Re: a word of caution
Thanks for sharing your experience Tommy. I think we can all draw different conclusions than you have from it though.
"In my mind, if I had carried on I very well could have done permanent damage to my body. If I carried it on for an extended time I could have died, although I certainly don’t want to suggest that I was near death."
In my mind, it is also possible and more likely that the fast certainly did not cause your thyroid condition but was in fact busy trying to repair it. What was happening was more than likely a normal fasting crisis which would have led to healing had you continued on. However I do not for a second doubt the risk you would have had to take to just 'believe' this. Certainly any serious health concerns like this should be checked out, but not by ignorant doctors with no experience of fasting. Normal doctors only look at your disease, they don't care about the rest of your body. In fact they can't see the rest of your body, they are only trained to look at your disease. If you have a different disease they are not trained in they'll send you off to a different doctor who can see that disease. Experienced fasting doctors see your whole body and understand the relationship of the disease to it.
Again I appreciate your sharing. My suggestion to you would be to find a doctor who takes insurance who is also experienced in supervising fasts and see how you go with a second professional opinion.
But I certainly don't agree with your conclusion that because you had a bad experience with your juice/water fasting that it's a fair thing to decide who else is a good candidate for water fasting. The prime rules still apply- Listen to your body, Break the fast correctly, and Always seek APPROPRIATE professional help when needed.
If these simply rules are followed then (just about) anyone is a good candidate for water fasting.
Andrew.