Still Getting Palpitations a Month On

My apparent reaction to epinephrine from a root canal continues. I know the epinephrine is long out of my system, but I'm still having to pop magnesium and potassium pills several times a day. People who dismiss palpitations as a reaction to a very low-carb diet probably haven't been through it.

Peter at Hyperlipid called palpitations from ketogenic diets "interesting." Here's something I think is interesting: the change in my complexion. A few days ago I saw I looked like I was wearing orange makeup, which had matched my skin before. A cosmetologist selected a new shade for me.

L to R: the new foundation and the old. I haven't been this pale since the early 2000s.

I've been taking my iron pills every night (my complexion darkened when I started taking them some years ago). Maybe I'm not absorbing minerals well...

But I'm happy to say my energy levels have been stabilizing--I'm even tired at 10PM, something brand new for me--and I'm having an easy time getting up around 6.

It's been frustrating, though, trying to look up reasons for these strange reactions and finding little on low-carb sites but weight loss, weight loss, weight loss. People complaining they don't feel good are shouted down as heretics.

Comments

Galina L. said…

Make all that the official record in your health history. You need a firm standing to fight epinephrine applications on you in a future.BTW, medical professionals have tendency to dismiss the complain on heart palpitations as the result of epinephrine injections. I suspect that medication seriously contributes to the slow recovery after all sorts of surgical procedures. Doctors use it right and left during minor and major surgeries without second thought because it is indeed convenient for them.

May 16, 2015

Lori Miller said…

The palpitations don't feel like nervousness or the faster heart rate from exercise. It feels like something out of control and wrong with your heart.

May 16, 2015

Galina L. said…

Unfortunatelly, most likely if you complain , they would put you through a medical testing, most probably will find nothing, end of story. I went through it after I reacted on the migraine medication Imitrex with cardiac symptoms, I didn't understand quickly enough that I was reacting on the particular medication.Then I just stopped using it, but with epinifrine quitting could be harder to accomplish. It is the case where only your personal persistence (carefully measured in order to avoid being put into the lunatic category) could make a difference.

May 16, 2015

Lori Miller said…

They won't put me through medical testing because I won't pay for it. If they think I'm a lunatic, I'll go elsewhere unless it's an emergency. But I don't have any more dental work planned, and my dentists know I'm not a nutter.

May 16, 2015

Larcana said…

Hmmm it could be the Epi excites an aberrant cardiac pathway, say in either the atria or ventricles. I don't discount this stuff....you could try a Holter monitor for event and then a rhythm strip.
Those are not too expensive.
I used to have PVCs when I ran 6 miles a day...I don't do that anymore and Viola! no PVCs....it was a side effect of excitement of the ventricle tissue.
I used to get palpitations when I was anemic, too.

May 17, 2015

Lori Miller said…

Thanks for the well-considered response, Larcana. And thanks for not discounting my experiences or those of other bloggers you read.

I haven't been doing any hard exercise, just getting my yard back into shape, but that's interesting about the palpitations while you were anemic.

I'm wondering if I'm having trouble absorbing nutrients from the rounds of antibiotics I took--recent research indicates antibiotics can destroy the epithelium>

http://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/archives/2015/feb/unwanted-impact-antibiotics-broader-more-complex-previously-known

Any tips for restoring it?

May 17, 2015

Larcana said…

Time and gelatin, broth, etc...things you are already doing...sorry. I hope it improves for you.

May 18, 2015

Dana Carpender's Podcast; Dr. Davis on YouTube; Labor Day Sales

Dana Carpender, who's written several recipe books and other works on low-carb, has a podcast and is still writing articles at carbsmart.com. She's a terrific writer and amateur researcher (otherwise known as reading , as Jimmy Dore jokes ). I use her book 500 Low-Carb Recipes all the time and I'm looking forward to hearing more from her. I've embedded her podcast on my blog (click on the three lines at the top right if you don't see it, or go to Spotify or other podcast source if you're getting this by email). Carbsmart.com doesn't seem to have a blog feed, so if you want to see the latest posts there, you can sign up for notifications at their site. Dr. Davis has been putting a lot more videos on YouTube, so I've added his channel to the lineup. Click on the three lines on my blog if you don't see it, or go to his channel here . * * * * * Primal Kitchen is having a Labor Day sale-- 20% off everything. They sell high quality collagen powder, con...

Fermented bread and butter pickle recipe ft. L. Plantarum

After Dr. Davis said the other night that L. plantarum may reduce some of the effects of the herbicide glyphosate (which is everywhere), I'm re-running my recipe for fermented bread and butter pickles. Pickling cucumbers naturally have L. plantarum bacteria on them, and fermenting them with some brown sugar multiplies these bacteria. (Just don't use chlorinated water to wash them.) And if you're growing your own cucumbers, avoid spraying the fruits with Bacillus thuringiensis , or Bt (leaves and vines are OK). It's unclear what effect a big dose of Bt would have on humans. Another benefit of DIY pickles: no emulsifiers like polysorbate 80, which is a common ingredient in pickles. If you have GI problems, it could be from emulsifiers. These sweet-and-sour pickles are the tastiest I've ever made. There's just a little added sugar (some of which the bacteria will consume) and turmeric that gives the pickles their bright color. Special equipment Quar...

Collagen-filled Low Carb Burritos

Low-carb, grain-free Mexican food is hard to find, but it's easy to make your own at home. This recipe has an authentic ingredient: carne de lengua, or beef tongue. Don't be put off: beef tongue is tender, delicious, and full of collagen. Look for it directly from farmers in your area. To cook it, cut it in 1" to 1-1/2" slices and pressure cook for one hour. Enjoy the delicious broth as a bonus. Ingredients 1 slice cooked beef tongue, peeled and cut into small cubes 1 egg wrap (I use these from Egglife) 1/4 cup cooked black or pinto beans Chili pepper Oregano Garlic (powdered or minced) Cumin Guacamole (with no emulsifiers) Salsa Shredded cheddar cheese Sour cream or homemade cream cheese with no emulsifiers Put the egg wrap on a plate and put the beef and beans down the middle of it. Sprinkle with the herbs and spices. Wrap, turn over and microwave for 1-2 minutes. Spoon salsa over the burrito and sprinkle with cheese. Add guacamole and sour cream or homemade crea...

15% Off Starter Culture

Starter culture for the wonderful cream cheese I made is 15% off for the next two weeks (through June 18, 2025). The shop (BacillusBulgaricus.com) also offers rennet and starter for other cheeses, yogurt, kefir, kombucha, sour cream, fermented vegetables, and more. They ship to 118 countries across six continents. The coupon code is LORI_sekd3tkb at bacillusbulgaricus.com . Photo from Pexels .

Cardio: A Waste of Valuable Dance Time

"I'd rather hold a girl in my arms than a football." -Joe DeCicco, friend and dancing fanatic Have you heard that it takes a woman 77 hours of exercise to lose a kilogram of fat? (For us Americans, that's half a pound.) That's according to a study cited by Dr. John Briffa .(1) The women who huffed and puffed three hours a week for a year ended up 4.4 pounds lighter than the sedentary women. That doesn't surprise me: my own weight loss involved a lot less exercise than what I'd been doing. I did no cardio workouts, just strength training . I had more time and energy for dancing, which is a stress reliever, helps keep me in shape, and it's a ton of fun. It's not expensive to dance (as long as you stay away from the studios). I've found excellent lessons at clubs where the teachers really care about the students getting it. Here in Denver, there are dancing clubs that are run by nonprofit organizations, where the prices are reasonable and...

Pain, Pain, Go Away!

Search This Blog