Migraine

Hi All,

I need some advice. I am currently taking an acting class and the professor does not seem to understand the migraine situation at all.

I have had to miss a few classes- the first time occured when I had to see a neurologist/pain specialist out of town. I informed her before hand and made up the work before I missed class, though I was counted off for missing class anyway. The second time occured when I got a really bad sinus/flu-like bug and had a fever of 100.4- I sent a friend witha note to tell her what was going on, got the notes and talked to her later. I thought I had covered everything.

However, during the last class, the prof handed out monologues and said "Sconesail can't miss another class so I am loading her up with work." I recieved 4 monologues, the rest of the class got 2. That really got me.

I have a disability qualification that allows for leniancy in attendance, ability to make up work, and accomadates the migraines. When I told her about it and later when I gave her the memo from CDS shc said, "what kind of accomadations do you need." When I told her, she said, well the absence stuff worries me and you will be counted off.

I have had to deal with bad profs before, but even then it was never brought up in front of the whole class. This experience also beings all those memories of dealing with the profs at divinity school back. I am not sure what to do.

I am going to talk to the teacher on Monday and am also going to talk to the CDS (Disability services) about this.

I do not want to drop the calss or come off like I do not want to do the work. I am just worried.

I would appreciate any advice or thoughts that you have on this.

Does anyone know a monologuye on migraines?

Pain free days,
sconesail

You should print out the nice letter that Teri wrote up on her helpforheadaches.com site...I'm not sure of the exact link now - I'm sure she can come on and give it to you. It basically explains what Migraine is and how dibilitating it can be. I am putting one up in my office. If I get the exact link before anyone else posts it - I'll come on back and link ya!


Ok Home now but when I put the link here it does not work??? I'm sure one of the mods will have it....sorry!!!


Eileen

I think this is the information Eileen mentioned:

Letters To Educate Others

Definately go to tge CDS office and have a nice, long chat about this abnoxious professor. With your accomodations, she should know better and has probably gotten away with nonense like this before. Well, no more..... Boy, does this irritate me. She sounds like a bully too....

Sorry I don't know any mono's on Migraine...I will see what I can come up with after I am done steaming about here....

Thanks for linking Nancy! It just was not working for me yesterday!!!!

I too was searching for some monologues on Migraine the only thing I can think of is the Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe - and that only came to mind because of the THUMP THUMP THUMP but it's a heart, not the head that is making that noise. I'm gonna keep looking though.

Can you write your own????????

Hi All,

Thanks so much for the replies. I really appreciate it. I think that I will take in the letter on migraines- as it clearly states exactly what the disease is and what happens.

I couldn't find a specific monologue on migraines, but I may try to write on later. I did find two excellent essays that I may use though- one is called "Explosions in my skull" by Christopher Buckley. It described his experience with clusters. The other is an essay by Joan Didion. Still, for right now, i will go with what she gave me- just so I can make sure that I am doing the right thing.

I am definitely talking to CDS about this. School and migraine are hard enough without dealing with an idiotic professor. I hope that we can work something out so that I don't have to drop the course.

Thanks again.

Pain free days,
sconesail

Glad you came across the Joan Didion piece. I did years of high school theatre, plus dramatic interpretation in college and 30 years of community theatre. I've never seen a monologue about Migraine.

I took a lot of theatre in college; it was my minor. The performance classes were really rough when we misses sessions.

quote:

Originally posted by sconesail:
Hi All,

Thanks so much for the replies. I really appreciate it. I think that I will take in the letter on migraines- as it clearly states exactly what the disease is and what happens.

I couldn't find a specific monologue on migraines, but I may try to write on later. I did find two excellent essays that I may use though- one is called "Explosions in my skull" by Christopher Buckley. It described his experience with clusters. The other is an essay by Joan Didion. Still, for right now, i will go with what she gave me- just so I can make sure that I am doing the right thing.

I am definitely talking to CDS about this. School and migraine are hard enough without dealing with an idiotic professor. I hope that we can work something out so that I don't have to drop the course.

Thanks again.

Pain free days,
sconesail

Is CDS = College Disability Services? If so, then I would definitely be talking to these people ASAP. They can help you mediate with this professor. She is legally bound to follow the accomodations that are setup through your college disability center. She most definitely cannot try to punish you for having flexible attendance if that is one of your approved accomodations. In your shoes, I would not try to deal with this one alone, I would make sure to let my disability services advisor know what's going on immediately, and ask him/her to talk to the professor with me.

I would also definitely talk to your disability advisor about being given the extra work because this is discrimination, and she also is violating your right to privacy by announcing it to the entire class.

Profs like this really burn me. I've been using disability accomodations for 6 years in both my undergrad and grad careers. It can be a real lifesaver and give people like us who really deserve to be there the resources we need to be successful.