I’m really frustrated right now. I suffer from migraines and have a medication that completely alleviates them, but it has to be taken immediately. When I first received the medication, I spoke to my school about my situation. Normally, medications have to be securely locked in the office, but I requested an exception since I need to take it right away. They agreed to let me carry it in my bag initially, but said I should call the office if I experienced a migraine, and they would prioritize bringing me the medication.
This worked well for the first few times; I would raise my hand, request an emergency call for my meds, and someone would arrive within three minutes. However, today was a different story. At the beginning of the year, the office staff emailed all my teachers to inform them of my migraine condition and the necessity of calling for my meds immediately. It was also noted in my medical file, but apparently, the supply teacher either didn’t read my file or only read part of it.
When I raised my hand today and said I had a migraine, he essentially dismissed my request for an emergency call and told me to wait 10 to 15 minutes to see if it persisted. I calmly explained that I need to take my medication immediately for it to be effective, and my boyfriend backed me up. The teacher, however, insisted that I was just trying to disrupt the class and asked me to wait. Despite my pleas and my boyfriend’s support, he refused to check my medical file, claiming he already had looked at it and there was no mention of migraines or medication.
I was ignored for nearly five minutes, and eventually, I became so desperate that I left the classroom and went to the office myself. By that point, I had already been suffering from the migraine for at least 20 minutes, and even though I took my medication, it was too late for it to work. Now, I’m in bed nearly in tears, knowing that I’m facing two days of agony that could have been avoided if the supply teacher had just called for my medication when I asked.
To make matters worse, I just received a message stating that I have an internal exclusion, which means I’ll have to sit in a room by myself in silence, completing assignments without any breaks, along with an after-school detention because I left the lesson without permission. I reached out to the disciplinary officer to appeal what seems to be a mistake, but they replied that regardless of the reasons, I walked out without permission, which is unacceptable.
I know this is a long post, but I feel really lost. What should I do if this happens again? Also, sorry for any typos or grammatical errors.
I’m really sorry to hear what you’re going through. It sounds incredibly frustrating and disheartening, especially when you were just trying to advocate for your health. Your needs should have been prioritized, and it’s clear that the supply teacher didn’t follow the proper protocols set by the school regarding your medical condition.
It’s important that you talk to someone in the school who can address this issue more effectively. Perhaps you could speak to the school nurse or the person in charge of your medical accommodations. It might also be helpful to bring your parents or guardians into the conversation, as their support could make a difference.
You deserve to have your health taken seriously, and there should be a plan in place for situations like this. Document everything that happened today, including dates, times, and the responses from the staff. This could be useful if you need to escalate the issue further with school administration.
Additionally, it might not hurt to have a discussion with your regular teachers about your situation so they are aware and can advocate for you, too. It’s crucial that everyone is on the same page, especially when it comes to your health.
I hope that you can find a resolution to this issue, and I’m wishing you a speedy recovery from your migraine. You are not alone in this, and it’s okay to seek help and clarification regarding your needs.