Question

Is it safe to fast in my situation?

Am a christian who is HIV positive and not on treatment yet, with a CD4 count of above 1000.

Is it advisable to fast for 7 days? This is a fast where you drink a lot of water, juice and in some cases eat fruit. And then break off at 18:00 in the evening. You eat a meal in the evening. Is there any medical effect on my health as of my status? I don’t fast for more than 7 days.

The fasting is for spiritual benefit. Is it safe to fast for HIV positive people?

Answer

Your results are all right and as long as the fast is not the long one that nears starvation, then everything should be all right and you could do it.

It is more problematic for people with very advanced AIDS (CD4 count below 200), where hunger and starvation may further reduce the ability of the immune system to fight off intruders.

36 comments

  1. Simon Collins

    Hi Lydia, it is important to still take your ARVs every day, just take them during the time when you are not fasting.

    If you are fasting for religious reasons, medicines are allowed as part of the fast. You are not breaking the fast by taking meds.

  2. Lydia

    Hello?2 days ago I started taking my ARVS(Telatri)can I still do dry fasting 3 days while taking water only?
    I know one day God will heal me.

  3. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Gloria, what is the name of the ARVs he is taking?

  4. Gloria

    Hello my husband is on ARVs can he fast for 3 days without food and get no problem.he takes them at 11:00pm at night.

  5. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Patience, have you fasted before? Do you have people to ask for help and advise? As TLD does not need to be taken with food, fasting will not lead to worsened side effects to what you normally experience, if you do at all.

  6. Patience

    Am on TLD and this is my fourth day fasting for 7 days but I feel like am loosing it I feel dizzy what must I do for me to continue

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