So, part of the pre-surgery protocol is that you start eating the way you will be post-surgery (albeit in larger portions). What sucks big time is that right now I'm limiting my carbs (you can't have bread, tortillas, pasta for 6 months after your surgery). I'm so fucking tired right now. I feel like I'm going through ketosis fatigue.
The ketosis symptoms associated with the benign dietary ketosis caused by eating a low carb, ketogenic diet are not dangerous. They may differ for each individual, with the most common symptoms being:
- Ketosis breath, which has a fruity odor, and the person in deep ketosis may feel a sort of slight burning in the nose and a slight smell of ammonia. I haven't noticed this yet, but fruity and ammonia really aren't synonymous to me.
- Dry mouth, which is alleviated by drinking more water. Totes.
- A slight headache at first which goes away in a few days. Yeppers.
- In the first week of beginning a ketogenic diet, most people experience frequent urination followed by fatigue, as the kidneys release extraneous water stores. Minerals such as sodium, magnesium and potassium are also lost with excreted urine, and it is the mineral loss that causes the fatigue. This can be offset by eating more salt, drinking more fluids, and increasing the intake of magnesium and potassium containing foods. (Dairy foods and avocados are high in potassium, and you can drink broth for more sodium.)
- Ketone bodies become detectable in the urine. Ketone bodies are leftover fragment molecules created by the natural process of burning body fat for fuel. Diabetics and low carb dieters use a product called Ketostix to check for the presence of ketones in the urine, although each group does this for different reasons. If ketones are present, the stick turns purple.
- After several days of ketosis, there may be a sense of euphoria, or an experience of high energy. Lies. Well, it hasn't been several days yet. No euphoria. I just want to crawl into bed and sleep. Ahhhh... sleep.
- Very clear thinking, and a lack of "brain fog". Dude, seriously? You're on crack. My brain is angry, hurty, and hates Lucy Liu.
- Ketogenic Diet ResourceI mean, sure, I probably eat more carbs than a small family of Italians, but this all just seems soooo unfaaaaaiiiir. *tossing self to floor* I keep passing restaurants and saying, "Welp, I guess I'll never eat there again." Then I catch myself weighing my decision. Krispy Kreme or living a longer life. I'm not going to lie to you, it's not an easy choice.
Food has become my long-time lover. It's been there for me in times of sorrow, happiness, laughter. It's a part of my family. Fuck. This is going to be hard.
