How it went
Did it last?
- 13 of 49 said the benefit wore off (including the 6 who relapsed).
- 7 of 49 needed to keep up a treatment to stay well.
Read from what people wrote. A story that ends without a follow-up counts as lasting, so treat these as minimums.
| Outcome described | Accounts | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Full recovery | 8 | 16% |
| Near-full | 5 | 10% |
| Substantial | 16 | 33% |
| Partial | 9 | 18% |
| Relapsed | 6 | 12% |
| No benefit | 5 | 10% |
By how ill people were
| Severity at worst | How it went | n | Recovered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate | 9 | 44% | |
| Severe | 27 | 26% | |
| Very severe | 3 | 0% |
10 accounts don’t say how ill the person was.
Who published these accounts
Right-hand number: share describing a full or near-full recovery. Pages that sell something, and advocacy sites, tend to publish only the successes.
What people with flu-like symptoms tried
- TreatmentHow it wentRecoveredFaded
- Doxycycline and other antibiotics7 accounts
43% 57%
- Lightning Process5 accounts
80% 0%
- Famvir / famciclovir (Pridgen)4 accounts
0% 50%
- AHCC and medicinal mushrooms (reishi, shiitake, maitake)4 accounts
0% 25%
- Valcyte / valganciclovir3 accounts
33% 33%
- Valtrex / valacyclovir3 accounts
0% 0%
- Herbal and Chinese medicine3 accounts
0% 33%
- Meditation, yoga, breathwork3 accounts
67% 67%
- Pacing and the energy envelope3 accounts
67% 33%
Within the accounts on this page. Grey numbers rest on fewer than 10 accounts.
All 49 accounts
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On the road to recovery from Long Covid
Lauren combined nicotine patches at one-eighth of a patch daily through December with a broad daily supplement regimen, including CoQ10 100mg, Ionic Fulvic Acid 1ml three times a day, Hawthorn Leaves 5ml, and products like Adrenal Complex, Adreno Active,…
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Monoclonal antibodies article comments (Chris)
Chris is participating in a Vanderbilt clinical trial of baricitinib for long COVID, having started the drug on October 18, 2025. He reported feeling "the best I have since I got Covid," becoming functional though still limited. As of his comment he was…
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Clinical trials explore how Low-Dose Naltrexone could help people with Long COVID
Kate Herbert, a nurse with Emerge Australia, first tried low-dose naltrexone at 1.5mg daily but stopped after two weeks due to insomnia, nightmares and anxiety, then restarted at a much lower 0.25mg daily, which she has continued taking. The article does not…
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My experiences with apoptosis treatment for HHV-6b, EBV subgroup ME/CFS
Built a long-running self-treatment stack over 15 years - artemisinin, galangal and magnolia bark to unblock apoptosis, a sublingual terpene mix (pinene, beta-caryophyllene, limonene) dosed 20-60 drops, curcumin, and doxycycline for the bacterial component -…
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Candida disappearing with Calcium
Calcium citrate initially replicated Hoosierfans' success, stopping his routine sore throat and improving sleep and gut motility. After adding NAC for three months he developed foot pain and agitation, then histamine-type reactions to the calcium itself…
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Daughter's recovery details
The regimen for Celandine's daughter included daily liquorice root powder and salt in plant milk, weekly-then-tapering Perrin Technique osteopathy (including breast lymphatic massage), the POTS medications ivabradine and midodrine with salt tablets and 2…
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Success keeping EBV in check with Tagament and/or a herbal protocol
Used Tagamet against recurring mouth sores and flu-like symptoms, but wary of long-term use over dementia-risk concerns, and describes an herbal stand-in - monolaurin, olive leaf extract, oil of oregano, raw garlic, cat's claw, reishi and andrographis taken…
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Carnivore Diet Reduces Bloating
GreenEdge, who had spent the prior 2 years of a 26-year illness increasingly bed-bound, felt "totally normal" after 6 months on a carnivore diet, with better eyesight, brain function, sleep and muscle function, and managed significant physical projects…
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A farewell letter to chronic fatigue
Svein Tore Røynestad took a Lightning Process course led by Live Landmark at Easter 2021, after about six years of chronic fatigue (also referred to as ME) that began in autumn 2015. He describes low energy, flu-like feelings, restlessness and poor…
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Cusack protocol for EDS—reports from anyone trying it
Maitake mushroom, one component of the Cusack Protocol supplement regimen, was taken by a forum poster with thoracic spinal instability linked to their ME; illness duration is not stated. Within days of starting it they noticed they could stand longer and…
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Eight years of sickness is history. My son once again has a mother, my husband has a wife, and I've got a life!
