lortab po and Phenergan rect. if the above things are not effectrive. I have an extensive very recent cardiac hx, and my Cardiologist doesn't want to put me on Topamax or other preventative measures yet. (He tried me on Imitrex SQ and I ended up in ICU with SVT.)

I am sorry you are having to deal with the migraines, and I know worrying about finishing up school and starting a job just seem to make them worse. In my opinion, it speaks highly of you that you don't want to be looked down on just because of the need to take meds.

I always try to be open and honest with co workers, and I guess one time it came back to bite me in the toocus. I was working on a busy med surg unit of one of our charity hospitals and thought I was friends with another nurse and HAPPENED to make a comment about that I had been in the ER the weekend before with a migraine. Well, she twisted it all around and by the next day you would not believe the things she had said!! Ridiculous!! So, I learned from that interaction, to disclose any information about any kind of sensitive subject with someone that I just thought I was friends with. I guess kind of a "need to know" basis, if that makes any sense.

Feel free if you would like, to pm me. I will be more than happy to talk to you anytime, or if you are nervous or just need to vent I am here.

Good luck to you. I bet you will do just fine!

Anne, RNC

nrsang97, BSN, RN · Sep 5, 2008

I so agree with Trauma. Please do not be so hard on yourself. I have suffered from migraines since age 13. Imitrex is my best friend! Preventatives have never worked for me. It is hard for some people who have never had a true migraine to understand the magnitude of pain these bring on. I have such empathy for those suffering great pain. I am able to say to a patient, "I understand how you feel".

I completely agree with you here. I have suffered with migraines for years. Since my late teens. Be honest about your meds and there will be no problems. Take your bottles with you as well. Preventatives worked well for me so far. Much less headaches. Rare for me to get a mirgaine now. Welcome to nursing.

mondkmondk · Sep 5, 2008

Hi...I'm bipolar and often get migraines or what I call "bipolar headaches". I used to take Depakote and it worked really well but I gained so much weight on it I had to go off it, plus we were trying to get pg too. Anyway, now I take Corgard which is also an antihypertensive because when I went to the Dr./NP about my migraines, when they took my blood pressure, my diastolic was like 98. The NP sat and talked with me and I took deep breaths etc. trying to relax myself and they checked my B/P again and it was still 92...that is why she gave me Corgard.

The other meds I take are Synthroid, Navane, Cogentin, Wellbutrin, and Sonata. I have Seroquel prn for hallucinations. I've always disclosed what meds I'm on and my condition and I've only been turned down for like 2 jobs because of it, one was in psych nursing.

So anyway, welcome to the world of nursing and know you aren't the only one on meds! Good luck with boards...study Lippincott's and I guarantee you will pass!

Blessings, Michelle

Mellowchick · Sep 5, 2008

Good grief! Why must we be ashamed of migraines?? Because it's mostly a female affliction? If more men got migraines the world would shut down while they recovered. Seriously! You all know it!

I've gotten migraines since high school. I've tried everything to figure out the trigger but mostly it's been either stress, hormones, the weather, wine, fatigue, chocolate ... uh, tight clothes, red lights, long lines at Subway, my team lost, irritating people. bad grades, the color red.... well, you get it. It doesn't matter what causes it, it happens and we do what's needed to handle it.

I have this "aura".. that whole blurry, flashing lights thing. I feel like my eyeballs are rolling around in my head and, it seems to me, that everyone can see it! Now, if I'm at work, I pop an Imitrex and then try to continue on with pts, struggling to read the chart, acting concerned while my head is exploding.. then the Imitrex kicks in and I'm jelly. Imitrex works for me but it wears me out.

I'm lucky to work with a team of docs who understand and are amenable to any solution! I think you'll find that you have more allies than you know.

good luck! :)

dekagirlsRN · Sep 5, 2008

I also suffer from migraines. Please do NOT stop taking your medications if they work for you!! There is no reason you should suffer!! Plus, you'll end up missing more work that way!! As long as these are prescription medications and you can prove it, you have nothing to worry about. And, don't worry about what anyone thinks because this is confidential information and your co-workers have no reason to find out. My co-workers know I suffer from migraines but they don't know exactly which medications I take, unless I shared that info with them. My opinion is that the worse thing you can do is stop taking your meds--there is no reason that you should do that!

chenoaspirit, ASN, RN · Sep 6, 2008

When I went for a job interview, I tested positive for Hydrocodone (I had just had surgery a couple months prior). I just had to show a copy of the scripts and it was fine. Everyone has to take meds at some point in their life, they will not look down on you. Just make sure you can prove you are presribed these medications.