Hello, world.

I was on this forum a year ago when I did an 18-day Water Fast in response to acquiring Rheumatoid Arthritis . Here is that thread:

//www.curezone.org/forums/am.asp?i=2262490

It took me a year to gain back the 18 pounds I lost during that fast, and that was the hardest part of it for me. However, there were certain benefits of the fast I can't deny, such as the fact that two of my fingers on my left hand healed and have not gone back to being inflamed yet (even though I did have most symptoms return 4 days into refeeding, and soon lost flexibility in my wrist). Because of the benefits I've always been thinking about fasting again. However, I am on medication now and I've heard that you should not fast while on medication.

I am taking:
Methotrexate - 20 mg/wk
Orencia (Abatacept is the generic name) - one infusion/month
Prednisone (1.75 mg/day) - my doctor finally told me I could stop taking this after I bothered her about it forever, but I regressed when I came off it and so went back on and have been slowly decreasing the dosage.
Folic acid - daily to counteract methotrexate side effects

So I guess I'm wondering if anyone has advice. I could come off the prednisone to fast, but I think I would still need to take the weekly and monthly medications. Would it be ill-advised to do a shorter fast (5-7 days) in between doses of methotrexate, and would a shorter fast like this have any benefit? I asked my doctor and she said it was okay, but I also got the impression she didn't know much about fasting.

I'm guessing that the answer will be no, you shouldn't fast while on meds, as this is what I've usually heard - but if that is the case, what would you do instead?