Recovery From CFS - 50 Personal Stories

50 people who have recovered from chronic fatigue syndrome share their personal stories

If they can get well ... you can too!

Read this book and gain fresh hope.

i. I'm Alex Barton. For many years I suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome so badly that I couldn't work or look after my children and home. I even needed a wheelchair or disabled scooter for outings with the family. Gradually though I recovered my health, by learning some important lessons about nutrition, the power of the mind and 'listening' to my body.

Today, thankfully, I am able to lead a normal life. I work, look after my family and enjoy sailing and canoeing holidays.

When I was ill I needed to hear about people who had recovered, to give me hope. Sadly that hope was hard to find. I decided that when I was well I would bring that hope to others.

That's why I have compiled this book

I decided to find others who have also recovered from chronic fatigue syndrome and tell their stories in a book. It has been a year of hard work ... but also a wonderfully inspiring experience getting to know these brave and determined people from all over the world.

World champion marathon canoeist Anna Hemmings thought she would have to retire from the sport in 2003, when she was struck down with chronic fatigue syndrome. But two years later, Anna was back competing at the top level. She won the World and European titles in 2005, after making a complete recovery. Anna tells how she regained her health and fitness through an innovative treatment called 'reverse therapy', which aims to get to the root cause of chronic fatigue syndrome. You'll discover more when you read Anna's personal account ... and the equally inspiring stories by 49 other people in the book, who also share how they got well.

An interesting thing I discovered ...

Each person not only had a fascinating story to tell but also used slightly different approaches and treatments to help them get well. There is no one 'magic bullet' that cures chronic fatigue syndrome. There are basic principles that work for everyone but each person is also an individual. You need to find out what works for you.

You will find someone else like you!

By reading the personal stories in this book, you will be able to identify with the symptoms and lifestyles of the people involved. You will be able to 'see' yourself in some of them, more than others. And you will be able to gain the benefit of their discoveries, which have taken place through a lot of heartache and suffering ... and hopefully you will be able to shortcut the process to your own recovery by learning from their experiences.

Joanna, who lives in the UK, had chronic fatigue syndrome for seven years. It started after a vicious flu attack and numerous bouts of tonsillitis ... and it just wouldn't go away. Joanna eventually discovered a healing system called the Lightning Process. This works by helping to reduce your body's adrenaline levels, allowing it to gradually heal itself. You'll discover more about the Lightning Method when you read Joanna's encouraging story.

Monique – cut out dairy, pork, sugar and gluten

Monique, from Holland, was super-fit, athletic and full of energy before she got sick with chronic fatigue syndrome in 1993, when she was 30 years old. Her suffering lasted for 11 years before a doctor recommended she cut out gluten, dairy, pork and sugar and take a relatively new health supplement. As she puts it "These tablets were like rocket fuel. What an energy boost!"

Rino - 'hit with a sledgehammer'

Rino, from the USA, was a health fanatic who was careful to eat well and exercise regularly. Despite this, he got chronic fatigue syndrome, which lasted for seven years. He felt "like the Universe had hit me on the head with a sledgehammer". Rino believes his cure came largely from learning the power of forgiveness. He had a lot of resentment and anger in his life before he got sick. Now he has learned to love himself ... and others.

Rob – was 13 when he got ill

Rob couldn’t walk, feed himself or chew. He was hospitalized and his parents weren’t allowed to visit. After he slipped into a far worse state his parents defied the doctors and removed him from hospital. Eventually, Kathy, a physiotherapist, came into Rob’s life. With her help Rob began to walk again, until one day "the miracle happened". He climbed Hay Tor on Dartmoor. Rob has now been fit and healthy for five years and has just graduated from university with a First Class Honours Degree in Architecture.

