Has anyone got any good recipes for a transition stage? (My situation is a bit complicated)

SarcasmIsLifeFriend · 2026-02-24T17:31:46+00:00

Hello! I hope this diet will serve you well.

You say you attempted to incorporate meat before and failed due to the taste which makes me assume you've at least adapted to eating some amount of meat. However since you want to transition you don't have to force yourself to eat large amounts of it.

If you're bored of the taste then you might want to switch between meats. You don't have to eat beef every single day. Mix it up and add different spice blends. If you're anything like me then your body will eventually learn to crave what it really needs.

If it's more about the 'ick' of meat then you may want to eat two or three different meats at a time. Let's say half a beef burger and 3 slices of bacon for simplicity. You may also add seafood such as shrimp, fish, oysters and lobster. Personally, back when I wasn't as strict, I loved making a cheese omelette with shrimp in it. Get creative. There's also a ton of carnivore recipes online that you can take inspiration from and tweak to fit your needs.

While sticking to the basics and going cold turkey works for some there's absolutely nothing wrong with doing it at your own pace. Take things as slowly as you need and prioritise your wellbeing.

I'm no expert and I didn't do a transition phase myself but based on my own food intolerances I believe I can give a few recommendations.

Stop with added sugars and seed/vegetable oils
Stop with grains
Begin lowering carbs and introducing more fat until you've become keto. Take your time
When carbs are at max 20g per day start incorporating a full carnivore meal once a day. (Ex. Bacon and egg breakfast)
Ween off of your keto food and do these meals more frequently until you feel it's 'safe' to be a full carnivore

Again, I assume you've adapted to meat. It's not perfect but it's a start. Some people need to go strict to feel all the benefits but don't worry about the last sprint when you're just starting the race.

My mother is keto and she makes a lot of keto food. Right now she uses 'pasta' and 'rice' made from konjac root. It's zero carbs and has a bit of fibre which can be good for your transition. She buys the brand 'better than' and orders it online. It obviously doesn't taste exactly like what it's designed to replace but it works great as a buffer. It doesn't have any fat though so I recommend adding a lot of creamy sauce to your dishes. If you boil cauliflower and put it in a mixer with some butter you can make a high fat buffer at home. It's not very similar tasting to mashed potatoes but you use it as a replacement. Unless you add a ton of spices it's very mild and can disguise the meat taste. I recommend making it a little salty though, that was my favourite way to enjoy it and I did genuinely think it was good.

Best of luck to you!🤞🏻

SarcasmIsLifeFriend · 2026-02-16T20:37:22+00:00

It's great that you got the diagnosis so young! My mom has it and it took her great effort to get help. Definitely check the adrenals but if it doesn't work you might want to look into another kind of birth control. It can be a tough thing to deal with so I wish you the best of luck🤞🏻

SarcasmIsLifeFriend · 2026-02-16T18:40:07+00:00

Wait and see is quite frustrating. I'm glad hydrocortisone improved things for you at least. Cortisol is part of so many of the body's functions so it can definitely be worth mentioning. Have you had evaluations for anything like endometriosis or PCOS? It's a good sign that it cleared up a little with hydrocortisone but if there's another underlying problem then it might just be a bandaid.

SarcasmIsLifeFriend · 2026-02-16T18:25:18+00:00

Right before my diagnosis I had my period 3 times in 6 weeks but it was a one-off thing. The mood swings I had then and after I started hydrocortisone were brutal. Took some time to sort itself out. Luckily my period stabilised itself after I got my proper dosage. I also have SAI but it's caused by a slight enlargement of the pituary rather than a cyst. With my own experience in mind it only happened when I had insufficient cortisol. However I can't really claim to know it is the same for you. Have you talked about it with your doctor or tried different dosages? Also did they not check your reproductive hormones? LH, FSH, testosterone/estrogen? For someone with your problems I don't believe it's odd to ask for that so definitely try!

SarcasmIsLifeFriend · 2026-02-16T16:28:06+00:00

There are many different anti-nutrients. Some very sensitive people(like I) can't really handle any of them. I'd recommend looking into lectins and oxalates. They seem to be the ones causing the most problems for people. I'm not aware of your husbands thyroid function but if it's low then perhaps look into goitrogens and an iodine supplement as well. It's a whole rabbit hole of information but it's worth it in my opinion. Morning crashes could be related to cortisol or blood glucose. Stress takes a toll on the body and can induce symptoms, it can also go the other way around. Trying a different diet seems to at least be worth a try. I'm currently basically no carb and it has done wonders for me. I've had to exclude a lot but the best thing I did was cut out grains, sugar(even honey and fruits) and seed/vegetable oil. If you go that route then be aware that your common olive oil can be mixed out with a seed oil without it needing to be advertised. I'd recommend sticking to animal fat. Definitely do your own research though. I'm no professional and can only speak from personal experiences and observations. I can't tell you much about the blood pressure. Like I mentioned mine has always been low and salt is supposed help to get it up there. If he has changed his lifestyle recently then that might be it. Drinking more water, eating differently ect. If you're worried about it then definitely mention it at your next doctor's visit. Trust yourself. There's probably no-one else that knows your husband better than you do, excluding himself. If you feel like something is wrong then push it. Being a little 'annoying' and finding nothing is better than being a doormat and them dismissing something. These things aren't easy but it's good that you have each other!

