How I Recovered From Chronic Fatigue Naturally (My CFS Recovery Story)

May 14, 2025

Click here to watch the video above on Youtube (so that you can leave a comment)

Overview

Hey it’s Jeff Bangshow, and I want to share with you how I recovered from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome naturally within months, after suffering for 3 years.

Note: I suggest you watch the video version of this newsletter above, but if you're a reader, then that's what this written section is for :)

I’m going to walk you through the full story of how I went from:

being a high-performer doing well in business, health and life…
to then hitting rock bottom and being bedridden with chronic fatigue
to then recovering from chronic fatigue and getting my life back, including reconnecting with family & friends, resuming work & travel, & returning to exercise, walking 10k steps/day in just a few months.

So if you’re a high performer struggling with CFS, long COVID, or unexplained chronic fatigue, and you’re tired of toxic medications, experimental treatments, or endless hospital visits, this story is for you. I’m hoping it can give you some hope & direction in your healing journey, since recovery stories like this gave me hope that I could recover, too.

Most importantly, the message I want to get across is to you is that if I can recover, so can you.

Quick disclaimer: No, I’m not a doctor, this is NOT medical advice, just my experience. But I DO know what it’s like to have your life put on hold by chronic fatigue, and more importantly, I know how to beat it, even when some doctors say it’s incurable. So with that said, let’s get started...

Before CFS, I was a high-performer doing well in business, health & life…

For 10 years, I was a successful online business consultant - I helped thousands build their businesses, working with everyone from 9 figure entrepreneurs to everyday people looking to escape the 9-5 grind, & was featured in all the major publications.

Lifestyle-wise, during this time I traveled the world & lived to the fullest: surfing, dancing, playing music, enjoying great food, & connecting with amazing people.

Life was good, until chronic fatigue turned my life upside down.

Sept 2021: Beginning my CFS journey & feeling fatigued…

I stopped traveling full-time & setup residency in Puerto Rico…

Back then I was a healthy active person: walking 10k-20k steps a day, surfing or exercising daily, and taking my girlfriend out to dinner every night. I had total freedom and life was awesome…

But then, due to local restrictions, I was forced to get the vaccine. It triggered CFS, and my health quickly declined. It started with constant fatigue, weakness, & headaches that just wouldn’t go away. Suddenly, surfing, working out, & even simple nights out felt exhausting…

I thought to myself “Maybe I’m just stressed and tired.”

Oct 2021-Aug 2022: Dealing with digestive problems…

On top of the chronic fatigue, I began dealing with digestive problems. Constant bloating that made me look pregnant and an ever-growing list of foods I couldn’t eat…I tried everything: extreme detoxes, restrictive diets like carnivore, hiring a gut health coach, and even got a colonoscopy…

It got so bad that I needed to take an enema daily just to go to the bathroom. It was humiliating & frustrating, especially since I was eating the cleanest diet of my life by that point…

Deep down, I knew something wasn’t right.

Nov 2022: Experiencing muscle pain, stiffness & spasms…

Then one day, as I was walking back from a weekend brunch with my girlfriend, my body completely locked up.

Suddenly I became stiff, could barely move, and every muscle in my legs ached with cramps and spasms. I’d dealt with cramps before from sports, so I asked my girlfriend to run ahead and grab some salt and electrolytes. She did, and somehow, I managed to shuffle-step my way home. It was one of the scariest days of my life. I felt locked out of my body, completely out of control, with no idea what was going on…

I thought “what is happening to me?”

Dec 2022: Struggling to stand & fighting severe weakness…

Things started to spiral out of control from there...

The next day, I woke up and could barely stand. Just days earlier, I was deadlifting hundreds of pounds. Now, I could barely hold myself upright. Something was seriously wrong. For the next couple of weeks, I survived on salt, electrolytes, and IV treatments, desperately searching for answers, but we couldn’t figure out what was happening...

