David, I know you are right about fasting.

There are some of us, however, who cannot fast.  Those who have
porphyria will precipitate an attack by fasting and even by strenuous
dieting.  There is an article I read tonight on this, in which Spanish
researchers have identified the chemical reaction which happens when a
person with porph fasts.

I tried to lose weight when young, and disaster struck.  My mom thought
I was a pig when I'd give up and eat cookies.
But I HAD to eat those cookies.  So I felt very guilty.  I was not
diagnosed and the concept that I was a pig seemed the only explanation.

Now I have achieved balance.  I eat what could be called a diabetic
diet, with both protein and carbohydrate, very little pure sugar, and
very low fat.  I am not as slender as I'd like to be, but I just can't
diet more than a tiny bit at a time.

I know very few people fall into the category I am in.  But because
this is a serious problem when a young person fasts and does not know
she/he has porphyria (or maybe diabetes too?), lifethreatening events
can occur.

A beautiful young wife died, who happened to be the daughter of a
famous author from Chile.  She had been fasting at a Catholic retreat
in Spain, where she had gone to marry.  After a series of convulsions,
she went into a coma.  Her mother brought her home to San Francisco,
where she remained comatose for a year until she passed away.
The name of the book is just "Paula".  I talked to her brother once
online, but he was very shy about admitting who he was, so when I
identified him as Paula's brother, he disappeared.  I'm sorry he went
away, as I would have loved to talk more to him.

If every person with porphyria were identified, even within a family,
the problem wouldn't be so extreme.  But very often doctors just can't
diagnose a porphyric patient until something dramatic happens, such as
happened to Paula.
The tests are just inadequate.

So by all means fast, if you can.  And say a prayer for those who can't.

Mariel