#MigraineChat

Welcome to the homepage for the #MigraineChat. This started as monthly chat, taking place on the first Monday of each month from 1-2pm ET (convert timezone). Each month, the chat focuses on one timely topic in the migraine community. Since the chat began in December 2018, it has grown into a bigger online community. Check out all the ways to get involved below.

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#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.
  • I’ve joined Mastodon! Follow me and MigraineChat there.

Some Rules & Guidelines for MigraineChat Spaces

First and foremost, please be respectful.

Please only offer advice when it is solicited: i.e., if there is a clear question asked of the community. Sometimes people use MigraineChat to vent about migraine or life in general. In theses cases, please listen, acknowledge, and support each other.

Everyone’s migraine experience is different. Share your experience as objectively as possible and feel free to supplement your feedback with information from reputable sources.

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.

February 6th @ 12pm ET: Medical Cannabis & Migraine

Medical cannabis (MMJ) and CBD have become a commonly discussed treatment option for migraine, but figuring out what works, in what forms, doses, or strains, etc., can be challenging given the lack of research and guidance. I’ll be joined by Dr. Eric Baron for this month’s chat.

Please note the special time and remember, Dr. Baron cannot give specific medical advice. We also ask that you keep your responses to *legal* use of MMJ and/or CBD products only.

  • Q1. Have you used CBD or MMJ to treat your migraine? If yes, do you use these preventively, acutely, or both? #MigraineChat
  • Q2. What is your preferred method(s) of consuming CBD or MMJ (e.g., tinctures, edibles, flower, concentrate, topical, etc.)? Do different methods work better for different #migraine symptoms and situations? #MigraineChat
  • Q3. MMJ can require a lot of trial and error. Have you had any success finding the right strains to treat your #migraine attacks? Does that also vary for different migraine symptoms and situations? How so?  #MigraineChat
  • Q4. Where do you go to learn about CBD and/or MMJ for #migraine (e.g., support groups, migraine organizations, dispensary staff, etc)? #MigraineChat
  • Q5. What are the biggest barriers or drawbacks of using CBD and/or medical cannabis as part of your #migraine treatment? #MigraineChat
  • Q6. Have your doctors discussed any potential side effects or contraindications of using CBD and/or MMJ with your other #migraine treatments? #MigraineChat

Are you newly diagnosed or unsure if you have migraine? We’re here to help! Have you had migraine – episodic or chronic – for a while now? 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!

MigraineChat Ask Me Anything (AMA) Threads

I recently started doing AMAs on Twitter around hot topics in migraine. These are basic and/or common questions, so the goal was to build threads people to refer back to in the future. I’ve paused them while we collectively figure out what is going to happen with Twitter and whether I can do something similar on Mastodon (or another platform). PDFs of the first six MigraineChat AMAs are below.

MigraineChat Transcripts

A few of these open to a website (Symplur) that tracks hashtag use. The majority open as a PDF. If you find any broken or incorrect links, please let me know.

*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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