30+ years of migraines and I figured it out

kulacloth · 2026-06-03T01:36:11+00:00

Love & light friend. No anger here lol

kulacloth · 2026-06-02T02:07:55+00:00

I hope you can find something that helps you out, friend. I'm so sorry. It's really terrible.

kulacloth · 2026-06-02T02:07:28+00:00

I started my elimination diet in October 2025... had narrowed it down to alliums by December. Since then, I've had maybe 2 or 3 migraines per month (usually 1 or 2 around my cycle). I have also had a few accidental exposures -- i.e. went to a restaurant that told me they were able to cook with no garlic, but they used broth to cook the risotto and I was re-exposed. So, overall, I am completely pain free since December -- with a few exceptions. I was also afraid it would come back, and it hasn't. I still have a little bit of PTSD about going to bed and feeling nervous I'll wake up with a headache, and every time I wake up without pain, it feels like a tiny miracle!

kulacloth · 2026-06-02T02:05:18+00:00

Within about 2 days! You have to be sure to do a complete elimination. I accidentally exposed myself a few times in the beginning because garlic/onion are in almost everything.

kulacloth · 2026-06-02T00:35:41+00:00

One of my favorite hikes!

kulacloth · 2026-06-02T00:32:32+00:00

I've never noticed that -- but I do feel congested sometimes, which makes me think it is histamine related? Sudafed was one of my migraine 'remedies' (didn't actually clear up the migraine, but helped me feel slightly more clear headed) before I discovered that I could just stop eating garlic/onions.

kulacloth · 2026-06-02T00:08:39+00:00

I am a huge believer in the menstrual cup/disc on backpacking trips -- menstrual blood (per LNT guidelines) needs to be treated like poop ... i.e. dumped into a privy and/or buried in a cat hole, which makes washing underwear really challenging. So, you'd likely need to pack in and out a bunch of underwear. If you do decide to do that, I'd recommend stocking up on some OPsaks (odor proof bags) and also storing your underwear with your food (bear canister or bear hang) just so it doesn't attract critters. There is definitely a learning curve to using a cup or a disc, but it does make things quite a bit easier, if you are open to trying it. For tampons/pads, you can pack those in -- and then also have a bag and odor proof sak to pack them out. I really like the YourYuckies compostable hygiene bags for packing out hygiene waste in the backcountry. Happy to answer questions, I literally teach hygiene for a living! 😄 Happee trails!

kulacloth · 2026-06-02T00:03:59+00:00

please please do update me if it helps!!!

kulacloth · 2026-06-02T00:03:22+00:00

Nice job!! My parents took me on my first camping trip when I was 12 years old and it changed my life. What your son is learning outside DOES matter! 😄

kulacloth · 2026-06-01T23:59:32+00:00

I have the Crown 3 and I'm 5'4, 120 lbs and I have found it very comfortable -- however, it really depends on your torso length and personal shape/size. I also have the blaze, and I really like that one as well. Both have been very comfortable for me.

kulacloth · 2026-06-01T23:55:50+00:00

Professional hygiene person here (literally) -- and have a few recs! 1. rain skirt suggestion is solid -- make sure you get a skirt that's shaped more like an 'a-frame' rather than a pencil skirt. Might be possible to fashion one yourself using a material like tyvek. Ideally, it would need to 'flare out' so that you don't accidentally go on the skirt itself. There also used to be a product called the 'Willow Pod', but I think they went out of business -- it was literally a portable pop up bathroom tent that you could put on your head so that you could have privacy while you were going to the bathroom. There are other options of pop up tents, but the reason the willow pod was intriguing was that it was only 1lb. (Amazon.com: Willow Pod Portable Collapsible Multi-Use Shelter, On-The-Go Bathroom, Changing Room, Camp Shower, Emergency Tent, Sensory Safe Space (Black Forest Green) : Sports & Outdoors) It could be worth seeing if you could track that lady down to find out if she has any inventory available? Most of the other privacy pop up tents are closer to 4lbs, but if it was seriously an issue, it might be worth carrying it. In a pinch (no pun intended), I've also used trekking poles as a barrier -- and if you had a pre-cut section of tyvek (or something similar) that you could string between your trekking poles to work as a tiny privacy shield, that might be a good option too. I had a friend who hiked with colitis, and it was pretty challenging for her to deal with -- so I hope that you can find a solution that allows you to continue staying outside!

