How I COMPLETELY Recovered from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (The FULL story)

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Summary of how Raelan healed her chronic fatigue (from 37:00 - 52:00 in this video): * Learn to manage stress effectively: stress can be extremely toxic. Having strict boundaries to prevent people/things/places pulling her into too many emotional spaces. Putting boundaries on the content she consumes, on the people she interacts with, etc. Staying in a space of "Zen" seemed to maximize healing. * Drink lots of water * Get lots of sun * Cut out toxic foods and alcohol. In another video, she goes into more detail saying to (A) get rid of all the sugary / processed / junk foods, and (B) get rid of caffeine and alcohol—both are "energy loan sharks" ("they always took way more than they ever gave"). * Keto helped somewhat, but switching to a whole-foods plant-based diet was a "total game changer" (all sorts of things in her body started functioning better e.g. faster recovery from exercise). * Cutting out gluten didn't make a difference. * Rice causes her big problems (an example of why it's important to know your own body, not everyone has the same issues with the same foods). * Various kinds of fasting have helped a lot (intermittent fasting, low-glycemic juice cleanses). * Fermented foods (kimchi, kombucha, sauerkraut, kefir, etc) did wonders for healing her gut. * Physical activity throughout the day to build her strength. Some walking, but she put a lot of more focus on light strength training. In the first 6 months, physical activity would make her feel worse, but she noticed that from one month to the next she was building strength so she persevered. * Gently incorporating movement into her day that didn't make her feel worse. * Showers alternating between hot and cold helped a lot. * Full body massages once or more a week helped. * Making sleep a priority. * Manage body pain (post-exertion malaise) during recovery with stretches, hot baths, and sometimes painkillers. * Having love and support in her life helped fuel her recovery. * Pacing herself—trying to not overdo it (then suffering from a massive crash afterwards). * She healed her CFS without any dietary supplements (she had tried $1000s of supplements the first time she tried to heal her CFS; but she didn't personally notice any changes when stopping all the supplements including probiotic supplements). * Overall, it was really hard work, but doable and definitely worth it! It took her about 2 years to get back to full health, but even after 1 year she was already much better (e.g. doing hour-long workouts regularly). Congratulations Raelan for achieving an amazing recovery! Thank you for sharing your hard-earned wisdom. ☺

In regards to the "mild chronic fatigue syndrome" label, I've just started calling it myalgic encephalomyelitis around people. The scarier the name the more seriously people take you

Thank you for sharing! I can relate to SO much in your story. My wife left me when I was at my worst. We had to sell our dream home. My career stalled. I went from feeling ahead financially to behind. Moved in with my parents. And I’ve spent tens of thousands on recovering. I know I’ll get to 100% eventually! Stories like yours keep me going! Thank you!

I'm barely 10 minutes into your video Raelan and you've already got me choked up and crying when you said you felt like a kidnapping victim and someone had stole your life. Your symptoms and how you felt, you took the words right out of my mouth. 15 months with Long Covid. I don't know who I am anymore but I'm giving it my all to heal from this hell. I hope you are well ❤

I got CFS after a vax while in the Navy. I was treated poorly by the doctors I saw , the surgeons I worked for, and my peers.

I have a kitchen full of supplements 😭 just received a package of very expensive gut bacteria this morning..... this video has made me realise I'm not crazy.... Just desperate to be well again.

I wasn't diagnosed with CFS, but the description is so accurate to my symptoms: feeling like I have a flu, but no fever; heavy head; little to no energy at all times; a little exercise makes me feel like I have a flu or nauseous or get sore throat which goes away in hours; I've had insomnia for 10 years; staying in bed doesn't help; I feel cold easily. I've had a gazillion tests done over the 10 years, and all of them come back normal. I'm just guessing here, maybe CFS is caused by pushing yourself too much for too long, therefore the cure for it is to rest too much for too long :P Did anybody else overdo pushing themselves to extremes before getting these symptoms? I know I've been pushing myself way over the limit since 16 y.o. Even though I was dealing with a lot and working too hard, I never thought of resting. I rest a lot right now and do get minor improvement in energy level.