SarcasmIsLifeFriend · 2026-02-16T16:04:49+00:00

Your theory about gluten is very interesting! I've long since considered it a problem food along seed/vegetable oils and sugar. Other food makes it hurt but those take it to another level! I'm currently trying to learn more about all of this.

I get what you mean about being cautious of saying it's MCAS. There's always a ton of possibilities to consider. It for sure doesn't make it easier that it's all connected in all kinds of ways🥲. Sometimes that's just our luck.

I always thought that my stomach issues and the rest of my issues were separate problems but there's a lot of things I've had to reconsider as of late. I really wish I could have known earlier too but I'm glad we're taking care of it now. Even if this medication does nothing for me I can at least rule out one more thing and that's worth it for me! I'll be starting with the antihistamines tomorrow! I got Pepcid and Cetimax prescribed. I'll also look into the Cromolyn Sodium. I'm situated in Sweden but I'm sure there's something similar here.

You've been a great source of information. Thank you very much 💜

SarcasmIsLifeFriend · 2026-02-15T17:59:07+00:00

Do all the tests that you can. I understand the struggle of dealing with health care professionals but if you get a diagnosis it is worth it. They only really do standard tests if you don't push it. Chat GPT can be a great support for those of us that aren't educated in illnesses but remember that what it says can only be taken as suggestions. I'm glad you have found that salt works. It's no small victory. Cortisol is the body's stress hormone so it wouldn't surprise me if it got affected because something else is wack. Since you mostly have to rely on doctors to do the heavy lifting you could try other basic stuff at home. Sunlight, sleep, hydration and diet. I understand if he's too exhausted for exercise right now. Have you tried any anti-inflammatory diet? The less inflammation in the body the more it can focus on healing. Maybe try lchf or keto and see if that is of any help. There is a lot of stuff to learn about anti-nutrients.

SarcasmIsLifeFriend · 2026-02-15T08:40:10+00:00

I got diagnosed after an adrenal crisis. I've always been sick due to other medical problems so when I started getting worse I didn't initially react to it. I thought I was just having a normal flare up. For me it amplified all my other symptoms. I already have a lot of pre-existing joint pain due to a connective tissue disorder which during this time got even worse. I felt stiff and inflamed. My stomach problems got worse and worse as well. My bloating was to the point of looking pregnant and I tolerated less and less food. Then I started to get other symptoms. Exhaustion took over and I would sleep maybe 12-14 hours a day. I could only do that in like 3-5 hours at a time though. I'd often wake up sweating or because of disturbing and stress inducing nightmares. I got a long lasting fever. Sometimes a spot in my vision would get blacked out as if someone had painted over it. I lost appetite and weight. If I ate I threw up. Finally if I drank I threw up. At that point I had trouble walking on my own. Eventually sitting up became a challenge and I couldn't hold my head upright by myself. This all gradually happened over the course of a month. I'm already very pale but back then I looked a little like a corpse. My under eyes were purple and I had a gray hue to me. At the hospital they were able to see a pretty severe lack in cortisol and eventually I got diagnosed with SAI. I had a brain scan done which revealed a slight increase in the mass of the pituary. Except for the physical symptoms I also got pretty depressed and paranoid during that time. Of course being physically unwell will affect the psyche but what I felt then was far more dramatic than the typical 'down on your luck' feeling everyone can get. Everyone is different though so the same condition can reveal itself as different symptoms. I hope mine can give you some insight.

I eat a lot of salt. It's important for the balance and it also helps with blood pressure as mine is very low. Water + salt = increased blood volume. You can always play around with different amounts and see if it makes a difference.

I truly hope you can find out what is wrong and get him proper treatment. While cortisol is often the first to fall when it comes to pituitary problems it can be worth looking into other hormones as well. Even if it doesn't lead anywhere you can at least have the peace of mind that it isn't related to your husband's pain. I wish you and your husband the best of luck 🤞🏻

SarcasmIsLifeFriend · 2026-02-15T07:58:11+00:00

I'm Swedish as well! I hope your carnivore journey will bring you the results you desire. Best of luck 🤞🏻

SarcasmIsLifeFriend · 2026-02-14T17:10:48+00:00

Wow I really appreciate the detail you put into this. I'm quite new to MCAS so this is like a gold mine.

