First a quick history....

Was heavy drinker for about 11 years. Started low carb 3 yrs ago. Did great, went from 250 to 215. Toward the end, started having chest pains. Doc said stress. Continued lowcarb, chest pains never went away. Year later took self to Emerg. room for chest pains, and what was later found to be panic attacks. Due to past drinking history, thought maybe was having liver problems, and this is what brought on panic attacks.

Went to regular doc and told him of my concerns. Major blood work done, all the ususal liver tests, and all came back fine. Doc put me on Paxil.

Felt pretty good knowing I wasn't dying. But, went off low carb, and with the Paxil, I gained major weight! Up to 270. Follow up a year later, all tests still okay. But, always tired, especially when lowcarbing. Weak too. I'm 36 yrs old.

Now, back on lowcarbing for 3 months, no longer drink, and have done so only once in the past 6 months, 4 mo. ago. Have lost 35 lbs since starting back up.

Have nagging ache under right ribs, and when I eat really lowcarb as in induction levels, ache more constant and itching all over body starts and lasts for days. Same thing happened on the rare occasion I did drink alcohol, was told maybe alcohol alergy, so I quit. However, doc put me on viagra as well, and now get same symptoms when I take even that! That didn't happen until recently.

Muscle aches, weakness, especially when using hands and arms at or above shoulder level, itching, minor joint aches.
I can't stand feeling like this at my age.

My next annual physical is in 2 months. How concerned should I be continuing to lowcarb here? I NEED to lose this weight, and NOTHING I've tried before works. If need be, once I lose the weight, I can go to low fat and exercise to keep it off, but that doesn't work for taking it off for me.

I know lowcarbing doesn't cause liver disease or liver damage as many claimed in the past, but if the liver is already compramised, can it further the damage with the liver attempting to process such a large amount of proteins?

Any ideas appreciated. I won't go back to the doc until my annual, as I don't want to continue to be told, after clean tests, all I'm suffering from is panic attacks.

Thanks!

First let me congratulate you on your decision to stop drinking. I did that January 2001 and haven't looked back once. I am a recovering alcoholic.

Second, it is perfectly normal during the first two weeks of induction to feel fatigued, weak, muscle soreness, feeling like you are going to fall flat on your face. Been there done that.

Are you taking any kind of supplements and vitamins? You didn't say. Taking magnesium, potassium and calicium will help with the muscle fatigue and the tired feelings.

As for the rash, are you eating something new that you haven't before? Could it be the vitamins/supplements if you are taking them? Sometimes the binders they put in those can cause a reaction. I know I personally can not take some brands of vitamins because of the binders. They make me belch all day and the feeling of nausia. The rash sounds like a food allergy or possible medication reaction.

Thanks for the quick response. I'm beginning to get very worried about this again....

I'm beyond induction, been lowcarbing on and off for 3 years, and am steady on this time for 3 months.

The itching isn't a rash, no signs of rash. Feels almost tickle like on the feet, and on cheeks, nose, and chin, it feels like I've got little tiny fine hairs being blown by the wind. Nerve racking.

I'm taking vitamins, Centrum "silver" without iron, two in the morning, and Cal 333, Mag 133, Zinc 5mg, two in the morning as well.

I'm pretty certain of what I've got by the symptoms, and how they usually come on. I don't know how to convince my doc about that, since a definitive liver test (biopsy) will not be performed with normal liver function tests. But, as I've researched, liver disfunction can often times not be determined by liver "function" tests. He was so certain of my liver health, he wanted to put me on cholesterol lowering drugs, which is a big "no-no" if there are liver problems. I'm not as certain of my health as he is, obviously, and don't want to take chances.

I guess what I'm wondering, if I do have liver problems, can the lowcarbing make things worse, or inhibit liver regeneration, however much of that there may be? Or has lowcarbing been shown to be okay with persons with liver disfunction?

I know people with kidney failure or problems shouldn't locarb, and I have no indications of kidney disfunction, so I'm not worried about that at least.

In my early days of low-carbing, a loss of poundage was always accompanied by an odd sensation, sort of like a tingling or electricity all over my body, but I felt it most in my extremities. I lost fat in large chunks initially, that would generally happen on a weekly basis. It was also accompanied by a surge of energy.

Could this be it?

Karen

have you considered researching a liver detox and cleansing regimen and then continuing on with LC?

I have no significant liver problems but i do believe that the liver can be overloaded and needs to be cleaned out and supported by certain herbs. This is not medical advice, just another avenue you might be willing to try before the drastic step of a biopsy.

Best wishes, whatever you decide to do.

Deb

You could be on to something there. When I experienced symptoms in the past, I often wondered if it could be related to fatty liver, and the liver's reduced ability to work properly. I was quite heavy at 270 lbs.

It seems like lately, now that I think about it, the symptoms have come along approximatley the same time a woosh has. Coincidence? Maybe I'll have to start keeping a log. I've wondered if maybe my liver isn't real happy, aside from the earlier abuse, about giving up the fat it has become so accustomed to the last 5 or so years.

Thanks, that gives me some hope I'm not "killing" my possibly damaged liver with excess protein......

HI!

I have a question....what is your blood pressure like?
Mine at one time (ON ATKIN'S) was extremely low, and I
had that very irritating pins and needles feeling all the
time. I have also heard that those same symptoms can
occur if the blood pressure is high. Just wondering........

