Thank you for this post, Amber. I have probably told you this, but three years ago, toward the beginning of my LC and ME/CFS journey, my infectious disease doc - a longtime ME specialist - asked me if I had a history of migraines and/or endometriosis. A big yes to both - twice yearly migraines with aura from age 16-35, chronic migraines from 35-43, and severe endometriosis which I had surgery for at age 30 and which contributed to my infertility. She said there’s a connection. So the top specialists all know this and now we do too. Since ME is considered a neuroimmune disease, the migraine connection seems quite likely. The endometriosis seems more hormone related and connected to why women are more affected than men. But they all could be connected by the hormonal and immune differences (women’s immune systems are stronger than men’s, which could explain why they go extra haywire sometimes after a viral infection).
It’s been at the back of my mind to share a full post on this for a while (but I haven’t yet found the words to articulate what I want to say, sure they’ll come at some point).
Essentially, working with Dave helped me meet needs that I had. Support being a major one, someone investing their time in me being another. His space holding skills are impeccable. He never once told me what to do, what was/wasn’t possible (my beliefs around my health and ability to heal are pretty out there). In the early days, I felt that he must know all about chronic illness because he never shared any of the opinions I’d heard from everyone else (including medical opinion) that didn’t match up to my lived experience.
I’ve come to realise it’s not so much what we do or that others should follow suit and also do yoga 1-2 times a week and have monthly bodywork for example. I see it now that it’s more about identifying what needs you have and putting in place measures to meet the needs that you have if that makes sense?
Working with Dave in the way that I have has helped me meet many unmet needs that I had in the current day that day, had from childhood and also opened doors to healing that I never knew existed.
Healing childhood trauma, ancestral trauma, learning to regulate my nervous system, relearning nostril breathing and generally being someone who could show me unconditional love when I couldn’t do that myself (and slowly over a long period of time I’ve learned to show unconditional love to myself). All without judgment, advice giving or placing any limitations on me at all. Holding space for all of me, all parts of me including those I used to deem unlovable, too emotional, shamed, hurt and traumatised etc.
Working with Dave has also many times helped me meet needs that I didn’t even know I had - like learning to relax, grounding and centring and many more.
I got a fair way without his support (broke the chronic pain cycle, got on the path of rebalancing my hormones), and I would have continued to do so. But I do not believe I would have got quite as far as I have now without it. Not with a pandemic, 3 health relapses and a few dark nights of the soul.
Is there anything more you’d like me to expand upon or share?
This is incredible I am thinking about reaching out. But can I ask one more question? Does he himself have experience on personal level with this sort of thing. I have found great coaches but not to be judgemental, sometimes Ive found that I need a bit more of experience to connect.
Personal experience of chronic illness and healing trauma/down-regulating his nervous system etc do you mean? He’s been on an incredible journey himself.
I’ve found they’re the best people to work with for this type of deep healing, ie those who have gone the distance themselves, don’t work with too many people etc.
It really depends what’s important to you though and having a think about what your own needs are and what you’re looking for. I can recommend this guy all day long (I’ve been working with him for 5 years and plan to continue doing so), I genuinely believe he is a world-class teacher. His knowledge of the body and its systems are pretty extensive. But ultimately, he was able to help me meet needs that I have and provide the support that my health and body were desperate for.
You’re welcome. And gosh I’m so sorry to hear that you have been living with endometriosis to the point of infertility, migraine to the point of being chronic for so long and then the long Covid you are now continually adjusting your way through and recovering from. My goodness, that is a lot.
You’ve helped me see a bigger picture now with what you say about the world’s top specialists understanding that so much is connected. And now here we are too, educated and aware ourselves. Making big headway in bridging the gap between the complex and the misunderstood. I feel hopeful that together we will achieve this and awareness will be raised. Empowering more and more to educate themselves and understand they too have a much higher than a hope in hells chance of recovery.
Btw, rebalancing my hormones has been one of the biggies to add to all the other healing I’ve done (like nostril breathing, reducing inflammation, emotional regulation etc). Not sure if you’ve read this one but this is my theory on why chronic illness is so prevalent in women:
I think we should chat sometime, if you’re up for it. I’ve been in a fog of medical confusion this past year
Absolutely. Fancy a zoom next week or something? I’m free on Tuesday?
