Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia

Ashok Gupta · Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 10:06 am Post subject: Full Recovery Stories

Hi everyone

As promised, I will post feedback from patients who have made a full recovery. Here's the first one from a lady who had been suffering for 16 years:

Dear Ashok,

I was talking with a friend the other day who commented on how well I look and I thought I should just say yet again, thank you. I am so incredibly well I have to say. I am now back at the gym four to five times per week. I am back at university doing courses, I am out in the garden as well as walking for further exercise! AMAZING! My husband is even hoping I will get out on the bike . . . . . . hmmm. Don’t enjoy cycling.

I find myself occasionally ‘body scanning’ so I go through the ‘routine’ and voila I’ve not had a dip now for MONTHS!

I heard through a friend that another person was put onto you (indirectly through me) who is now back at work. This man was in a dreadful state and unable to function. To think he is back to normal is great - all through YOU!

Ashok, I know I’m perhaps being a bit over-the-top in my kuddos but you know how great it is to get your life back.

So, from a sunny and warm Perth, Australia.

Regards

Susan Cross
(Had ME for 16 years)

Ashok Gupta · Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 10:08 am Post subject:

I was diagnosed with ME and Fibromyalgia in 2002. At the time I was busy with a Counselling Practice as well as teaching Counselling, Clinical Theology and other courses; I was chair of a Division of the British Assoc for Counselling and Psychotherapy, and I was doing a degree with the Open University. Just before I became really ill, my sister died from cancer. Everything together caused my body to rebel and say ’enough!’ I had to give up all my work and my studies.

I was in pain from the roots of my hair to my toenails, and when I woke in the morning I felt as though I had been run over by a truck, beat beaten up and had a dose of the flu’. I felt exhausted and my energy would suddenly disappear with the result that I would be drained physically, mentally and emotionally. I had difficulty sleeping even though I was tired out. My metabolism slowed down, the thyroid and adrenals were affected, and so on. I found it hard to think (which was especially hard as I was studying philosophy), my speech began to slur at times and I couldn’t find the words that I wanted to say. My writing deteriorated and sometimes became jumbled and my spelling ability vanished. It was horrible. The losses felt enormous.

That is until last October when I began the Gupta Programme.

Three days after starting the programme I went to Kew Gardens where I walked all day (on other trips to gardens or shows I had hired a buggy so that I could get around). I only started to feel tired in the late afternoon; I felt normal tiredness which was so different to the awful draining that I was accustomed to. Since then I have had been free from pain and have not needed to use a walking stick. Over the next few months my sleep patterns improved and so did my brain fog and cognition.

The first dip that I experienced after starting the programme was quite difficult to deal with until I realised that if I just began again it should work. It did. Stress is the fastest trigger of symptoms, but now I know that the effects will be minimal compared to the wipe out that I previously experienced.

Now I have my life back. I have lots of energy, within the limitations of my age which, although I am 60, feels about 45 rather than the 95 years that I felt before. I keep rejoicing in the very noticeable change in my body, mind and emotions. Even my eyes have improved!

The programme is simple. I still do it when I need to, and I keep up with meditation and relaxation. I recognise when the stress response centre is over reacting or likely to kick out the chemicals or signals that caused symptoms. The advantage of the Gupta Programme is that I have it as a permanent resource to turn to when I need it. It has been a miracle for me.

I had a great holiday this summer where I climbed a mount in Wales, went body boarding and took long walks. I have great fun with my little grandchildren. I am really enjoying life. Thank you Ashok!

Linda Andrews

Ashok Gupta · Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 10:10 am Post subject:

Hi,
At the end of February after having severe CFS/ME for 10years most of the
time in bed at times unable to go down stairs and requiring help to get to
the bathroom I started your recovery program. Within 1 week of starting
the program I was no longer spending the day in bed, six months later and
I am better living a completely normal life.
I can now watch the TV, have family and friends to visit, do my garden, go
camping and walking in the peak district and the lakes life is wonderful.
Thank you so much for giving me my life back.

Regards

JM

Ashok Gupta · Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 10:16 am Post subject:

Age: 32

I first developed CFS aged 26 during travels in Bali and Australia. I started treatment with Ashok aged 28.

Changes since treatment.

Physically: The main changes from start of treatment were a reduction in the fear of doing simple physical exertions. The build up of doing more physical things was slow but I felt a constant flow of increase in strength in between flare ups. I am now back to doing normal amounts of exercise including cycling, skiing, running and working full time. I could do none of this at the beginning of treatment. The pain in my joints has gone.

