Need advice regarding debilitating lower back and hip pain during 7 day+ fast
For context, I'm no stranger to water fasting and for years I would fast for 1-3 days per week on a regular basis. I am a big guy and am overweight. I always feel best when in ketosis and during water fasts, especially around that 3rd day. I have completed several 5-7 day water fasts with little to no issues.
Jump to around 3-4 months ago, and I decided I was going do an extended water fast for as long as I could to see where my limit was at. I'm familiar with the need for electrolytes, how to make snake juice, etc. Everything was going well until the end of the 7th day. My lower back and hips began to ache. I tried to push through it, but it continued to get worse to the point that it scared me and I was considering going to the hospital (which is always a last resort for me). As it continued to get worse, I presumed something about the fast was causing or contributing to the problem so I decided to break it in hopes that the pain would subside. I thought maybe it was a hydration or electrolyte issue. So I started eating slowly as I normally do and taking some additional electrolytes but the pain continued to get worse. I did not sleep at all that night. From that point, until around 5 days later I was basically glued to a heating pad or in a scalding hot shower until the hot water ran out. I barely slept, when I did it was nodding out while sitting up due to exhaustion, and was constantly on the verge of breaking down and going to the hospital. One of the longest weeks of my life. I finally messaged my primary care physician and asked her if she suggest I come to see her or go to the ER. Thankfully, by the time I received her response the next morning, the pain slowly started to subside and was gone in 2-3 more days.
I haven't fasted for more than 1 day since. I am starting to regain my desire to do so and at some point want to attempt it again. There should be no reason in my mind that I can't fast for 7 days and even much longer, but I am TERRIFIED to trigger another event like that. It wasn't something that just resolved after breaking the fast. It took a week of agony and sleep deprivation.
So, I wanted to do my research before attempting it again and knew this would be the perfect place to get advice.
Apologies for the long read. Thanks for taking the time and any advice provided. Much appreciated.