Laura Fowler-Watt's FULL recovery from ME/CFS

Published 2024-02-13
Laura, from the UK, got knocked down by glandular fever at 23 and didn't seem to recover. She experienced crippling fatigue and never-ending flu-like symptoms. Laura shares her 3.5 year full recovery from ME/CFS and what things helped her (and didn't help her) heal. TIMESTAMPS below:

Overview:
Laura's recovery story primarily involves the nervous system and contains other supportive elements like nutrition.

TIMESTAMPS:
0:01 Intro
0:19 Laura's purpose for sharing her story
1:15 Laura's high-pressure life in the entertainment industry before getting chronically ill. The warning signs. Doctors told her this.
3:19 The final straw in December 2019.
4:17 Pushing through. The analogy she uses for how she felt.
6:18 What gave her an excuse to rest.
7:06 Coming to the conclusion she had post-viral fatigue then ME/CFS. Why this was both a good and bad thing for her.
11:15 Friendship with chronic illness during pandemic. Living a lie over Zoom.
11:30 How her mum truly supported her.
12:30 Living apart for her boyfriend to heal in her own space.
13:00 Would we have understood if this happened to someone else?
14:00 She lists out her key symptoms throughout (while others came and went).
15:15 Laura shares what things she tried that she was recommended that DIDN'T work
16:12 Experience with a nutritionist. How she thinks this factors into her recovery.
16:50 The money we spent on supplements.
17:40 Explaining what CBT is and why it DIDN'T work for her. Reflecting on NHS treatment options despite updated NICE guidelines.
19:30 How she found her path out. It started with building hope. Finding Jen Mann, a nervous system and mind-body leader.
21:18 We reflect on why group programs didn't attract us, while they can be very powerful for people.
23:15 What things did Jen help Laura with?
24:36 The big aha moment she had with Jen. How I observe this is the Biggest reason people struggle with nervous system work and then sometimes reject it all together.
25:56 How maladaptive perfectionism led to procrastination.
26:24 Leaning into the nervous system methods she needed. What some of those were. A vision board.
28:49 Making visualizations come true. Getting to visit partner / now fiancé across the ocean. We share a visualization that we both made come true!
30:20 A new stage & lease on life, while feeling for those still going through it.
31:24 How she is now helping others. Courses she has done.
35:14 Looping back to talk about what Somatics is and what are some somatic practices.
37:45 What she was told far into her journey that she Wishes she was told earlier. [Note: This part is not meant to downplay ME/CFS, but rather more about a shared realization that helped us heal. ME/CFS is a multi-systemic debilitating illness, and research has found multiple distinct biomarkers, though much more funding is needed. To better clarify my own beliefs, I believe it's a block in the healing cycle, in line with UCSD research on the Cell Danger Response, rather than something that's broken or something that can be killed or cured by a pill.]
39:39 The channel of a guy named James who healed from severe ME who gave me a similar realization: youtube.com/healthrecovery
40:46 Why this empowered her. Inspiring words.
41:25 Extra final message
42:02 Goodbyes
42:20 How to reach Laura
42:35 Outro

Written transcript now up: healwithliz.com/laura-fowler-watts-inspiring-full-…

Find me on Instagram: instagram.com/healwithlizc
Find Laura on Instagram: www.instagram.com/lfwcoaching/

Links Mentioned:
Laura's website: lfwcoaching.com/
Jen Mann's Instagram: instagram.com/iamjenmann
Independent Lifestyle & Nervous System Regulation Programs Guide: healwithliz.com/programs-guide
Somia International (formerly CFS School): www.chronicfatigueschool.com/a/2147519754/rNMbs6oz

Disclaimer: Nothing we share is medical advice nor meant to contradict what you yourself have discovered to be true. We are just sharing our stories for inspiration and send you support and encouragement.

All Comments (14)
  • @germanside7890
    Thanks to you both for the lovely interview! Sending much much love from Germany :-)
  • @HealwithLiz
    This was an inspiring one with many gems! We shared similar epiphanies. FYI: In the first 20 seconds, you may here 3 tiny squeaks which were my sons running about the house with their papa exuberantly screaming (Zoom caught some of the echo). The rest of the video should be good. I will have the transcript up next week on my website.
  • @nolamayer4101
    Thank you for this interview Liz and Laura, sooooo many great points here. It really resonated with me when Laura said that she was trying so hard, rather than leaning into it and giving ourselves love and compassion. I also love the visualisations Laura spoke about. I think that if we could gather all the people in the world with CFS in the one place and have a garage sale with all our supplements that didn’t work it would be “the sale of the ages” it would be so big !! 😂😂Wishing you all the best in the future Laura 🥰
  • @ceciliamac4283
    Beautiful and so touching. Thank you Liz and Laura for sharing this story 🤍🫶🏼
  • @user-ph5vp9mc2z
    I've been waiting for this interview since your newsletter! It is very useful that you talked about the difference between CBT and body-mind work & brain retraining. And it gave me an extra push to finally realize my vision board 🙂
  • @lauracowan100
    This was amazing Laura! Thank you for sharing 🙏 I'm still on my journey and incorporate alot of what you say. It's my dream to be a nervous system coach like you! Love what you've done and what you offer. Your best tip I've taken away is to give yourself what you need in the moment. ❤sometimes I get disappointed, down and frustrated when sensations return that I forget to think/feel and give myself what I truly need. It's hard because I have young children and other stressful factors but I know eventually I will get there. Congrats on your healing and nurturing business 👏 x
  • Oh Laura, Your story with health anxiety and CFS is so so relatable. I’m an actor too 😅 Recovered now but I would love to connect with you. What is better? Email, instagram? Thank you both for this wonderful interview with all the valuable details and knowledge ❤
  • @lisabennett1253
    Interesting she mentioned groups. I too am too empathetic (and I do believe you can overdo that empathetic stuff). When my husband died suddenly people were saying "Ooh! There are lots of groups for that!" I tried it and it was awful! I was not only grieving myself but also for them. I had to get out of that. My question is, I wonder what percentage of us are overly empathetic and have taken on other people's pain along the way? I know now that I had my own trauma and took on other people's crap too.
  • @lisabennett1253
    Just happened to see an old Golden Girls rerun from 1989 where they tried to tackle chronic fatigue. Wow! Twenty five years ago and they STILL gaslight us! Just sayin'.
  • @omygod9062
    Diet of no wheat, gluten, additives, alcohol, get B12 checked, sleep apnea checked, vitamin D , coq10 , pace energy, get rid of people that don’t make you feel good, do something that makes your soul sing
  • To anyone that has healed: did you ever have a white tongue and did it go away after healing? I’ve had a white tongue for years which I associate with EBV/mono/glandular fever.
  • Did u suffered from panic attack maigraine body pain weekness can't walk for long distance dizzy sensitivity to sound light heat cold