Drowning--Need some help

[desiree]

Hi All, I have not had a chance yet as to make a log on other page, but having an issue with water retention, that I need some help--I have had this problem since day 1--but got worse yesterday--As of Sat. I increased my cals to 1577 and my macros changed from 30% carbs to 55% carbs---

I know it is not the carbs fault--but I am cursing them out--saying this is why I don't eat them--

I had asked before about electrolytes and never really got an answer--I know what is in the book but I need help with myself--being that everybodys body is different--I am having lots of water retention in my right leg/foot--Yesterday was the worst--went from feeling numb to almost tingling sensation, today is alittle bit better, but still swelled. And to top it off--I am not peeing enough!

I am yelling for lasix--but not going to happen!! I swear!

I am taking 1 potassium tablet and figure I am getting the other one in my foods, salt intake?? I have been using the Mortons salt but have not really been measuring that--I also take trace minerals in my water everyday and my multivitamin has magnesium, calcium, etc? Unable to take the ultima replinsher because something in it makes my nose get all stuffy--allergy--



Anybody got ideas??? I am miserable!!

Thanks Dessie

[M!ssPr!ssy]

Drink more water.

[Leigh P.]

First Dessie understand that 1-We are not doctors 2-Support can only go so far before it becomes training and consultations. It would be best if you calmly just stated your questions and you will get the best answers.

If you are finding yourself in physical pain with numbing and tingling then likely you are dealing with retention and circulation issues that at times could be (not to scare you, could not be too) a sign of real health issues.

1 potassium supplement isn't going to do anything. You need an ongoing intake of constant good potassium, water, sodium, etc. You aren't going to get a quick answer about electrolytes because they are literally one of the most complicated things in the world you could possibly research and look into. Trying to nail it down is like trying to hit a moving target on a train with a sniper gun from the top of a mountain.

Your body is adjusting to new food intakes, it is responding in a unhappy manner. Carbs hold water and crave water for lack of a better term. You have to supply your body with the water it wants until it is comfotable with giving it up.

As for potassium, you can get some more by using Mortins lite Salt, like I state in the book, and try and get in more potassium rich foods but while getting good water intake.

Lastly don't be SO still that you are just eating, siting, and laying bed ridden. Don't take things to extremes. Talk gentle strolls, relax, enjoy the outside, and move at healthy/normal levels. If you are sitting and eating and not moving then you could be eating at a surpluss with just 1500 calories.

Instead of panicing and starting threads READ the ones that are already here. I recommend reading the GOWEARFIT thread, it is very eye opening to how much movement equals what calories.

Use the search function as I have answered a lot of your kinds of questions before.

[MQ5]

Des - I get a swollen leg too. For me, walking helps tremendously. I find that usually I retain water in one leg more than the other based on how I am sitting. BUT as Leslie said it is worth asking your doctor about.
I have never found supplements helpful for my own condition. But warm baths, massage and movement help a lot. Drinking more water does help too!

Oh and for me - sleeping on my back helps me to pee more. I suspect that sleeping on my side is putting pressure somewhere and that causes non-peeing issues.

[niclyf]

I've struggled tremendously with fluid retention .. both when I was in inpatient treatment, and even how with having done my won weight restoration .. so I feel your pain I know it's frustrating.

Have you tried Dandelion Leaf? I think it might come in tea form .. not sure how else it might be available .. but I've seen that suggested quite often for edema.

A couple of other things .. Would your physician temporarily put you on Lasix? I'm on a very low dose now .. and it's helping .. but one thing you have to watch with that is since it's not potassium sparing, if you're having issues with potassium levels, it's probably not the wisest approach.

One thing that helped me a lot when I was in treatment .. is keeping my legs elevated as much as possible throughout the day (legs above your heart). Also, try putting a pillow under your feet/calves at night .. when I do that .. I pee like a racehorse in the morning.

Other than that .. Like others have said and as I've also been told by everyone here .. we've spent a long time really wreaking havoc on our bodies .. and that my dear, takes time to rebound from. As miserable as this is, it's something that we have to endure and tolerate for all the abuse we've inflicted on our bodies. It didn't happen overnight, and we're not going to fix it overnight. It's just a hurdle .. try to keep your focus on the end goal, you'll get there, but you have to ride out the waves to reach the shore. I'm in the same boat as you are, (pun intended) and while it's not enjoyable right now, I'm trying to just keep my sights on where I want to be, and am trying my best to just deal with all the obstacles in the meantime.

[desiree]

Hi, Guys, I knew I was in the right place when I got such helpful and heart felt suggestions, It is the ones who have already struggled with such issues--that can really feel the pain and frustrations.