Mental: The treatment gave me a mental boost from the first appointment but this did fluctuate as I got better. The main thing it gave me was hope and direction and a sense that I was doing something positive about the condition. I really noted the difference a positive and directional mental attitude made to how I was feeling physically. My memory came back to normal as has my drive and interest to do things.

Emotional: There is nothing more amazing that having a life back that you thought you had lost. Bring well again seemed like a dream but it has become a reality. CFS takes away so much from a person and in particular creates so much fear and I still sometimes struggle to keep the fear of what has happened at bay, this I do with doing the programme when I feel vulnerable. CFS also makes you feel very low and depressed and that has also improved.

Future Plans: To stay well, work, enjoy holidays, explore the world and have a family.

SR

Ashok Gupta · Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 10:19 am Post subject:

The change in my physical capabilities has been huge. When I first went to see Ashok, although I did have periods where I could walk a short distance, go shopping etc., I would never have dreamt of doing exercise for its own sake – running, cycling etc. I would also regularly have relapses, triggered by over-exertion, when I would be confined to bed for weeks or months on end, unable to leave the house or to cook for myself. The changes happened very slowly for me at first, due partly, I think, to my tendency towards over-anxiety and perfectionism. But once I learned to adopt a much more relaxed attitude to the programme I made vast improvements. I am now in my second term of a full-time drama degree, which involves 11-hour days, 5 days a week, of aerobics, acting, dance, singing, movement and voice exercises, and I am loving the fact that I can once again use my body!

When I first went to see Ashok, mental concentration was just as tiring and draining as physical exertion. Just as my physical stamina has improved, so has my mental, and I am now able to work on the computer, write letters or read without any symptoms being apparent.

Through work with Ashok, I have learnt what a huge effect my psychological and emotional life can have on my symptoms (even though the symptoms themselves are very real and very physical). Talks on the phone with Ashok have helped me begin to tone down my tendency towards perfectionism and self-doubt, and this means that I can approach tasks with less fear and that the prospect of these tasks therefore no longer produces symptoms. Ashok's programme has been one element of a larger process for me, which has involved self-examination and psychotherapy, but it is Ashok who first convinced me of the importance of the mental and emotional side of things. Most important of all, because I finally understand the process at work in my illness, I am no longer afraid of my symptoms, and this has been the biggest and most fundamental key for me.

I have one more year at drama school, and then I plan to act professionally. I will definitely keep up my fitness regime, as it is so wonderful to be able to use my body to its full extent again!

Katie

Ashok Gupta · Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 10:24 am Post subject:

Thomas Henri
Age 36

Years with full blown CFS Oct 2003 - until seeing you, and recovery began.

Symptoms; as provided before, extreme pain, back, neck, joint pain, unrelenting exhaustion - often bedridden for days, brain fog, difficultly verbalising, vision quality reduced through tiredness, increased feelings anxiety especially social & guilt, unrefreshed sleep, heat and light intolerance, swollen glands, and almost constant sore throat. In the past severe night sweats, and typical flu like symptoms.

Physically now I can do anything I want that a normal fit person would be able to tackle. I am attending the gym three times a week and doing 1.5 - 2 hours of cardio work. This has been built up very slowly over the last 12 months. I have also just started winter cricket training. Able to cope with all exercise without any CFS relapses. I am able to social again. I am trying to go out at least once a week, howver this would be more if financially I could afford to do so. Only issue is that my sleeping patterns are not good. My sleep patterns were not good before CFS, so this is not a major concern, I am just sleeping when I need to, and trying to not place any pressure on myself to sleep at socially appropriate times.

Mentally I have returned to my abilities prior to CFS. I am able to concentrate normally and have normal memory function. I can hold lengthly conversations without having to search for words, or losing my train of thoughts.

Emotionally, I am still woking on building my confidence. I still have some issues with regard to am I good enough for a potential employer or girlfriend. I am positive my confidence this will return once I restart working and relationships in the near term.

My future is that I have a future. One without CFS. 12 months ago I did not have any hope that this would be possible. Currently I am taking things slowly for the first time in my life. I am volunteering one day a week. I am writing my experience of CFS ina book format so I can draw a line, and say goodbye to it. Once complete I would like do some form of awareness to CFS suffers to help give them hope that recovery is possible. After this, I will look at starting a business venture, non related to CFS. This will enable me to continue to be in control of my sleep, or I will return to full time employment.

Thomas

dannybex · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 3:13 pm Post subject: Keep 'em coming!

I'm so glad you're posting more recovery testimonials. Smile

I'm looking forward to hearing from more of your patients -- especially those who have been sick for many years, and may be older than those featured in your videos on youtube.

It would also be nice to hear some updates from those who have been recovered for a year or more.

Many thanks,

Dan

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia

Full Recovery Stories