Help! Scared.. need advice..

[LowCarbJen]

Okay, on one hand I've seen positive results from Aktins.. aside from weight loss I have A LOT more energy! I even sprinted during my run tonight for the first time! I've only lost 5-6lbs in the last 2 weeks but I see improvement in my over all health..
EXCEPT..
I think my salt intake is through the roof. I only say this because I have had horrible pains through out my hands which are very puffy.. and what feels like carpel tunnel.
This is exactly what happened to me when I was pregnant (and around the SAME weight)..
Also, even scarier.. is that I have pitting edema in my legs. When I push on my lower leg there are deep "pits" that form and stay for like 20 seconds then disapear.
That happened when I was pregnant also.

But... I am not pregnant!!
Is it excess salt causing it??
I am 23 years old and have yet to be diagnosed with any major problem.

If I had health insurance I'd see my doctor.. but I don't yet, I am looking into state insurance.

Just looking for advice on how I can drastically cut my salt intake to see if this will help with the swelling of my legs and the carpal tunnel?? I don't know a lot about this.

Pretty freaked out right now!!

[Nancy LC]

Eating a lot of salt is optional. Cut back on the cheeses and processed meats and salted nuts, if you're eating them. Think about eating salads with added meat. Make your own meat and add salt at the table. Think along the lines of eating whole foods, not factory produced ones and your salt intake should come down nicely. Also, get some potassium (Nu-salt has lots of potassium) because it counter-acts salt.

If you have Trader Joe's around they have a lot of unsalted, roasted nuts. Unsalted peanut butter and so on.

[LowCarbJen]

I don't eat ANY nuts and I don't eat franken foods. I cook all my meats fresh, but I do add seasonings while it's cooking, usually some salt.
I am pretty big on whole foods. I also only eat 3-4oz of cheese a day, and I think cheese has salt in it--right??
Maybe it isn't salt that is causing these problems because I must be eating less then I was before (I use to live on fast food)..
Maybe there is an underlying problem for the water retention..

Either way it really hurts.. The other day I couldn't use my hands they were so swollen.

[Nancy LC]

Well sounds like the diet is good then! Try the potassium then and see if that helps. And I am sorry you're having such issues. :hug:

You'll get a lot more potassium if you use nu-salt than if you try to take it as a supplement.

[CallmeAnn]

How is your water intake?

[JAnn]

You might also try a tbs of apple cider vinegar in a glass of warm water first thing in the a.m.

Years ago when the vinegar, lecithin, B6, kelp diet went around my best friend got off diuretics by going on it. After we went off the diet, she kept up the vinegar and never had to go back to diuretic pills.

[fatnewmom]

I also have problems with swelling hands. I thought it was due to excess carbs somehow (gluten intolerance?), but since I'm now eating low-carb I wonder if it's due to poor water intake....

idiopathic edema?

let us know what your doc says, or anything you learn...

[fatnewmom]

my swelling hands eventually went away after many days of atkins. i think it was due to some kind of impaired carb metabolism.

i don't believe the salt theory.