Scary experience - what happened?

#1

I had an experience which caused me to suddenly break my fast the other morning, and I wondered what was going on?

It was something like a 36hr-48hr fast. I was measuring ketones and glucose and the evening before, my ketones were at 3.7mM and glucose at 58mg/dL. I felt a little weird, if it is possible to feel ‘high’ and energised but also feel weak at the same time - maybe others will know what I mean! I debated having some MCT oil but as I was about to go to bed, and having read stuff about not eating within 3hrs of bed, I decided to wait till morning to eat.

I slept really badly because I felt so wired. The next morning, I felt really weak. Like it was all I could do to get out of bed and get myself to the shower - that felt like an ordeal or a ‘task’ - just moving my limbs felt so hard. I didn’t really want to eat anything until I’d taken my ketone and glucose levels that morning - so I knew what they were - but I had to… because…

Whilst in the shower, I started to feel a bit nauseous and sweaty. I got back to the bedroom and threw myself on the bed, and told my husband I didn’t feel good and asked him to bring me some food. He said I looked very pale. Then I suddenly had to throw up and gagged into a plastic bag - producing nothing as I hadn’t eaten anything, of course.

Husband had the genius idea of bringing me some electrolyte drink he had (sweetened with stevia, no sugars), and I felt almost instantly better after having that and also some minced lamb from the fridge. He wanted to call a doctor, but I knew I’d feel better fast… but it was still very unpleasant and scary.

So: What can I do to avoid this happening again? I had drunk water, tea and coffee during the fast and we distill our water and add in Himalayan salt afterwards - but maybe I need a sugar/carb free electrolyte drink when fasting?? I didn’t have any fats in tea/coffee on this fast because I didn’t feel like I needed them at the time - but maybe I should?

I am not fasting to lose weight, if anything I am borderline underweight. Maybe I should stick to shorter fasts?

Thanks!

#2

Probably your sugars being at 58, it’s not scary low (for somebody fasting) but it is low compared to “normal” and if you’re not used to being down there everything you described can happen. First fast I ever did at around the 48hr mark I felt WEIRD! tingling, near numb arms, chest felt weird if I didn’t have a meter with me to show me my sugars were fine I would have ate something. I was on the road at the time and pulled over for a few minutes and it (sorta) passed. Never happened again but when your body isn’t used to fasting it can get weird for a while.

#3

I’m just 3 hours from completing my first fast as well (72 hrs. 3-days) and I too noticed a slight tingling all over while I was taking my dogs out on day 2. Again, it was very light, but I was feeling it. (Did feel weird, but not bad) I figured it was related to the fast, so just let the dogs back in and went to the garden and started working. Didn’t feel it any more and it didn’t come back. … But just wanted to mention I did experience it once, albeit lightly, I can only image someone who may have experienced it harder or stronger. That could freak someone out.

(Diane) #4

Those sound like symptoms of hypoglycemia. While a fasting blood glucose level of 58 might not be low for someone who has been fasting, a big enough drop from your normal fasting blood glucose levels can cause a person to experience symptoms of hypoglycemia. It’s important to listen to your body as you did.

Also, the higher your ketone levels go, the harder it is for your body to hold onto fluids and electrolytes. So, the more you’re going to need to drink water and supplement your electrolytes.

FYI, I sometimes have a harder time sleeping when I start a fast. Usually the first or second night. It doesn’t generally persist.

#5

Thanks, that’s useful folks. Since the glucose at 58 was 9pm, the night before, I am wondering if it dropped even lower overnight and might have been too low by morning??

(Diane) #6

I make my own ketoaid. To 1 liter of water, I add about 20 drops of liquid trace minerals, 1/2 tsp is pink Himalayan salt, 1/4 tsp of Lite pink Himalayan salt (which is half potassium/ half sodium) and some flavoring (a little lemon juice, a packet of TrueLemon [which is dehydrated lemon], some ACV, some Mio drops or some Crystal Light). I also supplement with some magnesium glycinate at bedtime.

If you google ketoaid, you’ll find other recipes.

(Omar) #7

The combination of low blood sugar and high keton reading I think what gives you the high feeling and feeling energetic.

The fainted feeling I think you answered yourself. Most likely the electrolytes.

I bet the blood pressure was low.

Take care

(bulkbiker) #8

This stood out to me… If this is correct then why are you doing extended fasting? Your body probably can’t access enough fat reserves to keep you upright. This is what Phinney means when he comes out against extended fasting.

(Empress of the Unexpected) #9

Dr. Fung says the same thing.

(Kerin ) #10

I learned that distilled water actually can absorb anything it’s in contact with. So, it’s used a lot with air purifiers.
Perhaps try smart water and pellegrino, they are purified and have minerals.

(Kerin ) #11

Yes, I believe so. We humans burn 80 to 100 calories an hour in the state of rest. Our bodies need calories even for basic functions.

(Lonnie Hedley) #12

Maybe for autophagy. That’s why I EF once a month. Weight loss is no longer a goal for me, and most definitely not necessary. The idea of autophagy to build new healthy cells is something I feel could be incredibly beneficial for some of the damage I’ve done. Not as much damage as others, but enough I’m willing to make attempts to reverse the bad stuff I’ve done.

#13

Yes, like hedleylo says, I do it for all the other benefits which come with fasting, for long-term health goals, for autophagy, for keeping insulin levels low and all the rest of it.

I don’t think it’s true that once we reach ideal body weight, we should not fast. The human body isn’t built for that. I wouldn’t fast longer than 48hrs, it doesn’t really appeal to me to try to go longer - but I should be able to do it easily for 48hrs.

Pretty much everyone has enough fat reserves to fast for a few days - unless they are truly starving. Which I’m not.

(bulkbiker) #14

Well you think that but maybe your body has other ideas hence you felt really ill? You are ignoring what all the fasters say… “if you feel ill then eat”.

#15

Um? I did eat, as soon as I felt ill :roll_eyes:

(bulkbiker) #16

Not quite what you said above… you felt off before going to bed but didn’t have anything until the next day after a bad night…

#17

I didn’t feel ill the night before, or during the night. I felt ‘high’ and weird and I didn’t sleep well as a result.

Since I’ve been told that fasting and being in ketosis can often leave you feeling euphoric and strange, and you may feel weak until you are more adjusted, I didn’t really think anything of this.

It wasn’t until the next morning that I felt at all ill. That’s exactly what I said above.

I don’t know what it is about internet forums, it doesn’t seem to matter if the subject is garden machinery or how to cut your toenails… :roll_eyes:

(bulkbiker) #18

What you mean you asking for advice people giving their time freely and you having a go at them back… that kind of thing? Forget it…

#19

Lots of people have given me suggestions about what happened and how to avoid it next time - which I’m grateful for, and is what I was looking for: To understand more about what happened in my body and to hear suggestions for what caused what I experienced, so I can make better choices next time to avoid it.

You, on the other hand, have misinterpreted what I said and blamed me for something I didn’t do…and also implied that I am somehow wilfully ignoring the helpful advice I’ve got here(!?). When I pointed out you were wrong, you persisted in some point scoring thing - yawn - so yup, I will indeed ‘have a go back’, when that happens.

(Michael Cunningham) #20

I use this graphic anytime I hear about someone feeling bad while fasting, and it seems to cover about 90% of the problems people have with fasting. I’m not even sure where I got it from, but it’s been a life saver

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