To go to the doctor's because I've eaten too much salt and I think I'm dying

[poopcollector101]

I feel awful.

I've been doing the keto diet for 2 weeks. Part of this is that you replace your electrolytes by drinking salt water, 1tsp dissolved in water. I've done this past 2 days then yesterday for lunch I had a whole packet of pork crackling that was incredibly salty (actually made me feel a bit sick) and then ham hock salad, which was a bit salty, then I had some edamame beans with soy sauce (also salty) I didn't consider this at the time.
When I got home I had sprouts and bacon - more salt.

Then developed the worst headache I've ever experienced at about 8pm, literally feels like my brain was throbbing. Dry mouth and thirsty so I drank a ton of water.

I woke up at 5am with my head throbbing and I could barely move, husband have me a co codamol, barely touched the headache. I still feel wobbly now, my head feels so heavy and throbbing, it's like no headache I've ever had.

Should I go to the doctor this morning?

A cautionary tale, people!

Glad you're feeling better, OP. Well done for getting checked over.

Apparently the Magic Pill movie claims that Keto cures cancer?
Some criticisms here.

I’ve done keto for near on 4 years. I’ve nevr drunk salt water

However. I also have Addison’s disease. Before diagnosis I craved salt water. I actually would drink salt water. Other drank soy sauce or ate gravy granules

How much salt did you add to water exactly?!?

I wouldn’t advise anyone to drink salt water.

Happy to hear you're OK. Get well soon and I hope your virus is short lived!

Glad you are feeling better!

Oh dear OP!

Did you lose any weight though, after going to all this effort with the diet?

Don't waste the GP's valuable appts - drink loads of water and let your kidneys filter your blood - this is ther job which theyve been doing happily all your life until your diet messed up your biochemistry !

Who eats a packet of pork crackling for lunch? How in any way is that a healthy nutritious balanced meal?

Why can't people just eat a balanced diet and regular exercise?

Who eats a packet of pork crackling for lunch?

Someone who needs to change their diet?

I thought severe headaches in the early stages were common with the keto diet?

Drink tons of water - can't see that they would do anything else at the doctor's except tell you to drink water.

And don't do this again.

OP replacing 'salts' and electrolytes does not mean actually consuming salt/sodium in it's pure form. Electrolytes are micro salts and a blend of different specific things such as magnesium, potassium and calcium.

Also this ^

Go to the chemist and buy some Diorylite.

For future reference though, the symptoms of hypernatremia (too much blood salt) do fit what you were feeling, but drinking a load of water should have fixed it fairly quickly.

Symptoms of high sodium levels in the blood can include:
thirst.
headache.
nausea and vomiting.
lethargy.
confusion.
seizures.
loss of consciousness / coma.

Don't do the salt water thing again, eh?

This is crazy - our poor GP's are desperately struggling with their workload doing a job very few of us could cope with and and they don’t need their time wasted with this nonsense; the OP just needs to drink lots of water, eat some proper food (fruit / unsalted veg and some carbs / grains) and stop following this stupid diet which I would have thought it would be obvious to anyone – is going to make you ill.

You don't need extra salt!

I’m no expert, but I am a hypochondriac & if I had a headache that was absolutely awful, I would go to the drs if I had tried to get rid of it with sleep, paracetamol & water. It might not be the diet. Best to be safe rather than sorry.

Glad you're feeling better now op.

Christ almighty!
Wth did you read that you had to ridiculously up your salt intake? That definitely has nothing to do with a Keto diet.
A&E, now before you completely scramble yourself.

I’d like macaroons on prescription

FFS!! In what world can drinking full fat coke and eating macaroons be a way to recover from anything!!

Even if your doc said to eat carbs..

Drink water, eat veg, salad, raspberries, maybe a bit of chicken, or salmon. An avocado, some yogurt. Spinach and broccoli.

We all have choices about how we live. It doesn't look like the OP's choices are healthy in any sense. I really doubt that her doc intended coke as the correct balance.

Messing around with the body's metabolism is potty. Eat some rice and beans or a good old pasta with whatever sauce or pizza and you'll feel much better. You have gone into ketosis and your are poisoning your system. Give its some glucose.

Going into ketosis is the entire point of a keto/low carb diet.

What the hell is a keto diet and what is ‘Keto Flu’ ???

So many irresponsible posters telling the OP to drink loads of water and not bother the GP

@MNHQ please delete these posts - there's no telling how many people could become seriously ill from this awful 'advice'. Salt makes your body retain water anyway - too much more can push your blood pressure up and give you a stroke. If you feel like you have the worst headache of your life and it won't go away you should always seek medical advice. Any GP worth the name would prefer a cautious patient to a dead one.

I'm just amazed she got such a prompt appointment with an actual GP.