Confusing first month

[Thevioletstorm]

Hello I am new here and I’ve mostly just been parusing and soaking in as much knowledge as I can. I evolved into this keto thing and it really resonates for me so I’m embracing it.
I’m not usually much of a poster but I have run into a issue or 2, so I decided to reach out.
My story is- I have thyroid issues that in the last couple years have figured out and learned to manage quite well. I only have half thyroid, but the little guy is quite a trooper and is serving me quite well. I only take natural desicated hormone. I have also had a hysterectomy and only have one ovary and really have no problems in that area either.
Last year after getting in control of thyroid mess I lost 48 lbs, not on keto, literally eating 1,000 calories and day and staying active at the gym.
My body has adapted to this, having only gained back 5 lbs I was then in search of something that would be a more permanent lifestyle for my body. I weigh about 135 now and really I only have about 10 more lbs I want to lose. Beyond weight I have some severe inflammation issues in my wrists that I have hopes will disappear with this change in lifestyle.
That being said, I’m in about a month, (I just ordered a breathalyzer so I don’t know my ketone level) it’s taken me a minute to adapt, but in the last week since I’ve evolved into an easier flow with it, all of a sudden my breasts have become extremely tender, I haven’t lost any weight yet and I looked around here and I don’t think I found another post in regards to this. It’s obviously a hormone issue.
My initial thought, is it possible that I don’t need as much thyroid meds as I did before? That is one of the symptoms of dosage being too high but I have not adjusted that all yet.
Are my bio hormones just trying to balance out and it’s causing a little havoc? (Last check I had my progesterone was quite low)
Has anyone else experienced this? Is it unrelated?

I know hormones are a touchy subject, but I think KetoDiet plays quite a role in them.

Last thing, this place has been great, I tend to brace things alone, this diet/health/body thing is such a lonely game, a battle between you and you, I tend to not get it all over everyone around me. It’s so wonderful to come to a place and know that I have fellow “aliens” among me.

[jamestorie]

Well, first off I’m not a woman so I can’t speak on most of this, but I have been living without a thyroid for 20 years. I’ve been keto for 2.5 years and I did have to drop my medication level a bit. My problem was that the higher dosage was making my blood pressure high. I think our bodies perform so much better on keto that we don’t need quite as much help from the pharmaceuticals. Prior to keto, I actually used my thyroid meds to control my weight! I will be keto for the rest of my life.

[Robin_Weitzman]

I know high fat helps increase fertility. It’s possible your body is starting to produce more hormones naturally. I’d suggest looking into lowering your dosage. My boobs grew much much larger on high fat dieting! Like… I need to go bra shopping. I went and got sized and I was way off in my calculation. I tried a 36 c, and the professional sizer decided I was a 36ddd. So there’s that for me! I also know it helps with PCOS, which is a hormone imbalance in women. I’ve been hospitalized and have had surgery on my ovaries, although no organs removed, due massive cysts. I thought I had endometriosis at one point, but the ultrasound proved that to not be the case. I hope that the high fat will continue to help me and keep me out of the hospital. I’ve read amazing testimonies about ketosis and women with hormone issues!!! Best of luck to you!!! May our periods regulate and our reproductive organs stop trying to kill us!! Haha

[Daisy]

Welcome.

Yes, keto will definitely impact your hormones so likely thyroid. I would say monitor and test so that you can adjust levels accordingly, obviously coordinating with your endo/GP.

I would say that it is very likely you will see an improvement with inflammation issues.

Have you upped the amount you are eating since starting keto? 1000 calories is pretty low but I am not clear whether that is the level you are still at now or just the level you were at previously.

Go steady and keep an eye on any medication requirements and changes you might need to make as your body adjusts.

[Thevioletstorm]

@Robin_Weitzman -you totally cracked me up! You gotta remember I am no longer the owner of a uterus, so no more cycles for me! Last year when I lost 48 lbs I went from a natural D, to barely pathetically filling a B…so you actually just filled me with joy and much hope when you said that. It makes me feel like good fat knows where it’s suppose to go! In all the right places!!! That will definitely save me 6K in a little certain surgery I was thinking about scheduling.

Thank you @jamestorie for telling me that. It actually put me at ease knowing that what I am feeling is my body optimizing itself and that’s actually quite exciting. Oh and I’m deeply sorry for subjecting you to all this boob talk.

@Daisy -yes if I do monitor my calories at all I am up around 1500, it’s kind of hard to eat 70% fat and not get somewhere near there. The 1,000 a day is how I lost the initial but it’s unrealistic to this that can be a lifestyle, and my body told me as such! Keto definitely can be a lifestyle and I am loving it. I haven’t noticed weight loss yet though, is that normal? Is it possible that I won’t until my hormones figure themselves out?

[Daisy]

It is really normal for weight loss to take a while to kick in, especially if you don’t have a lot to lose, have been losing previously, have any health issues, are female! What you will have to figure out is the weight your body actually wants to be and this may well be very different from the weight you have in your head. Your body’s priority is health and functioning in the best and safest environment it can. That means having a certain amount of body fat that may well be higher than you desire. I really don’t bother with calories because I believe them to be a flawed concept on which to base how much you eat. Neither do I do % for the same reason. It is way easier to focus on carbs first - keeping them low, so 20 grams or less - then getting adequate protein for your LBM and body needs which vary a bit depending on lifestyle, activity levels and metabolic history - 1-1.5g per kg LBM (Lean Body Mass) - and finally eating fat to satiety - all the fatty cuts! full fat everything and no more low fat malarky!

What you might well find if you are near target body weight is that it will be more your shape that changes than your weight. It is worth tracking measurements and pics too, as well as all the mental and physical improvements you see. Weight really is the smallest factor.

[Robin_Weitzman]

Ugh. Lucky. No periods… Everyday month, I’m like " maybe this month it will finally kill me…" But maybe ketosis will change it. But… Still!! No periods? No birth control? Man. I’d be all over the place!!!

[Thevioletstorm]

Well @Robin_Weitzman I am 43, and did have a pretty rough go at it, hense the hysterectomy, no intent to rub it in or anything, but it really was the best thing I ever did, even if I didn’t really have a choice in the matter!
Thank you @Daisy you may probably feel like you repeat the same thing to all these newbies but it REALLY does help, I’m still in the phase of looking at the 1,000 piece puzzle and slowly fitting pieces together. I went through the keto flu in about the second week, then my un-educated self decided to try the keto shakes thinking they were a good thing, and evolved into learning that they don’t, and being at ground zero again. As of today, I’m feeling the flu all over again as I’ve dove back into the natural process again, not taking the ketones, my appetite seems to be back at full force, so fighting through that again. This is such a Journey and I have so many questions they come up 100 times a day. I’m glad I find this place! Thank you again!!!