I caught Covid in December 2020 while working as a nurse in Canada and was diagnosed with Long Covid a few months after. It is thought that I likely had an autoimmune response to Covid that caused small fibre neuropathy and the onset of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). Before finding Mel’s program in February 2023 I spent a little over two years dealing with debilitating post-exertional malaise that would leave me bedbound and unable to move after doing the slightest activity. I had brain fog and cognitive fatigue. I was not able to work, drive, do significant amounts of stairs, sit upright in a chair for more than an hour, and walk for extended periods. At my very best level of function I was still largely housebound. My physiotherapist two months before had said there was nothing else they could do for me as my progress was very slow. I was told I would just have to continue to practice pacing and conserve energy wherever possible. It was also seen as very unlikely that I would ever be able to make it back to a job like nursing that had high physical and cognitive demands.

The Switch was the final piece of the puzzle I needed to get my body out of the stress response and back to life! Before The Switch my limbs on my best days felt like I had 15 pound weights on each one. The first week of the program I felt tingling in my legs and spine. Shortly after the weighted feeling in my limbs was gone and has not come back! I do still have POTS related to neuropathy but it is now well managed, I can exercise again without issue, have no more post-exertional malaise, and my cognitive function assessments have been shown to be above average/back to my pre-Covid levels! I’m back to driving, hiking, and regular physical exercise. I have no physical or cognitive restrictions on my life and am also back to nursing with no accommodations needed! After years of trying everything Mel’s course was what I needed to finally get my body out of the “fight or flight” response and bring it back into balance. I’ll be forever grateful to Mel for this program!