Even doctors get chronic fatigue syndrome

Clare is a doctor and mother who was completely bedridden with chronic fatigue syndrome. She wrote in her diary at the time she felt she was "living in a glass cage". Clare had to look beyond her conventional medical training for her cure, which came gradually as she learned to listen to her body and trust in her faith. Clare edited two reports from the National Task Force on CFS/ME and contributed to the Action for M.E. residential rehabilitation courses. She returned to general practice in 2005.

There are many other means of recovery in the book, including Reverse therapy, Mickel therapy, nutritional stories, spiritual stories, pacing, neuro-linguistic programming, the Breakspear Hospital, thyroid medication, Professor Mossop, orthomolecular medicine, yoga, life coaching, physiotherapy, Dr Jacob Teitelbaum, glyconutritionals, homeopathy, kettlebells, Dr Sarah Myhill, Dr David Smith ... and more.

There are many more inspiring personal accounts, which you will read about in full, in 'Recovery From CFS - 50 Personal Stories'. The special thing about this book is that these are real stories, by real people who have been through the depths of chronic fatigue syndrome and come out the other side – and of course, every story has a happy ending!

Testimonials

"An outstanding book that will help you start on YOUR road to recovery!"

As Alex Barton lovingly proves in this excellent book, people with CFS/ME/fibromyalgia CAN CLEARLY RECOVER and do best when both the physical and psycho-spiritual issues are treated simultaneously. In this excellent book, 50 CFS patients offer hope and insights from their own personal journeys, so that people can begin on their own road to recovery. Alex Barton has taken on the important task of showing you how you can recover by treating both the physical and psycho-spiritual components of these illnesses, while offering you resources for you to explore. As you read this book, make notes of those things that FEEL best to you, and begin with those. Prepare to be empowered”!

Dr Jacob Teitelbaum
Medical Director Fibromyalgia & Fatigue Centers, Inc. USA

"I think it is FANTASTIC!!! It is just what I hoped it would be, and what I had been wishing someone would put together, as there are so many depressing things out there on the net regarding CFS. I think you have done CFS sufferers a HUGE service, by putting this together and getting it out there! I only wish I'd had such a book to read way back when I first got sick. This book fuels the hope that one can recover! The fact that so many people with diverse backgrounds, of varying ages, were all able to eventually recover fully-that gives me so much hope!

I really like that so many of them include email addresses, too, so that you can reach them directly if you feel the need. And the fact that there are so many resources included, as far as help and treatment options, so that it gives one all kinds of new avenues to explore to support one's own recovery. I think it is AWESOME!"
Sara, Massachussets, USA

"I REALLY enjoyed the book. I read it with a hunger, that the next story would reveal a surefire cure. Which, of course, if didn't. What this book does is reaffirm that there IS a way out, at least for some. Almost all who recovered, did so by dogged determination, trying different treatments and refusing to accept a life sentence. It drives home that our biggest hope lies in alternative medicine. Use mainstream medicine sparingly, for acute situations, but strive to restore true health, using natural approaches."
Jenny, USA

"I hardly put it down! It was wonderful to read all the different stories and techniques, methods and random strokes of luck that enabled these people to get well. Isn’t the sheer variety amazing? It’s so wonderful that you went to all the effort to put this book together."
Gretchen

"Fabulous.....and about darn time. So tired ( ha ha....not ) about reading books where there is NO HOPE. Reading this brilliant book, took me back to the 5 years of hell I spent in bed. I never thought I would get well. I searched for "positive" literature and held onto the few sentences I would find online. Wish I had had this book of positive recoveries! Thank you Alex and many others for a book that truly proves that recovery DOES happen and yes it happened to me too. What a difference this book can make for TRUE recovery! A "must read" for all of those still struggling without the hope they need. The CDC, WHO, doctors, family members, and all of our loved ones afflicted with ME/CFIDS need this book. In fact everyone needs a copy of this book."
Marti Hyndes, New York, USA

"This book is a great resource for ME sufferers wanting to start their own detective work and find a cure."
Miriam Hinchliffe, Bristol, UK