#MigraineChat

Welcome to the homepage for the #MigraineChat Twitter chat. This monthly chat takes place on the first Monday of each month from 1-2pm eastern time (convert timezone). Each month we focus on one timely topic in the migraine community.

#MigraineChat was originally hosted by Anna Eidt. With her blessing, I re-launched the chat in 2018. The goal is create camaraderie and share information about a range of migraine-related topics. Each month, I host the chat with periodic co-hosts who offer expert insight into the monthly topic. To participate, join us over on Twitter each month by following: me (@beth_morton) and the hashtag #MigraineChat. You can also add a Google Calendar reminder:

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I typically have a few chats planned, but if you have topic ideas or want to contact me about a guest co-hosting opportunity, please feel free to reach out (contact me through the blog contact form or on Twitter DMs).

Other Ways to Join #MigraineChat

While #MigraineChat started at a monthly Twitter chat is has grown! Here are a few other ways to join the community:

  • Use the hashtag anytime to tag questions for the migraine community on Twitter. Myself and others tend to search the hashtag, retweet, and reply. You can also just vent (when no advice is needed or wanted). Much like the #NEISvoid space that Brianne Benness has cultivated, the #MigraineChat hashtag acts as a safe space for mutual aid all month.
  • Not on Twitter? MigraineChat is on Discord. Discord is a more private, chat room-like space that has channels organized by topic. You can post questions or vent without fear of unsolicited advice. Download the app or access it on yourDiscord desktop/laptop, and join our community here. Make sure you review and then accept the rules message with a thumbs up (👍) to access the rest of the channels.
  • You can also hop over to my Instagram page where I also post the questions throughout each month.

Chat Topic & Questions

Questions will be posted a few days before each chat so that you’ll have time to prepare your tweets in advance if you want. Check back around the Friday before each chat.

June 6th: Advocating for Access to Migraine Care

June is Migraine and Headache Awareness Month (MHAM) and the theme is “Advocate for Access.” Over the past few years, the headache and migraine world has seen a bunch of new treatments; from medications to devices. The Covid pandemic opened access to virtual health, work, and school. However, access isn’t equal for everyone and since access can mean many things in migraine care, we’re going to try to hit a few of the biggest bottlenecks.

I’ll be joined by Sarah Shaw and Joe Coe from the Global Health Living Foundation (GHLF.org) as my co-hosts. We will cover the following questions (they are packed, so be ready for a fast-paced chat):

  • Q1. How did you come to realize that you have #migraine? If you have a formal migraine diagnosis, did you experience any misdiagnoses or delays in getting diagnosed? Please share. #MigraineChat
  • Q2. Have you ever tried to make an appointment with a headache specialist? What barriers – if any – did you encounter (e.g., availability, waitlists, distance/transportation, insurance/cost, etc)? #MigraineChat
  • Q3. Have you ever been unable to access a #migraine treatment or migraine-related test/procedure? What was the issue (e.g., insurance, cost, availability)? If you were eventually able to access this, what did you need to do? #MigraineChat
  • Q4. If you have used #telehealth for #migraine treatment, what – if any – barrier(s) to access did you encounter (e.g., wifi/access to computer/smartphone or insurance not covering, etc.)? Have those access issues changed since the pandemic? #MigraineChat
  • Q5. Have you ever considered a clinical trial for #migraine or another #headache condition (e.g., looked at requirements, tried to enroll, been recruited, etc)? If you were unable to participate, what barriers prevented you? #MigraineChat
  • Q6. Have you ever requested accommodations for #migraine at school or your workplace? If you’re comfortable sharing, what accommodations did you request? Were your accommodations granted? Tell us about barriers you’ve encountered. #MigraineChat

Are you newly diagnosed? We’re here to help! Have you had migraine for years or been chronic for quite some time? Join the chat each month to share your experiences and learn some new tips.

Tweet Chat Helpful Hints & Ground Rules

1. Introduce yourself! At the start of each chat, share where you are joining from (if you’re comfortable doing so) and maybe a fun factoid.

2. Include the #MigraineChat hashtag in every tweet. This makes the tweets easy to follow. You can do this a few ways:

  • Open a Twitter browser, then enter #MigraineChat in the search window. Once the results come up, click “latest” to see chat tweets in reverse chronological order. Keep refreshing your browser.
  • Alternatively, consider using a site like Tweetdeck, Hootsuite, or TweetChat.

3. To keep things clear, use a Q1/A1 format for your tweets. For example, when we tweet our question Q1, you’ll start your responding tweet with “A1: ….” If your response requires multiple replies, you can use something like A1.a, A1.b, A1.c, etc., numbering or thread your responses.

You can also quote tweet our question with your response. Don’t forget the #MigraineChat hashtag (even if quote tweeting)!

4. You don’t have to answer every question. Contribute wherever you are comfortable.

5. We value interaction. Read, reply, like, engage with, and retweet others’ responses. We want this to be a chance to share and learn.

  • Retweet responses that resonate with you to share with your own followers.
  • If you know of relevant resources or articles, add references.
  • Take time to reply to others’ responses. For example:

6. With all that said, please remember to:

  • Be respectful of others’ experiences. We each experience migraine differently.
  • Be gentle with unsolicited advice.
  • Topics may cover products and services that help manage life with migraine. Sharing is encouraged. We just ask that you refrain from using the chats to sell your personal products.
  • Give proper attribution to retweets (e.g., quote tweet or use RT and original @handle).

7. Use these chats as an opportunity to find and follow new people!

8. Last, but not least, you may want to tweet out to your followers a high tweet volume warning. That allows them to join us if they are interested or mute our hashtag, if not (whomp, whomp). For example:

That’s it! Mark your calendars and prepare for the social event of the month every first Monday!

TweetChat Transcripts

Through April 2020, these will link you to transcript available in the private Facebook group as PDFs.* Until I run of of space on WordPress, I’ll upload transcripts from May 2020 on directly to this site.

*If you need one of these earlier transcripts and can’t access Facebook, let me know. (I’ll eventually get them posted here, too, as energy allows).

Featured (top) graphic credit: @BreatheMia

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