Recovery Stories: Ruth

My amazing recovery story:

Hello, my name is Ruth I am 39. I attended Helen James's Lightning Process seminar in Manchester

Illness: M.E & Fibromyalgia

Symptoms: Everything! Too many to mention.

Abilities pre illness: Full time single parent of two girls, worked part time as Dietetic Assistant & very active. My hobbies were exercise and TaeKwon Do both practising & teaching.

Constraints pre illness: Recurring throat problems

Abilities with illness: Managed to take my children to school & pick them up & that was my day!

Question 1: When did it start? Probably had been creeping up for a while.

Question 2: How was it diagnosed? By the M.E lead clinician, April 08

Question 3: How did I feel then? Gutted...was this the end of my life? It would appear so, as everything I researched was total doom & gloom, a future of being bed ridden, in a wheelchair and relying on other people....argh!

I wasn't ready to give up just yet. I attended support groups which I found unhelpful. I used the M.E management course provided by the PCT, useful to a degree but pacing was not appropriate for a person like me who is easily frustrated, but at least it got me back to work. I started on just 3 hours a week in November 08 and by April 09 I was able to do 11hours. I then plateau. I was stuck with accepting my life was going to be like this, pace, plan, sleep and rest etc.

Back in December I went along to the support group as they had a guest speaker discussing the Lightning Process. I was already intrigued by the process as a colleague at work had made a successful recovery from M.E.

I took my boyfriend with me for support and to listen as my memory and concentration skills were pretty poor. After listening to the speaker I was hopeful as he was proof you can get better.

April 09 after realising I was at a standstill I knew I was ready to attend a seminar and to be well again.

May 1st to 3rd 09 I experienced the Lightning Process. The most positive three days I had for over 12 months.

Abilities post process: I have now reinstated my gym membership and enjoying participating in ‘body combat classes, spinning classes and using the gym. I have just returned from a hectic week at Disney in Florida with my girls doing parks every day. I work my contracted 16hours per week and have done since finishing the seminar on the Sunday. I no longer take medication and have no crazy allergies. I am totally living the life that I loved before...RESULT!  

I can only encourage people to experience this process and know that these new skills are transferable in all aspects of my life.