Saturday, September 4, 2010

Vacation for Migraines

Have you ever taken a vacation to help with your Migraines? Wait, I don't think I asked that question right. Have you ever taken a vacation so you could work on your work from work to try to help with your Migraines?

That's what I did this week. OK, you can put that big "L" on my forehead now. I know it belongs there, but I had to take a week of vacation from work for a few reasons. I have not been able to catch up or even keep up with work so the thought of taking time off was a huge stressor until I realized I could get caught up during my vacation time on an overdue project and a couple of other things that must be done without having the everyday interruptions from email, phone calls and people dropping by with questions or giving me more things to do.

This big project was due in July so it has been hanging over my head for some time. Although it is due in July, I do not get the information I need to start putting everything together until July. There are also other extra things due that month that do not have the same wiggle room that this project has in due date, but the pressure is kept on until it is completed.

These are all in addition to the normal work we have to do too and it is virtually impossible to do during my already normally expanded workday. These projects reoccur annually. I believe this added stress is a big reason for my increased Migraines since it will exasperate the extra heat and weather triggers that come with the summer time.

With the rise in Migraines and symptoms during this time, I am not able to put in extra time at night or during weekends to work on this project either. By the time I get home, I am exhausted. On weekends, I need to physically rest up on one day and take care of home stuff on the other day. I wouldn't be able to function if I didn't do this.

During this vacation week off, I have been able to finish the majority of the project. After I return to work, I will still have about another sixteen hours of work left on it that could not be done during the week since it has to be completed in the office.

I will keep track of this week off to see getting more caught up has helped with my Migraines. I am now contemplating taking a week off in July every year so I can finish the project then, when I can be away from the office so it does not hang over my head as long.

I know I still deserve that "L" on my head, but I also feel like I've given up a lot more for my Migraines than a few vacation days especially if it does help put my head back on straight and allows me to stop being so stifled while I am able to move forward again.

What kind of things have you done that you really should not have had to do in order to help with your Migraines? Did it help?

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4 comments:

WinnyNinny PooPoo said...

I sometimes work from home via VPN when I cannot for whatever reason (medication or pain) make it into work. I fortunately have the flexibility so I don't have to take vacation time (as if I had any - its always used up for sick time in the PTO bank) to do this. Since I work remotely with most of our clients - it is just another place to work remotely from.

MigrainePuppet said...

My boss would be flexible enough to let me work from home, but in this case, I needed huge blocks of time that I would not have been able to get. I don't plan on telling my boss that this is what I worked on during my vacation. I still think I will be able to look at it like it helped my Migraines and was worth it. At least I hope so.

WinnyNinny PooPoo said...

Well see, instead of an L on your forehead you come out as master strategist of Migraine Control Headquarters!!!! Good plan!

MigrainePuppet said...

I am willing to try about anything right now to help. I just hope it helps and was worth it...