Should students be able to leave class to get medicine?

The medication needs to be taken at the onset of symptoms in order to have the best chance of being effective. Migraines are different than, say, stress headaches in this way.

Ideally, you should be allowed to have the medication and a small water bottle with you so that you can medicate yourself as needed. That way you wouldn't miss class. Of course, if you are too young or have been irresponsible with your meds in the past, maybe that just can't happen. (I don't believe for one moment that that's the reason they're saying you can't have the meds with you, though. I wouldn't embarrass you by bringing it up otherwise.)

But they won't have that. So the next most satisfactory solution is to allow you to leave class as soon as you experienced symptoms and go take the medication in a supervised location. Of course, if you abused this solution, then it might make sense to have a teacher walk you down to the office during the passing period for the rest of the quarter. But I was first diagnosed with migraines when I was 2 and I think it's unlikely that you would risk losing the chance to take the meds immediately, because waiting means more pain for a longer time and a greater period when you are unable to receive an education. I don't necessarily think that all students should be able to leave class immediately to get medication, but as you point out, waiting for 10 or 20 minutes means the medication doesn't work as well. I've heard similar stories about kids with asthma - another condition where the student should have near-immediate access to treatment.

Are your parents on your side? (Mine were not.) If they are, try going to the Department of Education website, look up the Office of Civil Rights pages, and see whether filing a complaint that your school is not complying with your Section 504 rights might help.

It took me more than 3 decades to find a doctor who cared that I was (and am) in pain, 24/7, every day of my life. By that time, treatable causes of pain had become irreversible. I am glad that you are getting help so much younger than I did. But I agree with you that you are not getting as much help as you should be getting. I wish I knew some magic way of fixing this problem for you immediately. But I hope it at least helps to know that there are people out here who are on your side.

Good luck getting this solved.

i want to learn medicine to! you should do want ever is the most convenient to you. no summer classed does not make you seem lazy. you could also take an extra semester if you want. i think an extra semester might be a better idea because that way you won't forget anything you learned and that way you could also spend your summer taking extra classes or volunteering at hospitals and stuff. these are just some suggestions the choice is up to you. good luck on whatever you decide!

The thing is, they have a policy in place and you want to be the exception to the policy. While you may not abuse it, it is very likely the rest of your classmates might. If the headaches come on quickly, I would ask that I be able to keep a dose on me so I could take it immediately rather than asked to be excused.

So while you think your opinion should sway your school, what you think and what the board thinks really doesn't matter.