Pain in right side 3 months into Keto when fasting

liver

(Chele Eva Armstrong) #1

Hello there smart people.
So I started Keto in May after reading the Obesity Code. I got really excited and started IF right away. I loved it and felt great up until a month ago. All of the sudden I was having horrible pains in my right side. It felt as if I was passing something or possible Hernia.
I went and saw my naturopath that ordered an ultrasound. He said “you have an unhappy Liver from losing weight too fast” I had only lost 13 pounds at that point (2 months).
The blood tests and ultrasound confirmed a fatty liver. I stopped IF but kept eating Keto. I have tested myself and fluctuate between .3 and 1.2 Ketones. I feel Fat adapted as I am only eating 2 times a day at the moment.
I’ve lost a total of 18 pounds since May 21, The pain is still there. If I fast the pain gets worse.

Oh and I had my Gallbladder removed in 2007, I wish I had not.

Has anyone else experienced this? I have read a few studies where the Keto diet can heal a fatty liver. But the main stream docs are scaring me off of it.
Thoughts?

Thanks for being there.


(James) #2

Hi, I’m not sure if your having a similar pain as I had but shortly after I started Keto I was getting back pains that seemed to be from my kidneys. I believe it was my body producing more uric acid and the start of getting kidney stones.

The solution for me was drinking some water with lemon every day for a few weeks. Eventually I seem to have adjusted and don’t get the pains any more.

When I first noticed it and the pain was bad I’d have a glass with a little baking soda, lemon, and some apple cider vinegar. (watch out the foam when first combined). It’s just my 2 cents. :slight_smile:


(Allie) #3

I had similar in the start too, and that was kidneys, but it sorted itself out.


#4

I would change doctors. Fat is being removed from your liver first, thus healing it from its previous state of being even fattier.

As for the pain, is it in the location of your liver, or down in your intestines?


(KCKO, KCFO) #5

Are you hitting your water, salt, and protein needs daily? Do you add fats after cooking foods in fat?
Your liver becoming fatty after only losing 12 lbs., I seriously doubt that claim.

If you are T2D, stop drinking any alcohol and eating sugar alcohol containing foods. My DH is and he was told he had a fatty liver, after a month of none of the alcohols foods and drinks, his liver was normal again. Dr. tested him before and after. He did cut back on the wine and he rarely has foods with sugar alcohols and he continues to get monitored.


(Chele Eva Armstrong) #6

James,
Thank you for answering. I felt the pain was in my intestines as well. But when I had the ultrasound, she confirmed fatty liver and so did the blood tests. She said something odd to me during the test. We want you to detox that fat, but not TOO fast. I took from that that the pain may be due to detoxing the fat to quickly. She said my kidneys looked fine.

I will try the lemon, I have been drinking Cider vinegar before meals and at bedtime. Liver detox herbs and enzymes are helping as well.

Thanks!


(Chele Eva Armstrong) #7

Carol,
Thank you for answering. I felt the pain was in my intestines as well. But when I had the ultrasound, she confirmed fatty liver and so did the blood tests. She said something odd to me during the test. We want you to detox that fat, but not TOO fast. I took from that that the pain may be due to detoxing the fat to quickly. She said my kidneys looked fine.

Do you think because fat was being removed from the liver "too fast’ That could cause inflamed liver and therefore pain?


(Chele Eva Armstrong) #8

I think my liver was bad before starting keto, I feel I am getting daily needs met.
I am completely off sugar with the exception of wine. I have cut back considerable y and starting to feel better.

I feel I eat at least 120g of fat a day, Still steadily losing weight. I guess the question is, is this pain going to be with me until my liver is no longer fatty? Should I eat MORE fat to help it a long?

It is sort of a challenge with no Gallbladder. I have to eat all these pills just to feel normal. (liver detox, berberine, choline, enzymes)


(Allie) #9

I’m wondering if it was something caused before the keto, and flared up as part of the healing process? I hope you feel better soon <3


#10

It’s possible you have an underlying condition that was triggered by changing your diet. Losing “too fast” isn’t something that in and of itself should cause problems. 13lb in 2 months is ~1.5 lb a week, which is in line with what most people would consider healthy - and some of that was water. If the pain is located in your intestines, I would have a doctor look at what’s going on there.


(Chele Eva Armstrong) #11

I think it was something that had been hiding there, but now how do I stay keto and heal the fatty liver in relative comfort? I worry all the fat makes it worse? Or is it not enough fat to make it better? I am not sure what to do.


#12

Please forgive me for asking this, but could it just be air passing through your intestines? I had problems with that while doing IF and it hurt really really bad.


#13

I also am without a gallbladder. I don’t remember any pain in the transition, but I did get some undigested fat passing through. I used a bile salt supplement during the transition to get my levels back up. I’m not sure if whatever your liver is going through has something to do with indigestion or absorption of fat.

The worsening of pain during a fast though… not sure what to make of that.


(Chele Eva Armstrong) #14

Mairi,
I could be that as well, But the ultrasound confirmed Fatty liver.

Does anyone know how best to do keto with a fatty liver?


(Chele Eva Armstrong) #15

Does anyone know how best to do keto with a fatty liver? with NO Gallbladder


#16

Berberine could be giving you GI side effects.


#17

No, gallbladder removal is usually not an issue for most keto-ers, from what I’ve read. I had mine removed 15 years ago, and I don’t notice any problems since going keto. Fatty liver is what you get from too much sugar, so cutting sugar is how you get rid of fatty liver. Keto should be great for reversing it, as well as fasting. I have never heard of fatty liver developing because of fat loss. Rather, it is one of the first places fat should be getting used from as you lose weight via keto/fasting.


(Chele Eva Armstrong) #18

I have been LCHF since May 21 2017, Pain did not start until Late june.

When I fast the pain is greater. Why would that be?

I am considering a fat fast


(Richard Morris) #19

Any unexplained pains should be a warning signal to see your doctor and get them on the job of investigating it.

I don’t know of any specific cause of pain in that area that could be caused by a ketogenic diet or exacerbated by fasting, but I’m not a doctor.


(Meeping up the Science!) #20

I had NAFLD and my many years of keto basically healed it. When I had bariatric surgery, they told me my liver was beautiful, healthy, and perfect.

As for pain, I had something very similar occur after I started a LCHF diet (this was 2003, so not as much “keto” then) which was basically keto. I lost a large amount of weight in the first 1-2 months.

Apparently, I had an ovarian cyst that had caused a torsion. The rapid weight loss caused it to untwist from the ovary which it had killed. It was a very long and skinny cyst, so I actually had no idea I even had one. I almost died, except that I basically went to the ER. I am not saying you have an ovarian cyst…however it might be good to see a GI doctor or other specialist and/or get more tests.

Diet typically won’t cause GI pain unless it’s something like gas. While I know specialists can be expensive, it’s good to rule out random weird stuff that we have no idea about (like my cyst). For instance, you can also feel back pain in the abdomen sometimes, even though it actually comes from the spine. That’s why it’s good to get an idea and narrow it down. Absolutely see your doctor ASAP.