Hi, returning member also. Lost around 50kg and was keto for seven years. Started gaining with menopause so thought it wasn’t working anymore. Carbs have got me good so having to “dry out” again. Have regained 30kg so time to get back on the horse good and proper.
Greetings - trying Keto again
Chezza
#24
I’ve recently returned too with a plan to ease off my back pain. However my back pain got significantly worse to the point of me wondering if something serious was occurring.
Have since read that some folks get back pain for a month or so as they adjust to being in ketosis. My back pain disappeared within hours of boarding a plane and coming out of ketosis. We’re flying home later today and hubby and I are both going to fully commit to keto again. Just made life too difficult whilst on holiday.
I’m going to allow a month of back pain and take painkillers around the clock if required. If after a month it’s still painful I’ll see a Dr (ha! We’re in the UK so that’ll be fun).
Wishing everyone much success 
ctviggen
(Bob M)
#25
That is very interesting. Most people experience a decrease in symptoms for joints, possibly because keto lowers whole-body inflammation and maybe(?) because it switches to a different energy source. It’s hard to say, because so much happens.
This was an interesting podcast about carbs & exercise:
I’m not sure how applicable this is to your situation, other than to say that they think 4 weeks will allow most folks to completely transition to using a different energy system. The common thought for athletes was months, but they say it’s not that long.
I know nothing about what can cause back pain, however, so it’s possible keto might exacerbate something. If you can, report back so we can see what happens.
kib1
(KM)
#26
Back pain with ordinary keto wasn’t an issue for me, but it has occasionally made extended water only fasting excruciating and yes, within an hour of eating (even carnivore) the pain would be gone. I have read explanations that ranged from very high ketones to oxylate dumping to detoxing to dehydration to over-hydration. None seemed particularly compelling but dehydration - or a lack of something other than water that keeps the disks plumped up - seems most likely. Always the same spot on my lower back, probably an underlying weakness there .
I hope your experiment works and your pain stays away!
Chezza
#27
Back home to the cold, wet, grey weather and firmly back into ketosis with a GKI of 3.3. So far my back pain has not reappeared but the headaches I was being plagued with have.
It’s strange as whilst away the headaches had diminished to a 1/10. I have no idea what is causing them but remember getting them before being diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Energy levels are fine though.
I picked up a nasty respiratory virus whilst away and am struggling to shake it off, feel pretty rough and need to decide whether to head back to work tonight. I did warn management yesterday that I was poorly - I work in Nursing so can’t expose patients to this.
Once I’m over this bug I’ll get a blood test organised I think. Might get some answers.
ctviggen
(Bob M)
#28
I wonder if it could be related to lowered blood sugar? For my next 4.5 day fast, maybe I’ll get a CGM. I’d like to see what happens to blood sugar. I bet the my blood sugar goes from the 50s-60s to well beyond that just by eating (normally, bone broth, then something small, then a larger meal). Because the next morning, I’m back up to >100.
The most confusing thing my be oxalates. When I look to see the bad effects of oxalates, the only thing I have is an overabundance of plaque on my teeth. I do drink fermented tea and do have some dark chocolate, but that’s about it.
When I fast, I don’t get any effects that I can determine are related to oxalates. So, it’s a tough one to analyze.
kib1
(KM)
#29
I think a hot bath or sauna has been referred to as the lazy man’s exercise. A long hot soak will raise both your blood pressure and your heart rate significantly. I don’t know what the mechanism is, but it makes sense to me that it might temporarily raise glucose in the same way that exercise can.