Blood pressure, who knows? Everytime I've went to the doc, he said it was okay, but don't remember if I've been to the doc while actually low carbing.

I've seen some mention on the boards of a connection between depression and lowcarb? I would say I've experienced this somewhat. Not because I can't have other foods, I rarely miss them, other than the simplicity of throwing something in the microwave and availability.

I have noticed the panic attacks seem to come on more often when lowcarbing. I can control them now because I know what they are, but maybe there is more to this than I thought.

At least I've gotten enough info that other people have experinced similar things while lowcarbing, so that should get me through the next couple months til my doctors appointment without going crazy!

congrats on you have stopped drinking..

I suffered from Panic Attachs for years..

you are describing.. what I felt for years.. little tingle sensations in certain areas of the body.. mine were felt where ever my dear head told it to go, sometimes the pain would last in the same spot continously with every attach.. I even went as far as stabbing pain..

I thought the doctors and the ER people were nuts I have a medical condition here and there is no way that I am not sick..

Well Guess what I am as healthy as could be.. I used to get numb all on the right side of my body, yes numb, you could hit me and I would not feel a thing.. talk about stress, that was stress..

I am not saying that you are not feeling what you are feeling cause you are.. take the advise from all, cause it is good advice, it can't hurt you ....but do me a favor..

Lose whatever it is in your life that is hurting you.. Even if it is a wife.. LOSE it or go for counceling .. What ever is stressing you out get RID of it... Something in your life is stressing you out and you need to LOSE WHAT EVER IT IS....


I want to say there are a lot of books out there that can help you, I hope you use them.. here are some suggestions, Living with Anxiety, Don't Sweat The Small Stuff, It's All Small Stuff.. Listening to Prozac , Should you leave. and last but not least the BIBLE..

Sorry ...Dave I forgot to mention I DO NOT SUFFER FROM THEM ANY LONGER.. I am not on medication any longer.. I am fine with it, all of it..

I really hope this helps you
The Warmest Wishes
Vivian

Vivian,

Thanks so much for the informative and thoughtful reply.

I can only hope what you've gone through is exactly what's happening to me. Not that panic attacks are anything to sneeze at! I've spent the last 3 years of my life living the hell of panic attacks, and at least now I can control them somewhat, because at least some of the symptoms I know are from the attacks.

I don't have anything I can lose however, as it is the fear of liver disease that is generating all this anxiety. Symptom hits, more anxiety, which I guess could be leading to more symptoms. Vicious cycle, if that is in fact all it is.

I guess the only way to get rid of that is to have a definitive test done, a biopsy. That is the only thing I can do I guess to rid myself of this worry. Unfortunately there is no other test to accurately determine actual liver health.

Hopefully I can convince the doc of this when I go in to see him in December. It's a huge step, and not one to be taken lightly. If the results aren't good, so be it, hiding from it won't change anything. If I don't do it, I'll continue living in this hell I'm in, and that's not good either.

Thanks again. I've got a little more "in my own mind" ammo to digest now and carry me through til I meet with the doc.

Dave,

I have those pains as you discribe, I had high liver enzymes and had a liver biopsy last winter. I have fatty liver. The GI doc says nothing can be done for that except lose weight. When I first started atkins, I didn't think I would be able to stay on it because of the pain in my side and the nausea. Both have subsided. I don't lose weight like I would like to, but I'm sticking to it because now I feel much better. I've also dealt with the anxiety attacks. I know what you are feeling there. The liver biopsy is nothing to sneeze at so I wouldn't recommend it unless they find some reason to do one. Good luck and relax. Dianne

Well, hopefully I'll find out soon. I couldn't wait any longer and made an appointment with the doc for next Thursday. Should have preliminary blood tests back the following Tues or so.

And, I went back on the Paxil. So far, so good. Pain under ribs not as constant, and itching subsided somewhat. Hopefully this stuff isn't masking real symptoms, but that's the chance I've got to take.

The downside is, since going back on Paxil 2 weeks ago, I haven't lost an ounce, and haven't changed eating habits at all. I thought the weight gain the first time on this stuff was because of the mood alteration and the "I don't care" feeling I got with it, and I ate like a pig. Maybe it has an effect on metabolism, because until I started it again 2 weeks ago, I've been at a constant 3 to 4 lb loss a week for 3 months. Hopefully it's just a temporary stall.......

One thing I am anxious about, is to see how my cholesterol has improved since last year, when it was through the roof!

Dave

My thoughts and prayers are with you, please do not forget to tell us the results I want you to know, you are a very brave man... one in a million


warmest wishes
Vivian

I checked the Atkins book and anti depressants do slow weight loss. I guess Paxil fits into that catagory. Dianne

I read this thread with a lot of interest. I had fatty liver. Doc. said
lose weight and don't eat fat/seafood which according to
him will lead to high colestorel. Many a times I tried to lose
weight and did not lose much and gained it back soon.

Then found this low-carbing WOE, read ATKINS,PP,SCHWAZEBEIN etc and found myself what was casuing me over weight or
at least making it hard to lose weight.

LOST 22 in 3 month of LCing.. and last month I checked my liver
enzymes and guess what it came out normal. My colestorel
dropped from 215 to 194 .

I was so pissed off with my doc. that I cancelled my next
appointment and planning to change to good one if any.
What could not see the big picture.. stupid carbo..which
seems to me so obvious...he aint a real doc !!

I'll appreciate if somebody can point out some resources on
"protein/fat and liver issues"

neeam