We began to suspect the building we were living in—a historic property in Old San Juan with old, damp walls—might have hidden mold that was making me sick. So, we made the difficult decision to leave Puerto Rico and head back to the States to focus on healing.

The plane flight back to the states was the worst flight of my life. The whole flight I was drenched in sweat, on the verge of my body locking up completely.

The one small upside? I discovered I could use meditation to manage the pain, at least temporarily.

After that, any kind of travel freaked me out. My body felt so out of control that even a five-minute car ride would leave me nauseous and dripping in sweat from anxiety.

Still, I hit a new low when I couldn’t even gather the strength to attend my girlfriend’s family’s Christmas dinner. Missing it felt humiliating and was a bad showing on my part (especially since in her father’s mind I already had 2 strikes against me: being a dude with long hair & not having a conventional 9-5 job)…

Jokes aside, it was a clear reminder of how much of my life this sickness had stolen.

Jan-Sept 2023: Battling extreme fatigue & mood swings…

For months, life felt like a rollercoaster…

Some days, I’d feel almost normal—working part-time, squeezing in a light workout, or taking Jess out on a date. Other days, I’d crash hard—plagued by mood swings, crushing fatigue, and needing multiple naps just to get through a few hours of work.

I managed to make it to my cousin’s wedding, but instead of celebrating, I sat at the table all night. I couldn’t even dance—something I’d always loved.

By then, I’d withdrawn from almost everyone. It was easier to isolate than to explain something I didn’t fully understand myself...

I WANTED to surf, travel, play music, and have fun like before, but my body just wouldn’t let me. Still, even when I couldn’t do any of the things I loved, I tried to hold onto hope.

Sept 2023-Feb 2024: Finding some relief with natural treatments…

I started working with a natural health doctor, following a strict diet, routine blood work, and taking the right supplements each month. Slowly, things improved a little…

But at best, I was functioning at 30% of my former self.

Feb 2024: Coping with dizziness, fainting & getting engaged…

I started feeling dizzy constantly, sometimes fainting without warning—it was scary sh%t…

One episode landed me in multiple hospitals for a full day of tests —scans, blood work, everything—but it all came back “normal”...

Despite the uncertainty, I pushed through. I’d been planning to propose to Jess for over a year, and I decided to go for it despite my health struggles. Seeing Jess so happy was awesome, but I wish I could’ve been at my best for such a special moment.

May 2024: Reaching 50% recovery & feeling hopeful…

By May 2024, I felt like I was finally getting better!

By the end of the month, I was feeling almost 50%... I even made it down to the beach for Memorial Day!

But little did I know that this would be the best I’d feel for the next few months…

June 2024: Regressing & becoming bedridden…

In June 2024, my health collapsed. I spent most of the month bedridden, & shuttling between ER visits, specialists & experimental treatments. They prescribed medication after medication—two or three at a time—but nothing worked…

The days blurred together: I was just lying in a dark room, in constant pain, meditating for hours just to cope, feeling a growing hatred for my body—and myself—as I spiraled further downhill.

The only silver lining was Jess. She was my rock—preparing all my meals, talking me through panic attacks, and grounding me when I felt like I was losing control.

By late June, I had my parents over for a difficult conversation to tell them where I was at, after three years of steadily getting worse. On top of the chronic fatigue, digestive problems, muscle spasms, and fainting, I now had severe nerve pain in my legs, walked with a limp, couldn’t stand for long, & couldn’t tolerate wearing shoes…

Through tears, I admitted I’d been struggling with suicidal thoughts. I promised to reach out if things got worse but confessed I felt drained—physically, emotionally, mentally.

I’d always seen myself as an optimistic person, but after years of suffering, I didn’t recognize who I had become. I was just a shell of the person I used to be.

