Migraine

Hi Everyone

We are going through a tough time right now with Andrew. He recently had a reaction to his medication. It was affecting his mood. We lowered the dosage. He has not been feeling well for several weeks. First it seemed like he had a virus. He was worn out and tired. Now he has a sinus infection. He is complaining of stomach pain and nausea. He has little appetite. He is also having loads of sleep issues. He can't fall asleep until late. He wakes with a migraine and on and on... Lack of sleep is a trigger.

Needless to say, we are having some issues with some teachers. Andrew has gotten far behind in some classes. He misses those regularly when he goes in late. We do have a 504 plan in place. That doesn't make the teachers treat him nicely though. He went in yesterday and a teacher handed him a stack of work and wanted it back today. Sorry, that's not possible. They don't realize he is often not feeling well while he is at school and after school. He has some fault in getting so far behind. But, what's done is done. We need to get him caught up and move forward.

Anyhow, my ex husband I discussed the possibility of pulling him out of school again like we did last year. I was hoping that we could do that for a couple of weeks, but the school says they require 6 weeks. If we pull him out he may not go back this year. We really want him in school and he really wants to be there. So far, we have not chosen that route. That could change tomorrow.

I'm already trying to plan out the next school year. He will be going onto the high school next year. I will be losing the guidance counselor that has been such a HUGE help to me.

What I would like is for Andrew to take 1 or 2 courses in the summer so he will have fewer courses to deal with during the school year. Our school doesn't offer anything. I have started contacting cyber schools. So far, no one offers a summer course.

The other thing I would like is for Andrew to go to school part time next year and do part time cyber school at home in the morning which is a difficult time for him. I can't find any school to do that either. I bet I will be able to find one that we have to pay for. There are free cyber schools that offer full time course work.

Does anyone know anything about online summer school or doing a mix of school during the school year? That is what he really needs, but I don't know how to get it.

Thanks
Jean Ann

Jenn Ann do the Junior Collages in your area offer any course work for high school kids that Andrew could take either online or at the college over the summer? A friend of my daughter's had to make things up through the JC in high school due to time missed for a signficiant illness and they used the JC.

Your high school district does not offer summer school? Since you know you have problems I would go ahead and call the school he will be going to now. I have found our school counselers to be great and very helpful. The call now can't hurt. You might be surprised.

Cindy

I guess these cyber schools have to be offered in your district? It would be cool if you could fine a free one and have his grades transferred.

Other than that, I just want to offer you good luck, you certainly have a lot on your plate but I think you're doing a great job with Andrew.

Hi

My local school district only offers summer courses if you are failing. There maybe some courses offered at outside districts. I'm going to check around.

I found out today that you cannot be dually enrolled in cyber school and public school. The cyber schools are "chartered" in my state (PA). It's one or the other, but you can't have both. That seems so ridiculous to me. I feel like I have the perfect simple solution, but the law does not allow it. I am going to make a complaint to the state department of ED.

I will contact the high school soon. I'm just trying to do the background work first. We will have to meet with them to get a new 504 plan in place for next year anyhow.

The junior college idea is a good one too. I don't think there are any jr. colleges nearby, but there are some community colleges. I will check on them.

I also think that I will contact the disability advocate. I have the name. I just haven't felt the need before. I want to do everything I can to make next year easier on Andrew (and me).

Thanks
Jean Ann

Hi Jean Ann,

Boy did this discussion come at the right time for me. My daughter Breezy is a freshman in high school this year. She has missed about 30 days this year with her transformed migraine. Yesterday we met with a new pediatric neurologist specializing in pain and headaches. I really liked her. She offered lots of support for Breezy, but also the insistance that she go to school daily because after 18 months straight, this needs to be considered chronic pain.

My daughter played the argumentative teenager and protested about feeling pain, feeling sick, etc. THe reply was she was no better at home- true. SHe told Breezy she could raise her hand, go to the bathroom and vomit and return to class. She really wants Breezy to just be there even if she isn't well there. THe message was really that chronic pain got better (hopefully)with functioning level and that distraction of school helps distract from pain- usually true. I feel like we have a plan and a reason why now. So we will try this out, though it will be hard to send her on those really bad days.

Ok, sorry, off track, any way, Breezy has the following things in her 504 to help her. Maybe one of these may help you with your new plan next year if you do not already have them all.
* extra time to make up given 3 days absent over two weeks, or more
* ability to make up work in another teacher's classroom if teacher is unavailable to stay
* Breezy is notified about homework assignments that she misses by email or note left for her older sister at the guidance office
* A copy of notes will be provided to Breezy after any absense or if she is unable to take the notes that day
* A copy of notes will be provided to Breezy for any work completed on an overhead projector with the lights out.
* Breezy is able to keep an extra set of all text books at home

A few things we have recently put in place to help her, but are not on the 504 are 1. she dropped her elective 6th period and was assigned a study. SHe uses that time during the study to make up tests and work. 2. She was assigned a national honor society tutor (student) to help her catch up in one of the classes in which she was the furthest behind.

I am meeting with her team of teachers again next week and we will discuss the new doctor's recommendations. I will ask the team at that time to work with us as i send my sick daughter and try to understand that there will be some days when the only goal will be to make it through the day.

Good luck with your plans for Andrew!!
Cindy G.

Cindy

Thanks for all of the information. I'm sure it will be hard to send her onto school when she feels awful. I really don't know if I could do it. But, I can see the point of it. He tries to go in for a portion of everyday. Many of those days he is not necessarily feeling great when he goes. I think if he could get the sleep he needs he could wake up without a migraine.

