Allergies & Hypothyroid, etc

#1

Good afternoon. I feel very out of my comfort zone by posting this. I am a 35 year old female. Keto since last November…fell off the wagon in August and trying to get back on. I completed a great 17 days on Keto in October but fell off again due to stress last week.

I am trying to eat Keto to lose weight and feel better. I am 5’1 and currently 125 lbs, trying to get down to around 113-115…so not a lot to lose. I had Graves Disease/severe Hyperthyroid in 2012. Had radiation & successfully killed my thyroid in 2013. I am now Hypothyroid and on 75 mcg Levothyroxine. I also suffer from chronic inflammation, swollen glands, and Endometriosis.

Last year I suddenly became very allergic to almonds & nuts. Over the last year I have developed oral sensitivities to zucchini and most recently protein powder and cream cheese. My mouth & tongue get very tingly and itchy after eating those foods. Also within the past year I have become very intolerent of asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, and sauerkraut. I suspect I have gut issues because I get severe stomach pain after eating those foods.

As of this week (after eating a decent amount of carbs & sugar) I have noticed red bumps on the back of my tongue and it is also white. So I have begun the task of searching Google and this forum for help with Candida issues.

I honestly feel alone because nobody I know understands and even my significant other has become almost annoyed by my increasing food issues & sensitivities. I am embarassed when I am suddenly “sensitive” to even more things. And now I have to add Oreos and “normal” (to him) foods, because of the Candida.

Considering everything I am sensitive to, my last 17 days on keto, the only foods I consumed was chicken, beef, butter, ranch dressing, coffee creamer, coffee, 90% chocolate, and a little sugar free jello.

I lost a few pounds, looked leaner…but my mood tanked. I was very lethargic, cranky, and almost felt depressed sometimes. I just didn’t feel “myself” which is why I began consuming carbs and sugar again, to try to pick myself back up again. I DID feel better…until two days ago when I now have Candida in my mouth.

I am looking for anyone with medical issues and food allergies that severely limit the food you can eat. Is almost carnivore my only option? I dont know what to do or think anymore. Thank you for your time and consideration, everyone!

('Jackie P') #2


Poor you, what a dreadful time you are having. I hope you have some good healthcare professionals trying to help you figure this out.
I have posted this article on MCT oil. It lists 7 benefits but I think number 5 may be of interest to you.
I really hope you can find a way through this, I am sure a lot of people here will be able to advise you. I trully wish you well. :relieved:

(Full Metal KETO AF) #3

If I had the number of issues that you have which point to an autoimmune disease I would go full carnivore. I’m planning a trial period after Christmas already and my symptoms for an autoimmune disorder are significantly minor compared to what you describe.

You’re significant other needs to know that these foods are causing you suffering and it’s cruel you to be made to feel bad about that, from someone who loves you. I feel for you.

Do what you need to do to get better. Don’t worry about 10-15 lbs. It’s probably not all fat but bloat and inflammation from the food allergies and sensitivities too. I think it will just get worse until you get a really clean diet. I don’t know what coffee creamer is for you, personally I would be cutting out all dairy except ghee. At least till I got better. :cowboy_hat_face:

(Susan) #4

Welcome to the forum =).

I feel very badly for you with all of this happening to you all at once, that must make you feel horrible.

Trying to go mostly carnivore might be the best solution for a bit to see if it helps. Many people find that they need to eliminate all sugars, including artificial sweeteners, keep carbs at 20 grams or less, proteins and fats, but since you have so many health issues related to so many foods, the coffee creamer, chocolate and sugar free jello could have all be causing you trouble as well. Even if they are not foods that you are allergic too, they could have been spiking your insulin responses, and the ranch dressings I have seen mostly contain some seed oils, which we try to not have on Keto.

Is it possible for you to try carnivore for a bit and see how it goes? It is the carbs and the sugar that are a big problem, if you make sure you are taking enough electrolytes you can escape that yucky feeling you were having that is a carb and sugar withdrawal symptom – it is like when people are coming off alcohol or cigarettes and they feel really rotten as their bodies want those drugs. Going off the carbs and sugar can make our bodies go crazy and feel sick as well, but keeping up your electrolytes can really help offset that. Perhaps you could try mostly carnivore, with the MCT Oil that Jackie suggested above if you do not have an adverse reaction to that, and include just a few low carb vegetables that you are not allergic to? Try to not have any dairy and just stick with those things and see if you are able to do that? I wish you all the best, I can only imagine how frustrated you are.