MQ5, Guess what? I slept last night on my back and did elevate my feet with a pillow and this morning--Peed like a CHAMP!! thank you so much, How long have you had this problem, my gosh it only seems to happen when my body thinks I am carb loading--which I am not--It is just a normal diet, right?!! What we think is suppost to be normal, Hey thanks for all your help with my Gowear too--I am keeping an eye on it--I think it has balanced out--was concerned when it was giving me the same reading on exercise day and off days--but it is adjusting well now--2100calories doing nothing--hmm not bad--and shocking numbers for me--


Hi Niclyf

thanks so much for your reply and I am here for you as well--I am so sorry you are having to go through this and you are not alone--your response just wanted to make me cry--I know we did this to ourselves, not purposely of course and now we have to pay our dues, but I knew if I posted this issue there would be someone out there who has been there and done that!!

How long have you been struggling with this--ya know my water retention problem started about 8 months ago, doc did start me on low dose lasix, but I found sometimes when it was really bad--the lasix did not work?? Have you noticed that? Now the water issues started when I started the MRM program I guess my body had to adjust to the extra food/carbs, then it kinda resolved but not completely and now with the 55% carbs, my body went into overload,haha

I feel alot better this morning--How long does this side effect issue last?? I mean is this something we have to deal with for life?? My doc yesterday was not that helpful, she looked at my right ankle--pressed a deep indention, suggested lasix and told me to stay away from those foods?? My Resting heart rate was also a bit elevated--but she said that was probably the extra fluids and should resolve--

She told me that my body right now is just acting up, I now have GI issues, lots of food allergies which I never have had in my life, she also said could be due to no period, so is starting me on low dose progesterone? I told her that I felt like I had lupus or something, my body is just attacking me--

I am taking a potassium 1gm daily, and as noted above I am using the Morton lite salt and drinking the suggested amount of water, no more,no less!! But every bodys body is different so 2gm of potassium and 4gm of sodium maybe great for some but we all are different weights and shapes and I guess it is going to be trial in error.

Anyway--thanks so much, I would love to hear and read what you have been thru and how you are handling things is there a log somewhere or you are more than welcome to PM me, I can see the light at the tunnel, but would like a more of an understanding of what I am going thru, I have been going thru this for about a year, guessing at all kinds of diagnosis, doc ordering all kinda tests and It is not until now that I really grasp what is going on--Not one Doc has ever even suggested Anorexia, even exercise anorexia, but I seem to be going thru all the same consequences, thanks Dessie

[LaraT]

have you been taking the progesterone? That can cause a lot of water retention.

[desiree]

Hey Lara,

Actually was suppost to start in today--so no have not as of yet, and you know I asked the Doc that yesterday and she said--no--you will have no problem--she thinks some of the water retention is being caused from lack of period--also causing really bad insomnia?? HMMM I was thinking of holding off--Because to be honest I have had a little weird feeling in my tummy--kinda like the old days--like maybe it is coming?? If I can remember what that feels like?hahha!! thanks, Dessie

[Naive]

Be patient with yourself! That's probably one of the hardest and seemingly least helpful piece of advice but it really is about that. Like Leigh said, when you increase calories, carbs, etc...your body isn't going to adjust overnight. You're doing great.

[maggieandmommy]

Hang in there. If you get a chance, just spend some time reading through some of the threads in this section, and I think that you'll see that others have struggled with some of the same things that you're struggling with. Hopefully your body will start to adjust to the new levels and will start to act the way that it's supposed to, but in the meantime, try not to stress.

[LisaS]

I am taking a potassium 1gm daily, and as noted above I am using the Morton lite salt and drinking the suggested amount of water, no more,no less!!

Is that a prescription potassium supplement from your doctor that gets you 1 gram as a supplement? Because, OTC potassium are generally limited to 99 mg/tablet - so that would be 10-11 of those to make 1 gram.

[desiree]

Hey Maggiemommie, your kids are absolutley beautiful, you should be so proud, and thanks for the response, I am hanging in there thru the good and bad--It would be alot easier if the body would just cooperate, but hey this is a way of remembering, What not to do, right??

Hey LisaS, I am taking the 99mg, and yeah 10 aday spread out through the day with meals and also doing the extra with my morton salt and whatever is in my food--but with the GI issues, I really wonder how much my body is really absorbing--

my hubby said next time I flare up like that to do some lab work and see what is going on, because when I draw labs on a regular day they are within normal limits--It is just when I go into Carb-overload--or sometimes when I eat sugar--I think my body see sugar as a stress componant--and does not know how to assimilate it??
My only cheat/sugar is some coconut milk ice cream made with agave--which is taken right off the top of my macros for the day--so not eating any extra carbs, but my body for some reason can only handle sugars from fruits right now?? So maybe that is it?? Of course playing russian roulette right now and Xed that out of the equation

thanks dessie