Talking Head Pain

In this special episode of Talking Head Pain, Joe speaks with Howard Rosen, the CEO of the American Headache Society. Learn about the history behind the American Headache Society — and how the research presented at their meeting helps patients and providers alike.

Contact Our Host:

Joe Coe, Director, Education and Digital Strategy at GHLF: [email protected]

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to [email protected]. 

Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

To receive headache/migraine related resources, giveaways, and latest episode releases, text the word "Headache" to 1-845-285-1563 to sign up.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joe talks with Dr. Robert Cowan, a professor and neurologist from Stanford University, about research on chronic/episodic migraine and how access barriers harm patients.

Contact Our Host:

Joe Coe, Director, Education and Digital Strategy at GHLF: [email protected]

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to [email protected].

Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

To receive headache/migraine related resources, giveaways, and latest episode releases, text the word "Headache" to 1-845-285-1563 to sign up.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When migraine had her down for the count, Cat got back up and fought back. She drew from her martial arts training and experience living with migraine to create her non-profit Chronic Migraine Awareness, Inc. In this episode, Cat joins Joe to talk about what she’s learned during her journey and the advocacy work she does around the globe. 

Some highlights in this episode:

02:38: Cat talks about how the weather triggers migraine 

3:28: Cat discusses her migraine treatment journey  

5:06: What is a silent migraine? 

7:47: How martial arts helped prepare Cat to live with a chronic disease 

11:32: Joe asks Cat about turning negatives into positives and the founding of Chronic Migraine Awareness, Inc.  

14:38: The common and recurring themes Cat has found throughout 10 years of advocacy  

16:22: Cat talks about ARMS, Advocates Removing Migraine Stigma, and discusses how people can be migraine advocates in everyday life  

18:26: Cat directs people where to learn more about Chronic Migraine Awareness 

Contact Our Host

Joe Coe, Director, Education and Digital Strategy at GHLF: [email protected]

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to [email protected]

Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

To receive headache/migraine related resources, giveaways, and latest episode releases, text the word "Headache" to 1-845-285-1563 to sign up.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Managing migraine in the workplace can come with many difficulties, communicating with bosses and colleagues, managing our workload, and progressing in our careers. But it is possible to manage migraine and our careers.

In this audio guide we address a key challenge for many people with migraine—how it is affected by and affects our work and workplaces.

We provide information checked by medical professionals who specialize in migraine and other headache disorders, for this guide, we also use information from Migraine in the Workplace: What Employers and Employees Need to Know, which includes survey data about migraine from over 800 different workplaces. 

To receive headache/migraine related resources, giveaways, and latest episode releases, text the word "Headache" to 1-845-285-1563 to sign up.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The way Jaime Sanders expresses herself is the key to managing her migraine. Whether it’s fashion, makeup, or hair, Jaime owns her unique identity, an identity which provides her an outlet for advocating for others with chronic illness. In this episode, hear why Jaime calls herself the Migraine Diva, and how it touches everything from her migraine advocacy to the need for self-care.

“I really try not to focus on what happened yesterday, or what needs to happen tomorrow,” says Jaime. “I need to reserve my energy for the 24 hours that I'm currently in.” 

Among the highlights in this episode:

1:07: Jaime describes her difficult morning with migraine, as intense pressure at the back of her head

1:57: Jaime calls herself “Migraine Diva” not to glamorize migraine but to hold on to her identity

3:25: Passion and prioritizing self-care are Jaime’s tips for looking and feeling good

6:19: Applying makeup is a painful struggle due to her trigeminal neuralgia

7:22: Joe is drawn to Jaime’s energy, spirit, and wisdom

7:46: The difficulty of self-care for people with a chronic condition

9:10: “I really try not to focus on what happened yesterday, or what needs to happen tomorrow. I need to reserve my energy for the 24 hours that I'm currently in,” says Jaime

10:37: How has being a Black woman who is also a migraine patient and advocate impacted Jaime’s mental health

14:41: Jaime is retraumatized having to retell her story, specifically the trauma of dealing with implicit bias and overt racism

15:12: Jaime hopes for more diverse representation in the migraine community

19:13: Joe discusses a shift in himself by acknowledging he has “a lot of privilege,” which allows him to gain a “rich understanding of a topic”

21:22: Joe shares a story around GHLF’s commitment to Black Lives Matter

22:47: “I want to really encourage organizations to seek out the black disabled advocates,” says Jaime

27:50: Jaime describes why she always fears a backlash when advocating for equality

Contact Our Host

Joe Coe, Director, Education and Digital Strategy at GHLF: [email protected]

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to [email protected]

Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

To receive headache/migraine related resources, giveaways, and latest episode releases, text the word "Headache" to 1-845-285-1563 to sign up.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether you have already been prescribed migraine medication, or aren’t ready to, making the appropriate lifestyle changes is essential to living well with migraine. In this audio guide, we talk about the SEEDS approach, different therapy options, and devices that modify the light you are exposed to. We also discuss the use of vitamins and supplements as a nonmedical treatment option.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to [email protected].

Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

To sign up to receive headache/migraine related resources, giveaways, and the latest episode releases, text the word "Headache" to 1-845-285-1563.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before migraine, life was good for Cannon Tekstar. She had a big career with travel, people reporting to her, and invitations to parties. But when migraine struck, it all turned silent, including support from her so-called friends. In this episode, Cannon shares how living with hemiplegic migraine forced her to re-set her career and how she uses social media to support others living with migraine. 

Among the highlights in this episode:

1:40: Cannon describes her worst migraine attacks

4:50: Role of hospital emergency rooms for people with migraine

5:56: Cannon describes migraine auras, hers being more motor and sensory

7:35: “The most common aura is a visual aura, having 20 to 30 minutes of zigzags if it's in the sensory section of the brain,” says Dr. Peter McAlister, Director of the New England Center for Neurology

8:36: Auras can be multifaceted

9:45: Cannon discusses the loss of her big career filled with travel due to migraine

13:35: There are only 700 headache specialists for the 35-40 million people diagnosed with migraine in the U.S.

13:58: “It is so unfair that so many people don't have access to medications they need,” says Cannon

15:45: Joe recalls how his insurance company continued to deny simple treatment

19:22: Importance of a headache specialist

20:40: Dr. McAlister describes why migraine attacks often get misdiagnosed as sinus infections or sinus headaches

23:09: Cannon opened a TikTok account to help educate people about migraine and counter misinformation

27:47: People forget how genetic migraine is

Contact Our Host

Joe Coe, Director, Education and Digital Strategy at GHLF: [email protected]

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to [email protected]

Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

To receive headache/migraine related resources, giveaways, and latest episode releases, text the word "Headache" to 1-845-285-1563 to sign up.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After you receive a migraine diagnosis, you may find yourself overwhelmed with the amount of potential medication options. In this audio guide, we walk you through acute and preventive treatment options, as well as introduce you to the newest medications designed specifically to treat migraine. We also discuss medication options that treat both migraine and other illnesses you may have.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to [email protected].

Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

To sign up to receive headache/migraine related resources, giveaways, and the latest episode releases, text the word "Headache" to 1-845-285-1563.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s a revelation that reflects the depth of migraine pain. Shruti Suresh says during her worst migraine attack, she overdosed on pain meds and revealed she’d have rather die than feel the pain. Today, Shruti is a migraine advocate, shining a light on the emotional and mental health issues surrounding migraine. In this episode, Shruti talks about the systemic nature of migraine, and how we need to address all areas of health when living with chronic disease.

Among the highlights in this episode:

1:21: Shruti started an Instagram page out of frustration, to help people with migraine feel less alone

2:33: Shruti describes why she started “Migraine India”

3:24: Doctors and friends used to say Shruti was faking migraine

5:08: Dr. Peter McAlister, Director of the New England Center for Neurology, describes how early treatment of migraine is linked to better outcomes later in life

6:25: Shruti describes her worst migraine attack

6:44: “I ended up overdosing on pain meds,” says Shruti

7:38: Dr. McAlister describes medication overuse headache

8:37: “I'd rather die than feel this pain, because nobody believed that it was that bad,” revealed Shruti

9:17: Shruti describes how she got to such a low point

10:58: Shruti encourages others to reach out and talk to someone when you feel alone with migraine

12:43: Shruti describes health care in Canada

13:53: How migraine affects Shruti’s work life

17:04: How migraine affects Shruti’s life as a mother

18:14: Dr. McAlister talks about depression taking over a person with migraine

24:15: Shruti validates her migraine 

Contact Our Host

Joe Coe, Director, Education and Digital Strategy at GHLF: [email protected]

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to [email protected]

Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

To receive headache/migraine related resources, giveaways, and latest episode releases, text the word "Headache" to 1-845-285-1563 to sign up.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.