Nausea, dizziness, spaciness, headache

[ButtterflyLady]

I'm going to see my GP the day after tomorrow but in the meantime I feel so miserable. This has been going on for days, after a few weeks of GI issues.

I realise there's not much anyone can say in terms of what might be going on. I'll let you know what the GP says.

There haven't been any drug changes in the last few weeks, except one week ago I stopped taking amisulpride (for depression prophylactis) as my prolactin levels are high (a known side effect of this drug). I was on a super low dose and my specialist thinks withdrawal symptoms are unlikely. I'm not so sure about that now.

I also have reflux symptoms and have vomited once. I really hope this is not some kind of gastroparesis developing. I am taking omeprazole, domperidone, ondansetron, ranitidine for reflux/nausea. I don't think there's any more I can do.

Have been eating LCHF, things like yoghurt and clotted cream. But any food seems to worsen things. Considering not eating at all despite being hungry. Any thoughts on what to eat?

Sigh.

 

[Mike d]

Spinach .... a lot of it

 

[Jaylee]

I would second the spinach Mike. Love the stuff!

 

[Mike d]

Better that than starving yourself @Jaylee

It's a great food source and can be seasoned with almost anything.

 

[Lamont D]

Just eat anything you can stomach!
You have so much going on that it's quite difficult to pinpoint the problem.
What do you mean by GI?
I take it to be glucose index!
But that's not in context!!!!

 

[Brunneria]

How are your bg levels?
Any possibility of infection?

Have the symptoms been improving or worsening over the week. I haven't got a clue what may be causing them, but it might give you a handle on whether you are getting over whatever-it-is, or not.

 

[DeejayR]

No suggestions, but all good wishes. Better soon.

 

[catherinecherub]

Just eat anything you can stomach!
You have so much going on that it's quite difficult to pinpoint the problem.
What do you mean by GI?
I take it to be glucose index!
But that's not in context!!!!

Gastro-intestinal.

 

[Lamont D]

Gastro-intestinal.

Ta!

 

[Jaylee]

Better that than starving yourself @Jaylee

It's a great food source and can be seasoned with almost anything.

Precisely. & without sounding too much like a "Hippie". It's good "mood food."

CatladyNZ, sorry to hear you're feeling a little low.. (I don't realy know a lot about the gut thing.) try to be assertive with yer doctor. Don't let him "short change" you on the tests...

 

[ButtterflyLady]

How are your bg levels?
Any possibility of infection?

Have the symptoms been improving or worsening over the week. I haven't got a clue what may be causing them, but it might give you a handle on whether you are getting over whatever-it-is, or not.

My BG levels are between 5.2 and 7.6. It could be a virus, because of the headaches and dizziness. I had this a while ago and the doc said it was likely an inflammation of the inner ear.

Symptoms have been getting worse over the week. A bit better today because I am eating less. If I eat too much I feel overly full and the reflux flares up.

Thanks for your help - you mentioned electrolytes on LCHF in another thread and I think that's a real possibility.

 

[ButtterflyLady]

Precisely. & without sounding too much like a "Hippie". It's good "mood food."

CatladyNZ, sorry to hear you're feeling a little low.. (I don't realy know a lot about the gut thing.) try to be assertive with yer doctor. Don't let him "short change" you on the tests...

Thanks, and I love spinach too! It seems to have more of the good vitamins and minerals than other leafy veges such as lettuce.

My doc is really good with ordering tests and making referrals, so I'm lucky

 

[ButtterflyLady]

Thanks for all the good wishes, peeps. I'm feeling a bit better today and will focus on not eating too much at any one time, and making use of meds to manage symptoms.

Thanks to Brunneria's helpful post on another thread about things to watch out for with LCHF, I am going to increase my water and veg intake and ask the doc about electrolytes. I've never mentioned LCHF to her and I think she will say it's too extreme and I should stick to the eatwell plate or something... but I will mention that it helps me lose weight better than calorie restriction did.

She thinks my low HbA1c is due to diabetes just going away in some people. I just smiled and nodded. I didn't want to take up time in the appointment to discuss it with her. She's a good doctor, really. I trust her and she is always receptive when I ask about things.

 

[ButtterflyLady]

@Brunneria and others, what blood tests should I be asking for tomorrow? A lot of the usual things were tested 2 weeks ago eg thyroid, iron, b12, folate etc and they are fine.

