Stomach issues 4.5 weeks into keto

#1

Hello,

I’ve been doing keto now for about 4-5 weeks and have been dealing with difficult stomach issues since starting (namely bloating and nausea after eating, gas, and constipation). These issues do not seem to be getting any better as I expected this far into the diet.

I should mention my previous WOE was very different so I am fairly certain most of these issues are associated with the shock to my digestive system starting this diet might have caused. Prior to starting keto my diet was very high in carbs, probably accounting for 60% of my daily caloric intake.

In hindsight I probably should have transitioned more gradually, slowly winding down carb intake and upping fats. I am just wondering whether someone could give me some advice on this as I am considering reintroducing carbs and starting the process over again. If anyone has had experience with this some help would be fantastic.

If I decided to press on, how long do you think it would take for my digestive system to adapt to the point where I feel normal again?

(LeeAnn Brooks) #2

Some of the nausea may be coming from an electrolyte imbalance. I know I get nauseous because of that. I know it’s my electrolytes because if I suck on some salt, it goes away within minutes.
Worth looking into.

#3

Highly doubt thats the issue, I get plenty of sodium and supplement with magnesium and potassium.

thanks anyway

(Edith) #4

It is probably caused by the increase in fats. Four to five weeks in is really not that much time to get your body used to all the changes. I had the runs for months when I first switched to keto. I found that upping my protein and cutting back on the fat helped. Also, I switched my Mg supplement to magnesium glycinate which is supposed to be more bio available and that helped as well.

I’m a 52 year old female so I believe my body adjusts to new things slower than younger bodies. It was about six months before my digestive system was back to normal.

One more thought: many people eat a lot of dairy on keto. If you have significantly upped your dairy intake that could be causing issues as well.

(Katie Ward) #5

I am also at the 5 week point and I have dull pain off and on left side usually up by my rib or just under.It feels like my rib is poking me. It actually is better if I lay down on my left side? Walking also makes it better so I doubt it’s my heart. If I talke Alkaseltzer it goes away for the dat, but I can’t keep doing that everyday. I stopped eggs and cheese, and it was better but back today no eggs and cheese. Usually it starts when I eat, but today I woke up with it. I drank coffee with oil and it got better. It is so frustratiing? any ideas???

#6

bump, did anyone else experience similar GI issues this far into the diet (especially after eating fatty meals) and if so how long did it last

(LeeAnn Brooks) #7

Are you using MCT oil at all or using regular coconut oil heavily? Both of these can cause stomach issues.

Could be a sensitivity to something you’re eating, like dairy. Even if you didn’t notice a sensitivity before, Keto has a way of flushing out latent issues, and food sensitivities tend to increase over time, so it’s possible you were developing something pre-Keto and Keto just kicked into overdrive. You may want to try elimination diets for a while.