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Migraine Heroes | Chronic Migraine, Hemiplegic Migraine, Migraine with aura, Vestibular Migraine

Migraine Heroes | Chronic Migraine, Hemiplegic Migraine, Migraine with aura, Vestibular Migraine

Diane Ducarme

Are you doing everything right - avoiding triggers, taking your medication - and still experiencing migraine episodes that steal your day? You're not alone, and you're not broken. Deep dives into the science behind migraine, from food and hormones to sleep, stress, and the unexpected triggers few people talk about. Every topic holds a tension: is ginger a trigger or a remedy? Is stress the cause or the symptom? What does perimenopause actually change? There's rarely a simple answer, so each episode looks at the knowledge and science from different angles, East and West, and turns it into practical advice rooted in context. Migraine Heroes started when Diane Ducarme began helping her sister, then friends, then increasingly more people living with migraine. That work became a method, now used by over 3,000 people, to identify your own unique patterns and find real solutions. This podcast is where that thinking happens out loud. Curious what your own starting pattern looks like? Find out with the Migraine Heroes app: migraineheroes.com/qr-download

202 - Make Your Desk More Migraine-Friendly: 7 Tiny Upgrades That Can Change Your Working Day
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  • 202 - Make Your Desk More Migraine-Friendly: 7 Tiny Upgrades That Can Change Your Working Day

    Your desk may be affecting your migraine more than you realize.

    In this episode of Migraine Heroes Podcast, Diane Ducarme shares seven tiny changes that can make your working day feel easier and more migraine-friendly.

    You’ll learn:

    💡 How light, screen position, noise, and hydration can quietly affect your migraine threshold

    💡 7 simple, low-cost desk upgrades you can try without redesigning your workspace

    💡 Diane’s special productivity trick and how one simple sheet of paper can completely change the way you work

    👉 Download Diane’s productivity sheet, a simple tool designed to help you reduce mental clutter, stay focused on what matters most, and get more done without keeping everything in your head.

    🎧 New episodes every Monday and Wednesday

    🔗 Discover our work on migraineheroes.com

    References:

    A Neural Mechanism for Exacerbation of Headache by Light (Noseda et al., 2010): This study identifies a neural pathway through which light can worsen migraine pain. Read more here.Migraine and Light: A Narrative Review (Artemenko et al., 2022):This review examines photophobia and how light can influence migraine attacks. Read more here.Factors Negatively Affecting a Migraine-Friendly Workplace in Healthcare (Aydinlar et al., 2026): This study identifies workplace factors that can worsen migraine burden among healthcare workers. Read more here.Digital Screen Exposure and Migraine Burden: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (Gowda et al., 2026): This review examines the relationship between screen exposure and migraine burden. Read more here.Identification of Work Accommodations and Interventions Associated With Work Productivity in Adults With Migraine (Begasse de Dhaem et al., 2021): This review identifies workplace accommodations that may support productivity in people with migraine. Read more here.Migraine and the Environment (Friedman & De Ver Dye, 2009): This review examines environmental migraine triggers such as light, odors, air quality, and weather. Read more here.SEEDS for Success: Lifestyle Management in Migraine (Robblee & Starling, 2019): This review outlines lifestyle strategies involving sleep, exercise, eating, diaries, and stress management. Read more here.Color and Spatial Frequency Are Related to Visual Pattern Sensitivity in Migraine (Shepherd et al., 2013): This study examines how color and visual patterns influence discomfort in migraine. Read more here.

    Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and isn't a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for health-related concerns.

    Mon, 28 Sep 2026 - 22min
  • 201 - Migraine, Hormones & Birth Control: Making Sense of the Connection

    Can birth control trigger migraines or make hormonal migraines worse? The answer may have less to do with simply having “too much estrogen” and more to do with how your hormones rise, fall, and change over time.

    In this episode of Migraine Heroes Podcast, hostDiane Ducarmeexplores the connection between migraine, hormones, birth control, and the menstrual cycle, including why migraine attacks may appear around menstruation or during the hormone-free days of contraception.

