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?

Good Lord! Everyone I know who does these silly diets puts the weight back on. The only way to keep slim is to eat less and move more PERMANENTLY.

Keto isn’t dangerous, it’s a low carb, high fat way of eaten. Op has just gone a bit overboard with the salt consumption!

"Carbflu"

OP where did you read to drink salt water?

I eat low carb generally. I have food allergies that rules out most carbs so it's easy for me.

I have never read or being told by anyone to drink salt water.

That is not normal and not part of a low carb or ketogenic diet

This is NOT a diet, op has very plainly misunderstood

As samphire says do NOT try to just ‘sort this out’ by drinking loads of water. At the right concentration salt water hydrates you (not dehydrates you) that is why rehydration solutions such as dioralyte contain salts/sugar. Get medical advice and tell them what you have done.

PS, stop buying so much shite and pay a nutritionist to help you if you want to lose weight. You'll put whatever weight you lose back on and more. Keto 'works' because of calorie deficit. But it doesn't really work long term.

(When I say ‘hydrates you’, I mean it may have done so excessively/harmfully)

I am also on keto
Yesterday I had Greek yogurt with strawberries for breakfast
A ham omelette with salad and vinaigrette for lunch
And chicken and mushroom fricassee for dinner with loads of broccoli and green beans.
I drink one glass of water with a sugar free electrolyte each day, otherwise just normal fluids, not salty water, yuck.

At the end of my first week on keto I had a "carb flu" which included a headache so bad it made me vomit.
Now I find I get a sort of hangover feeling if I eat bread.

Keto can be healthy if you plan sensibly.

This sounds weird. I have been low carbing for several years now, lost 6 stone in the process, and have NEVER drunk salt water or eaten a pork scratching. I add a normal amount of salt to food if it needs it, eat plenty of potassium rich foods, and take a magnesium supplement, which my doctor had already suggested to help with night cramps. Processed foods including bacon aren’t something I eat very often. All my carbs come from veg. What you are doing sounds totally miserable and not very safe. If your electrolytes have gotten completely out of whack, I’m not sure of the safest and easiest way to sort it quickly, but I would probably start by coming off the diet, eating a banana and a cup of tea, and once you feel better, look into doing low carbing safely.

The drinking salt water idea is that you take 1tsp of rock or pink Himalayan salt for sodium, 1/2 TSP of lo-salt for potassium and then take a magnesium supplement. It's supposed to help get over the keto flu caused by electrolyte imbalance.

I have no words 🤦‍♀️ Other than, why would anyone believe such bollocks?

Fucking hell. Call 111. Then eat a sensible balanced diet combined with regular exercise. Jesus.

That is the most bonkers thing I have ever read.
If you have functioning kidneys they will balance your electrolytes.
No need to be taking extra.
Low carb works very well, but if you eat a good mix of veg and protein you don't need to be drinking salt water.
You probably do need a blood test now because severe electrolyte imbalance is really dangerous.
Have you checked your pulse?
If it is irregular or less than 60 bpm you need to go to A&E.

If the op misunderstood and is drinking fancy salt water then how many other women are misunderstanding drinking fancy salt water and making themselves ill believing it is faux flu for the sake of 5lLBs ?

I have never read or being told by anyone to drink salt water.

Because no one ever should - even if you’re stranded on a desert island it’s safer to drink your own piss. This is the craziest thread I’ve seen in a while - it’s scary the lengths people will go to to lose weight, rather than just, you know, eat a normal healthy diet

OK, if you are able to look at a screen and post on here, I'm going to say you are not at death's door and I'm not entirely sure what 111 or your GP can do for you.

If either 111 or your GP think you are seriously at risk, then they'll send you to A&E, so really you have to work out if you are unwell enough to go to A&E.

Lots of people on here who've done keto giving you good suggestions for a more normal way of eating, that is just low carb not a weird salty food binge!

I'm doing a keto based diet.

The only thing advised to drink to get salts, back in is bovil/oxo.

I lose weight when i stop eating processed carbs, even if i haven't cut down on calories. I've lost a stone in a month and my skin is glowing.

Food in vs calories burned doesn't work for everyone and science has proved that all calories aren't equal.

But eating pork scratchings as part of a diet is madness.

Unbelievable - you need medical advice, OP

I've lost 6lbs in 2 weeks by literally just eating less. You don't need to put yourself in a situation where you potentially need an ambulance to lose weight.

Wtf - i do keto and never heard of drinking salt water!? I think you'll be ok in a few hours if you keep drinking but dont do it again!? Follow instinct, if you crave salt eat pork scratchings, dont force yourself to drink it regardless!

I would go to the Dr

Whilst you've had a lot of salt it's probably no more than in e.g. a dominoes pizza, and people eat that amount of salt all the time, it's unlikely to make you this ill.

You've deprived your body of carbs, youve taken a load of salt and a load of water

It could be any of those things making you ill, and without knowing you risk making the problem worse. Get yourself to a Dr, explain the situation and fgs stop the diet

Because no one ever should - even if you’re stranded on a desert island it’s safer to drink your own piss. This is the craziest thread I’ve seen in a while - it’s scary the lengths people will go to to lose weight, rather than just, you know, eat a normal healthy diet

Yes. OP hasnt just read this though on some mainstream website. No one recommends this.

Which suggests shevisnt just going a keto diet but some bat shit diet.

I have even looked extensively, at primal and paleo diets. They dont recommend this either.

OP is acting dangerously. Its fucking ridiculous.

Guys, I read it on the Keto UK Facebook page. People all seem to do it there? Intact they scorn people for not "looking after their electrolytes" I honestly thought I was doing the right thing.

Margo Some of us know better and, without trying to scare her, it is not outside the realms of possibility that OP has made herself very ill and will need some siimple medical attention... but nothing suggested here will be if any use.

I am loathe to belabour the point but OP, whilst it is entirely possible that you are a little dehydrated and eating, drining normally wll sort you out, it is also possible that you are severely dehyrdated or over hydrated... and will need medical help.

Nobody here can know and any advice other than 'seek medical help and never repeat that stupid diet' are not going to help you feel better soon!