How I recovered from post-viral ME/CFS and got my life back

Note: This is part 2 of my story, you can read part 2 here.

After taking redundancy, I planned to spend time trying to get better, and figure out what I was going to do with my life.

During my research, I came across Nutritional Therapy, a practice that takes a root cause approach in unravelling and supporting ALL the potential underlying drivers of someone’s health issues rather than just treating the symptoms.

My interest in nutrition was sparked when I discovered I had a gluten sensitivity in 2011 - it triggered constant burning headaches, facial and muscle pain which no painkillers could touch. Avoiding gluten led to complete resolution of these symptoms in three days so finding out more about Nutritional Therapy felt like a logical next step.

I attended an open evening to find out more about retraining at the Institute for Optimum Nutrition based in Richmond, which is not far from where I live. 

After listening to the speakers, I knew it was for me. It was a three-year course with weekend lectures once a month. And importantly for me, I could do it at my own pace and catch up online when I needed to, which was often. 

I started my course in September 2016. My aim was to heal myself, but I knew I could help others with similar fatigue conditions when I qualified.

On the first day of college, I sat next to a woman also called Sam who also had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). When the first lecturer introduced herself, she shared her story of recovery from ME/CFS and the role of genetic variations and a special type of B vitamins.

Things were starting to get spooky. 

What I learned on that very first day about methylated B vitamins kickstarted my recovery.

I remember googling these vitamins in relation to ME/CFS and high levels of blood levels of B12 and folate which I had without supplementation. This led me to Dr Ben Lynch and how these vitamins were linked with genetic SNPs (variations) which I now know I have.

After taking these B vitamins for just four days, I clearly remember a rush of energy through my body (and this was after being at college that day). It felt like I’d been plugged back into an electric socket.

Over the next four years I learned about biochemistry, anatomy & physiology, and soon discovered Nutritional Therapy was not just about food.  Lifestyle, sleep, stress, infections, toxins, genetics, personality types, psychology, coaching - the list is almost endless.

I made changes to my diet and lifestyle as I progressed through the course and it felt great to have a purpose again. And gradually, I started to feel better.

My healing journey didn’t stop when I finished my calls and qualified in 2020. We were told we would continue to learn from our clients which has certainly been the case over the last five years. And like other health practitioners, we have to continue training with Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

Post graduation I continued working on myself:

🟣 Understanding my personality drivers (transactional analysis) and how they impacted my health and recovery - “Be Perfect” and “Hurry Up” are mine, classic type A 

🟣 Addressing unresolved trauma with specialist practitioners, I thought all the stuff that happened to you was “just life”

🟣 Exploring suspected neurodivergency (ADHD) which reared its head in perimenopause

People often ask me if I am fully recovered and I say “Yes”. 

Recovery means different things to different people, but can be described as one year without a significant flare or relapse. I now have a fulfilling second career and a new purpose. I’m also in control of my working hours. 

I have the energy to enjoy life, go on holiday, exercise but I also know myself better than ever and understand how important it is to listen to my body and mind, and knowing when to stop.

Recovery IS possible, but it’s not easy, and it does take time. I wish I had Me to work with when I was diagnosed, but I got there in the end.

There will be bumps along the road and it’s common for symptoms to resolve only for different ones to appear. But it is possible to get your life back, or and maybe an even better one.

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The content on this page is not intended to constitute or be a substitue for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.