Kia ora from New Zealand

(Zeb) #1

Hello from Auckland, New Zealand!

I’ve been doing keto since October last year and have seen my weight slowly drop. I gave keto a go way back in 2014 and saw some great results, but ended up going back to the sugars and carbs. This time though, I’m a keto lifer.

My father passed away last year from conjunctive heart failure, and I (and my family) have been worried about my health. After doing a lot of research, I decided keto was it.

I do have a question. I have a pretty bad case of ankle swelling/edema but I notice that it fluxes. Sometimes it’s super swelled, sometimes the skin shrinks/shrivels and the edema is much much smaller. I know this is related to water retention and one thing I have been struggling with is figuring out how to manage this. Does anyone have experience in this space and is able to give advice?

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #2

Carbohydrate promotes water retention, so the less you eat, the less edema you are likely to experience, but I doubt you can eliminate it entirely. I gather from posts by the women on these forums that a woman’s monthly cycle has a profound impact on her response to a ketogenic way of eating, and even men sometimes gain and lose water weight, as well.

A couple of things that might or might not be relevant: First, how are your electrolyte levels? Second, how are your kidneys? Third, have you checked out lymphatic massage? It’s quite different from regular massage, and you might find it helpful. There is a thread about it: https://www.ketogenicforums.com/t/lymphedema/26944

(Zeb) #3

Thanks for the post Paul!

Alas I don’t get my periods regularly so I’ve ruled that out, and my electrolytes are definitely something I struggle balancing. Is there such a thing as taking in TOO much salt with ketosis? I found one time that I had to UP my intake of salt to see the edema reduce, but another time I was eating food that was high in salt (biltong) and my edema swelled, once that supply of food was gone my edema went down again.

It’s been an odd balancing act.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #4

You’re welcome!

The more people who try keto, the more there are who have idiosyncratic responses to one thing or another. I have edema in my arms, the result of surgery to repair some bad fractures, but I haven’t noticed that keto has made any difference in either direction. Fortunately, it’s bearable, but I do have to change my sleeping position regularly throughout the night, because the fluid impinges on the nerves if I stay in one position too long and numbs my fingers. Which is a long way of saying I hope you find a way to deal with this! Please keep us posted.

Just continuing the theme of carbohydrate promoting water-retention,I wonder if going zero-carb (no plant-based foods at all) would make any difference in your edema? (Or mine, too, come to think of it!)

(Dan Dan) #5

Foods for Fluid Retention in the Feet and Ankles
Dr. Berg

Welcome hope this helps :smiley:

“May the Force (fat adaption) be with you”

IF/EF Keto WOE is Self-Discovery which leads to Self Mastery :wink:

Good luck and much success in your journey in IF/EF Keto WOE :grin: