The Journey 

Presenting Symptoms & Goals

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The client presented with a long history of ME/CFS-type symptoms, including:

• Severe fatigue with post-exertional malaise (PEM)

• Low stress tolerance and frequent energy crashes

• Brain fog, poor concentration, and visual disturbances

• Chronic digestive issues (bloating, constipation)

• Anxiety and nervous-system hyperreactivity

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Despite periods of partial improvement, the client remained vulnerable to flare-ups and was seeking stable, reliable energy and resilience, rather than short-term symptom suppression.

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Background

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Symptoms began over a decade earlier and followed a fluctuating course. Multiple stressors — including immune activation, gut dysfunction, and biochemical depletion — had accumulated over time, placing a sustained load on the nervous system and energy metabolism.

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By the time of assessment, the pattern was consistent with chronic stress physiology, impaired detoxification, and reduced cellular energy production.

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Key Testing & Clinical Insights

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Medical Symptom Questionnaire (MSQ)

• Consultation 1: 70
  (fatigue, hair loss, cognitive impairment, dizziness, anxiety, tinnitus, constipation)

• Consultation 2 (6 weeks later): 8

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Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) identified:

• A slow metabolic pattern, commonly seen in chronic exhaustion states

• Mineral imbalances are associated with low stress tolerance and poor energy regulation

• Reduced capacity for cellular energy production and detoxification

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Functional Laboratory Findings (summary):

• Evidence of mycotoxin exposure, including elevated mould-related metabolites

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• Markers consistent with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth

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• Immune activation within the gut (elevated secretory IgA)

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• Genetic patterns affecting methylation, antioxidant capacity, and detox pathways

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• Presence of Helicobacter pylori contributing to digestive and inflammatory load

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Together, these findings explained why recovery had previously stalled despite lifestyle efforts: the system lacked the biochemical and neurological capacity to stabilise energy.

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Personalised Approach: Core Areas Addressed

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Rather than chasing isolated symptoms, the focus was on system regulation and restoration across four key domains:

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1. Nervous-System Regulation

Interventions were introduced to calm threat signalling, improve autonomic balance, and restore stress resilience through daily regulation practices and structured pacing.

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2. Gut & Immune Support

The digestive environment was stabilised using targeted nutritional strategies and microbiome support to reduce immune activation and improve nutrient absorption.

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3. Detoxification & Biochemical Support

Support was provided for liver pathways, antioxidant systems, and cellular detox capacity to reduce the burden from environmental and metabolic toxins.

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4. Energy & Mitochondrial Support

Foundational nutrients were used to support mitochondrial function, mineral balance, and neurotransmitter production — critical for sustained energy rather than short bursts.

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Supplements Used (Category Overview)

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Support included combinations from the following categories:

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• Electrolytes and essential minerals

• Magnesium and mitochondrial cofactors

• B-vitamins and methylation support

• Antioxidants and glutathione support

• Gut-immune and microbiome support

• Antifungal and antimicrobial nutrients

• Liver and detoxification support

(Exact formulations and dosing were personalised and adjusted over time.)

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Biohacks & Lifestyle Interventions

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Alongside nutrition, recovery was accelerated using:

• Nervous-system retraining practices

• Breath regulation and CO₂ tolerance work

• Gentle thermal therapies

• Cold exposure within tolerance

• Structured rest-activity pacing

• Sleep optimisation and circadian support

• Grounding and environmental load reduction

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These were used strategically to increase resilience without triggering crashes.

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Results after 1 year of working together 

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• MSQ score reduced from 70 → 8

• Stable daily energy without afternoon crashes

• Clearer thinking and resolved brain fog

• Normalised digestion and bowel function

• Dramatically reduced post-exertional malaise

• Lower anxiety and improved sleep quality

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Importantly, gains were consistent and repeatable, not dependent on constant rest or avoidance.

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Takeaway

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This case highlights how ME/CFS and chronic fatigue patterns can improve rapidly when nervous-system regulation, gut-immune health, detoxification capacity, and energy metabolism are addressed together.

Rather than managing symptoms in isolation, restoring system coherence allowed the body to regain stability — and energy followed naturally.

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About Paul Foley

Paul Foley is one of the leading nutritional therapists and functional medicine practitioners working across the UK and Ireland, specialising in Auto-Immune issues, chronic fatigue, Mental Health issues, gut-immune dysfunction, and nervous-system dysregulation. His work integrates evidence-based functional testing with personalised nutrition and systems-level recovery strategies, supporting clients who have often “tried everything” without lasting results.