By this point, I was experiencing all of these mysterious symptoms…

Chronic fatigue & weakness: I could barely manage a few hundred steps a day, walked with a limp, and frequently fainted…

Digestion issues: I relied on enemas just to go to the bathroom…

Chronic nerve & muscle pain: My legs and feet felt numb, and the pain never stopped. I couldn’t wear shoes anymore…
Brain fog: I felt like my IQ had dropped 100 points. I couldn’t think clearly, remember simple things, or focus on anything…
Body shakes: At best, my hands shook so badly I couldn’t write legibly. At worst, I writhed in full-body spasms of pain…
Sensory sensitivity: Screens hurt my eyes, smells triggered headaches, and I wore earplugs during the day to dull noise. I couldn’t stand being touched—even by my girlfriend…

Rapid heart rate: It felt like my nervous system was stuck in fight-or-flight mode. I couldn’t relax, no matter how hard I tried…

Insomnia: I rarely slept more than 4 hours a night…

Daily panic and anxiety attacks: These lasted hours, leaving me completely drained and feeling trapped inside my own body…
Mood swings & depression: I hated myself for getting worse each day, and I started having suicidal thoughts.

July 6, 2024: Hitting rock bottom & my breaking point…

On my birthday, July 6, 2024, I hit rock bottom. I finally opened a pamphlet on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome from one of the specialist docs I’d seen, & it painted an ugly picture. It said:

There’s no cure for CFS…
The average life expectancy for someone with CFS was just 55 years. (If true, that meant I had only 20 years left)...
There’s a 75% divorce rate for couples dealing with it (where one partner has it)...

Heavy stuff.

I told Jess she could leave if she wanted to, but with tears in her eyes, she said “I’m not going anywhere”...

Later, my parents brought over a birthday lunch for me, which was super thoughtful. I tried my best to show my appreciation, even though I was lying on the floor, too weak to stand or sit properly.

That night, Jess went above and beyond to make my birthday special despite my limitations. She made healthy treats, lit candles, hung up a birthday sign, & set up a bed in the living room so we could watch a movie together.

Even with all their kindness, I couldn’t shake how angry I felt about my situation…

I was so frustrated! I’d just lost 3 years of my life to chronic fatigue…

Even though I followed every piece of advice the medical system had to offer and wasted thousands on medications, experimental treatments, and hospital visits, nothing worked.

I went from living a life that felt full and free to being bedridden and trapped by chronic fatigue, pain, brain fog, and anxiety. My entire world had fallen apart.

I was depressed and drowning in debt from hospital bills, and I was terrified of what the future might hold. My relationships crumbled, my work stopped, and I felt trapped in a body and life I no longer recognized.

Worst of all, I felt like a failure and a burden – as a man, a partner and a son…

Because I couldn’t take care of myself, let alone anyone else.

I was haunted by the question: “What if I’m stuck like this forever?”

The thought of living like this forever felt unbearable, and almost daily, I wondered if life was still worth living…

I realized I couldn’t keep waiting for the medical system to save me…

I had to take control of my recovery.

That night, as I blew out the candles on my birthday, I made just one wish: Please, let me have my health and life back.

It struck me how true the saying is: “A healthy person has a thousand wishes, but a sick person only one.”

That wish became my turning point. I made a promise to myself: “I’m going to heal from this, or die trying. I won’t spend another birthday like this.”

July 7, 2024: Discovering There’s Hope…

The next morning, I turned to Google & Youtube. I searched things like:

How do I heal CFS…long Covid… & chronic fatigue?
How can I CURE chronic fatigue?

That’s when I found stories of people who’d done the impossible: they’d fully recovered from chronic fatigue and gotten their lives back...

Their stories gave me hope. If they could heal, so could I.

As I dug deeper, I noticed something all their success stories had in common…

A powerful, science-backed technique called brain retraining…

Unlike anything I’d tried before, brain retraining doesn’t just mask symptoms—it tackles the root cause of chronic fatigue: a glitch in how your brain & nervous system communicate.

