The next live chat is this Wednesday, July 21st at 2 pm EDT. You can go to the site now to set yourself up to receive an email reminder of this event. This chat is scheduled to talk about Summer Migraines. The July Headache Blog Carnival on Somebody Heal Me by Diana Lee was on Enjoying the Summer Despite Heat. If the scheduled topic is completed before the chat time is over, they will move onto other topics and questions about Migraines!
I found one of the last off topic chat session comments very interesting and have been thinking about it for some time. I couldn't make or contribute to the session, but I could follow along what went on afterward which is another great perk about the chats! The more people who join the chats while they are going on, the better the sessions will be. If you can't make the chat, they are posted after to allow anyone who could not make it, still read what was talked about. Anyway, one quick off topic blurb that came up had to do with people who fake feeling well.
I've been thinking about this topic since I read the chat. Do you ever fake feeling well? I don't intentionally do it, but I'm sure I come across this way. I know I have chronic Migraines and most people don't know when I am not feeling well. I have learned to slow myself down which has been hard.
Yes, I do feel the pain and all of the symptoms that accompany my Migraine attacks, but I went many decades in ignorance. I disregarded my headaches as best I could as I was told at a young age there was nothing that could be done to help me. I now know that this was not good for my health as Migraines Can Cause Brain Damage plus if we fake feeling well, it defeats everything we work so hard to accomplish.
I know I find all of this so difficult too because I support my family which includes two children who are currently in college. I know I need to take care of myself, but I also need to take care of my family. This all interprets to I have to do what I can to keep my job, what's best for my health and my family. Not so easy when it comes to chronic Migraines.
It's important for us not to fake feeling well and to educate others as much as we can about Migraine - to stay real and let people learn what Migraine is all about. I try not to complain because I don't want to be a whiner or to have someone not believe something I say. Knock on wood, I don't get sick very often if you don't count Migraines. I know that's stretching it a bit.
I don't think I purposely fake feeling well whether it is with a regular sickness or with a Migraine, but I don't always do much to help myself or let others know how I am feeling. The only person at work who has ever seen a Migraine on my face has been my boss. I don't see him very often as we don't work in the same building, but I do talk with him most days. There are times when those closer to me know I have a Migraine by the way I talk and even conduct myself.
We need people to understand that Migraine is a disease, not a headache. I have this saying on a coffee mug on my desk as well as the Fire his sorry butt mug and use the one I'm in the mood to talk about if the subject arises. I don't have any problems educating anyone or giving them any information I have about Migraine and usually look forward to these opportunities.
Have you ever faked feeling well?
6 comments:
I did that once with a college professor. I downplayed the fact I was in the ER getting treated for severe pain by texting "I will miss class today, having a bit of a migraine" he responded by saying "he had headaches too, but he made it to class". A BAD error on his part, but he learned that later on from HIS boss.
I quit faking, however, I still do not want people I work with see me in a blubbering pit of pain. I just have a hangup that it's not dignified, and I don't want to be seen that way. Stiff necked pride I guess with is really sorta stupid...however they HAVE seen me vomit enough times to WATCH OUT if I'm getting nauseous!
It sounds like you both learned something by that experience. I agree that the workplace is hard on so many levels. We not only worry about holding onto our jobs, but we must continue to work with these people. I know I can act very differently when I have a Migraine and try to be very cognizant of that and will use it as one of the ways I identify when I have a Migraine.
I unfortunately "fake feeling well" quite often. I feel as if I admitted to myself or others how terrible I really feel on an almost daily basis I'd never get anything done. I also, like you, don't want to constant feel like I am whining all the time. I feel as if most people are now over hearing how sick I am or how bad I feel after 7 years. =(
One time I innocently mentioned something about my face feeling numb. The look I got was like I had three eyes and horns growing out of my head. I thought a numb face was normal. Silly me.
MP thanks for bringing up a vital but hard to talk about subject!
It is a very hard topic to talk about. It's tough to choose between what you have to do for your job, your livelihood and what you need to do for your health. I honestly can't say that I will choose the right answer, either way, and will often make the wrong choice for both - at the same time. I am trying to be good with all of this 'stuff', but it doesn't always work out that way.
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