u/CTLI

Hello everyone! Just wondered if anyone had any experience with this particular issue and how you navigated it.

I had two CT scans with contrast back to back (one in December and one in January). In March, I started getting extreme nervousness/anxiety, tachycardia, palpitations, heat intolerance, and other hyperthyroidism symptoms (intolerance to caffeine, increased SHBG, etc.). Since then, and for the past 6 months, my TSH is usually between 0.10 and 0.25, so subclinical but still symptomatic. Ultrasound and antibodies are normal, as are T3 and T4 and the free variants of each. My PCP gave me propranolol 10mg to take as-needed, but I try not to take it too regularly due to some side effects (increased lethargy, stomach pain, ED, worsened brain fog).

Prior to the scans, my TSH was always 1.0-1.5… my last test being 3 months before the CT scans.

Is there any way to make this better more quickly? I’m just hoping it will eventually go away on its own after a while (a year or so… fingers crossed).

I've done keto on and off for years, but for some reason the past two years it instantly gives me tachycardia and sometimes chest pain. I don't know how to remedy this.

My resting HR is normally 60-65, but on keto (especially lately and within the first couple of days) it skyrockets to 90 or 100. RESTING. Walking around can easily put me up to 115+. I haven't even attempted to exercise during these times.

I love the energy and mood lift and lessened anxiety that keto gives me along with less bloating and GI issues, but I can't deal with feeling uncomfortable in this aspect all day.

I generally do OMAD in the evening any time from 4:00 to 8:00. I drink plenty of water in the morning and throughout the day (usually 30 ounces within the first hour or two of waking, followed by another 50 or 60 throughout the day). I usually consume about 2000-2500mg of sodium during my meal. During these attempts I'm consuming about 1800-2000 mg per day of potassium and 320 mg of magnesium (no supplementation for any of these). But I usually give up within days because of how uncomfortable my chest feels.

I've tried the water in the morning with 600-1200mg of sodium and 300 mg of potassium but I feel like it makes me feel weird. In the past when I've put a quarter teaspoon of potassium (600 mg) in a bottle of water and drank it, I literally felt like I was about to have a panic attack and pass out.

I don't think this is just an initiation phase that I'm going to have to get through, because I did carnivore/keto for a few months back in 2024 and had the same issues (though not as severe as they are now - but my resting and exercise HR remained increased by 15 BPM or so).

The oddest thing is that I did long term keto twice - ten years ago and six years ago - and I NEVER experienced anything like this at all!!! I don't have a heart condition or anything, but keto RELIABLY induces this effect within 24-48 hours of starting the diet. (I usually try to do a fast to go ahead and burn up my glycogen before starting the diet). I know I'm in ketosis because I have a Keto Mojo and take readings two or three times per day.

Has ANYONE experienced this and found a solution? I'm sure plenty of people will say "electrolytes," but how much and at what ratios to each other and how much water itself?

Thanks in advance!

EDIT to add: years ago on long term keto, I NEVER worried or even knew about electrolytes. I didn't take supplements. No "no salt" (potassium), no salt water, no magnesium supplements. And I felt fine. It just doesn't make any sense :(