Hey folks, I was wondering if anyone else had odd experiences when doing a low carb pre-op diet?

I've been on the diet for two days now. Aside from a little hunger, it's felt okay. However, I've been noticing that when I stand up after sitting down for a while, I tend to get kinda woozy and dizzy. Some times I hear my pulse pounding in my ears for a minute or so.

I'm not diabetic but I'm wondering if I'm hypoglycemic or have low blood pressure or something -- if that's normal for the low carb diet. I checked my blood sugar with a home monitor, and it was 95mg/dl which from what I understand is still fairly normal (if not even a tad high) for 2 hours after a mean. Also apparently the low carb diet can dehydrate you, and I'm not sure I've been drinking enough Water. Apparently one symptom of dehydration is dizziness. I didn't really consider this because I haven't felt thirsty, and my urine is normal color.

Anyone got any thoughts? I don't want to go rushing off to the doc for something that's normal and minor.

How many days in are you? It did feel kind of funky intially. Stay really careful with your hydration, once that is off it can mess with EVERYTHING! In fact (and this is a tale I've not shared in this forum before as it makes me sound crazy!) Post op I was uber dehydrated and walking pitifully through the airport waiting in a line for the TSA no shoe festival. When up ahead I saw someone dressed as Santa Claus (mid March) I really didn't even think to be surprised by it, until when I reached that person I realized it was a nine year old boy with a red baseball cap on. So....yeah, dehydration can really mess you up!

Thanks... I've been trying to pound as much water as I can tonight, to make up for any possible dehydration.

I also noticed on the low carb deal that I felt funky as far as headaches and fatigue for about 3-4 days. I got fat on a really high carb diet this can be a huge shock to the system, but even if you are prediabetic/hypoglycemic, a high protein diet should actually serve to level blood sugars.

I'm skeptical of the blood sugar idea (even though I was thinking that too) because my blood sugar per my home test unit was still within "normal" range (95 mg/dl, normally I range about 100-110 mg/dl between meals).

Still, I don't seem to be passing out or anything, and I've consumed like 32 oz of Water in an hour, so I'll try not to stress out.

New stage of joy: a PROFUSELY runny nose.

I haven't had the dizziness or light headedness, but I have been feeling nauseuas. (excuse spelling) I never thought about being dehydrated. Guess I will try to add in some water. Though I am already SOOOO full from liquid "food". I am having issue of liquid in, liquid out. I know some people have complained about constipation I am not sure how that is happening, as I am having the opposite problem.:thumbup:

LMAO at Santa Claus! That is a great story! : )

I always get headaches and feel yucky for the first couple of days doing lo carb. I don't know the difference between blood sugar and sugar, but it seems to be related to the withdrawals of not having sugar. It goes away after a few days.

Well technically hypoglycemia is below 75 mg/dl of fasting sugar. Mine was 85 at its lowest last night. However, I tend to run around 105-110 mg/dl, so maybe it was just the relative levels?

I really think dehydration might be more likely, though, since when I went for my final appointment before surgery today (*gulp*) the doctor said that my blood work showed that I might be a little dehydrated. I thought I was drinking enough Fluid, between my Water and Crystal Lite and diet soda, but I'll try to drink more...

Diet Soda can actually be a diurteic and dehydrate you. I used to drink 144 oz daily and be super dehydrated.

I didn't get woozy but I get pretty crabby when my carbs are too low. Hope you find the right formula (getting sugar levels up/adequate hydration etc) so that you'd feel better soon.

Pre op diet for me was 2 protein shakes and one light and healthy meal. That meant I would eat lots of veggies (healthy carbs) and any tasty meat or fish preperation, w/or without cheese. I also ate a couple of peices of fresh fruit each day. I lost 16lbs before my surgery. I started the diet 4 weeks before my surgery.

Yeesh... you did much better than I'm doing. I'm sticking with my 40g or less of carb, but even that is hard, and I'm not having to count calories or anything else.

I can't figure out what's up with me; I don't know if it's dehydration or I have a mild bug of some kind or maybe allergies. I've been feeling low-grade ick for a little while now, and actually it pre-dated my low carb diet. It's probably allergies (I get allergies which trigger sinus infections... I'm a mess!)

I tend to agree with Anna about the diet soda contributing to dehydration. I've noticed that since I switched from regular to diet soda to transition to my pre-op low carb diet, I've been going to the bathroom constantly. It's like all the fluid runs straight through me. Luckily, my body has responded by craving more water, so I've noticed that I'm drinking more of that along with the soda without having to force myself. But, I'm also a little headachey, so I'm going to try to add even more water and phase out the diet sodas. I've never been a diet soda drinker so the artificial sweetner is probably messing with me. But, hopefully I'll lose a few pounds and won't have to worry about my surgery being cancelled due to my eating fest and weight gain a few weeks ago.

Remember that dehydration does not always mean you only need water to fix it. Although it would have carbs, I'd recommend drinking some pedialyte or gatorade just to help get all of your body's liquids back on track and see if it helps you feel better. Or you can go to the doc/hospital and have them put you on a hydrating IV but of course there is a lost of cost with that!! But water isn't always the only thing you need to rehydrate! Don't be afraid of trying those drinks and then getting back to mostly low carb stuff. You gotta be feeling strong

For all who responded: fortunately, this has passed. I guess it was just my body being a little shocked at the utter change in diet!