Carnivore after 3 weeks, getting worse. Need help

(Todd Allen) #35

A blood donation is typically less than 10% of ones total blood volume so it would be a modest effect although regular donations could cumulatively make some difference especially for a metal such as iron where much of it resides in the blood. For a metal such as lead where most of it gets stored in bones and fat the impact would be much less.

(Randy Ward) #36

This week I really thought I was turning the corner as several of my big issues were getting better. However, the last couple days have been rough. My resting heart rate has increased by nearly 15-20 points and my heart rate shoots up more than it should with light to moderate exercise (walking, pushups). Dizziness returned last night and this morning along with some brain fog. Also experiencing a little shortness of breath. Oxygen sats seem fine 95-99%. I’ve been upping my magnesium and potassium in response. If there is one thing that will make me get off this ride fast, it’s when my heart starts having issues. Hopefully this is just a bump in the road. I’ll give it a little more time. I really want to at least do a month on carnivore before deciding to make any adjustments like going to ketovore or keto.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #37

Is there any chance that you might be hypovolaemic? Phinney and Volek have found that athletes in their studies avoided the symptoms you mention by having a cup of bone broth about 45 minutes before exercising. The liquid and the salt help bring up the blood volume, so the heart doesn’t need to work as hard.

(Randy Ward) #38

So, drink more water? I’ll keep the bone broth trick in mind for when I start exercising again.

Thanks

(Edith) #39

So … I can’t remember if you mentioned how much salt you are taking in. I found for my first years on keto and carnivore, I had a very high salt need. In addition to what was in and on my food, I also needed to supplement an extra 2 teaspoons of salt per day. ( Actually, two teaspoons of my salt mix which is 3 parts Himalayan salt to 1 part No Salt.) Without that extra salt, I would get heart palpitations, blood pressure would dip too low, and I would get muscle cramps.

Maybe you need more sodium?

(Randy Ward) #40

I freaked out today because of my high heart rate. Like I said, that’s the one thing that will cause me to abandon plans. I got really anxious about it which didn’t help and thought I couldn’t do a zero carb diet and ended up eating two triscuits and two strawberries. I was so angry with my self that I was in tears. I’m fighting so hard for other health issues. I also drank several glasses of salted water. I’m feeling a little better now and wish I hadn’t freaked out and grabbed some carbs. I’m thinking you are probably correct on the salt thing. I was trying not to go nuts with salt before because I think it makes my tinnitus and pulsitile tinnitus worse. I’ve even seen videos of carnivores that don’t use any salt from day one, so I thought maybe I could just salt my meat to taste and be good. Ughhh. Why is everything so damn complicated when you get older?

(Edith) #41

Maybe those long term carnivores started with no salt, but I doubt it. In reality their diets morphed over time as their bodies healed. What your body needs now is different than what it will need in six months, 12 months, and six years.

I tried the no extra salt thing, but my body was NOT happy. Making sure I got my salt was almost like making sure I took my medicine.

I’ve been keto with on and off carnivore for almost five years. I still have to take in extra salt. But, recently not as much. I stopped drinking Diet Coke. I think it was depleting my electrolytes. I don’t need quite as much extra salt as I did before I quit the Diet Coke.

We have been trained to think sodium intake is bad, but on a low carb diet, it is good and necessary, especially at the beginning.

(Mark Rhodes) #42

I developed a pulmonary embolism with the second Moderna and looking over my blood pressure and some other vitals it is likely the first caused an issue as well. BUT I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT that I have exceptionally thick blood. I am FV and FVIII. Great for fighting saber tooth tigers and sword fights not so good for an engineer. I would have been more cautious but what was hidden was that the American Surgeon and Physician Organization warned against DVT in all three vaccines but this was not reported. I only found out after extensive searching afterwards.

I still believe vaccines did more good than harm.

(Edith) #43

Maybe I missed this somewhere: What is DVT?

(Mark Rhodes) #44

Deep Vein Thromboses https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blood-clotting-needs-to-be-watched-with-all-covid-vaccines-states-the-association-of-american-physicians-and-surgeons-aaps-301262360.html

(Karen) #45

I have been advised to cut down on salt since my Stroke and so when I feel I want some and that isn’t all the time these days, i just fry a bit of bacon in the same pan as my meat and get the salt from that without adding any extra. I have found that it completely satisfies my needs. I let my body do the talking, I don’t eat masses of bacon.

(Bob M) #46

What kind of stroke?

That’s the normal blurb. I was cautioned to cut down on salt and watch my saturated fat. But for low carb folk, “cutting down” on salt (whatever that means) can be problematic. I’ve been increasing my salt intake again. And my magnesium. I still can’t figure out how much to have.

(Bob M) #47

Interesting, albeit confusing, article.

(Karen) #48

I had a clot at the base of my neck below where the blood vessel splits into 2 and goes to left and right side of brain. The main area struck was the cerebellar region which for those that don’t know controls balance. Not the normal stroke symptoms and took the hospital 2 days and an MRI scan to diagnose. They thought I had an infection but neurologist kept pushing for the MRi. Ct scans don’t always show everything and mine didn’t.

The stroke consultant just mentioned salt amongst his pep talk. Didnt mention foods or fats but that could be because I am not overweight and otherwise very fit. I don’t mind not taking extra salt, I don’t suffer cramps, at least not very often… very rare really. Like I said adding bacon is a good way when I feel I want or could do with some. I am not so thirsty throughout the night either now I don’t add extra salt. When I was adding salt, I had found some nights I was having trouble swallowing my throat was so dry… dont have that now thank goodness.

(Randy Ward) #49

Day 24… Feel like I’m going to pass out. Dizzy again, brain fog, weak, all the usual suspects. I’m getting plenty of electrolytes. I use keto3000 powder twice a day and salt my water and take magnesium and potassium supplements. Drinking lots of water. I just ate a small/medium tri tip steak, 2 ground beef patties and 5 strips of uncured no sugar bacon for breakfast. Normally I don’t eat again until dinner which is usually New York steak or tri tip steak, some times its steel head or I add some shrimp. If needed, I throw in some pork rinds to satiety. I’m taking all my regular supplements and medications.

Not sure what I’m doing wrong. I keep telling myself that fat adaption may take 6 weeks or so. But I sure as hell know that most people don’t feel like this for this long when starting a carnivore or keto diet. I’m thinking about dropping into a low inflamation keto diet after I hit my 1 month mark on carnivore and see if that helps. I still want to try and stay in ketosis and work towards fat adaption. I just worry that my genetic maladies are stopping that from happening.

Also, I haven’t lost any weight beyond the water weight of the first two weeks. I know this usually doesn’t happen for a while longer. But it sure would be reassuring to see it happen. At least I could hang my hat on something positive.

Anyways, thanks for listening to me ramble about my trials and tribulations. Talking with others help.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #50

Are you getting enough protein? I don’t remember. Also, be sure you are eating enough food.

Of course, it’s also a possibility that something is wrong that is completely unrelated to your diet. Have you considered seeing a physician?

(Randy Ward) #51

I would hope I’m getting enough protein. I only eat twice a day, but it is usually a plate full of meat each time. When I do eat, I’m usually not hungry (in the physical sense).

I’ve seen countless physicians over the last couple decades. I’ve definitely got health issues that most doctors have no idea how to handle. I mean, that’s the main reason I’m doing this diet. I can’t seem to get answers elsewhere. Another thing I’ve noticed is that most doctors are either oblivious or decades behind when it comes to diet info especially in regards to keto or carnivore. They are all still stuck on the whole low fat and massive fiber lie. If there is a type of specialist that would be helpful, I’d be happy to try and find one. I just don’t know who/what that would be.

(Rebecca ) #52

Does your electrolytes powder contain potassium? If so, you may be taking in too much potassium, since your are also supplementing it…which could possibly cause the symptoms your are experiencing. Too much can actually be dangerous.
May I add, I am NOT a Medical Professional.

(Randy Ward) #53

My keto1000 powder has 1000mg of potassium in it. That’s 2000 per day if I use it twice per day. I supplement with about 400 more mg in capsule form which brings me up to 2400 per day. I’m not sure how much I’m getting from food. From what I read about potassium negative effects begin around 6-8k mg per day starting usually with nausea and getting worse with more potassium. I haven’t been getting nauseous.

(Rebecca ) #54

Ok, it was just a thought.