@Ilana_Rose has had a lot of issues with trouble with foods and is now a complete carnivore, she might have some useful advice here for you =). Take care and good luck =).

#5

I am histamine intolerant and grew more and more intolerant to other things as years went by.
It took my body 6 months to get itself in order, I felt horrible for the first 12 weeks of keto, but you can’t expect your body to forgive you for years of abuse after a few days. Some people don’t have auto-immune/inflammatory conditions and they quickly bounce into keto, you and me can’t, our bodies need more time. I would suggest avoiding adding carbs to make yourself feel better - it’s false comfort, you take 1 step forward and 15 back. If I were you, I would remove all processed foods, creamers, chocolate, dressings, etc., stick to real foods, plain keto with as little ingredients as possible or even carnivore, as some have suggested, and stay strict for about 3 months. Dressings are filled with bad oils, chocolate can be trouble (histamine, oxalates)…I eat eggs, meat, liver, mixed lettuce, butter, EVOO, coconut oil and assorted veggies (asparagus, mushrooms, avocado). Feeling bad can be something as simple as electrolytes and if you keep it your ingredients simple, you will know exactly what is bothering you, make an adjustment and continue.

#6

Wow thank everyone so much for responding in such kind ways. After over a year of reading this forum everyday (never signed in bc I forgot my password, haha) and searching for things to attempt to help myself alone, I never thought I would have to actually post a question myself. I feel like I already know everyone personally just by how much I have followed the forum day to day…I feel very blessed today that so many “big names” of this forum have responded to me in such kind and thoughtful ways.

I appreciate the MCT oil suggestion and I am going to purchase some on Amazon today. I have already purchased Braggs ACV, as I have read on here that may help too. I have also read coconut oil helps, but I sometimes get oral sensitivity to that, so I have stopped eating it out of fear of an even worse reaction at some point.

I also super appreciate the responses of Momof5 and David. I am taking to heart everything each of you have said. I very much agree that I should not be having the creamer or chocolate (jello was maybe twice) or the ranch. I guess I have tried to fool myself into thinking I “deserve” these few things every now and then because my food choices are so limited or I get stressed. I am an emotional eater (over-eater) so it has been incredibly mentally difficult to not reach for treat food when I am stressed. I have searched the forum many many times for over eating, stress eating, etc., for help with those issues when times get rough.

After reading the responses on here, I feel like my issues might be more serious than I thought. I think I have tried to down-play everything going on, thinking these issues are random, not that bad, or will go away on their own.

I have also looked into histamine intolerence a few weeks ago, so I really really apprecate that response. Everything you said is so true and really hits home with me.

Going forward, I will cut out all of my “treats” and my diet will consist of just meat, salt, and as little of coffee as I can handle. I will also keep up with my electrolytes, as I usually do. I am going to disregard my focus in losing weight, which was great advice, too. I have bigger problems than a few vanity pounds. And honestly once I cut out the few extra things I have, I think the weight will fall off, probably even faster than I want it to.

The biggest hurdle is the fact that I have to get my mind in the right place. That it is okay I am like this and have food issues…it is okay I can only eat certain foods. I feel so restricted, but I need to change my mind set.

You are all impacting the quality of life for so many people by your responses on this forum. I speak for all of the lurkers when I say that we appreciate you all so much.

(mole person) #7

This is what helped me. Just ensure you eat very fatty meat or add a lot of extra if you start to feel tired, have brain fog, have appetite control issues, or have stomach issues. To much protein can really affect some people badly.

(Jane) #8

I make my own mayo out of olive oil and I use that with the ranch dressing seasonings and buttermilk for ranch dressing. I know there are some not-so-good ingredients in the seasoning mix (maltodextrin maybe? can’t remember) that I use but not as bad as commercial ranch made from seed oils. I’ve been meaning to make my own ranch seasoning mix but haven’t gotten around to it yet.