#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:

twitter_followI 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

Use the hashtag all month long 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 (no advice 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 also on Discord. Discord is a more private, chat room-like space that has channels organized by topic. It offers more general support and advice. Download the app or access it on yourDiscord desktop/laptop, and join our community here. Make sure you accept the rules message with a thumbs up (👍) to access the rest of the channels.

There is a also private #MigraineChat Facebook group where questions are posted after each chat. Join here. Note, you will be asked some membership questions. Finally, you can hop over to Instagram 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.

October 4th: The Two-Way Relationship Between Migraine & Sleep 

The relationship between migraine and sleep is complicated and, likely, bi-directional. What does that mean? Sleep affects our migraine pattern and migraine affects our sleep. People with migraine may also be more likely to have sleep-related comorbidities like insomnia and sleep apnea. Maybe side effects of treatments impact our sleep quality, too. 

This recent study (summary, full text) shed some light on the relationship between migraine and sleep, especially chronic migraine. So what can we do? Let’s brainstorm when we gather for the October MigraineChat. Our questions: 

  • Q1. Let’s start with how sleep affects #migraine: does your sleep pattern or quality affect your migraine attacks (i.e., is it a trigger)? If yes, how so? #MigraineChat
  • Q2. Now the flip side: does #migraine – or do migraine attacks – affect your sleep? If yes, how so? #MigraineChat
  • Q3. Have you ever had a sleep study (either home study or in a sleep lab)? What about tracking your sleep on your own with apps or smart devices? What did you learn? Did it help your #migraine treatment in any way? #MigraineChat
  • Q4. What are some things that help you sleep or make sleeping easier/more comfortable with #painsomnia? This can be anything: pharmacological or non-pharmacological treatments, devices, apps, lifestyle habits/changes, etc. #MigraineChat 
  • Q5. Have any of your #migraine treatments had a negative impact on your sleep? #MigraineChat
  • Q6. Is there anything in particular that works best for you when you wake up with a migraine attack already in progress (i.e., either in the middle of the night or a “morning #migraine”)? #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 20202, 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.

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