Carnivore / Zero Carb / PKD

[wandererwonderer]

I'm considering going HARD core PKD, as described by Dr. Robert Cywes M.D. Ph.D. (#CarbAddictionDoc) and Dr Zsofia Clemens (paleomedicina.com) and am wondering if anyone else has done this for an extended period...more than 6 months preferably.

My goal is to remove the fermented glucose "food" throughout my body, hopefully starving any potential future cancers while providing more accessible nutrition and minimizing side effects. (I've recently discovered that I have FOUR SNPs down regulating the conversion of plant Vit A to the mammalian form, which explains a LOT of hormonal/liver issues and skin issues I had for the 30 years I was a vegetarian, not to mention the severe GI discomfort that I blamed on everything but the vegs. I have a number of other SNPs that mean I MUST eat meat, and preferably red meat to be healthy, so please don't respond suggesting that I go vegan or vegetarian instead. Yes, I'm aware of theoretical mTOR issues, but the research is inconclusive w/r/t ZERO carb diets.)

While I'm not new to Paleo and Carnivore, this will be the first time that I exclude dairy, pork, and eggs. Yes, this is an extreme elimination diet, I have no doubt. So, my question for you is if you've tried a Red Meat+Water+electrolytes diet for an extended time frame and what kind of results did you have w/r/t MRIs, PETscans, bloodwork, etc... and of course side effects.

I'm having a terrible time with ALL menopausal symptoms, and now that I've switched to Faslodex hip pain, difficulty walking, and general quality of life issues. Living this way is no way of living...

So, my question for you is how did you handle your MDs? What additional blood work did they want? What would you do differently? And, of course, what were your results?

[Kerryd22]

When I started Afinitor I found carbohydrates, dairy, fish - practically everything tasted bitter. So I stopped eating anything except rump steak every second day and drinking green tea occasionally. Ultimately I lost weight which doctors started to notice as we were weighed regularly in those days but after 10 months they noticed my blood tests showed that all of my chemical markers were dropping and they were too low. One doctor thought it looked like I was anorexic. I was and that’s a side effect of Afinitor. I was taking calcium and vitamin D so those numbers weren’t too bad but everything else was off the chart bad. I was told to start drinking Sustagen as I couldn’t go on in that way. I stopped Afinitor soon after and all the carbs I’d loved prior to Afinitor were back on my menu.

Personally I think a balanced diet is always better.

Dark chocolate has raised my leukocytes and white blood cell count into the normal range from below normal, for example.

Whatever you choose to do, I hope it goes well for you.

All the best

Kerry

[wandererwonderer in reply to Kerryd22]

Thx for the info! Unfortunately most (97%!) MDs are not trained in nutrition, so they likely didn't know how to read your blood work from a metabolic standpoint. Since the body is going from an inflamed status into deep ketosis, it is expected that things will go a bit wonky for a while. This is why I'm interested in hearing how pts dealt with their MDs' questions.

As for your experience, how much research did you put into your Carnivore experience? 48 hour fasts for as long as you did, despite the nutrient dense diet of red meat, likely did change your epigenetic balance, so I'm not surprised they were concerned. I'm not planning to fast, unless my body wants too.

FTR, I'm a doctoral researcher in the field of Technology and Innovation in health care, so I'm trying to understand not only my future experience, but how others both came to this decision and how you managed. From what you've described, it didn't sound like you had much nutritional support, especially since your MD is suggesting that you take Calcium. (This is a BIG no,no w/r/t cardiac issues, especially if you are not supplementing with K2.😬)

And, I unfortunately can't do chocolate due to oxalates and histamines.😪 Trust me when I say my SNPs are horrific. It has taken me a long time to come to the conclusion that I may need to do this to fix my metabolism. Little did I know, having grown up as an UNSUPPLEMENTED vegetarian, that my 30 years of a "healthy" diet caused my peripheral neuropathy (B12, B1, and D3 deficiency), fibroids (estrogen dominance+Vit A deficiency), and skin cancer(Vit A deficiency due to plant based diet and 4 SNPs downregulating Vit A conversion). (My oncologist came to this conclusion after looking at my detox profile.) IMHO, it likely also started my breast cancer as I've been inflamed for as long as I can remember, and have suffered from IBS since I was nine. This is despite not eating processed foods, additional sugar, or fast foods.

(And for those questioning, yes, I've likely tried the diet you are suggesting, and tracked the results using my big ass spreadsheet for extended periods, if not years. Trust me... it has taken a long time to get here.)

Anyhoo... Dr. Clemens' seems very confident in this practice arresting cancer growth and that she can identify those not following 100% by their blood work. I'm just having a hard time finding women who've done it for breast cancer, especially in the US. I'm guessing there is too much pressure from MDs regarding the need for fiber(🤣) and glucose for brain health (🙄).

[Kerryd22 in reply to wandererwonderer]

I ate that way not because of choice. It was a solution that I could live with. I didn’t put anything on the meat. It tasted tolerable which was more than my preferred diet did. It’s a known side effect of Afinitor. I ate every second day because that was when I felt hungry. When I was weighed I did all the things anorexic sufferers do. I wore more layers and heavy shoes. Anything to hide the kilos I was shedding.

I take Caltrate plus because it’s prescribed with Exemestane and Xgeva.

I’m not prepared to worry about things I don’t need to worry about. I use intermittent fasting primarily because it suits my lifestyle. If it has other benefits then that’s good fortune I take a loratadine pill every day because it was prescribed for the dry eye I get from the medication. It’s also been shown in a very large Swedish study that it reduces the inflammatory effects of breast cancer and users live longer.

If I was going to focus on my diet I’d change to the fish based Mediterranean diet but I don’t intend to do that without good cause. Like the coffee cup says ‘I’ve never met a carb I don’t love’.

I’m interested only in living the best life I can for as long as I can. I’m not a doctor and aside from the research I do when I’m told of a treatment change I read of new treatments for the sake of interest.

If I find something I can use, I do that. I don’t like dark chocolate but someone here posted about its benefits in raising wbc. Mine were low and had been under the normal level for years. One square of 70% dark chocolate is all it took to achieve that. The study actually was based on 90% dark chocolate but blood tests have confirmed that 70% works for me. Others haven’t had that success.

I don’t want to focus on the minutiae of life. I want to live life as though I don’t have a terminal illness.

You obviously feel differently and that’s okay but I’d prefer not to be criticised for my choices, no matter how well intentioned you may be.

Different socks are ok

[Discocat]

Sorry don't understand some of your jargon...SNP?

But I too would generally say stick to a balanced diet.

I'm mostly vegetarian with occasional seafood additions. I do not take any vitamins or other supplements except the calcium/D3 that my oncologist prescribed.

Sure too much pulses and cabbage type of veg can definitely cause stomach/digestion issues but there are so many other types with health benefits! I can't imagine not eating any fruit or veg at all.

Also I do not believe the hype about sugar fuelling cancer. Sure too much sugar in our diets is unhealthy but the benefits of eating fruit and vegetables far out weighs any sugar content.

I think it's important to eat a varied mix of multiple fresh and bright plant based foods.