My Journey to Wellness
By Rachel Francis
I am 32 years old and was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 18 years ago and Fibromyalgia 10 years ago. I was diagnosed my freshman year in high school after nine months of going from doctor to doctor. Something was wrong with me. I got the flu and it never went away. I was sleeping 22 out of 24 hours a day, tired the 2 hours I was awake and lost 13 pounds in 2 weeks. I was placed on homebound schooling for 10 weeks. The doctor convinced my parents that I just needed rest. My parents didn’t take that for an answer and continued to search. I tried everything my parents or I read about: royal jelly, acupuncture, massage therapy, pain medication, long courses of antibiotics, etc.
In 1996 my parents moved to Washington, DC. I found a doctor who kept up to date with the latest research from NIH. He put me on beta blockers, anti-depressants, and other meds. None of them worked. In 1997 I had a sleep study performed that showed a sleep disorder. I was put on different sleep medications. My junior year of college I had a really bad run in which I missed several weeks of class. I was passing out, losing my way on campus and unable to find my way back to my dorm, etc. I was truly blessed to be at William Jewell College (WJC) with a supportive faculty and staff who worked with me so I didn’t have to drop out. My parents were unable to afford to fly in to town. WJC flew my parents in town to be with me after I was told by the doctor that he thought I might have a brain tumor. Thankfully that wasn’t the case.
The search continued as to what was wrong this time. It turned out to be a reaction to a medication that I was on. I was determined to finish college and graduate school despite being told by those around me that I would never make it due to my illness. I’m a stubborn person and set out to prove them wrong. I have always struggled with my symptoms, some times more than others. I was determined I wasn’t going to let my symptoms rule my life. Which wasn’t always the best choice as some decisions would send me to bed for days.
After graduate school and working for two and a half years I felt God calling me to go to Moscow, Russia. My mother freaked out. The thought of me being half way around the world without my doctor whom we all trusted was more than she could handle. My parents and I met with my doctor who agreed to work with me via internet and phone in monitoring my symptoms. My doctor had learned over the years that I knew my body well. I would often walk in his office and tell him what was wrong before he examined me. More times than not I was right. He sent me over with several medications including antibiotics that he thought I might need. My two years in Russia wound up being a tremendous blessing, not only for the experience but for the lack of stress and therefore fewer symptoms. Life in Russia is so much simpler than here in the US. This helped my symptoms greatly. I found a student who was a massage therapist who worked with me on a regular basis. I slept when I needed and was able to adjust my daily responsibilities based on my symptoms. My symptoms diminished greatly as my stress diminished. The only exception to this was my migraines. My body is very sensitive to the barometric pressure. It snowed so often in the winter, which seemed to trigger my migraines.
I got married a year and half ago, gained weight and my symptoms got worse. I was having more bad days then good ones. The pain and fatigue were unbearable at times. Massage therapy and muscle relaxers weren’t doing the trick anymore. I was really frustrated because I wanted children and the thought of having children with my symptoms really scared me.
I did some searching online and found the FCI support group. I hesitated about going because my experience with Fibromyalgia/CFS support groups in the past weren’t positive. At my first FCI support group I heard for the first time that I could heal from Fibromyalgia/CFS. How wonderful that would be! I attended a few support groups and soaked in what everyone was saying, the treatments they tried, what was helpful, etc. In December after an FCI support group meeting, Phyllis Woolard strongly recommended that I go see Dr. David Beaulieu, Dr. David as he is known to his patients, who practices NAET (Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Techniques). Phyllis explained NAET (www.naet.com) to me and I have to admit I was skeptical.
I thought about going for over a month. I hesitated because it wasn’t covered by my insurance. I then remembered something I had heard at a support group meeting, “you can’t wait for your insurance to get you well.” I talked with my husband and we decided that we could afford a treatment a week but I still had questions. How did this really work, what about the yeast component, etc. I remembered that Phyllis told me Dr. David took calls free of charge on Tuesdays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. I looked up the number on his website (www.askdoctordavid.com, 816-753-4866) and called. Dr. David took time to answer all of my questions. I made an appointment for the next week. I was tested for the 18 basics and was sensitive to 14 of them.
After about a month of going once a week I started feeling better. I have now been seeing Dr. David since January 2008 and I feel so much better. My pain is gone, my energy is increasing and I haven’t had a migraine since March 2008. The last week of May, I actually woke up with no pain. It took me a moment to realize this as I stood in the shower. I didn’t remember what this felt like! The zero pain didn’t last all day but I was thankful for while it lasted. I see the change and so does my husband. After starting to feel better, I started going off my prescription medication. I am still in this process as I’m doing it very slowly but it’s working. I’m finding that my body doesn’t need all the medication that was prescribed.
Dr. David has truly helped me. I have to admit, I didn’t believe the NAET treatments would work at first. In fact, I didn’t truly believe they were working until I was treated for B Complex. Before seeing Dr. David I had a rash on the corners of my mouth that wouldn’t go away despite multiple visits to the dermatologist and multiple courses of Nystatin, to supposedly treat a yeast infection. I mentioned this to Dr. David my first visit, who told me that a reaction to B Complex can cause a rash as well. As soon as I cleared B Complex, the rash disappeared and hasn’t returned.
My only regret through my NAET experience is that waited a month to call Dr. David after Phyllis recommended him. I am not completely well but I am well on my way!
It may be that when we no longer know what to do we have come to our real work, and when we no longer know which way to go, we have begun our real journey.
… … … …
Wendell Berry
