Basically I have been diagnosed with menstrual migraines which apparantly is not uncommon, they can start anywhere up to 7 days before menstruation and can last through it. I only usually have to take a single day off each time as most of my migraines are manageable. The migraines started when I had been taking medication for another problem. One of the symptoms of my existing condition was irregular menstruation and after taking the medication for some time I becam more regular and the migraines started. I do only have the migraines around menstruation and it took some time for me to find a doctor that would listen to that fact. I am not or have ever been an anxious person adn the food diary was because there are many more common triggers for migraines such as chocolate or dairy products.....believe me I have researched migrianes very thouroughly over the last 6 months. My main point was that they are including the'industrial accident' in with my sickness and are using that in the disciplinary hearing.

Hi, This is my first post, I have read many others but have not been able to find any information that may help me. This is also very long but I am trying to be concise with the information that I have, please bear with me. I suffer from migraines and as a result have had a lot of time off work, and I do mean a lot of time. My first migraine was in July, I didn't know what was happening at first, but my vision became strange, (kind of flashy lights) I became extremely dizzy and collapsed hitting my face on the front door as I went down. When I came to I had the most outrageous headache and was sick, not to mention the fact that my cheek bone and forehead was bruised and swollen, (imagine Herman Munster, that was me). I called in to work and immediately went to my doctor’s surgery where I was diagnosed as having a migraine, I must state that I definitely did not have concussion, I was thoroughly checked by the doctor and that was discounted straight away. I was given medication to take once a migraine starts but they didn’t work so in the end I ended up with strong painkillers which worked to a degree until I got a severe migraine. This happened a few more times until November I was advised that I had to see the company occupational doctor and was given a form for me to sign my own medical history over to him. I wasn’t very happy regarding that but I did agree to see the doctor but not sign my records over as I am very concerned as to who may see these and what information they are going to gain about me. When I visited the doctor he advised me that he really didn’t need to see my records and just made notes on what history I could give him that I thought was relevant. Now going back to my sickness I had a bad chest infection with the flu in October, this resulted in the doctor suggesting that I give up smoking, well we all know that we should anyway, but as an asthmatic he said that I will be prone to chest infections anyway and that smoking obviously doesn’t help. He also suggested that I keep a food diary to see if a particular food could be causing my migraines. All in all at the end of the meeting with me he stated that I will have respiratory issues as I’m asthmatic and there’s nothing that can be done re that other than giving up smoking, and, that if my migraine medication wasn’t working I would just have to keep trying with my GP to see if we could find something that does work. I had a meeting with my line manager and HR once the doctors report was in but really not much of what the doctor stated to my face was in it and he concluded that my ‘illness’ should not affect my ability to work. I was given by HR an extended sick entitlement, (extended by 4 days). Then in December just before Christmas I had another sever migraine attack and had to leave work early and take the next day off, I managed to return to work for two days before we actually broke up over Christmas. Becoming extremely fed up with the situation I booked another appointment to see my GP, nothing we were doing at the moment was working and my food diary did not show any sort of pattern regarding the migraines, which were occurring regularly on a monthly basis. Now with regards to the appointment I admit I messed up, I stupidly booked it for the next available slot which was 4th January, the same day I returned to work after the holidays, in my frustration I obviously didn’t take note of the date when I booked it. This doctor diagnosed my migraines as having to do with ‘women's’ issues and I was prescribed new medication for three months to try it out, but then had another migraine attack in January and again in February taking up three of the four extra entitlement days. Now, last Friday I had a slight accident in work, I slipped on spilt water in the bathroom injuring my right hand, it bruised and swelled immediately. I filled out the accident book with our first aider who is a manager in the department who suggested I call NHS direct. I did this and they advised me to see my doctor, I advised the first aider and the team that I was working with and went to the surgery straight away where I was informed that there were no appointments but they would see if a doctor could come out to me. A doctor did eventually come out and took a quick look at my hand, he advised that he didn’t think there was any serious damage and to go home, rest it and put a cold compress on it. I had a very restful weekend with my husband doing practically everything around the house and the swelling in my hand went down significantly. When I returned to work on Monday morning I told my line manager straight away what had happened and let her know that I thought I was ok now. Unfortunately throughout the day of opening parcels and typing my hand started to swell again and I phoned NHS direct again and was again advised to see my doctor. By the time I got home the surgery was closed so first thing Tuesday morning I rang to get an appointment this took a few attempts which in between I called my line manager to let her know that I would be late. I got an appointment and was told that my hand could be broken, well you know the bones in my hand, and was referred to the hospital to get it x-rayed. It turned out not to be broken but I have damage to the tendons in my hand and that I need to wear a brace and rest the hand, I returned to work with this. This bring me to the main issue, as I have had to take time from work to deal with my hand injury, I am now facing a disciplinary hearing next Thursday and I am terrified that I am going to lose my job. I have worked for the company now for 8 years and never had problems of this sort and really don’t know what to do, especially as when I contacted HR today to get information on the hearing I was refused stating I will receive everything on Tuesday, just two days before the hearing. Any help would be gratefully appreciated. Thanks