Recovery Stories: Karen

My name is Karen, I am 53 and I no longer have M.E.!!

I was in my late 40's and working, very happily, as a medical receptionist, when I started to struggle back to health after having several chest infections. With only a small staff, the pressure was always on not have time off or to get back to work ASAP!

Slowly, but very surely, my whole life changed.  Within twelve months I had to give up my job after trying everything to cling onto it - shorter hours, different schedule and duties, all to no avail. That is even with having a sympathetic employer, who was a G.P. who was very up-to-date with the M.E. illness and info.

I was able to see an M.E. specialist on the NHS as a clinic had been set up in my area. I had mitochondria studies done privately that showed the actual damage that had been done. I tried all different and intensive antibiotic treatments and anything else that he suggested but all were unsuccessful. I never had the up/down symptom that is quite common - just gradually down and down.

I became housebound, unable to do almost anything, relying totally on my husband, who, thank goodness, is one in a million. Life and the future was just dark.

I first heard of The Lightning Process through my local M.E. support group newsletter in an article by a former M.E. sufferer. 

When I looked at Phil Parker's site I noticed that Esther Rantzen's daughter, Emily, was noted as one of the success stories. I had followed her family's struggle with her ‘unknown' illness over the years and was thrilled to hear of her recovery. I feel it is in fact partially thanks to Esther and her family that M.E. is now recognised as an actual illness. How could I not be excited at this?!

I found a practitioner in my area, Helen James in Bury, and applied for a course in January 2009. I had been ill for five years and now had to get to this course, my husband was ready to carry me there! Even though he was sceptical and the cost was hard to cover - the cost of doing nothing would have been far higher.

I really do not know what happened during the course. I do not have the clear recall that others seem to have. The night of the first day of the course I was horribly ill - I feel due to the worry I had put on myself about the sheer effort of getting to Helen. This was the last time I felt any such thing. By the second and third day something had completely and unmistakably changed. I felt whole again. 

It has been six months now since I met my saviour!!

Doing the course with Helen has given me my life back.

I had no future before......just nothing.

Now we are planning to back to my husband's home city of Chicago and can dare to plan a future in which I have full participation.
I hope to become a Lightning Process Practitioner and help others in the same way. 

Days can be hard and up and down, but most of the time it is so wonderful to be able to think, plan and do! There was nothing but struggle and no hope before the Lightning Process, now, after, there is life to be lived.

I just want to send a massive thanks to all and will someone please feel sorry for my husband who has his wife back again! Be careful what you wish for...... his quiet life is OVER!!