Intermittent fasting

[Swizzly]

Does anyone have experience with intermittent fasting? It is supposed to help with autoimmune diseases.

[MrsMarigold]

Yes. I was doing something similar before I even knew intermittent fasting was a thing.

My routine is to have my last meal at about 3 pm twice a week. Twice a week I generally have a very light breakfast to take medication and gluten free crackers at night with water for evening medication.

What I found is my digestive system works better and I feel better. I drink a lot of ice water to stay hydrated and take any supplements/vitamins with coconut non dairy yogurt. As we must take medication I do not eat nothing or suffer consequences of upset stomach. MM

[Swizzly in reply to MrsMarigold]

Thank you MrsMarigold

That's exactly my concern with IF taking the Pred in the morning without eating anything. Because it would be easiest to fast from evening to next midday if it there weren’t the Pred to take.

Your eating window sounds good 😊

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

I do, but no longer have GCA - so that’s not the issue. Have last meal around 5pm, no later than 6pm… and the breakfast at earliest around 8.30am, but usually nearer 9am. Do have a herbal tea around 7-8pm, glass of water around 10pm and morning cuppa at around 8am.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I did eat on an I/F sort of timing long before it became a thing. Didn't stop me developing PMR. Currently I vary - and eating earlieror later in the fasting period doesn't really seem to make much difference.

Is the Lodotra formulation of prednisone available to you in Switzerland? I'm on that and it fits brilliantly into I/F eating - you take it at 10pm within 3 hours of a meal or substantial snack (a German-style Brotzeit is suggested) and it releases 4 hours later to improve morning symptoms.

[Swizzly in reply to PMRpro]

Yes Lodotra is avaiable in Switzerland. I will ask the GP for.

Lodotra are modified-release tablets. This means that they release the active ingredient prednisone with a delay of around 4 hours after ingestion.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Swizzly]

That's right, dose arrives all at once just like ordinary pred but you don't have to get up to take it! I've been on it here in Italy for years - I think it is brilliant.

[Swizzly in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for the tip 🌷

[65_women]

I do intermittent fasting all the time.

You eat for 8 hours and fast for 14 to 16 hours. You have to figure out the fasting when to break the fast and then take your meds,

[Swizzly in reply to 65_women]

And do you feel better with IF? I'd like to have breakfast at 10am, but I'm worried that it's too late for the Pred. When do you have the break?

[JourneyToSlim24]

Yes, I’ve had some experience with intermittent fasting, and I’ve also come across a lot of people who swear by it for various health benefits, including autoimmune issues.

For many, the idea is that intermittent fasting gives your body a break from constant digestion, which can help reduce inflammation—a common problem with autoimmune diseases.

When you're fasting, the body has more time to focus on repair and regeneration rather than just processing food. This can potentially help with conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and Hashimoto’s, among others.

However, it's not a one-size-fits-all solution. Some people with autoimmune conditions find great relief, while others might not notice a big difference or could even find fasting triggers some symptoms.

It's always best to listen to your body and consult with a healthcare professional before diving in, especially if you have an autoimmune condition. Starting gently, like with a 12- or 14-hour fast, and gradually increasing it might be a good way to ease into it and see how your body responds.

Hope this helps!