u/AccomplishedCry6223

Not only do we need to worry about interaction with medications such as lithium, but also sensitivity to bipolar, as many supplements that help ED are stimulating to the nervous system, increasing glutamate and dopamine.

Not only do we need to worry about interaction with lithium, but also sensitivity to bipolar, as many supplements that help ED are stimulating to the nervous system, increasing glutamate and dopamine.

I've been wanting to try bromelain for its anti-inflammatory effects but after reading about its NSAID-like effect, I'm not sure if it's safe. I haven't found any research on the topic. Just relied on Gemini for answers, which I know is not a good idea but it brought a few points:

"

• Mimics NSAID Kidney Risks: Bromelain suppresses the prostaglandins that keep renal blood vessels open. Constricting these vessels slows down the kidneys' filtration rate, which signals the body to reabsorb lithium back into the bloodstream instead of flushing it out.
• Triggers Fluid and Electrolyte Shifts: Because bromelain alters fluid retention to reduce swelling, it can disrupt your hydration balance. If the body experiences mild dehydration, the kidneys aggressively hoard sodium—and because lithium looks chemically identical to sodium to your kidneys, they hoard the lithium too.
• Causes Rapid Absorption Spikes: Bromelain temporarily relaxes the tight junctions in your digestive tract. This can cause your daily lithium dose to be absorbed much faster than intended, creating sharp, sudden "peaks" in your blood levels that can worsen immediate side effects like nausea or hand tremors.

"

For clarity, it's low carb, not keto. I've been getting a few issues.

1. I don't feel full;
2. I get headaches;
3. I get a burning sensation in the stomach due to too much salt (it happens right after eating and salting the food)

What I typically eat in a day:

* Breakfast: 6 fried eggs, 2 or 3 small vegetables, 3 tbps olive oil, a few spoons of jarred olives, a salty seasoning or just regular salt and garlic powder.

* Lunch: 2 cans of sardines, 2 or 3 vegetables (carrot, beets, boiled broccoli), 3 tbps of olive oil, a few spoons of jarred olives.

* Dinner: 3 eggs, 1 can of tuna, broccoli, tomato and 2 apples, salt and garlic powder.

I don't eat chicken or red meat but for health reasons, so I only eat eggs and fish. The salt I put doesn't seem much, just a bit more of a pinch, but any amount I use seems too much. I also tried making an electrolyte water by putting salt in it, and the taste was just not pleasant and got more of the stomach burn sensation.

I have 2 cans, one from each different brand. One says 800mg calcium per can, the other 1000mg calcium. It both surprised and concerned me. That much calcium in just one can is absurd, especially considering the can only has literally 2 very small sardines. There is barely any fish in it. I only eat fish and eggs, so given my sardine consumption to feel full I'd be getting what, 8000mg calcium? That's way too much. There should be a ratio of calcium:magnesium of at most 2:1. If my magnesium averages 450mg a day, it's way out of proportion. I decided to rely on canned for convenience, but if this is how it is, I'd have to buy sardines fresh in bulk and make my own.

As a teen, I was all over the place in terms of mood and anxiety. That surely was partly due to age and environment, but it was also a time I used a nasal corticosteroid - budesonide. I tried using it again as an adult and this time the association was clearer. I am more balanced now and as soon as I started, I felt irritated, anxious and lost sleep. Went away when I stopped taking it and out of concern, I only used one spray each nose, so the smallest dose.

I decided to research and there is a lot of people with similar side effects on nasal steroids and there is research too, so that settles it, it's not for me. However, the ENT doctor said steroids were required to do the surgery, which left me wondering how I'll be able to do it since it has this effect on me.