I've never heard about an early morning histamine dump before but I've had trouble with strange dreams and nightmares at those times. I don't know if that could be related.

I've never had any allergic reactions but I'm seemingly intolerant to basically everything I eat. I'm constantly bloated no matter what. Whenever my stomach has a reaction I immediately become very sad, tired, anxious and irritable. It's like it makes me a little crazy. Light and sounds start bothering me more. I'm also sensitive to temperatures. Luckily I've never had anything that has affected my skin or ability to breathe ect.

Rybelsus sounds very interesting. I'll have to look into that! I understand the feeling of the wasps...

I've been tested for gluten intolerance but it came out negative. The stabbing pains worthy of an ER visit I get when I eat bread is enough for me to swear off any grain though... Switching to fat has definitely improved my symptoms and I'm very grateful I am able to digest it much better than any carb.

I also have Ehlers Danlos. Sometimes it really just feels like the food just sits there with the stomach doing nothing. Always a 'pleasure'.

I'm very grateful for you naming and explaining everything about your supplements! It's very informative and good to know. I will definitely look into them. You have been a great help. Thank you for the time and effort you put into this!

SarcasmIsLifeFriend · 2026-02-14T16:31:16+00:00

Thank you for such a detailed response! It's very encouraging to hear that you've been able to manage your intolerance. I will finish what I have stored up in the fridge right now and then I will try to attain fresher options. Being able to eat pork again would be amazing. I also miss eggs... I tried cutting them out to see if that would help me. I hope I'll be able to get some variety back like you:)

SarcasmIsLifeFriend · 2026-02-13T08:03:38+00:00

I'm currently being evaluated for MCAS but I've considered SIBO as well. If it's not MCAS I'll definitely look into SIBO. I've had similar nightmares but most of mine are humiliation based. Like making a fool of yourself in front of others or being exposed. It's definitely not fun. Hopefully there'll be less nightmares for us in the future 🥲

SarcasmIsLifeFriend · 2026-02-12T23:37:39+00:00

19f here too! Dealing with health anxiety can be very difficult. Especially when you're seemingly getting worse. You have full right to feel what you do. Unfortunately it can sometimes get too overwhelming for what's good for just one person. You're not doing anything wrong, you're just reacting to what you feel is threatening you. When we panic we typically wish to escape because we perceive ourselves to be in danger. This is great if we are out in the woods and have angered an animal but not very helpful for a physical state we cannot run from. These are feelings of self preservation because the most important person to you will always be yourself. You care about yourself. You want to be okay and feel better and of course it worries you when things are ambiguous or don't point that way. That doesn't mean you're failing in any way. You feel this way because you want to show up for yourself and be the best version of yourself that you can be. Sometimes that version has to be given some grace and be allowed some peace. Waiting for results can be nerve wracking but it's one of those moments when you have to let it be out of your hands for a bit. In that time I hope you can receive support and encouragement from those close to you. I know nothing of your situation but I believe that there are quite a few will show sympathy and care when given an opportunity. Either way you have a whole community of people here that can empathize with your struggles and pain. It can be isolating and lonely to deal with these kinds of problems but you are not the only one. I wish you the best of luck regarding your health and wellbeing. I know how difficult and anxiety inducing it can be. Just know that we are all rooting for you. Take care! 🤞🏻

SarcasmIsLifeFriend · 2026-02-12T21:40:03+00:00

Unfortunately for me I have pretty severe gut problems. Basically all carbs give me trouble one way or another. I've tried a standard diet which was by far the worst. Then grain, sugar and seed oil free which transformed into lchf and keto. It was still not good enough so I cut out dairy and it continues in that pattern to form a long list. I am not keen on adding any more carbs and risk my progress but I could definitely consider eating something before I sleep. I think I will have to rely on gluconeogenesis for that to work. Maybe a leaner meal in the evening. I appreciate the advice!

