This program truly saved my life. After years of being sick and completely unable to leave the bed for a time, Toby and his team guided me on the path to true healing and health. They guide people with and illness that is called incurable to true healing from the reintegration of the mind, body and spirit. My deep gratitude for Toby and his team for giving me my life and joy back!!
~Tara P.
It's been really valuable. I've learnt a lot, never heard About baseline before. I've been inspired and motivated to start working on sleep and nutrition. The group calls and videos give me so much hope and the workshop was a brilliant way to feel more confident about that joining the mentorship program is the right thing to do for me. When I hear Toby's voice I smile and feel more safe and relaxed.
~ Hanne
When I joined the CFS Health program my health was at its worst with a baseline of 30% health, with crashes that would leave me housebound for days. The program was ground-breaking for me as it gave me a thorough understanding of the illness and it provided the appropriate tools required for me to put into steps, in order to heal. Now I'm fully recovered (and the most healthiest I've ever been in my whole life), post recovery I have ran two 42K.M marathons (under 4 hours), I can work 5 days a week as a school teacher, and play Aussie Rules Football and Cricket. Life is good!! Don't hesitate, join the program now!!
~ Chris
I was in year 12, I'd just started year 12, so I was 17. And yeah, I got sick with a cold, which when you're 17 and you're invincible, like whatever. So I kept studying, kept going to 18th's, just kept living life. And then that kind of turned into the flu, which turned into laryngitis, which never really went away. So I just kept pushing myself.
At that point in my life I had no reason not to, like, I completely thought I was invincible, and really just completely ignored my body, and just totally drove myself into the ground, and ended up not finishing year 12. It was quite an amazing turnaround. So like I first got sick in April of my final year of school, and by October exams, I couldn't really get off the couch. I could barely talk, I couldn't wash my own hair. To get from my bedroom to the couch, which was what I would do every day, that was the activity, there was nothing more. So in those six months I went from living a full and rich life to literally being couch bound and not being able to finish school, not being able to go to 18th's, like drive around with everyone, go on holidays after finishing. So that was, yeah, it was a really sad time in life to miss out on. I was just like a type A perfectionist, like high, high, high, high achiever, like, it has to be the best basically.
It puts a huge strain on the family. They live it with you, and they're the only ones that really see it, because when you do go out and you engage with the world and with friends, you're your best version, and it's maybe an hour of 24 hours. So they're really the only ones that see you raw. And every single family member, I have two sisters, every single family member lived it with me and played a different role. And it was sometimes really sad and really hard, and sometimes really frustrating and angry.
Your life's going to continue on whether or not you partake. Like, you've got nothing to lose by stepping in and actually taking some control back and giving it a go. But I really believe in the program, and, it's the only thing that worked for me, so, yeah, there's just nothing to lose.
It's a combination of things, like right time in my life that you came in, but I really believe in CFS Health’s approach, and Toby has been through chronic fatigue syndrome. Like you're not guessing, you actually understand the journey and everything that comes with it. I believe in it and I am thankful for your Program.
~Carly 32 years old - Australia
Before becoming sick, I was very active. I had been a public school teacher a few years prior to and while homeschooling my own two children. While homeschooling, we traveled to over 140 National Parks, Monuments and Sites of the 50 states of our nation (USA) as well as Canada. I started a couple La Leche League groups and trained leaders for breastfeeding moms in Stockton, volunteered with a prison ministry, started a hiking Meetup in our county now; organized and led over 300 hikes, sat on a few various boards, coached soccer and swimming, had been a missionary in Mexico, was trained as a Bowen Therapist as well as a lactation counselor, and was an athlete. I had swam the Escape from Alcatraz race, hiked the John Muir Trail, and was working my way through hiking/climbing the 14,000+ ft mountains in California. People would label me as a Type A personality. I was extremely empathetic and wanted to help wherever I saw a need. I was a people pleaser, and often felt I wasn't doing enough.
My body was having issues for a decade prior to this interaction (swollen lymph nodes, heart palpitations, twitching eye, "vomit days" where I couldn't move or I'd vomit... numerous tests had been done but showed nothing), but afterwards, I could barely function. I was bed/home bound. I couldn't take but a handful of steps without collapsing. I could not digest solid foods for a month. The pain was so intense a few times, that I would curl up in a fetal position, grab my head, slur any words I tried to speak, and wish death would come. I felt like my organs were shutting down. I needed to be in a dark, quiet room and no longer could read or communicate more than a few sentences with my teenage children, husband, family or a few special friends. Foggy brain was an issue. Being too tired to sleep was also an issue. Some days were better and I could move to a sofa with sunglasses on. Rarely did I leave the house. Curling up into a ball on the cement walkway, floor of an elevator, or within the door of a doctor's office would normally be very embarrassing and "dramatic," but there came a point where I just didn't care. Not because I wanted attention (please don't see me weak), but because I just didn't have the energy to care.