Here’s what happens: your brain gets stuck a chronic fatigue loop. Your brain keeps sending the wrong signals to your body, tricking it into staying stuck in fight-or-flight mode. This keeps your nervous system hyperactive, which drains your energy, heightens your sensitivity, and locks you in a cycle of fatigue, pain, and stress.

Brain retraining works by rewiring your brain to stop the faulty signals…

It calms your nervous system, breaks the harmful cycle, and finally allows your body to heal.

When I realized this, everything clicked...

I wasn’t broken—my brain just needed a reset. Fix that glitch, and life could go back to normal. For the first time, the weight of being sick felt lighter. I could finally see a way out. This was the piece I was missing from my recovery.

That’s when it hit me: If I could master brain retraining, I could finally heal.

So I came up with a plan to act on this realization…

First, I decided to find a coach who specialized in brain retraining for chronic fatigue. I found someone I vibed with, and hired him…

Then, I outlined my 3-part approach to beat chronic fatigue:

I’d Rewire My Brain by calming my nervous system, removing negative patterns & using brain retraining to kickstart my body’s natural healing process…
I’d Regain My Health by using a holistic approach that optimizes recovery, nutrition & movement...
I’d Reclaim My Life by making lifestyle shifts to reintegrate into work, relationships, and hobbies without setbacks...

For the first time, I had a clear roadmap to recovery…

I was all in.

The stakes were high—If I failed, I’d stay stuck in the same cycle of pain, fatigue, and frustration, watching life pass me by. Bottom line, I had to make this work...

This was my last chance.

So I took action. I got clear on the goals I wanted to achieve in the next 3-6 months…

Mindset-wise: I wanted to feel like myself again:
Confident, free from fatigue, pain, brain fog, and anxiety, feeling energized, clear-headed and excited for the future…

Health-wise: I wanted to be strong & healthy again:
Walking 10k steps daily, working out consistently, getting off all meds, and regaining the strength & freedom to surf once more…

Lifestyle-wise: I wanted to reintegrate back into life again:
Resuming work, reconnecting with loved ones, and enjoying life.

Then I committed to following my 3-step recovery plan every day, tracking my progress weekly, and adjusting as needed. Every day was a battle, but for the first time, I had hope.

Late July 2024: Experiencing some early wins…

In just the first two weeks, I noticed some crazy changes:

Mindset-wise: I was thinking clearer, feeling less pain, eliminating anxiety attacks, and building belief in my recovery by focusing on daily actions and early progress instead of symptoms…
Health-wise: I was walking 1,000 steps daily (up from 500/day) and completing my first upper-body workout in months…
Lifestyle-wise: I was tackling light household chores like taking out the trash (which helped me start to build back my self-worth)...

Aug 2024: Starting to build momentum…

By the end of August, progress picked up speed:

Mindset-wise: I was feeling less fatigue & more optimistic and motivated with each small win
Health-wise: I was walking 4,000 steps daily, the pain in my legs drastically reduced, and I was doing 15 bodyweight squats…
Lifestyle-wise: I was enjoying home date nights with Jess again & handling part-time work, including 45-min. Zoom calls (I was so happy I could sit in a chair & look at a computer screen again)...

Sept 2024: Progressing despite setbacks…

Despite catching COVID, I stayed focused and kept progressing:

Mindset-wise: I was staying resilient through illness and building confidence with my continued progress
Health-wise: I was walking 7,000 steps daily, tapering off meds, and feeling stronger every week…
Lifestyle-wise: I was wearing jeans & shoes again & attending my first social event in months—a family dinner (this felt amazing)...

