**UPDATE: I actually talked to him again today and he gave me the green light, albeit very dismissively...**
Hello,
I have been fasting for a few months now to cut for the summer and it has been going absolutely phenomenal. The fat is just effortlessly melting and I love how I feel fasted.
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6 days ago I had an abscess drained under general anesthesia. I have a fairly large open wound (no stitches, just covered). I really don't want this break my stride and I want to continue fasting. I want to continue rolling 48s but I am worried that fasting might weaken my immune system and increase my chance of getting an infection.
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I keep comparing myself to those undergoing bariatric surgery and having to go under SEVERE calorie restrictions and be fine. So maybe I will be fine as well having done a fairly routine and tame surgery?
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I keep my wound clean, change the dressing everyday, apply anti septic wipe and antibacterial cream, and also have been taking antibotics since the surgery. Also, due to the location of the wound, the decrease in the number of times going to the bathroom would REALLY be helpful as I need to shower and do my dressing change routine everytime I go.
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In addition to that, I know that fasting spikes HGH and may help with faster healing? I don't know, I feel like I am in a push pull situation. I am worried about the dampened immune system response, but also want the HGH spike. What do you all think?
Answer
Not giving medical advice here, just sharing my personal experience.
I have an autoimmune condition called Hidradenitis Suppurativa, which causes my body to attack my apocrine glands. While debilitating flares are pretty far and few between (unless I eat certain foods), I’m never without some sort of lumps, bumps, and open wounds. Abscesses are an unfortunate part of my daily life and I’d have no life at all if I dropped everything to baby them.
I’ve been fasting for 15 years, everything between short OMAD type fasts to extended fasts (up to 21 days) and I haven’t experienced any negative repercussions in conjunction with my condition. They coexist with absolutely no interaction as far as I can tell.
Answer
Medical student here. I would even advise to eat on surplus. Would healing is of paramount importance and the state of arguably malnutrition that the snake diet is (which is totally ok for otherwise healthy folks that can support it), is not promoting would healing. I will not get into details but you need to eat or the healing process will be slower.
Your priority is healing especially on stuff that are on the surface of your skin because there can be infection however careful you are, and you can’t be on antibiotics forever.
Do some preliminary research on calories and would healing, preferably a meta analysis.
Don’t listen to anyone concerning your health seriously on Reddit. They have no idea.
Especially on r/snakediet if you should fast.
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There’s mainstream research that shows fasting is beneficial to cancer patients. Fasting without water-as long as you can go, 1,2,3,4 days is the best way to heal. It’s exactly what animals do when they’re sick. Just don’t be skinny when you do it, that is truly rough.