I’m really frustrated right now. I suffer from migraines, and I have a medication that completely alleviates them, but it must be taken immediately. When I first received this medication, I spoke with my school about the need for it. Typically, medication is kept securely in the office, but since I needed to take it right away, I requested permission to carry it in my bag. They denied my request, citing safeguarding concerns, and explained that if I had a migraine, I could use the emergency on-call system (which allows teachers to summon office staff when a student feels unwell). They assured me that my medication and a glass of water would be their top priority.
Initially, this arrangement worked well, and office staff responded promptly when I called for my meds. However, today was a completely different story. At the beginning of the term, the office staff informed my teachers that if I reported having a migraine, they needed to call for help immediately, which was also noted in my medical file. Unfortunately, the supply teacher either didn’t read my medical file or only skimmed it.
When I raised my hand and informed him I had a migraine, asking him to call for my medication, he dismissed me, suggesting I was just imagining it and should wait 10 to 15 minutes before he would consider calling. I calmly explained that I needed the medication immediately for it to be effective, and my boyfriend supported my claim. The teacher stubbornly insisted that medicine works regardless of when you take it and accused me of trying to interrupt the lesson. I urged him to check my medical file, but he claimed he had already done so and found no mention of migraines or medication, which I knew was incorrect.
He then ignored me for almost five minutes while I kept my hand raised. Out of desperation, I decided to leave the classroom and go to the office myself. By this point, I had been experiencing a migraine for over 20 minutes, and, unfortunately, the medication was too late to work. Now, I’m lying in bed, nearly in tears, anticipating two days of pain that could have been avoided if that supply teacher had just called for my meds when I asked.
To make matters worse, I just received a message informing me that I’ve been given an internal exclusion (which means sitting alone in silence with no breaks) and an after-school detention for leaving class without permission. I reached out to the person at my school responsible for handling disciplinary matters, hoping this was a mistake. However, they replied that regardless of the circumstances, I left without permission, which was unacceptable.
I apologize for the length of this message, but I’m honestly at a loss for what to do if this situation occurs again. Also, I’m sorry for any typos or grammatical errors.
I’m really sorry to hear about your experience. It sounds incredibly frustrating and painful, especially having to deal with the migraine on top of everything else. It’s clear that you were following the procedures that were laid out for you and that you communicated your needs effectively.
It might help to have a conversation with a school administrator or the person responsible for health accommodations at your school. Explain the situation and how critical it is for them to understand the urgency of your medication. Perhaps they can remind staff, including substitute teachers, about your condition and the need for immediate access to your meds.
Additionally, it might be beneficial to have a document from your doctor that outlines your condition and the necessity of carrying your medication with you. This could serve as a strong support for your case.
As for the punishment, it might be worth discussing this with a trusted teacher or counselor who can advocate for you. They may be able to explain your situation to whoever is in charge of discipline, especially considering the circumstances surrounding your departure from class.
Remember, you deserve to have your health needs taken seriously, and it’s okay to advocate for yourself. Don’t hesitate to reach out to those who can help. I really hope things get resolved for you soon!