Andrew used to have NDPH. That went away. Then he got better. Now he cycles between good and bad times. Now is a bad time. I don't think we are at the chronic pain point now although we have been there before. It's so hard especially when all the zomig for the week has already been taken. Do you run into that problem too?

I like your 504 plan. We don't have a lot of those specific items in there. It's because he started school on a good note. He was on a new medication and feeling better at the beginning of the year. We may need to get in there and make some changes to our plan.

His doctor is taking him off the neurontin completely. We are starting to wean him off today. We see the dr on March 21. The doctor is going to try him on depakote next. I HOPE that will work.

Good luck with your daughter. I hope things will improve for her.


Thanks for all the great info.
Jean Ann

Jean Ann

In California our Junior Colleges are what many other states call Community Colleges. So that is what you would be looking for. I know Jenna (my daughter's friend) took her foreign language and it seem like some of her Math there.

Summer school here is prioritzed. Those student who have failed a subject get in to a class first. Then those who wish to take classes to lessen their load during the school year are next. Those kids are generally selected on a lottery basis. I would guess some kids might have special needs that would put them up on the priorty list and they would not be subject to the lottery. Kids usually can't take more than 2 classes in summer school. It's just too much.

Cindy

We've got some kids that do a shortened day. In our district, though, that generally means they have a seven-period day as opposed to the normal eight. So it's only an hour different, really. Some of them also start later in the morning, but it's only about a half hour. There aren't any half-day scenarios.

We do sometimes have some summer school classes, but when they do them, it's only for failing grades. Also, most of the time they do them only for elementary. They never have summer school just as a brush up/catch up option.

I have no idea about cyberschool here. I've never heard of anyone doing that.

We also have a homebound program, but it's not something they use often in the district. Right now we have a student with Chiari that is homebound while she recovers from surgery. A couple of years ago there was a homebound student that had substantial health issues. It's kind of a last resort thing in our district, saved kids with very substantial problems, and they have to satisfy that there's no way at all the student can attend school first.

Jean Ann, I don't have much to add other than that I would definitely look into the community college option. When I was in high school I took a course or two at a local community college when they couldn't fit in with my schedule. This wasn't for health reasons, granted, but with pre-approval from my high school I didn't have any problems.

Good luck to you - it sounds like you're doing a wonderful job with Andrew under very trying circumstances.

Jean Ann, I am so sorry to hear Andrew is on such a down right now! Its interesting you mentioned online school, as I JUST this past week signed my oldest son up through Marysville Moveup online highschool. This is a Public school district. He is also able to go to Choir at our local school district as well! He is able to do his courses any time of day including the summer I believe(not 100% on that though)

My eldest isnt sick or anything, he just needed more challenge and ability to work at his own pace. He wants to graduate early to go into the Navy at 17, and start his College education on ship.

From what I understand, our state(Washington) Is one of the few states offering this, for free anyway. I am not sure if your state is or not. Click here for more options on your state. There is a phone number you can call for options for your state on there. Its 1-866-235-3276. The company is called Advanced Academics, and basically they are contracting with public schools. I also found a few other middle/high schools online, but they cost money per course etc.

Hope it helps
to both you and Andrew!
Tawsha

Thanks for all of the information everyone.

Tawsha, I did put a call in to find out more about that school you mentioned. They do have something in PA. Did you sign your son up for next year or for now? I'm just curious if you can start midway. It seems like you should be able to.

Cindy I did contact the 2 community colleges in my area. I hope we can find something for next year. One of them has responded that it is a possibility, but we need to go through our guidance office to get approval. At least we have an option.

Cindy G, I put in a request for some additions to our 504 plan based on your plan.

I have contacted every single public cyber school in my state looking for summer school. I found a couple of possibilities. I think we will have to pay for it though.

I am also working on some tutors for Andrew. He often misses the some part of the AM at school. He is constantly missing French class. I emailed the teacher today to see if he could recommend an older advanced student to help Andrew catch up. He is weeks behind. I also made an attempt to find a math tutor. He is not far behind in math, but he is in a difficult math course. I think it would be helpful if someone could go through the work to be available when he gets stuck. It's beyond my level of math expertise.

I think if we can get off this neurontin things will get better. The past 2 nights he has been able to sleep. That is an improvement.

Some Good News. Andrew went out for the school JV baseball team and made it. Now I need to meet with his coaches to talk about the migraine situation. They have no idea yet. I didn't want to tell them unless he made the team.

Thanks everyone for all of the information.
Jean Ann

I just came out of a presentation at work and thought of you during it. The presentation was on our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and what it offers. I don't know if you are married or have a signficant other or if you work, but you might want to check with your employeers to see you have a program available. Our program could actually help me locate summer programs like you have having to do yourself, at no charge. You would have to contact the programs to decide if they fit your needs and/or budget but they would be able to do some of the leg work for you.

Just a resource I wanted to see if you had and might not be aware of. It's pretty neat. I've used it at a number of jobs I've had and have appreciated it alot.

Take care,
Cindy

Awww, Jean Ann! Iffin we were in the same place, I'd happily plop down at your kitchen table and help with the math.

Jean Ann, Yes you can start mid way. My son will be starting by the end of this week! He is very excited. I truly hope they can do something for you.

I have found with my Lil man TJ, it was just easier to homeschool him. He was just missing too much school to try to stay public. Plus, he can still get work done when he doesnt feel 100%. He just works at his own pace. We can always make it up when he does feel good!

Cindy

I do have an EAP plan. I never thought of using it for that. Thank you that's good idea.

I did call the high school today. They do not allow students to take any classes outside the school district. The guidance counselor will talk to the principal and see what she thinks.

Awwwwww... Droolie you are so sweet. Thank you
Jean Ann