My family moved out of a valley and onto a mountain. We thought I would die within the year, so we were willing to try the move. I was able to be seen and diagnosed by Stanford's Chronic Fatigue and Infectious Disease Clinic, as well as a homeopath in my home town. There was very little hope as my homeopath told me I would never hike again, and my Stanford doctor asked if I needed his help getting on disability.
It was a dark, painful time.
Upon joining I found hope, validation, and guidance. Hope is the foundation of recovering. Having a community of hundreds of like minded people rooting each other on is huge! Joining CFS Health was the kickstart I needed for recovery to happen.
The Love, Guidance, Support, Accountability, Accessibility (can listen to and participate when well enough) was great for me.
I can eat most foods without any issue. This is huge for me!!! There are certain foods I continue to limit because I feel they're not healthy for anyone to eat. I no longer need to wear sunglasses inside anymore, and sounds don't bother me nearly like they did (my family no longer needs to wear earbuds, and multiple things can be going on without causing pain). My memory of words and conversations has returned and I don't have a foggy brain. I can move, drive, dance and run without PEM. I still get normal tired when I overdo things. I am aware of the need to create healthy boundaries, and I aware of what can happen if I don't.
I am not only hiking, but after recovering, I started climbing, kayaking and paddle boarding.
I am able to mountaineer again, and finished the list of 14K+ ft. peaks in California. I am able to adventure with my children again, and helped them navigate the transition from being a teenager to becoming an adult. We traveled as a family to Mexico, South Africa, Italy, Montenegro and Greece to celebrate my son and then daughter's high school graduations. I had no issues other than normal jet lag and irritation of long flights. I became involved with my daughter's Future Farmers of America chapter to the point they gave me an Honorary Chapter FFA Degree. I am able to care for myself and my family.
My son has graduated from university and now working and living in another town. My daughter is starting her last year of university in the fall and is only home for the summer. My husband can once again travel for work without any worry about how I'll survive. I am so well, we added a boxer puppy two years ago, and a vizsla puppy this October to our home (perhaps replacing the two-legged children)! During the pandemic, I have received my yoga teacher certificate, an Emergency Medical Technician certificate and a Wilderness First Responder certificate. I can read again!!! I can do puzzles and play games again too! I currently teach yoga and volunteer for our local Search and Rescue.
This year, our SAR team made me an Equipment FTO in addition to having me as a type 1 searcher. I have been on numerous searches, rescues and recoveries this year. I try to live a balanced life as much as possible. I have learned to enjoy just being, but I am living and "being" at the same time now. Being is living too. I am loving myself wherever I am. I am loving life
~Kristi
46 - Mother of 2 from USA
I was so weak, when I hit rock bottom that my legs would shiver, when I tried to walk. And so to come from that, and to be able to hike for six hours, quite incredible.
Last week, and I went for a six hour hike, I think hope was a big issue for me, because here in Norway, nobody would give you hope, because there wasn't any solution for chronic fatigue syndrome. So, I think that was the biggest thing actually, joining the program, and meeting up with others, having the same thing.
There's no doubt in my mind, anyone who is struggling needs to try it. Because it's unlike anything else I've experienced through my illness. And also, I know someone thinks about the costs, you know, it's not free. But being sick, it's not free either. So, for me it was an investment into my own health. Now I'm working again, and I can actually earn money instead of being sick for another five years. So I think that's a big point for a lot of people to invest in their own health.
I think you become another person when you get out of this illness. And, I know for myself, I want to help others to experience the same as I have. And I think a lot of us do, when we finally find the solution that we want to help others to be able to live their lives also.
~ Egil
42 - Father of 2 from Norway
Before I started the CFS Health Recovery Program, I was utterly exhausted both physically and mentally, and was sleeping 16 hours a day. My most distressing symptom was severe brain fog, which relentlessly clouded my mind with cotton wool, making it hard to communicate effectively or locate memories and knowledge. I was sensitive to light and sound, and found I couldn’t enjoy reading, listening to music, writing, watching movies or doing anything much else that one might find productive when bedridden. I found that any small increase in activity or exertion would leave me completely wiped out for days afterward, with increased aches and pains through my entire body.
