I functioned at about 25% in the first months after coming down with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) in 1997. Improving steadily over four years, I gradually returned to the same level of health I had before becoming sick and have remained healthy now (2009) for eight years. Thinking that others might be interested in what I had done to improve, I wrote this account of my experience.

My approach to CFS was different than that taken by many people with CFS. After I learned that there was no cure for CFS and no commonly effective medical treatment, I decided to exclude medications and supplements, and instead treat my CFS using only lifestyle change, listening to my body and adapting my life to its needs. I believed my approach was safe and more likely to be effective than conventional treatments. I recognize that recovery from CFS is unusual and I acknowledge that medications can help some, even most, people with CFS. But I hope my story may be of interest, too, as an illustration of the idea that how we live with chronic illness can change its effects and even its course.

Table of Contents

          Introduction  (synopsis of story)

Part I: Getting Started

1: I’m Really Sick, Now What Do I Do? 
2: Adopting Multiple Strategies
3: Understanding My Unique Situation
4: Is Recovery a Realistic Goal?
5: Responding to Loss
6: Starting a Self-Help Program

Part II: Pacing

7: The Energy Envelope
8: Pacing
9: My Secret Weapon: Pre-Emptive Rest
10: Keeping Records
11: Experiments with Exercise
12: Minimizing Relapses

Part III: Other Challenges

13: Stress
14: Emotions
15: Support

Part IV: Concluding Thoughts

16: Recovery or Just Remission?
17: Lessons

Bruce Campbell, Ph.D., created and directs the CFIDS/Fibromyalgia Self-Help program, a non-profit organization that offers low-cost self-help courses over the Internet and other resources for people with CFS (also called CFIDS) and fibromyalgia. The group was founded in 1998 and has conducted more than 250 self-help groups. Dr. Campbell has worked professionally at Stanford University on self-help programs for chronic illness, including the Arthritis Self-Help course and the Chronic Disease Self-Management course. He is a graduate of Stanford and has a Ph.D. from the University of California.

Copyright Notice: Copyright © 2004, 2006 & 2009 by Bruce Campbell. Permission is granted to re-publish or re-post the material from this website as long as the use is non-commercial (e.g. support group newsletter), the material is used in its entirety (for example, one chapter) and the source is credited as: “Recovery from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (http://www.recoveryfromcfs.org/ ) by Bruce Campbell."

Disclaimer: The materials in this book are posted for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to substitute for medical or other professional advice. Consult your physician or other health care provider regarding your symptoms and medical needs.

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