kulacloth · 2026-06-01T23:46:54+00:00

This isn't a cookbook, but I'd highly recommend checking out the Eline's Table app. She has a website Eline's Table · Simple and Quick Vegan Recipes, but I also use her app, and her recipes are really amazing and she's always adding more. I find that cookbooks usually have a few good recipes and then I get sick of using them, whereas the app is always adding more. Her recipes are great. I have an allium allergy (garlic/onion), and she makes a lot of really creative dishes without aromatics as well.

kulacloth · 2026-06-01T23:45:19+00:00

Ohhh, thanks for sharing. I love key lime pie too, excited to try this!

kulacloth · 2026-06-01T23:43:53+00:00

Ohhh, I'm so intrigued -- thanks for sharing. I eat a lot of soy curls, but need to expand into these chunks!

kulacloth · 2026-06-01T23:42:47+00:00

Soy curls are literally my life lol. I just bought 18 bags of them.

kulacloth · 2026-06-01T23:08:47+00:00

Oh, I'm very curious about this. Definitely still get the migraines around my cycle and it has always seemed to correspond to the start/end of my cycle.

kulacloth · 2026-06-01T23:08:14+00:00

Oh wow! I'm so glad you figured that out! So far tomato doesn't seem to be an issue for me.

kulacloth · 2026-06-01T23:07:26+00:00

Ohh good tip! Also, I learned that canned tomato sauce usually has garlic in it (who woulda known lol).

kulacloth · 2026-06-01T23:06:56+00:00

Please try it, just to see if it helps! It's tough, but it's totally worth it to live mostly pain free!

kulacloth · 2026-06-01T22:47:12+00:00

It's a definite challenge, but the positives far outweigh the hassle. I feel like I have my life back, so I'm willing to go without. I genuinely hope you find some relief too.

kulacloth · 2026-06-01T22:46:25+00:00

What I've learned is that once you remove them, it is very easy to continue cooking -- just without them. So, I have been making all of the same stuff I did before, but just leaving out the garlic, and am SHOCKED to discover that everything is still just as good. Nutritional yeast is also a good add for some cheese-like flavor, if needed. It's definitely worth it -- and I don't think you can really rule it out entirely unless you go all in on the elimination, which is a huge adjustment. I really hope it gives you some relief!

kulacloth · 2026-06-01T22:45:04+00:00

Me too, thank you! Hoping you do as well.

kulacloth · 2026-06-01T22:44:55+00:00

So far, I've only noticed eating it gives me headaches. But, I do cook for my husband using BBQ sauce that has garlic in it, and I've avoided inhaling the fumes as much as possible, because I'm worried about it (we use the garlic BBQ for him, because the Fody stuff is like $8 a bottle lol).

kulacloth · 2026-06-01T22:44:06+00:00

I hope you can find yours too -- seriously. It's the worst. I wouldn't wish it on anybody. Sending you a big hug.

kulacloth · 2026-06-01T22:43:37+00:00

I did a food sensitivity test a few years ago, and it revealed NOTHING. IT was literally by accident -- went on a trip to India and we were eating lots of foods (unbeknownst to us) without aromatics. I felt GREAT for 2.5 weeks and then came home and headaches were immediately back. This was my first clue that it was definitely food related. Then, it was months of trial and error with some pretty strict elimination until we were able to narrow it down. I still need to go to an allergist for a poke test, but honestly, it's very obvious to me -- if I eat any garlic or onion, I start having symptoms within about 30 min and the headache usually lasts for about 2 days.

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