The main value in the program for me, was Toby’s way of cutting through all the complexity of this illness, and simplifying everything down to the most important achievable steps that I needed to take. Everything was very structured and clear, and I knew exactly what actions were required of me and why. Once I had some structure in my days and something to focus on, my family started to notice that I was improving, and as I worked through the program I slowly but surely got better and better. It was wonderful to be able to track my progress and see that I was increasing my activity without have big set backs.
My aches and pains went away quite quickly after I started the program, and over time I realised my brain fog was finally lifting. It has been a number of years now since I recovered from CFS and most of the time I forget that it was ever part of my life. I now run my own business as a naturopath and eco makeup artist. I moved to southwest Australia, a naturally beautiful region of fairytale forests and stunning beaches which I love to get out and explore. I have a very active and cheeky 3 year old red heeler who keeps me on my toes and needs a lot of exercise every day.
The biggest measure of recovery for me was getting back into playing netball. I run the whole court as Centre and I love it. It’s a possibility I could barely imagine at the worst point of my illness. I am back in the gym and these days, I really enjoy running. I am currently writing a book, living a happy and active life, planning an overseas holiday and looking forward to experiencing all the magical possibilities my time on Earth has to offer me!
~ Amy
29 years old - Australia
Before joining the program, I had been housebound for 5 years. At my worst I was completely bedridden for 4 months. My main symptoms were extreme fatigue, brain fog, sensitivity to light, nausea, IBS, muscle and body pain. I had very little stamina. Things like trying to go for a short walk or socialising would leave me in bed for days or weeks, and those were the good days where I actually had a little energy to attempt things.
I had been to at least 10 doctors and tried many holistic therapies.
I wasn’t making progress. When I would get energy I would crash shortly after.
The program gave me structure, focus and hope. Learning to get a baseline for myself was essential and I don’t think I would have been able to figure that out on my own. The other main component was the support group.
I moved out on my own to a little beach town, full of surfing and yoga which I absolutely love! I was able to work again! I got a job selling yoga clothing a few years ago and I currently have a job doing healthcare marketing! I am traveling internationally almost every year which I was told I might not ever be able to do again. I am enjoying practicing yoga, surfing, and skiing.
This journey is one of the most challenging things to go through, but I can’t image going through life without the perspective and lessons I gained from it. Wishing boundless love and peace to all. The program was a key component to recovery. It helped me rebuild my health.
~ Erin
32 years old - USA
Before joining the CFS Health Online Recovery Program, I had been ill with CFS for 10 years, the most recent 4 of these years I had been mostly in bed. I didn’t have the energy to stand or to sit up. Light and sound were very difficult, so I spent most of my time in the dark and in silence. In addition to the fatigue and cognitive impairment, I had very bad headaches which were not relieved by pain killers. I got out of bed to bath and to eat. I didn’t see friends or family and I didn’t talk on the phone much. I was very isolated.
"Most people in my life did not believe I was sick"
In the 10 years that I had been ill, I had tried everything, multiple conventional and alternative practitioners, specialists and many remedies. I had spent over $30,000 on ‘cures’. The last treatment that I had tried had made my CFS far worse, so I was extremely hesitant to do more. Even when I received the CFS diagnosis, most people around me did not understand the physical, mental and emotional impact of my invisible illness.
A leading Australian immunologist that specialises in CFS told me to ‘hang in there.” There are so many challenges with CFS, other than the physical symptoms and the impact on my life, the loss of my self worth and misunderstanding from others were the most difficult for me. When I joined the Program, I finally had the hope and belief that I could recover and the knowledge on what to do to recover. The modules were supported with webinars, coaching with Toby and other coaches that not only truly understood the impact of the condition on my life, but had the knowledge to help me recover.
Finally, the closed member Facebook group gave me a global community of people that were experiencing the same thing, we supported and encouraged each other, and we watched each other recover. In the past 18 months my health has gone from strength to strength. I am enjoying the simple things again like being able to plan a meal, shop for ingredients and cook. I can make a date and be confident that I can keep it. I am going out for meals again, going on holidays, meeting new people and making new friends. I recently went out for NYE for the first time in 8 years. I have also commenced online study and look forward to returning to work in the future.
I enthusiastically recommend this program to everyone that I meet with CFS or fibromyalgia. For a condition where there is so little understanding and so few solutions, CFS Health was a life changer.
~ Denise
53 years old - USA
