Caitlan's 1-2 punch works with her severe ME/CFS

Diagnosis

Disease Course Over Time: In 2022, I received my Pfizer vaccine and started to feel a little fatigued. About four days later, while on vacation, I developed a stomach bug — and that’s when everything went downhill.

Before all of this, I was very active and had no prior health issues. I was working as a personal trainer and getting ready to attend PT school. I went from being extremely active to quitting my job, moving back home, and becoming bedbound.

I saw over 50 doctors in an attempt to figure out what was going on. Finally, after two years, I began to get some answers.

Symptoms: I began experiencing severe neurological and cardiovascular symptoms that seemed to develop overnight. I was extremely fatigued, both mentally and physically, and it felt like I had a massive weight on my head and body. Understanding conversations became incredibly difficult. My life felt like a big blur that was nearly impossible to comprehend.

No matter how much sleep I got, I was always exhausted. Activities like holding grocery bags created a flare up . Everything was confusing — even looking in the mirror.

It’s hard to describe unless you’ve gone through it yourself. I became extremely sensitive to light and sound, and as time went on, I developed sensitivities to nearly all foods and smells. I couldn’t even wear or be around perfumes without experiencing extreme flu-like symptoms.

My body became hypersensitive to almost everything. I had migraines. Kneeling or standing would make me pass out, and just a short, five-minute walk could send my body into a spiral.

Treatments That Made A Big Difference: Low dose naltrexone; CFS Recovery by Miguel Bautista.

Treatments That Had No Effect: I tried countless treatments — IV therapy, 80 sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, various vitamins, stem cell therapy, and many other interventions.

Present State of Health

Story: I saw over 50 doctors in an attempt to figure out what was going on. I had so many symptoms, yet I was often sent home with a prescription for antidepressants or anxiety medication.

I began learning more about the nervous system and how deeply it connects to the immune system. When you’re dealing with this kind of illness, it’s so important not to give up.

Maintaining a positive mindset and believing in your ability to heal truly makes a difference.

Words of Advice: What we believe in our minds, our bodies
will often follow. Recovery is possible and it starts with hope.

After several years Caitlan Harms finds relief with low dose naltrexone and Miguel Bautista's