Lotte attended a three-day Lightning Process course with practitioner Live Landmark, learning "basic neurology and about the functioning of the brain" and using the method several times a day, after eight years of ME/CFS requiring 12-18 hours of rest daily…
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List of ME/CFS Recovery and Improvement Stories (page 7-8 discussion)
godlovesatrier, previously almost housebound, credited the same HASD protocol (v3.2, with EGCG and a broader supplement stack) as BrightCandle for progressing to tolerating low levels of exercise, with resolution of a sore throat, neck pain,…
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Long-Term Daily mHBOT and Full Recoveries w/ Ongoing Maintenance
used_to_race combined daily hydroxychloroquine with mHBOT sessions 3-4 times a week for 45-90 minutes, plus fludrocortisone for POTS, and reported bad days becoming much less frequent, with capacity for 76-mile cycling weekends and full-time work plus…
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The best thing I have done is to say: no way will I accept my daughter will suffer
Aftur, the then-14-year-old daughter in this account, had four weeks of intravenous antibiotics, a biopath-prescribed supplement regimen taken three to four times daily, a strict no-sugar, no-carbohydrate diet, and acupuncture, before doing a 3-day Lightning…
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What changes did you notice during recovery from a diagnosed carnitine deficiency?
Daily carnitine injections titrated to 600mg/day, for a lab-confirmed severe carnitine deficiency, let her do moderate strength training and calisthenics without the post-exertional malaise that even 10 push-ups used to trigger (previously a 2-3 week…
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Selenium working for me
Three days into selenium 150mg/day plus zinc, reports a "drastic improvement in my overall energy" and shrinking of longstanding swollen lymph nodes. Posted very early in the trial, mechanism still unclear to her (she was seeking thyroid testing to…
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The Temporary ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia Recovery Stories (anesthesia case)
A 53-year-old woman with severe ME/CFS and fibromyalgia, functioning at about 15 per cent, underwent an unrelated ten-hour surgery under general anaesthesia. Her functional level jumped to roughly 70 per cent, with brain fog, flu-like feelings and…
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Jennifer Brea's Chronic Fatigue (ME/CFS) Recovering Story
Underwent spinal surgeries over several weeks to correct craniocervical instability (CCI) and tethered cord syndrome, wore a neck collar (Philadelphia or Aspen Vista) during recovery, and found the drug Mestinon (pyridostigmine) helpful for symptoms. She had…
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Much of what made me ill, was probably the expectation that I would get ill
Eilen Sor-Reime attended a Lightning Process course in Oslo in summer 2017, followed in March 2018 by Dr Bjarte Stubhaug's stress-management clinic in Fitjar, after a Fitline/cell-reset detox treatment earlier that summer; she was formally diagnosed with ME…
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Emil learnt to control his focus by himself, and then things improved very quickly
Emil did an initial three-day Lightning Process course with a private tutorial, then repeated a second course three months later as an observer, both led by Live Landmark, alongside a parent-led strategy of keeping him engaged in enjoyable activities.…
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My Brain Retraining Story
She practiced the Gupta Programme's limbic retraining for several months, including daily 20-minute breathing meditation, NLP-style hand motions, and "soften and flow" visualization. She had been severely ill with ME/CFS for about six years, housebound and…
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Plaquenil for ME/CFS: work for anybody?
