From Couchbound to Being Active Again

Kristel's Story: Living with ME/CFS

In July 2021 I went to the doctor because I was very tired. I had trouble focusing, couldn't concentrate. A blood test showed my iron levels were really low, so I got an injection. After a few months my levels were okay. But I didn't feel okay. I even got worse.

I started having lots more symptoms. Flu-like muscle aches. A heavy feeling in my body. My brain fog really kicked in and my energy was just gone. I became very sensitive to smells, touch, and sounds.

I went to a lot of specialists. Every doctor's appointment, I hoped that somebody would say, this is your diagnosis, this is what you have, and just fix it and go on with my life. Every doctor just told me, you're fine. Everything's fine. But I wasn't lying. It wasn't normal how I was feeling.

So I kept working and kept pushing through. When I came home from work, it was working and just laying on the couch. I'd always been very active. I worked out twice a week, went swimming, and was busy with my kids and my household. I almost never sat on my couch. Now I couldn't get out of it.

When I finally had to stop working, I couldn't lift my arms. I was in a wheelchair at my worst. I couldn't stand up straight and I was dizzy all the time. I went to the hospital, and every test came back normal. I was housebound and couchbound, and bedbound for a few days at a time. Just walking in my house was exhausting.

It was hard for my kids too. They were used to a very active, creative mom. I felt really guilty. Then I discovered Miguel's content, and it really gave me hope. He explains it so well. If you understand it, you can make a little sense of it. I joined the Recovery Academy in August. At that point I couldn't walk through my house.

Five months later, I could walk for 50 minutes. That's just mindblowing to me. I started swimming again. I can play with my kids and socialize. I'm not afraid of the symptoms anymore. I learned to pace myself, I stopped overthinking and over-analyzing, and I learned not to feel guilty. I have windows of normal life again.

The Science Behind ME/CFS Recovery

In ME/CFS, 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, brain fog, muscle aches, and dizziness 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: Kristel's Recovery

Where Is Kristel Now?

Kristel has made remarkable progress through CFS Recovery's recovery system, built on nervous system retraining. Five months after joining the Recovery Academy, she walks for 50 minutes at a time, swims again, plays with her kids, and socializes with friends. She drives, does the groceries, and enjoyed a full family Christmas again. Her next goal is a trip to Lapland to see the Northern Lights. 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 ME/CFS?

Yes. Kristel is one of thousands of documented recovery wins across CFS Recovery's community. Through nervous system retraining and neuroplasticity protocols, people with ME/CFS 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 ME/CFS, 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 Kristel's condition before recovery?

Kristel was dealing with ME/CFS at a severe level. At her worst she was housebound and couchbound, couldn't lift her arms, and used a wheelchair. Read the full story above.

Where is Kristel now after CFS Recovery?

Kristel's recovery wins include walking for 50 minutes at a time, swimming again, playing with her kids, and socializing with friends. Her story is one of over 3,000 documented client wins across CFS Recovery's community.