Sounds good. I’ll dm you
Thank you for this post, Amber. I have probably told you this, but three years ago, toward the beginning of my LC and ME/CFS journey, my infectious disease doc - a longtime ME specialist - asked me if I had a history of migraines and/or endometriosis. A big yes to both - twice yearly migraines with aura from age 16-35, chronic migraines from 35-43, and severe endometriosis which I had surgery for at age 30 and which contributed to my infertility. She said there’s a connection. So the top specialists all know this and now we do too. Since ME is considered a neuroimmune disease, the migraine connection seems quite likely. The endometriosis seems more hormone related and connected to why women are more affected than men. But they all could be connected by the hormonal and immune differences (women’s immune systems are stronger than men’s, which could explain why they go extra haywire sometimes after a viral infection).
Can you share about your work with Dave
It’s been at the back of my mind to share a full post on this for a while (but I haven’t yet found the words to articulate what I want to say, sure they’ll come at some point).
Essentially, working with Dave helped me meet needs that I had. Support being a major one, someone investing their time in me being another. His space holding skills are impeccable. He never once told me what to do, what was/wasn’t possible (my beliefs around my health and ability to heal are pretty out there). In the early days, I felt that he must know all about chronic illness because he never shared any of the opinions I’d heard from everyone else (including medical opinion) that didn’t match up to my lived experience.
I’ve come to realise it’s not so much what we do or that others should follow suit and also do yoga 1-2 times a week and have monthly bodywork for example. I see it now that it’s more about identifying what needs you have and putting in place measures to meet the needs that you have if that makes sense?
Working with Dave in the way that I have has helped me meet many unmet needs that I had in the current day that day, had from childhood and also opened doors to healing that I never knew existed.
Healing childhood trauma, ancestral trauma, learning to regulate my nervous system, relearning nostril breathing and generally being someone who could show me unconditional love when I couldn’t do that myself (and slowly over a long period of time I’ve learned to show unconditional love to myself). All without judgment, advice giving or placing any limitations on me at all. Holding space for all of me, all parts of me including those I used to deem unlovable, too emotional, shamed, hurt and traumatised etc.
Working with Dave has also many times helped me meet needs that I didn’t even know I had - like learning to relax, grounding and centring and many more.
I got a fair way without his support (broke the chronic pain cycle, got on the path of rebalancing my hormones), and I would have continued to do so. But I do not believe I would have got quite as far as I have now without it. Not with a pandemic, 3 health relapses and a few dark nights of the soul.
Is there anything more you’d like me to expand upon or share?
This is incredible I am thinking about reaching out. But can I ask one more question? Does he himself have experience on personal level with this sort of thing. I have found great coaches but not to be judgemental, sometimes Ive found that I need a bit more of experience to connect.
Personal experience of chronic illness and healing trauma/down-regulating his nervous system etc do you mean? He’s been on an incredible journey himself.
I’ve found they’re the best people to work with for this type of deep healing, ie those who have gone the distance themselves, don’t work with too many people etc.
It really depends what’s important to you though and having a think about what your own needs are and what you’re looking for. I can recommend this guy all day long (I’ve been working with him for 5 years and plan to continue doing so), I genuinely believe he is a world-class teacher. His knowledge of the body and its systems are pretty extensive. But ultimately, he was able to help me meet needs that I have and provide the support that my health and body were desperate for.
You’re welcome. And gosh I’m so sorry to hear that you have been living with endometriosis to the point of infertility, migraine to the point of being chronic for so long and then the long Covid you are now continually adjusting your way through and recovering from. My goodness, that is a lot.
You’ve helped me see a bigger picture now with what you say about the world’s top specialists understanding that so much is connected. And now here we are too, educated and aware ourselves. Making big headway in bridging the gap between the complex and the misunderstood. I feel hopeful that together we will achieve this and awareness will be raised. Empowering more and more to educate themselves and understand they too have a much higher than a hope in hells chance of recovery.
Btw, rebalancing my hormones has been one of the biggies to add to all the other healing I’ve done (like nostril breathing, reducing inflammation, emotional regulation etc). Not sure if you’ve read this one but this is my theory on why chronic illness is so prevalent in women:
https://open.substack.com/pub/warriorwithin/p/friday-13th-superstition-and-bad?r=1fqnxh&utm_medium=ios