Lightheadedness is making me want to give up

(Kat) #1

I started the diet in December with no issues. Had a little blip over the holidays that caused me to understand how my body operates so much better in ketosis!

I purchased a blood monitor In January and have been tracking my macros religiously. After my first experience in January with an electrolyte crash, of course I came here for info and advice! So many smart people here! Let me also mention, I am a vegetarian so I struggle to meet protein numbers.

Since then, getting all the supplements in, tracking sodium and potassium intake etc is giving me anxiety. Now, instead of packing a cosmetic bag, I find myself packing a “diet bag” with nuts, salt, supplements etc. in case of a dizzy spell in public.

I have been especially struggling with electrolytes the past 2 weeks and the dizzy spells seem to be increasing even though I am hitting my sodium/postassium #'s. I no longer feel the brain sharpness I felt in the beginning and now feel like my brain is not “firing on all cylinders”–the only way I can describe to my husband. I can’t make decisions to save my life… And even though I lost a little weight in the beginning, I have stalled.

So I have decided I can’t live with this anxiety about a woe-- and have looked into safely getting off to determine if this is really my issue. It pains me so much because I can tell a difference-- but I can’t shake the dizziness and anxiety.

MY QUESTION: when you reintroduce (smart) carbs gently, do you still experience the “keto flu” symptoms as your body adjusts? If so, how long?

And for those who just went off the wagon full stop–how did your body react?

Thank you for all of your help in so many ways. This forum has been my go-to! :slightly_smiling_face:

#2

You mention you’re a vegetarian. How are your iron and B12 numbers?

(Kat) #3

I take a b-12 sublingually daily and haven’t checked iron since January but it was fine.

(Kat) #4

But thank you for bringing this up–I have an iron supplement that I will add to my situation today to see if it helps!!

#5

Don’t know if this will help at all, but I just wanted to mention that potassium is a really tricky one. Too little is a problem, but too much can also be a serious issue. I’m pretty sure that getting enough sodium tends to help keep your potassium levels ok.

#6

Also, you might be able to just introduce small amounts of carbs -sweet potatoes, squash- and see if that helps. Some folks are active enough that once they’re fat-adapted, they can handle carbs a few times/ week and still slip back into ketosis easily.
Have you followed LeeAnn Vogel? She’s Keto but added some carb cycling at some point.

(Carl Keller) #7

@Katrens This is a long shot, but I am wondering if you are using Lite Salt to get your sodium and potassium up? It’s quite high in iodine and too much of that can create its own problems.