From Bedridden to Tennis, Work, and a Trip to Australia

Ally's Story: Living with Long COVID

Before all this, I thought I was well. I'm 54, I live on the south coast of the UK, and I've worked in education most of my life. I was active, busy, and living what felt like a good and productive life. Then I got COVID at the end of November 2023, and four weeks later I still wasn't right. I was exhausted.

I went back to work in January and realized within a couple of weeks that I had to stop. I couldn't stay sitting up at my computer. I'd walk along the seafront near home and think I was going to have to lay down right there. I'd never felt that level of fatigue.

It kept building. I had breathing pattern disorder episodes that could go on for 48 hours. I had reflux I'd never had in my life before, digestive issues, vertigo, and huge adrenaline rushes. I told my doctor it felt like I was constantly on a roller coaster, that feeling where you drop out of the sky, all the time.

Eventually I was in bed for several months. I'd shower and come downstairs each day, then spend the rest of it with my eyes closed. I couldn't eat and I was losing weight. My husband was scared because nobody knew what to do. I remember crying and thinking I was completely broken. Then a kind dietician told me, "You're not broken. You're healing. You need to rest." That was my first glimmer.

By the time I found CFS Recovery in June 2024, I'd been scanned within an inch of my life and everything had been checked. A long COVID physio who'd recovered herself pointed me to it. I was cynical. But the science made sense, and it took the fear away from the virus itself. I felt I had nothing to lose, so I threw myself into it.

Within three weeks I made such a pivot. My first wins were tiny. Five minutes of walking. A little yoga. Getting out into the garden. A coffee with my family at the little place on the seafront. I even put on my tennis clothes and went to the tennis club for four minutes, just to be there. One step is still one step on the journey.

The wins kept stacking. I recorded a video of myself every month so I could see how far I'd come, and I keep a gratitude journal every night. Little by little, the life I thought I'd lost came back.

The Science Behind Long COVID Recovery

In Long COVID, the nervous system gets stuck in a chronic stress response. Research suggests the issue may be functional rather than structural. Your nervous system may be stuck in protection mode, and even normal activities can feel overwhelming. This is what keeps symptoms like fatigue, breathing pattern issues, and vertigo cycling.

Nervous system retraining uses neuroplasticity, your brain's ability to rewire itself, to help shift out of that stuck state. Instead of managing symptoms, it may address the underlying pattern. That's when real, lasting recovery starts.

Before vs. After: Ally's Recovery

Where Is Ally Now?

Today Ally plays singles tennis for an hour and a half, works three days a week, goes to the gym, and travels with her husband in their camper van. She flew from the UK to Australia to spend two weeks with her daughter, hiking and swimming. She made this progress through CFS Recovery's recovery system, built on nervous system retraining. Her story is one of over 100+ hours of filmed recovery case studies from real people sharing their real experiences. Not scripted. Not staged. Real people, on camera, in their own words.

We've helped people as young as 9 and as old as 86. People who've been dealing with this for 3 months to 50 years. People from bedridden to semi-functional and everywhere in between. Over 3,000 documented client wins across our community.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you recover from Long COVID?

Yes. Ally is one of thousands of documented recovery wins across CFS Recovery's community. Through nervous system retraining and neuroplasticity protocols, people with Long COVID have reported meaningful progress. CFS Recovery has helped people from bedridden to semi-functional and everywhere in between.

What is nervous system retraining?

Nervous system retraining uses neuroplasticity principles to help your brain and nervous system shift out of a stuck stress response. In Long COVID, the nervous system often gets locked in a protective mode after a viral trigger or prolonged stress. Retraining helps it recalibrate so your body can function normally again. It's coaching-based, not medication-based.

How severe was Ally's condition before recovery?

Ally was dealing with Long COVID at a severe level. She was bedridden for several months, experiencing symptoms like breathing pattern disorder, extreme fatigue, digestive issues, and vertigo. Read the full story above.

Where is Ally now after CFS Recovery?

Ally's recovery wins include playing singles tennis again, working three days a week, going to the gym, and traveling from the UK to Australia to see her daughter. Her story is one of over 3,000 documented client wins across CFS Recovery's community.