Hydroxychloroquine, started at 200mg daily and increased to 200mg twice daily, was taken for about 18 months after being prescribed for an autoimmune skin condition (granuloma annulare). The person had severe ME at baseline and described the drug as…
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Starting on Valtrex --feeling die-off -- any positive stories?
On Valtrex 500mg twice daily, reports it "helped with sore throats, swollen glands" and "awful burning legs/lower spine," with the effect arriving "quite quick i.e. within a week or so." A targeted, symptom-level improvement rather than a broad recovery…
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Mestinon + Famvir - whoa!
After a severe EBV flare in February 2017 that made cardiac symptoms - low blood pressure, low heart rate, shortness of breath, "heart palpitations like mad" - much worse on top of 5 years of CFS, started Famvir (titrated up to 500mg twice daily), added…
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Going Under the Knife Does It.
Commenting on another patient's sinus surgery story, mentions her own long-running use of Pycnogenol starting in 1995 and then Grape Seed Extract for over 23 years since, for lifelong sinus and allergy problems. Illness duration and severity are not detailed…
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This Is Why I Quit Exercise Therapy
Graded exercise therapy, prescribed by an NHS specialist, started with five minutes of walking a day and increased weekly, reaching six minutes in week two and continuing upward. She had been unwell for roughly five months, with flu-like exhaustion, joint…
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I get chills for 2 weeks after a single attempt of killing gut microbes; permanent cure found: cod liver/oil or sashimi. See last post.
After years of extreme gut-microbe intolerance triggering two-week chill/flu episodes from nattokinase, probiotics, eucalyptus oil and charcoal-based antimicrobials, she reported that ultra-dilute sauerkraut sap gave her "more good than bad effects" for the…
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My experience with Mickel Therapy
After 14 years of fluctuating moderate-to-severe ME/CFS (good years able to just manage groceries, bad stretches struggling to move around the apartment), did Mickel Therapy and went, in her words, from "15% to 75% plus functioning": no more flu-like…
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The Flu That Never Ends Finally Does for Heather
Followed Dr. Lerner's antiviral treatment protocol for ME/CFS, described by the site as returning her to health after a long flu-like illness that would not resolve. Specific dosing, illness duration and severity are not given in the excerpt available on the…
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A Decades Long Struggle with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Ends
Kate, a high school teacher, developed a persistent flu-like illness in 1987 that left her severely disabled for 25 years with fevers, chills, muscle and joint pain and memory problems. Dr Lerner diagnosed an active HHV-6 infection and prescribed high-dose…
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Recovering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia: The Lerner Way
Janet went from a 1 to a 7-8 out of 10 on Dr. Lerner's functional scale on Valtrex, starting at three pills a day and reducing to two after 11 years. The gain requires ongoing maintenance dosing: dropping to a lower dose brings back headache, swollen glands…
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Fearing Death Was at Hand, Fred Finds an Answer
Fred, a university professor, became severely ill with an acute flu-like onset in 1991 and was homebound by 2006. Valcyte under Dr Lerner's protocol brought him to about 75% functioning within six months, letting him socialise, travel and do home…
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Mayo Protocol plus Venofer Iron Infusion Helps Teenager Recover
A teenager named Jack developed ME/CFS and POTS with an acute flu-like onset and was mostly homebound for about 20 months, as told by his father. Mayo Clinic's POTS rehabilitation protocol, Venofer iron infusions for low ferritin, midodrine, salt and water…
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Low Glycemic Diet Eventually Does it For Former Runner
Chris, a competitive runner, became severely ill after a trip abroad and a flu-like illness in 1977 and was eventually reduced to part-time work. Over about twelve years on a low-glycemic diet with sugar eliminated, he reached what he calls 99% cured and…
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Diet makes the biggest difference for Alexandra
Combined Dr. Teitelbaum's protocol and adrenal/thyroid hormone supplementation with a major diet change away from a long-time low-fat diet, plus stress reduction and mindfulness work on stress-inducing thoughts. Had been ill with ME/CFS for seven years after…
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Cavitations and Root Canals
ERROL_FARNHAMSURREY had suffered 25-30 years of phantom tooth pain, ear/sinus/eye pain and chronic flu-like drainage before a maxillofacial surgeon found and removed a 2.5cm necrotic jawbone cavitation in June 2015. Within 5-10 days of surgery his…
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Louise Finds One Thing That Turns Life Around
Louise, who had a prior history of anxiety and depression, developed post-viral fatigue after stress-induced poor sleep escalated into flu-like symptoms, severe muscle and joint pain and a sore throat that left her unable to work. Amitriptyline, rest,…
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Doing So Well On Modified Cowden Protocol
Nineteen years after a suspected tick bite left her unable to walk more than 10-20 minutes, a UK woman in her late 60s started a modified Cowden herbal protocol (Banderol/Cumanda, Andrographis 4/day, Japanese Knotweed 12/day for about three months, teasel…
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Could AHCC make me feel worse?
