About six years ago, I collapsed with glandular fever and was subsequently diagnosed with recurrent Epstein Barr Virus and ME/CFS. I was largely housebound, often horizontal after the smallest of activities; and I remember walking around a shop when I could barely stand up, feeling my legs were about to give way; the items on the shelves blurring together and my list of three written items being impossible to remember. This, from a member of Mensa and an ardent fell-walker!
I had a very active lifestyle: co-founded a literary trust, fundraised and organised its events; and worked long hours in the City and was never still; and the shock of an exceptionally full life being altered so dramatically was equally as hard to bear as was the concatenation of erratic symptoms.
Aside from the underlying, relentless mental and physical fatigue and recurrent sore throats, other symptoms occurred randomly: dizziness and severe balance difficulties; unrefreshing sleep; acute changes in temperature; indiscriminate food intolerances and increased sensitivity to smell, light, sound and chemicals (almost passing out near the detergent aisle of the supermarket); anxiety and depression (both endogenous within the condition, and exogenous as a result of a long-term condition); cognitive impairment (short-term memory loss, spacial disorientation, lack of concentration, and simple tasks such as filling in a form seemed insurmountable); not to mention the considerable discomfort of nausea, general aching, muscle cramps and searing head pains. No wonder it often seemed hopeless to combat and heal all of that!
I once compiled up to 80 symptoms and, as there are hundreds of treatments and remedies proffered per symptom, it became bewildering and costly to keep on top of them all. As long as I could sit upright, my hunt continued via the internet, books and research materials, trying many therapies and contacting ME experts and practitioners across the world, which brought temporary hope but, unfortunately, not a lasting solution. The “Holy Grail of a Search” in order to find the answer was debilitating; and any small progress was always followed by a repeat of an onslaught of the above symptoms.
The disease seemed complex and was certainly overwhelming even for a previously mega fit person like myself, but the underlying cause of any and all illness - is a neglected, abused or over-compromised immune system; compounded by nutritional deficiencies. I was absolutely determined, and knew I just had to find quality nutritional fuel to restore my body's defense mechanism - essential, not only to eliminate ME, but to sustain all human health and, more significantly, to prevent disease in the first place thereby sustaining good health. Eventually I did find what I was looking for and the results are explained an an article I wrote published in issue 106 of Healing Today, November 2006 which I can send you if you have an email address (mine is girasoledawn@hotmail.com and my number 020 7460 1600 if you would like to ask me any questions).
Twenty-one months later, I'm thriving and so are many others.
Wishing you health
Dawn