What I did and why

[ldyj]

About 2 weeks ago I almost passed out right in the middle of the market! It was very uncomfortable and scarey! Since then I've had light headedness off and on. Not only when I get up and down, but other times too. The last couple days, especially today, has been near impossible! Enough so that, after I tried a couple things to see if it would stop (or at least ease up), I made an appointment with my doc.

I searched this forum to see if I could find anything and I didn't, at least nothing that satisfied me. I want to make note here that I was in moderate-trace ketosis. One of the things I read was that it could possibly be caused by a sugar drop (I'd already ruled out a drop in blood pressure). So, I ate some Greek yogurt (I don't believe this is allowed on Rung 3, but) with some low sugar strawberry perserves. An hour later I was still lightheaded and dizzy - uncomfortably so, but I was, amazingly enough, also still in trace ketosis!

Then I read that maybe I was not consuming enough carbs. I'm staying around 30 net, mostly from veggies, but, I'm getting desperate here, so I consumed some carb controlled tortillas (3 net each). That, of course, did throw me out of ketosis (unless it was the fact that by that time I'd consumed 80 oz of water - that too will wash you out of ketosis) BUT I'm still floating around.

So off to the doc tomorrow to see what he thinks is going on. In the meantime, what do all of you think?

Thanks!

[JulieB]

No idea Jeanette - as long as you are getting enough calories (1500 or so depending on height/weight/activity level). I'm glad you are seeing your doc though - good luck.

[pamelainaustin]

Make sure you are drinking enough water--64 oz/day PLUS an extra 8 oz per day for every 10# of fat you are trying to lose. For me, that is 80+ oz. per day. Ketosis IS dehydrating and it is essential that you drink your water

Pam

[ldyj]

Thanks, Pam, but I'm in the water challenge and consume 100 oz. of water a day, plus extra if I have a hot cup or two of herbal tea! In fact, if it wasn't for the fact that I've been working on 100 oz. a day for months, I would have researched the results of having that much water daily. But I've been doing it so long I don't think that's it.

[liv]

Hopefully your doc can throw some light on it. So glad that you are going to see one. I am often anemic so I have to watch that and last summer I came down with vertigo which was weird. I am sure the doctor will look at all possibilities. Our speculation is just that.

[ldyj]

Anemia - now that's something I hadn't thought of! I'm leaving Friday for a 6-7 week road trip - I hope whatever it is he finds it fast!

[msanjelpie]

lightheadedness can be caused by blood pressure problems, low caloric intake, and yes too much water (low sodium levels) and a host of other reasons of course...

Good luck at the doc!

[Slapshot]

[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3][COLOR=DarkOrchid](unless it was the fact that by that time I'd consumed 80 oz of water - that too will wash you out of ketosis)

For the sake of newbies who read this who might think drinking a lot of water will kick them out of ketosis, let me clarify what I think you meant. If you drink a lot of water while in ketosis, you'll be properly hydrated and the chances are you might not see any purple on ketostix, but you're still in ketosis. The converse is true, too, as you probably know. Deep purple = ketosis+dehydration.

Just wanted to clarify because if I hadn't read DANDR, I'd be somewhat confused. Good luck in figuring out the issue for you...

[ldyj]

Well, it appears it was blood pressure - but not a problem!! I've been taking blood pressure meds for years. The doc told me to quit taking them for the next six weeks (while I'm on my road trip) and we'd check again, but as of today, without meds, my blood pressure was low normal (110/72)! A couple weeks ago with meds it was 132/87!! I'm happy!! Oh, and still dizzy, but the doc said that will go away after I've been off the meds for a couple days! Now to get back in ketosis. The low carb tortilla threw me out - but I was desperate and thought it might help - don't know why, I even thought it would!!

[liv]

Good think that you figured it out. And nice and quick. Oh you'll overcome that tortilla quickly. It is kind of nice that you do not need to take meds, isn't it?