Tuesday 30 November 2010

my story part 1

My name is Alastair Gibson, and in June 1999. Honeymooning with my wife, Marie, on the idyllic island paradise of Mauritius… A perfect location for a perfect holiday… but, after the first week, I started to feel increasingly unwell. I was diagnosed as having gastroenteritis, which quickly developed into hepatitis. I knew things were serious when it took 10 days to recover sufficiently to fly home. However, I was reassured by the doctor’s instruction to …”take it easy & you will be better by Christmas!”
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

On St Patrick’s Day, 17th March 2000, I was diagnosed by Dr William Weir at the Royal Free Hospital, as having Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (or more commonly ME). The main symptoms were fatigue, muscle pain, brain fog and feeling overwhelmed. Strangely, I was relieved, believing that surely in today’s advanced medical times what can be named can be cured. Why not this?

Transcendental Meditation

I was to learn, all too soon, that there is no known cure for CFS and there is little understanding of the disease, either in the medical profession or the wider public. Dr Weir had two main therapies, rest and Transcendental Meditation (which I hold in very high regard and still practice today). I was extremely fortunate that my local GP was forward-thinking enough to try both traditional and alternative therapies (including acupuncture and Vitamin B12 injections) and in providing funds for me to attend two residential courses.

Alternative medicine

From the very beginning I cast about seeking potential cures and therapies, in both traditional and alternative medicine. In addition to being a genuine search for help, I was also very consciously trying to avoid an ‘invalid mentality

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