| | Water Fasting

Day One of fasting and I called 999 (or 911)

Title is a bit bait, I mean it's true, but anyway I'm just wondering if anyone has any perspective on this. So today was my first ever day fasting, and I am water fasting with electrolytes (or "snake juice"). Basically, in the evening I developed a slight chest pain...thought, okay, it's a mild pain, doesn't seem like an emergency...but it gradually led to mild pain and numbness in my left arm, plus slightly shallow breathing (which I am kind of used to). After around five hours of deliberation (yep), I called emergency services and told the lady of these symptoms, but after going through a list of potential symptoms which I didn't have (e.g. do you have a fever, are you sweaty or clammy), she decided it's not an emergency. I found 'silent myocardial ischemia' online and my symptoms do line up with that, so I am concerned and will seek medical help tomorrow (it's 4am here as I write this). My arm still hurts, but that's about it. ALSO, I took 150mg of aspirin shortly before that call, and am now reading that it's a bad idea to take it on an empty stomach, so I'm waiting for that to mess me up next, lol. So anyway I'm just posting this in case anyone has any general impromptu advice for me or ideas on what's going on. Should I break my fast in the morning? Should I try fasting again in the future if I'm not diagnosed with anything serious (or even if I am)?

Answer

I find it insane that you had chest pain with pain and numbness in your left arm and dispatch didn’t advise you to go to the ER or send an ambulance. That’s not an option where I am, it’s mandatory. (You can refuse of course, but they have to act or it’s a liability issue. It’s unlikely anything to do with fasting since its only day one, but something is clearly going on.

Answer

I applaud you for not panicking and waiting to call emergency services. Two things come to mind for me: the stomach is much higher up in the body than most people realize, and pangs of hunger can definitely feel like “chest pains”. If you are unused to this sudden absence of food, it makes sense that you would feel unfamiliar stomach pain. Second, electrolyte balance while fasting is essential; it is most certainly not snake oil. I like to go for the all-in-one electrolytes fasting blend. You just add it to water, it tastes like nothing. These are essential to your body’s most basic functions, so be sure to take them. Good luck.

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First ever day fasting?Did you build up first from like 16:8 or something?Also, 5hrs of deliberation…?! can I just admire your dedication to the fasting? 999 so UK, right, with free health and you didn’t go sitting A&E?And you haven’t broken the fast?

Seriously clapping

Answer

Hello friend. Uh most likely ur blood sugar dropped which caused chest palps/chest pain.

I would also ask how heavy you are and what your usual diet is.

Jumping straight into a hard fast might be too much for u at this stage. Even with electrolytes u have had other issues that ur unaware of. I’d also ask if they took ur blood pressure and ur race( are u black? a small percent of white ppl may have this issue as well. The solution MIGHT be in such cases to not put so much sodium in ur sj and focus on ur potassium levels as its a potassium deficiency is the root cause.

Anyway try dialing it back to what’s basically called a protein sparing fast + intermittent fasting. basically u eat 90% protein , dont over eat and do 16 hours IF with some SJ if u require,

Im curious if they checked ur blood pressure as well and if u remember what was.

LASTLY this may be the simple answer. Fasting is almost like a muscle. while many people can just jump into it, some ppl may need to work their way up. So start with shorter fasts. Monitor how u feel and what improves it. Then extend them longer and longer. Start with attempts to hit 16 at least. Eventually u will hit 24 and from there 48’s will see easier.

Answer

Drive yourself to the emergency room now or take a cab or something. Not sure what country you are in, but it sounds absurd that you call 911 with worsening chest pain and the dispatcher is like, “Nah, you’re good.”