ITP and Intermittent Fasting

Hi everyone,

It’s been a while since I’ve logged on but just wanted to ask a quick question and also check in to see how everyone’s doing! Platelets for me have held steady in the mid 200Ks on my monthly labs. Have a follow up with my hemo next month, where hopefully my labs will be spaced out even further. Anyways, I have recently started intermittent fasting to lose weight. I’m sticking to a 16 hour fast and 8 hour eating window where I focus on eating nutritious food. During my fasts when I get hungry, I drink teas and water...black coffee is also ok but I don’t like the taste, so I haven’t. Obviously I’m going to bring it up to my hemo next month when I see him, but I told my mom I was starting this regimen and she instantly freaked out saying I maybe shouldn’t do something so drastic bc of the ITP? Does anyone have any experience with fasting as it pertains to ITP? Any symptom flare ups after starting a regimen like this? Any insight appreciated, thanks!

Instead of such drastic fasting why not just eat what is good/healthy/nutritious, watch your portion sizes and so on. Moderation, really that is the key. Exercise. Be smart in what you eat & do.

I googled Is Intermittent Fasting Safe - and from what popped up I wouldn't do it. Also have you thought of when you stop this fasting you will gain back the weight you lots? I can't imagine it would bother platelets but who knows

Mel A I had been eating intuitively and exercising for the longest time and have only managed to lose and gain the same ten pounds over almost 2 years. I know essentially you have to burn more calories than you consume in order to lose weight so I tried calorie counting and I hated it. I even stuck with it for a few months and lost a few pounds but I just don’t want to log every single thing I eat all the time So I figured I needed something more to the point (and flexible) I can always expand my eating window if I feel I need to, which I love! I’ve thought about how I might gain the weight back after all is said and done, but fasting is changing my relationship with food and is making me examine when I only eat bc I think something is yummy, when I’m bored, or when I’m just thirsty. Maintaining weight will be what I exercise for when I get to my goal weight. It actually hasn’t even been difficult for me as I always eat a late breakfast and I needed to work on not snacking before bed! Sorry I’m rambling I’m just so excited about this lol

Carcamoc
I had severe anorexia after my husband died suddenly nearly 9 years ago. I have never managed to regain all the weight I wanted to. Dietician told me stop counting calories eat more carbs but I eat as many as I can manage. I'm not skinny anymore but slightly underweight. Maybe cutting a few carbs out would help you.

Mrsb04: I’m so sorry to hear that, it sounds horrible. I have also heard putting on weight is a struggle. I also did a low carb diet the beginning of last year around the time I started getting ITP symptoms. Same deal, I lost a few pounds but it was torture for me because I lift weights 3 times a week and I was miserable having to restrict even complex carbs I’ve been feeling ok so far, I haven’t even gotten any hunger pangs. My energy is good, and it’s helping me go to sleep earlier. If I start feeling like it’s taking away from my health, I will reevaluate my weight loss methods. One of the few good things about ITP is it’s taught me to listen to my body no matter what. I’m unapologetic about my needs now because I know if I overdo it, it is often not pretty...

I won't make any judgments on your diet plan. As typical fad diets go, though, it doesn't sound all that crazy to me. I'm a big proponent of "body listening".
Otherwise, I can tell you this. Fasting is being investigated as a possible means to "reset" the immune system, as outlined in this article, so it might be beneficial against autoimmune disease in general:
news.usc.edu/63669/fasting-triggers-stem-cell-regeneration-of-damaged-old-immune-system/
But they don't give specifics about how long the fasts are. Hours? Days? Certainly not weeks? I probably would have tried it already if I knew more about it.

I fasted for several days to 'reset' my immune system not long after being diagnosed. No affect on counts.

If I were to do it again to loose weight as you describe, I'd at least take a multivitamin, and as commented in the link below, take B-complex and Folate supplements. If one does research on the ingredients to a multivitamin, you should find out that many/most ingredients are in support of a healthy immune system.
"Updated international consensus report on the investigation and management of primary immune thrombocytopenia"
ashpublications.org/bloodadvances/article/3/22/3780/428877/

Find the relevant section by searching the document for the word 'Folate'.

Mid 200's count? Yeah !

Hal: thank you! You know I’m more than pleased with those results after the wild start to everything

And you tried fasting to reset the immune system? Wow. Did you have a clear goal of days in mind or were you just winging it and seeing if anything happened? It’s just not clear to me at what point in fasting the whole regeneration thing is supposed to start. Luckily, I’m doing it purely for the weight loss, so thanks for the tip on the supplementation. I’ll be sure to order some soon!

Carcamoc, I think it is totally winging it. I fasted for 3.5 days, see this post. I think my goal going into the fast was at least 2 days. And more ideally, shoot for at least 3 days / 72 hours.
pdsa.org/discussion-group/5-newly-diagnosed-a-frequently-asked-questions/29292-a-type-of-itp-which-induces-skin-dermatitis.html#55868
Its been awhile but I think after the first day it gets easier to go without food. The first day is the hardest.

Might want to read through this. It mentions 72 hours.
"Fasting triggers stem cell regeneration of damaged, old immune system"
news.usc.edu/63669/fasting-triggers-stem-cell-regeneration-of-damaged-old-immune-system/