Always Tired: How I Overcame Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

How I Overcame Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chantal Smedts was a happy woman: a good marriage, a beautiful daughter, a nice house and nice friends. But she also had a busy professional life. Together with her husband she had built up a successful chain of hairdressing salons. Chantal was in the prime of her life.
Until this hectic existence suddenly became too much for her and she collapsed, completely exhausted. The diagnosis sounded like a death sentence: she suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Her world changed drastically, because Chantal always felt exhausted, was in pain and had to rest constantly. But she did not give up. Thanks to intensive medical treatment and the unconditional support of those around her, she was able to climb out of the deep valley. In the meantime, she fought against the prejudice that CFS is nothing more than a cover for laziness.
Her years of suffering are almost over. With renewed vitality she has started her second life. Chantal now lives more calmly and remains vigilant. Because she has learned an elementary, but far too often neglected life lesson: listen to your body, before it is too late.
Chantal Smedts (1967) is one of the approximately fifty thousand people in this country who suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome. She wrote this book because she wants to share her experiences with other CFS patients and their environment. She also wants to warn about a disease that can affect anyone, especially middle-aged women.