Okay this is a bit complicated, but please bear with me.

I have been to seven different doctors about this problem over the last ten years or so. None had the slightest idea of how to help. All were completely stumped. If you can help me, you'll be a lot wiser than the doctors at the Cleveland Clinic.

I have to eat often to prevent my stomach/esophagus from developing gastritis/esophagitis. I have had a scope put in, and I've seen the inflammation myself. My doctors confirmed that it was indeed gastritis and indicated that it was not chronic, and it would go away in time.

The pattern has not changed, however. Unless I eat large amounts of foods especially near bedtime, I develop pain and reflux that causes dizziness. If I eat enough heavy foods, I rarely experience problems.

This is a contrast to what they usually tell people about reflux and esophagitis. Usually they tell you to eat many small, light meals and never before bedtime. It seems like without heavy food before I lay down for the night the acid in my stomach comes right up and fills my lungs. Sometimes it takes weeks to get the acid back out and one of my doctors mentioned that she was afraid I would develop asthma from the acid burns in my lungs.

To help relieve the problem I started drinking Prune Juice. In seconds after drinking a mouthful, the pain stops, and I can sleep. This led me to believe that the problem could be constipation. I am happy to have a quick remedy that usually works as long as I eat enough, but I still think that eating more than I am hungry for is a problem and that a Water Fast could be the answer for me.

To be clear, I use no drugs, no alcohol at all, no aspirin or other prescription drugs (except zantac when the pain is especially bad). Fortunately I don't have to use zantac often as long as I eat (what I consider to be) excessively. I also do not consume dairy or gluten.

Again, I have seen the "so-called" best specialists in the country. They offered me no answers except drugs that really don't work, two of which have been taken off the market because they were causing heart attacks. This was four years ago. Needless to say, I no longer follow their advice and am looking for a more permanent and healthy solution.

I've studied Water Fasting a great deal over the past several weeks. Five days ago I decided to try one.

I did fairly well for the first two days. Water only with the exception of right before bed. I use my tried and true prune juice to stop the pain that not eating causes me. Unlike all the claims that hunger leaves after day three, I remained famished (maybe from the tiny amount of juice). Tonight is my 4 and 1/2 day on water.

The pain got very bad, and I know from experience that I can have a gastritis relapse if I let the pain get too bad. For this reason, I broke the fast with some rice bread and potatoes.

I feel terrible that I had to stop it. I have high hopes that if I could get through an extended fast like a 28-30 day Water Fast I could overcome this problem and eat only what I am hungry for when I am hungry and no more. My appetite is usually moderate like any average person. I don't binge or feel the need to eat constantly.

I generally eat healthy, organic foods. Unfortunately without junky vegetable oils, the lighter foods don't seem to prevent the horrible reflux I get in the mornings. I recently discovered the benefits of coconut oil, but though I do feel better overall when I eat it instead of vegetable oils, it does NOTHING to help my reflux. I've since learned that it is a different kind of fat (medium chain fatty acid with only seven calories per gram instead of nine like regular fats).

So, I want to know if anyone has experienced similar problems and if so HOW can I complete a water only fast. Calcium antacids do nothing. I have a serious problem with salt (major water retention--another reason I wanted to do the fast) so adding celtic Sea Salt to my water during the fast is not an option for me either.

Prune juice seems like the only answer but I know I can't achieve ketosis while I drink it on a water fast, even in tiny amounts (two mouthfuls at bedtime) as I have been for the past several nights.

Can anyone help me with this? I know that Water Fasting is the answer for me. I know I have the determination to complete an extended fast. I just don't want to hurt myself in a way that will require even longer to recover. I know that in general, many of the aches, pains and discomfort associated with fasting is natural and passes. Gastritis on the other hand, seems to feed from itself and leads to esophageal inflammation for me.

Is it possible that when I start my Water Fast again I should just use prune juice as the pain starts and not try to drive it away with water alone? Could I eventually be able to use prune juice less and less as the fast proceeds until I heal enough (from detoxification) not to need it at all?

My goal is a pure water fast, but I know that I would not have had to break my fast early with food if I had used more prune juice when the pain started.

Is it possible (as I hope) that this pain is being caused by toxic build-up in my tissues and will pass if I can hold out long enough?

I hope this makes sense. Please let me know if not. I really need someone to give their experiences on this. Again, I am open to suggestion given that some pretty skilled physicians had no good solutions for me.

Thanks for reading.
H

P.S. I am female, 34 years old.