AHCC supplement (ReishiMax brand), started about two days before posting. She describes herself as severely ill with ME/CFS, bedridden 24/7. Over the two days on AHCC her functioning declined further, with increased immune symptoms including a sore throat.…
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Thirteen years after occupational exposure - Doug is well
Doug developed ME/CFS after occupational exposure to a waterlogged building around 1996-2000, with constant flu-like illness, fever, joint pain and IBS, relapsing three or four times a year during a long partial-recovery phase. Over about thirteen years he…
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2 Months Into Valtrex Treatment
With high EBV titers causing ongoing flu-like symptoms, took Valtrex 1g twice daily for about two months and reported "significant relief of symptoms/pain." The thread ends there without follow-up on whether the improvement was sustained.
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Feeling generally better
Thirty years after a mono-triggered onset that left her housebound, unable to drive or cook, with severe vertigo and depression, she layered years of high-dose Famvir and Acyclovir and about two years of Mycoplasma antibiotics with, more recently, roughly…
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Trying Valcyte Again, So Far So Good
niall improved roughly 30% on Ampligen but relapsed about three months after stopping, developing a cough, sore throat and fatigue alongside reactivated HHV-6 and Coxsackie virus. He attributed the relapse partly to under-dosed post-Ampligen antiviral…
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GOOD things happening!! Am I a responder???
Ill 35 years and largely confined to the couch in a fetal position with severe pain, she had two Rituximab infusions two weeks apart (of a planned eight) and initially became "vertical a LOT more," with flu-like symptoms down 80%+ and able to dine out,…
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My experience on Famvir
Relapsed with CFS in October 2010 after three months of stress, then started Famvir 250mg twice daily (briefly upped to 500mg twice daily for 5-7 days) combined with Cycloferon; within two to three weeks felt "substantially better," with milder headaches and…
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Tagamet (cimetidine) for CFIDS (worked for me)
After a severe four-month relapse with fevers, shingles and swollen glands, faith.hope.love reports being "90% recovered" on cimetidine about a month into treatment, functional enough to return to work, with her recurrent shingles not returning and the other…
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Learning to Fly Again
Kelvin Lord, "barely able to walk" at the start, took twice-weekly Ampligen infusions for a full year with perfect compliance, enduring about six months of flu-like side effects (tremors, diarrhea, vision loss, depression). He reached roughly 70%…
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Gcmaf-reactions and side effects
Started GcMAF at 1/4 dose IV, then switched to subcutaneous; developed intense lower-back burning/pain about 5-6 days after the first injection, plus sore throat and new light sensitivity. Stopped after 7 injections when insomnia developed, and slept…
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Karen Burns's Client Story
Credits brain retraining, CBT or psychological work and diet. Karen was ill 14y with moderate ME/CFS and reports a substantial improvement. Cyclic flu-like crashes since 2005; now cycles 800km+.