Oct 2024: Regaining health & freedom…

By October, I started feeling like myself again:

Mindset-wise: I was feeling clear-headed, with no more brain fog holding me back…
Health-wise: I was walking 9,000 steps daily, completing 30 bodyweight squats, and continuing to taper off my medication…
Lifestyle-wise: I was enjoying weekly family events, getting back in the ocean for the first time in 10 months, and watching every sunset from the beach…

Nov 2024: Thriving medication-free…

November marked a major milestone:

Mindset-wise: I was feeling proud and energized after becoming completely medication-free (this was a HUGE goal for me)…
Health-wise: I was walking 10,000 steps daily, progressing to 40 bodyweight squats & 15 calf raises (+getting muscle tone back)...
Lifestyle-wise: I was celebrating multiple Thanksgivings with family and achieving a record month in business since being back to work…

Dec 2024: Living fully again…

By the end of the year, I was living fully again:

Mindset-wise: I was embracing gratitude for my recovery, feeling excited for the future, & setting bold goals moving forward...
Health-wise: I was still walking 10,000 steps daily, working out intensely 3 times/week, completing sets of 50 bodyweight squats & getting back to surfing…
Lifestyle-wise: I was reconnecting with friends and family, taking Jess out on dates, and fully enjoying activities I hadn’t been able to do in years…

Recapping my healing journey…

As you just saw, slowly but surely, I progressed each week…

And within months my mind cleared, pain faded, and I regained the energy and freedom to live again. I had my life back! Even better, I wasn’t anxious or fearful about the future. Now, I felt relaxed and excited for it for the first time in years…

And it’s all thanks to following the 3-step system I created.

While most people take years, sometimes decades, to recover from CFS, I went from bedridden to thriving in just a few months!

2025: Turning pain into purpose…

Now I’m here to help others heal & reclaim their lives, like I did.

Chronic fatigue isn’t just a health battle; it transforms you. It strengthens your character, shifts your perspective, and deepens your gratitude for life. When you heal, you don’t just go back to who you were—you evolve into a stronger, better version of yourself.

As I healed, my purpose evolved: For the past 10 years, I found fulfillment helping people build businesses. Now, helping others overcome chronic fatigue & rebuild their health feels like my true calling…

That’s why now I’m on a mission to help 10,000 high-performers overcome chronic fatigue, regain their health & achieve total wellness, by sharing the system that gave me my life back.

Imagine this: going from bedridden to walking 10,000 steps a day, working, traveling, and reconnecting with loved ones—all in just a few short months…

Even if you’re not bedridden, but you’re struggling with chronic fatigue, pain, brain fog, or anxiety—imagine feeling like yourself again. Energized, clear-headed, and hopeful…

How much would that change your life?

I’d love to help you make that a reality.

Status on mission so far: (January-May)

I’ve spent the last few months building my CFS to Wellness™ 1-1 mentorship program to refine the 3-step system I used to overcome chronic fatigue & get my life back (it’s awesome!)
I’ve wound down my business consulting so that I can focus 100% of my energy on this mission of helping others heal.

Here’s my plan going forward: (May-onward)

The mission: help 10,000 high-performers overcome chronic fatigue.
The vision: I’ll be sharing free, actionable insights weekly through my CFS to Wellness Newsletter and YouTube videos. And for those who want personalized support, I’ll be offering 1-1 mentorship through my CFS to Wellness program.

That’s the plan, and I’d love for you to be a part of it, by helping spread the word, as a subscriber, or as a client.

And again, the message I want to leave you with is that if I can recover, so can you.

Thanks for reading and I’ll see you in the next newsletter!

-Jeff Bangshow
Your CFS To Wellness™ Mentor

P.S. Whenever you’re ready, here are 3 ways I can help you:

1.Join My CFS To Wellness Newsletter: Join and get free weekly insights to overcome chronic fatigue naturally, rebuild your health, and achieve total wellness.

2.Work With Me 1-1: Get 1-1 mentorship from me personally to overcome chronic fatigue naturally, regain your health and achieve total wellness.

3.Book Me To Speak: Want me on your podcast or at your next event? I speak about overcoming chronic fatigue naturally and achieving total wellness. Email me the details: [email protected].