Your mom’s story is exactly me right now. I was diagnosed two years ago but have been sick longer and all I do is get worse. The depression, the bed, the wheelchair, all of it. And I’m only 35. I’ve been told I will never get better and that none of us do. But when I do gentle yoga... my body starts to feel stronger, less achey, even my migraines start to lessen. That’s how I found you. Your video is the first time I’ve ever seen the word “recovery” next to ME or CFS. Just seeing that I have the tiniest glimmer of hope. I’m conservatively hopeful. I was always healthy, energetic, social, never stopped, had a fit tiny figure that matched my 4’11” height, I was a dancer my whole life. Now I’m told I’ll never dance again. I just hit 200lbs, nothing helps me lose weight, antisocial, stuck in bed most of the time, handicap placard on my car, constant mono pink eye and flu, had to quit my job, fighting with disability, unable to clean my home get pregnant or adequately take care of myself or anyone else. I always hurt I get fevers constantly I can’t think straight I’m just so so sad. The only thing that gives me confidence is my wheelchair because I feel less afraid. Afraid that I’ll be in the middle of target and not be able to get back to my car. Afraid to say yes to a walk at the mall with a friend because even though their kid cries when we stop walking I don’t care he can cry because I CAN’T keep walking. At least I feel like I have control of my body in my chair. I can navigate a store and get what I want without asking for it.. but I struggle with doors, inclines, and straight aways. I absolutely hate being pushed because I feel like an invalid but sometimes I have to be pushed because I just can’t. And it’s so hard to ask for help because almost nobody believes you. Especially if they have ever seen you on a good day. The yoga helps me get up in the morning, helps ease some pain to try to sleep at night. And that gives me hope that I could find the right foods, the right supplements, the right kind of movement, the right mindset... I can NOT give up the thought of dancing again. So I’m hopping on this journey with your channel. Thank you for the hope literally written across your thumbnail. Because we are surviving off of so little income because of all of this. So little help. So little care from doctors. And so I no longer have insurance and have no money to pay for doctors or treatments. So someone like you being willing to share your story without some webinar I have to pay for or magical supplement I have to subscribe for, it means the world. Literally my whole world. And I’m praying to get it back!!! Hope this doesn’t sound overdramatized. But thank you!

Earlier this year, at four and a half years of illness, I started to have real improvements in quality of life and was even working full time. I still couldn't exercise and still had feeling of general unwellness and malaise, but there were clear improvements happening. In March I had a major crash and it has been a brutal setback. I've almost gotten back to where I was, but the crash has been deeply discouraging. I've always felt like recovery is possible, but since March I've start to notice an almost subconscious belief that I'll never recover. Sometimes I feel totally lost and hopeless. Your channel and videos help me develop that hope again, so thank you. But if I'm being completely honest, even the hope can be exhausting. May we all heal from this oppressive illness!

Yep. Mild CFS symptoms would send a healthy person to the ER.

My CFS was also brought on by a vaccine. Glad you mention this because I sometimes wonder if I have CFS or some other kind of vaccine injury. So sorry to hear about your mom. ❤

Thank you so much for sharing your story. I’m 3 years in CFS, all those years I was confident that I will be back on track, but last month for the first time I’ve got discouraged, and hopeless. Like my life is not worth living anymore. Your story gives me hope and inspires me to get going with my healing journey. God bless you 🤍

I had a similar experience with my doctor...I kept going back saying I’m not right, she just laughed in my face. I resonate so much with all that you said x

Many time cfs come from the stress of feeling unsupported. A sublte deep internal belief that we're in danger. That buried feeling of being unsafe to say no can come from growing up with immature parents teaching you to that you cant say No and feeling like a failure around them.

Thanks so much for your generosity in sharing this story and I am so sorry about your mum. Your story parallels mine a lot and I especially related to the disappointment/shock from the doctor and the crazy interventions you tried! I am now doing brain retraining and it has been incredibly helpful and recently added exercise in. Keep up the good work.

Raelan, I cannot thank you enough for sharing this story. You are so honest and genuine, and I can relate to SO MUCH of what you have described. I'm 3 years in to CFS and working to get out of it, learning much along the way. Again, thank you!

I'd like to share what the key to my recovery was. I exercised slowly and gradually, walking for a minute one day, two minutes the next, until I was walking for an hour every day. I did have to push my physical boundaries and it was so important to my recovery; building up muscle because there are little power houses in muscle cells called mitochondria. They provide each cell with energy. The more muscle you build, the more power houses you get. Lymphatic system: very important to get the lymph moving which removes toxins. Moving your body pumps the lymph system and I think this is why massage made me feel energised. I had terrible insomnia and the less sleep I had, the more ill I felt. I tried so many things to help me sleep and after 8 years of ME/CFS my Dr prescribed Amitryptiline and I slept for 7 hours straight after years of waking up every two hours. This was the biggest thing that helped me recover. Sleep is vitally important. I need 12 house to feel good, which is a lot, but I am well now. My Dr had to increase the dose three times to find the level I needed.

Sorry this was your journey. So sorry for your great loss. I know it was very difficult for her and your family. Thank you for sharing.

Thanks for courageously sharing your story and as always so helpful and putting out that message of hope💜