    You’ll learn:

    💡 Why hormonal fluctuations and estrogen withdrawal may contribute to menstrual migraine

    💡 Why migraine with aura matters when choosing hormonal birth control

    💡 What to do if your migraines begin or noticeably change after starting contraception

    You’ll also learn how different forms of birth control can create very different hormonal patterns and why understanding your individual migraine response matters.

    If you think your migraines may be linked to your hormones or birth control, this episode will help you know what to track and what to discuss with your doctor.

    Ask Diane Anything: Live Q&A

    Have a migraine question? Join Diane live to ask your questions or simply listen.

    👉 Register here: migraineheroes.com/live

    🎧 New episodes every Monday and Wednesday

    🔗 Discover our work on migraineheroes.com

    References:

    Menstrual Migraine Is Caused by Estrogen Withdrawal: Revisiting the Evidence (Raffaelli et al., 2023):This review reassesses the evidence linking estrogen withdrawal to menstrual migraine. Read more here.Hormonal Contraceptives and Migraine Frequency and Severity in Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (Alju et al., 2026):This review examines how hormonal contraceptives may affect migraine frequency and severity. Read more here.Use of Combined Hormonal Contraceptives Among Women With Migraines and Risk of Ischemic Stroke (Champaloux et al., 2017):This study examines stroke risk according to migraine type and combined hormonal contraceptive use. Read more here.Safety of Hormonal Contraceptives Among Women With Migraine: A Systematic Review (Tepper et al., 2016):This review evaluates vascular risks of hormonal contraception in women with migraine. Read more here.Hormonal Contraceptives and Risk of Ischemic Stroke in Women With Migraine (Sacco et al., 2017):This consensus statement provides guidance on contraception and stroke risk in women with migraine. Read more here.Effectiveness of the Progestin-Only Pill for Migraine Treatment in Women (Warhurst et al., 2018):This review evaluates progestin-only contraception as a potential migraine treatment. Read more hereU.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, 2024 (CDC, 2024): These guidelines classify contraceptive safety for different medical conditions, including migraine with and without aura. Read more here.

    Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and isn't a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for health-related concerns.

    Wed, 23 Sep 2026 - 22min
  • 200 - 3 Strategies to Cope With Migraine Isolation & Feel More Supported

    Living with chronic migraine can feel deeply isolating. Pain, unpredictable attacks, cancelled plans, and feeling misunderstood can slowly make your world feel smaller.

    In this episode of Migraine Heroes Podcast, host Diane Ducarme explores the connection between migraine, loneliness, social isolation, and support, and how to stay connected without pushing your body beyond what it can manage. This episode is about finding a connection that works with your migraine not against it.

    You’ll learn:

    💡 How to create migraine-safe forms of social connection without exhausting yourself

    💡 How to explain what migraine support actually looks like to the people around you

    💡 Why supportive relationships can matter more than having a large social circle and how small moments of connection can help you feel less alone

    You do not need to rebuild your entire social life to feel supported. Sometimes one understanding person, one message, or one small moment of connection can begin to open your world again.

    Ask Diane Anything: Live Q&A

    Have a migraine question? Join Diane live to ask your questions or simply listen.

    👉 Register here: migraineheroes.com/live

    🎧 New episodes every Monday and Wednesday

    🔗 Discover our work on migraineheroes.com

    References:

    My Migraine Voice Survey: A Global Study of Disease Burden Among Individuals With Migraine for Whom Preventive Treatments Have Failed (Martelletti et al., 2018):This global survey highlights the personal, social, and professional burden of migraine. Read more here.The Social Life of Migraine: A Meta-Ethnography of Lived Experience in Adults With Migraine (Ng et al., 2026):This review explores how migraine affects identity, relationships, and social participation. Read more here.Impact of Migraine on the Family: Perspectives of People With Migraine and Their Spouse/Domestic Partner in the CaMEO Study (Buse et al., 2016):This study examines how migraine affects partners and family life. Read more here.Life With Migraine: Effects on Relationships, Career, and Finances From the CaMEO Study (Buse et al., 2019):This study shows migraine’s impact on relationships, careers, and finances. Read more here.The Stigma of Migraine (Young et al., 2013):This study examines the social stigma experienced by people with migraine. Read more here.Loneliness and Migraine Self-Management: A Cross-Sectional Assessment (Lui et al., 2020):This study explores how loneliness relates to migraine self-management. Read more here.Poor Social Support and Loneliness in Chronic Headache: Prevalence and Effect Modifiers (Westergaard et al., 2021):This study found greater loneliness and poor social support among people with chronic headache. Read more here.The Family Impact of Migraine: Population-Based Studies in the USA and UK (Lipton et al., 2003):This study shows that migraine can substantially affect partners, children, and family activities. Read more here.

    Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and isn't a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for health-related concerns.

    Mon, 21 Sep 2026 - 18min
  • 199 - A Quick Note from Diane: Ask Diane Anything

    Got a migraine question the podcast hasn’t quite answered for you?

    Join Diane live for Ask Diane Anything on Thursday, September 24, 2026. Bring your questions about migraine, hormones, sleep, food, exercise or simply come and listen.

    ✨ Free to attend

    📅 Thursday, September 24

    🔗 Register at migraineheroes.com/live

    Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and isn't a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for health-related concerns.

    Fri, 18 Sep 2026 - 01min
  • 198 - Why Perimenopause Is Making Your Migraines Worse and What You Can Do About It

    If your migraines suddenly feel more frequent, intense, or unpredictable in midlife, hormonal instability may be playing a bigger role than you realize.

    In this episode, you’ll learn:

    💡 Why fluctuating estrogen during perimenopause can make the migraine brain more reactive

    💡 How poor sleep, hot flashes, anxiety, irregular periods, and migraine can reinforce one another

    💡 How to track your personal patterns and create more stability during this hormonal transition

    Perimenopause may feel unpredictable, but understanding your changing rhythm can help you respond with more clarity and confidence.

    Ask Diane Anything — Live Q&A

    Have a migraine question? Join Diane live on September 24, 2026 to ask your questions or simply listen.

    👉 Register here: migraineheroes.com/live

    🎧 New episodes every Monday and Wednesday

    🔗 Discover our work on migraineheroes.com

    References:

    Migraine Across the Menopausal Transition and Beyond: A Narrative Review (Korn & Bernstein, 2026):This review covers migraine changes and management across menopause. Read more here.Menstrual and Perimenopausal Migraine: A Narrative Review (MacGregor, 2020):This review examines hormonal changes affecting menstrual and perimenopausal migraine. Read more here.Menstrual Migraine Is Caused by Estrogen Withdrawal:Revisiting the Evidence (Raffaelli et al., 2023): This review reassesses the evidence for estrogen withdrawal as a migraine trigger. Read more here.Perimenopause and Menopause Are Associated With High Frequency Headache in Women With Migraine (Martin et al., 2016):This study found increased high-frequency headache during perimenopause. Read more here.Executive Summary of the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop + 10 (Harlow et al., 2012):This paper defines stages of reproductive aging and the menopausal transition. Read more here.Migraine Management During Menstruation and Menopause (MacGregor, 2015):This review covers migraine treatment during menstruation and menopause. Read more here.Migraine and Menopause: A Narrative Review (Bernstein & O’Neal, 2020):This review examines migraine patterns and treatment around menopause. Read more here.Hormonal Influences in Migraine, Interactions of Oestrogen, Oxytocin and CGRP (Krause et al., 2021):This review explores how reproductive hormones and CGRP interact in migraine. Read more here.Acupuncture for the Prevention of Episodic Migraine (Linde et al., 2016):This Cochrane review evaluates acupuncture for migraine prevention. Read more here.Acupuncture for Migraine: A Systematic Review and Meta-Regression of Randomized Controlled Trials (Yang et al., 2024):This review examines the dose-response relationship between acupuncture and migraine frequency. Read morehere.

    Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and isn't a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for health-related concerns.

    Wed, 16 Sep 2026 - 27min
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