We are pleased to announce that on March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor will be introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the upcoming changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Keto Flu Headache

emmam1212
emmam1212 Posts: 67 Member
edited November 2024 in Social Groups
I have been Keto for 6 days and have had a splitting headache for last day and a half. I read about the Keto flu and electrolyte imbalance but nothing I'm trying to remedy it seems to be working. I'm eating as much sodium as I can. I've been eating high sodium foods and also dipping everything in hot sauce. I ate some pecans for magnesium because I read that magnesium deficiency can be an issue but nothing is working. My head feels like it's exploding. Does anyone else have headaches with the Keto flu and found a successful way of getting rid of them? Maybe some kind of supplement or something? Or do I just need to ride out this torture? Advil isn't helping at all either.

Replies

  • kirkor
    kirkor Posts: 2,530 Member
    How's your hydration?
  • emmam1212
    emmam1212 Posts: 67 Member
    kirkor wrote: »
    How's your hydration?

    I didn't think of that but I have been drinking water (I've been really thirsty since starting this) but maybe it's not as much as I should... I'll try upping my water intake right now. I'll literally try anything at this point. Thank you!
  • Patti2008
    Patti2008 Posts: 48 Member
    I actually found that some of the time when I took sodium it gave me a headache or made my headache worse.
  • sammyliftsandeats
    sammyliftsandeats Posts: 2,421 Member
    Remember that the more water you drink, the more sodium you need. It's a balancing act. If you drink too much water, you're flushing out the sodium in your body that you need.
  • Cadori
    Cadori Posts: 4,810 Member
    I will still get a headache from time to time. It takes more than just salting food for me...I have to shoot 1/4 tsp in a glass of water. It's magic though. 30 minutes later I go from feeling hungover to feeling great!
  • kpk54
    kpk54 Posts: 4,474 Member
    Are you eating?
  • emmam1212
    emmam1212 Posts: 67 Member
    That's exactly how I feel: hungover! I'll have to try that salt in water. Thanks!
    Cadori wrote: »
    I will still get a headache from time to time. It takes more than just salting food for me...I have to shoot 1/4 tsp in a glass of water. It's magic though. 30 minutes later I go from feeling hungover to feeling great!

  • emmam1212
    emmam1212 Posts: 67 Member
    kpk54 wrote: »
    Are you eating?

    Yeah, I actually went way over my typical 1200 calories today. When I don't feel well I always end up eating more
  • emmam1212
    emmam1212 Posts: 67 Member
    Remember that the more water you drink, the more sodium you need. It's a balancing act. If you drink too much water, you're flushing out the sodium in your body that you need.

    I honestly didn't think of that. I'm still learning so much. That's really valuable information though and makes a lot of sense! I have a feeling you might be on to something and that's where I'm probably going wrong. I need to figure out that balance between the two... Thank you so much for your input!
  • ProCoffeenator
    ProCoffeenator Posts: 523 Member
    I always add two pinches of my salt mix to my drinks....
    It's an equal mix or salt and nu-salt! No headaches and so muscle cramps!
  • SuperCarLori
    SuperCarLori Posts: 1,248 Member
    I've discovered, on my journey, that I need to keep my sodium around 6 or 7 thousand. We're all different. Some can get by on 3000, I have to drink salt water twice a day! Or I get headaches..
  • JessiBelleW
    JessiBelleW Posts: 836 Member
    Its freaking cold in London atm so Im finding hot stock (like what you would use to make gravy or flavour stew) as my go to. Incidentally I was hungover, but helped get rid of my headache with chicken stock.
  • sammyliftsandeats
    sammyliftsandeats Posts: 2,421 Member
    Remember that the more water you drink, the more sodium you need. It's a balancing act. If you drink too much water, you're flushing out the sodium in your body that you need.

    I honestly didn't think of that. I'm still learning so much. That's really valuable information though and makes a lot of sense! I have a feeling you might be on to something and that's where I'm probably going wrong. I need to figure out that balance between the two... Thank you so much for your input!

    Glad I could offer some help.

    Are you drinking water because you're thirsty or drinking because you feel like you need to? I'm bad at drinking water...less than a litre per day but I get water from the food I eat and I consume adequate sodium for my needs so I typically don't get the headaches.

This discussion has been closed.