My dabble into very expensive Ozone treatments that the doctors claimed would help, they didn't! They take out a ton of blood, clean it and then put it back. I was so grossed out I had to wear an eye mask so I didn't see what they were doing lol.
Lots and LOTS of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the beginning, this did seem to give me some relief the following days, but never lasted. I still went almost every week for about 6 months.
Trying high dose IV vitamin C treatments, made me feel worse. Not sure how I always had a smile on my face to be honest. I felt awful in all these photos! My amazing best friend who has always been so supportive to my right. So grateful for her!
I bought an at-home oxygen tank since the hyperbaric helped I thought this might too, so I would do it every night for 30 minutes, it didn't really do anything but there's bestie again. :)
My angel doggy, Gemma, with me every day and step of the way, always licks my tears when I cry <3
Me celebrating my 30th birthday, after major improvements and the ability to go out and socialize was possible again! I actually danced so much this night and had so much fun! One year after the first photo on the top was taken.
Me swimming and exploring Sarasota, Florida on my first trip since being ill where I flew in a plane again!!
About Zoey's Journey
In September 2023 I got sick with a nasty virus that knocked me off my feet for 3 weeks. As I began to get better, I noticed my energy stayed drastically low, despite blood tests being normal. I kept on with my life, unsure how to fix it. 6 months later, CFS/ME hit me like a truck. As many probably reading this, I had no clue what was happening. I woke up one morning and I could barely move. I felt like I had massive hangover without a sip of alcohol every single day, my body felt so weak like it was full of cement and my brain felt so incredibly swollen some days I could barely speak. Showering, cooking meals and walking my dog became nearly impossible. And the worst part? No doctor could tell me what was going on. I was eventually misdiagnosed with Lyme disease and after treatments for that made me worse... I felt incredibly lost, alone and without any hope that I would live a normal life again.
After crashing out and crying for days about there being no medical cure or treatment for ME/CFS, I fell into a very dark place. Friends and family couldn't understand. No one knew what was going on inside a body that looked perfectly normal on the outside. I felt like I had died, trapped inside my body, while I watched the world and everyone I knew continue to go on. I was heartbroken, I missed myself, my old life, my hobbies, my friends, my energy, traveling, everything. It was truly awful.
I've spent over $30K of my own money on doctors, specialists, all types of blood/urine/hormone testing, chiropractic appointments, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, Ozone treatments, different supplements, cleanses, parasite detoxing, IV treatments, and more with no help. Little did I know the medicine was within me, not outside.
One day I stumbled across someone on Instagram who claimed they healed their CFS. I messaged him and he told me about the role of nervous system and the brain in keeping our symptoms chronic. He was the small amount of hope I needed. That hope propelled me to do more research. If one person could heal, then there were others too. And that meant, there was a way out. I found YouTube channels, podcasts, books, and plenty of people who were sharing their stories, all with the same premise... the mind/body connection. So I did the work. Deeply suppressed trauma release, neuroplastic brain retraining, subconscious rewiring, nervous system regulation and lots more. And throughout the next 6 months, I went from severely ill to moderate. And in following 6 months, from moderate to mild. And now, I'm somewhere between mild and recovered.
I just passed the 2 year anniversary, it's been an incredibly difficult, exhausting, emotional and brave journey getting this far. But I can gratefully say that I have recovered so much to the point where I'm basically living a normal life again. I work, I travel, I hangout with friends, I don't have any pain, headaches, brain fog, heavy fatigue, etc. Unless I'm having PEM or a "adjustment period" I like to call it. But they are not nearly as awful as they used to be. And AP's will be around up until you're fully recovered anyways, so they don't scare me anymore.
I am truly a different person than I was two years ago. This journey has been a deeply spiritual and sacred path, one that transforms anyone who walks it. Chronic illness revealed parts of myself I never could have imagined discovering otherwise. As the saying goes, after CFS, you don’t get your old life back — you receive an entirely new one. And that is absolutely true.
I hope my words, stories, and insights can offer you guidance and encouragement on your own healing journey. There’s a saying: “May the freed help set others free.” That’s exactly why I’m here, to remind you that recovery is possible, and to inspire you to keep going, even when it feels impossible.
I know what it’s like to feel lost, scared or alone in chronic illness recovery. That's why I’ve dedicated myself to learning and growing in somatic and trauma-informed coaching. Through this, I am beginning to offer a compassionate, understanding, safe space to support others. I want to be that guiding light for someone who was in my place, with tools, insights and practices that help you move forward in your healing. If you're interested send me a message!
Sending lots of love,
Zoey Isabella
