Fasting Journal : Fasting Center International

FASTING REVITALIZES CFS VICTIM

            [FCI NOTE: Hep-C is a liver disease--an inflammation of the liver--caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is found in the blood of persons who have the disease. HCV is spread by contact with the blood of an infected person. It is the most common, chronic, blood-borne infection in the United States. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1.8% of the U.S. population, or 3.9 million Americans, have been infected with the virus. About 35,000 new cases of hepatitis C are estimated to occur in the United States each year.

The Hep-C virus is blood-borne, which means that it's spread through blood or blood products. Common routes of infection include needlestick accidents among healthcare workers; blood transfusions before mid-1992 (after 1992, blood banks began rigorous screening for the Hep-C virus with effective new testing measures), and the use of recreational injection drugs (eg, sharing needles). Currently, no vaccine is available to prevent people from getting Hep-C.

Hepatitis C has been referred to as a "Silent Epidemic," since it usually progresses slowly over many years. Most infected with Hep-C are not aware of any noticeable symptoms for as long as one to two decades after they're infected. In fact, by the time symptoms appear, the virus has probably already begun to damage the liver. Liver failure from chronic hepatitis C is one of the most common causes of liver transplants in the United States.

Chronic-Fatigue Immune-Deficiency Syndrome (CFS) can accompany Hep-C disease. What follows is the experience of one who arrived at FCI suffering both. Steven Cook, 39, of Pittsburgh, PA, contacted FCI while nearly bedfast and, in his own words, "at death's door." What follows is his post-fast report]:

            "I've found something that really works. I want people to know about it, so they can be helped by it. How can I get through to folks in a way that doesn't sound like the hype we're all so heavily bombarded with? Obviously, people recognize the truth, so here's the truth.

            "I picked up a Hepatitis-C virus from a blood transfusion in 1989. I was unaware of it at the time. This, compounded by poor eating and lifestyle habits, resulted in a gradual deterioration in my general health. I'd had a great fitness program, and I was consistent with it, but it gradually began to falter. I became unable to work out as much, I didn't recover as fast, and I began needing more and more bed rest. This continued for about three years, until I was nearly bedfast, sleeping often in excess of 14 hours per day, and totally unable to work out at all. I also suffered from a cognitive disorder I can only describe as 'having a cloud in my head.'

            "During this time, I would have regular medical checkups. I complained that I felt tired. Doctors ran tests, but found nothing. They said, "You're okay." Eventually, things were so bad I began looking for second and third options--other doctors, who finally diagnosed Hepatitis-C and Chronic-Fatigue Immune-Deficiency Sydrome. They gave me Interferon for 6 months. It made me sick and poor, but not healthy. The end result? I had spent my living, and had suffered much at the hands of physicians, but grew no better, only worse. Western Medicine had no answers for me.

            "I began studying alternative medicines and treatments. I went to a chiropractic nutritionist, and a homeopath. I got some relief there, but my nutritionist recommended a fasting clinic--water-fasting for a month, for detoxification (to remove the basic CAUSE of the problem). The cost, and relocation, would have set me back around $8,000. By this time, I'd been struggling for 5 years, my business was all but shot, and I didn't have the money.

            "I was inspired with an idea: Search the Internet for information on fasting. Enter Dennis Paulson/Fastmaster, and Fasting Center International. I checked it out very thoroughly and decided to go for it. I opted for 66 days (my age figure plus 17, for complete detoxification). The total cost was $728.70 (most of which I saved on solid foods not taken during the 66-day Program). I was able to stay home and work. Amazingly, despite the fact I wasn't eating solid foods, my energy increased exponentially. I went from an estimated 3-5% energy leve--nearly bedfast--to an average of 65%, with peaks of 70-75%. . .once again able to run my business, as well as compose music (which I'd not done in two years). My weight dropped from 207 to 156 lbs. I lost 51 pounds in 56 days of actual fasting. I saved $7,271.30.

            "I waited before writing this. I didn't want to be caught up in the excitement of the moment, and I wanted to see what would happen after the fast. Would the energy flag? Would I get fat again. . .put the weight back on? I wanted to see this, before I put my name on this page.

            "Since the fast--one month--I have put on 7 pounds. This is exactly what I was told would happen (primarily fecal matter back into the colon). Net loss: 44 pounds. Energy level: 80-85%, with peaks to 90-92%, and my mind is clear, once again. Yes, I needed this. I needed to lose the toxic waste I'd dumped into ME for over 39 years. I no longer desire caffeine, or high-fat foods, or processed sugars. It's easy to eat right, NOW! This Program WORKS!!!

            "Yes, I DID consider trying it on my own. . .save the 700 bucks. Why spend it? I've got a strong mind, and am a great do-it-yourself-and-save-a-buck kinda guy! Maybe I could teach myself. . .read a few books? I chose not to. I am grateful that I made that choice. In retrospect, I realize I could NOT have done it myself. Quite simply, I had no experience to gauge this experience by, and none of those books' authors were available for crisis-intervention questions. In my toxic condition, great and terrible amounts of toxic garbage were released into my system daily. Without the expert tutelage of Dennis Paulson, I'd never have made it.

            "Dennis truly is a master at dealing with the psychological aspects of a fasting person, and is a veritable, living, cyclopedic reference source of medical possibilities and scenarios, processes, information, and knowledge. With his 35 years of intelligent-fasting supervision, he knows what to say, when to say it, what to do, and how to give the instructions clearly and simply. I cannot emphasize too strongly how important this supervision was. I'd have been a fool to try this without help, and you would be, too. (I'm told that all of the 80 fasting books in print warn against ANYONE doing a prolonged fast without skilled supervision; I now understand why.)

            "In a nutshell, if you think you need to try this, you probably do. If you want to lose weight, you will. If you want a healthier body, you'll have it. Once you know how to do this, you won't need Dennis anymore, as his stated purpose is to teach others this extraordinary, self-healing skill for life. Still, some people keep coming back, anyway. Doesn't it make you wonder why?--Steven W. Cook"

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Any questions, email or phone FCI. Email: FastMaster@fasting.com; phone: 818-590-2536 (know that the best time to catch Founder/Director Dennis Paulson, himself, with the least interruption, is between 10-4, California time). For the Fasting Center International home page, click here: www.fasting.com

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