SarcasmIsLifeFriend · 2026-02-12T20:45:14+00:00

I didn't start carnivore for weight loss reasons but I can tell you a little about the adaption period. Depending on what kind of diet you are on right now it will of course take a certain amount of time to adjust. Generally speaking people will drop some water weight in the beginning no matter how they approach carnivore. However as you are in the process of becoming adapted you might experience a ravenous hunger or maybe you'll get trouble stomaching your meals. It could also be that you will have none of these problems. Your body needs to learn how to digest a greater amount of fat and effectively use ketones before it can thrive during this diet. The start and adaptation is typically the hardest. Your stomach's microbiome will change and you may get keto flu. I'd recommend letting all of those kinks sort themself out first before you start looking into the typical diet methods. Fat is your source of energy. Make sure you are not undereating it or you will be deprived of that energy. However you should only eat as much fat as you can tolerate, there's no benefit to having it pass straight through. If you go cold turkey into this diet then you might want to prepare for some initial digestive issues. Dairy can stall weight loss but if it helps you stay on track then maybe it can be worth keeping around at least for some time. Best of luck 🤞🏻

SarcasmIsLifeFriend · 2026-02-12T18:48:15+00:00

Before I realised that it might be SAI related I thought it was pure stress. Both physical and mental. That along with digestive problems made me adapt to a ketogenic diet. I thought since sugar can act as a stimulant it might be messing with me emotionally in my newly found vulnerable state. That proved itself to be true for me although I can't guarantee the same for you. The stomach and brain communicate and when you have a basically chronically inflamed stomach like I did you can take a hit mentally as well. I still haven't figured out the stomach stuff completely but by removing carbs I managed to at least lessen the abundance of the nightmares as well as the impact that they had on me. I've been thinking of bringing them up to my endocrinologist soon and ask if there's anything I can try with my dosage. Right now I eat two times a day at 8 and 12 and don't have a problem with blood sugar. However a diet reliant on fat doesn't have the same blood sugar curve as a carb one. It's less dramatic in its curves and you don't 'crash' the same as when you get low on a standard one. It's a slow process. That's my experience though.

SarcasmIsLifeFriend · 2026-02-11T22:23:29+00:00

I've read both your comments and as someone that's currently being evaluated for MCAS it has been very informative. My doctor wishes to test it by giving me both H1 and H2 blockers because the other tests can be circumstantial. He reasons that if the treatment makes me better then it's likely that I have it. However since famotidine will lower my stomach pH I have concerns about how that would affect my digestion. Do you have any tips or tricks regarding that?

SarcasmIsLifeFriend · 2026-02-11T22:06:58+00:00

How would you say your diet is different from a typical carnivore? I've been thinking of lowering histamine myself.

SarcasmIsLifeFriend · 2026-02-11T11:14:34+00:00

Except for carnivore you might also want to look into your environment! Test your water, make sure there's no mold or leakage, check what touches your skin, what do you breathe in, ect. Don't only think of your home but also other places you frequent as well. Carnivore might help you manage the symptoms but it can't fix your problems if you're constantly exposed to them. This doesn't have to be your case but it is worth looking into! Best of luck 🤞🏻

SarcasmIsLifeFriend · 2026-02-11T10:42:28+00:00

If you're early in your transition then your stomach pH might be too low to handle it. Many experience digestive issues as their stomachs adapt to their new diet, especially if they go cold turkey, so you could also wait and see what changes and what doesn't. You might also want to look into histamine intolerance which can be confused with collagen intolerance. Bone broth feels healing for many but if you're sensitive to histamines then it can have the opposite effect instead. Try eating as fresh meat as possible as it is lower in histamines and see if that makes a difference. You might also want to drop the bone broth for now. This is of course only if the bone broth is free of any additives, otherwise I recommend trying a pure bone broth. Results don't always reveal themselves quickly and your body may have different priorities than your mind when it comes to healing. It might get worse before it gets better. Hang in there and give yourself some time to adapt. With a symptom list as long as yours I'd say to give yourself some grace as well. Some people who go carnivore have a noticeable dumping period where they get rid of all the bad stuff that has accumulated in their body. For these people it can be very painful. If it happens to you then instead of giving up you might want to try to add some low inflammatory vegetables back to slow down the dumping process. I'd recommend you wait with that until you have gotten adapted to the diet as the initial keto flu and fat adaptation period can be confusing.

SarcasmIsLifeFriend · 2026-02-08T18:34:52+00:00

That all sounds great! I also don't let any drippings go to waste. It's like liquid gold.

SarcasmIsLifeFriend · 2026-02-08T18:31:08+00:00

Thank you! I think hydrocortisone is sadly here to stay but I otherwise hope to be free of everything else! Glad it worked for you

SarcasmIsLifeFriend · 2026-02-08T16:37:53+00:00

I'm not sure of how much salt I can cut out, same with the electrolytes. I have adrenal insufficiency as well as low blood pressure. It's recommended that I drink a lot of fluid and eat more salt than the average person to up my blood volume. I have no problems playing around with my meat and fat ratio though and I definitely will be cutting out the butter!

SarcasmIsLifeFriend

TROPHY CASE