I'm thinking of asking for levels of:
-sodium
-potassium
-magnesium

Anything else that might be low on a LCHF diet? Thanks.

 

[Brunneria]

Hi,

To be honest, I don't have a clue.
My decisions in whether to supplement in potassium, magnesium and have extra salt were:

Salt - I'm getting night cramps in hot weather, and feeling floppy a lot of the time. let's give it a try - so I dissolved a stock cube in hot water (as per Volleck and Phinney's suggestion) and drank it. Felt better within about an hour. Nowadays, I just use a pinch of salt on my dinner, or have a bovril or stock. I aim for 2 g a day, but it is v approx.

Potassium - those night cramps - so I bought a pot of supplements (as suggested on this forum) and popped a pill at bedtime. Magically no cramps waking me up in the night. Only really need them in hot weather, but the chance of ODing on Potassium is miniscule, and I figure the optimum level is probably way above the level that prevents cramps! So I take one daily (when I remember). I was also having an odd little sore throat, most mornings. A tiny white kump/patch on one tonsil. One of the signs of severe pot' deficiency is mouth soreness and lesions, I think. Anyway, if I wake up with that, I think back, and have INVARIABLY been forgetting that pot' tablet.

Magnesium - suggested on the forum as good for LC, and not something the body can't eliminate with ease (if I recall correctly, it isn't something we store, and can easily wee out) so I took some, and noticed that my large muscles just felt 'easier' and more comfortable.

All very unscientific, but it works for me. And overall, I feel sooooooo much better.
In every case, I am confident that my supplements never take me above the Recommended Daily Amount.

 

[AndBreathe]

@Brunneria and others, what blood tests should I be asking for tomorrow? A lot of the usual things were tested 2 weeks ago eg thyroid, iron, b12, folate etc and they are fine.

I'm thinking of asking for levels of:
-sodium
-potassium
-magnesium

Anything else that might be low on a LCHF diet? Thanks.

A straightforward U&E panel will highlight most of it, and is often part of any core blood panel request, so you may have had it done already?

The thing about electrolytes is they are very fluid (yes, pardon the pun), and can vary from day to day. I would think a simple approacj would be just to add an additional turn of the salt mill to foods when preparing or serving, or pick up a cheapo supplement.

 

[ButtterflyLady]

A straightforward U&E panel will highlight most of it, and is often part of any core blood panel request, so you may have had it done already?

The thing about electrolytes is they are very fluid (yes, pardon the pun), and can vary from day to day. I would think a simple approacj would be just to add an additional turn of the salt mill to foods when preparing or serving, or pick up a cheapo supplement.

Thanks, I will check which tests were done in the batch recently. I think magnesium has to be specifically requested. I'm working on increasing my salt a bit. Had some stock cube broth today and it was surprisingly pleasant, lol. There's 780mg of sodium right there. Over the years I have weaned myself off salt, so eating/drinking salty food makes me feel like I've been swimming in the ocean and taken a mouthful of water. But I'll get there... anything to feel better.

 

[Brunneria]

That's interesting. My salty broth drinking is totally ruled by appetite. Sometimes I am craving it. Sometimes I skip it because it doesn't appeal. Maybe it is a case of listening to your body.

 

[Pinkorchid]

Hope you feel better soon

 

[AndBreathe]

Thanks, I will check which tests were done in the batch recently. I think magnesium has to be specifically requested. I'm working on increasing my salt a bit. Had some stock cube broth today and it was surprisingly pleasant, lol. There's 780mg of sodium right there. Over the years I have weaned myself off salt, so eating/drinking salty food makes me feel like I've been swimming in the ocean and taken a mouthful of water. But I'll get there... anything to feel better.

I've never been a great salt consumer either, but spending a significant periods in hot climes made me rethink some of my ideas on both fluids in and out and the impacts. My OH, in particular, can become dehydrated, which if he doesn't act upon it can impact his mental accuity; which neither of us like much.

To ensure we add a bit more salt fairly regularly we have a handful of salt mills - straightforward rock salt, rock salt + chilli flakes, rock salt + garlic salt and rock salt + a mixed herb concoction - and these alternatives can be used without an overwhelming salty taste. We've also modified out Lemon Pepper concoction to add salt to that too.

It works for us.