Recovery Stories: Jessica's CFS recovery story

"On returning to the second year of sixth form in 2002 having spent a month in Africa, I found it increasingly difficult to focus on my studies. I would find myself spending hours staring at a blank page having no idea why I couldn't focus, let alone understand what I was being asked to do.

I became increasingly more stressed. After about 6 months of gradually being able to less and less productive work and opting out of social activities I was diagnosed with depression. I was prescribed anti-depressants which helped a bit but didn't take away the feeling of utter exhaustion, like a vacuum cleaner sucking out my energy. The doctor did various blood tests and concluded nothing was wrong with me...!

I didn't achieve the grades I wanted at A-level so stayed on at school to repeat year 13. In spring 2004 I was diagnosed with CFS by a consultant.

During the school day I would regularly doze on a table or sleeping the sick room. I had frequent panic attacks.

Having eventually got the grades I started first year at university. I found the reading impossible to focus on. I didn't go out with friends in the evenings with friends and would sleep on average 13-16 hours a day. I had several weeks off to rest and at one stage was finding getting into lectures too physically difficult. I tried taking vitamin and oil supplements but it didn't make any difference.

The second year of university started really well, but within two weeks I was signed-off feeling exhausted and dizzy, with painful muscles, light and noise sensitivity. I either slept or watched TV.

I was about 65% ability just before I had the lightning process. I heard about it though someone from the ‘Association of Young People with M.E.' who had been successfully cured. I thought it sounded too good to be true, but after a week thinking decided that it was worth trying!

I had my first appointment in November. I left the two hours appointment feeling more awake and energised that I had for years. After the second day I spent five hours walking round the sights of London! I had a few lapses but could rectify them within minutes once I had recognised where I was going wrong.

The evening after the third session I travelled back to university and went out with friends to a comedy club, something three days previously that would not have been possible.

Four days after first starting the lightning process I went on a large student conference for the weekend and had no physical symptoms of M.E. despite being on the go all day and only getting two hours sleep one night!"

Two weeks after the Lightning process

"I have returned to university and am quite busy! This past weekend I went on a 2 hour bike ride and didn't get off once to push it up hills! That evening I went to a Christmas ball and was on the go until 6am! The following day I was tired but quite able to do everything. It was a sleepy tired not an exaustion tired."