Crossed Grain Magazine, Coeliac UK, Summer 2002
Heather Stott's determination to find the answers is well documented in this interesting and stimulating book.
Inside Story, Allergy Magazine, July 2002
Heather's tale is a vivid illustration and makes inspiring and salutary reading.
Hull Daily Mail, July 1, 2002
A book about Heather's experiences to inspire other people faced with a similar situation.
Stockport Express, August 21, 2002
Courageous Heather is enjoying the best twelve months of her life after successfully battling debilitating illnesses.
InterAction - Magazine for Action for M.E. October 2002
A comprehensive summary of what was found helpful concludes this inspiring read of one woman's painful journey towards recovery.
Book Description
"Active Again" is about chronic fatigue, coeliac disease, multiple allergies and severe nuritional deficiencies which were all interlinked.
Do not give up after a diagnosis of CFS/ME. Chronic fatigue is merely a label for a set of unexplained symptoms. Recovery means identifying the underlying causes.
I was a 48 year old housewife who was very active and extremely fit before being struck down suddenly with severe weakness in my muscles. I became housebound with prolonged periods of bedrest. Sometimes my weakness was so extreme that I was unable to move a finger or even my eyes. I had the usual symptoms that are associated with chronic fatigue.
This is the story of how after eight years I regained full health despite the negative attitude of the doctors I consulted.
In my case the causes of my chronic fatigue were interlinked in a vicious circle which has been very difficult to untangle.
For the past three years I have been on medical treatment for each of the causes. The improvement in my strength has been phenomenal.
I now enjoy an acive life. I hope that this book may help others to do the same.
Do not give up after a diagnosis of CFS/ME. Chronic fatigue is merely a label for a set of unexplained symptoms. Recovery means identifying the underlying causes.
I was a 48 year old housewife who was very active and extremely fit before being struck down suddenly with severe weakness in my muscles. I became housebound with prolonged periods of bedrest. Sometimes my weakness was so extreme that I was unable to move a finger or even my eyes. I had the usual symptoms that are associated with chronic fatigue.
This is the story of how after eight years I regained full health despite the negative attitude of the doctors I consulted.
In my case the causes of my chronic fatigue were interlinked in a vicious circle which has been very difficult to untangle.
For the past three years I have been on medical treatment for each of the causes. The improvement in my strength has been phenomenal.
I now enjoy an acive life. I hope that this book may help others to do the same.
From the Publisher
Heather Stott's book "Active Again" is a vivid account of how, suffering with multiple symptoms, she became disillusioned with the medical profession and how she was determined to take matters into her own hands so that she could regain her independence and her active life.
Only through her perseverance did she find that she was trapped in a vicious circle of coeliac disease, allergies and nutritional deficiencies, and could then start to unravel the circle.
Only through her perseverance did she find that she was trapped in a vicious circle of coeliac disease, allergies and nutritional deficiencies, and could then start to unravel the circle.
From the Author
I wrote "Active Again" because I realised that there are so many people who cannot find out what is causing their ill-health. It is easy to spend a lot of money and to go round in circles. From the comments I have had from people who have bought "Active Again" I was correct.
I did not necessarily accept the doctors diagnosis and I was determined that I was not going to spend the rest of my life lying down. It was obvious that the doctors did not believe everything I was telling them.
I did not necessarily accept the doctors diagnosis and I was determined that I was not going to spend the rest of my life lying down. It was obvious that the doctors did not believe everything I was telling them.
As my case has been exceedingly complicated there are lots of ideas in my book.
About the Author
I was an independent, outgoing, lively person who led a busy, active life. I enjoyed travelling, walking and caravanning with my husband. I always liked to be busy, preferably outside in the fresh air.
To have all this taken away from me at the age of 48 and to have to spend 6 years indoors, too weak to walk or even to talk to my friends on the 'phone, was totally devastating. Having to rely on Colin (my husband) to do the shopping, cleaning, cooking, and laundry made me realise how I had lost my independence.
Even though we have a lovely garden lying inside looking through the window did not compare with pottering about in it.
Our 3 granchildren live 2 hours drive away so we missed all the development they made during this period.
My ill-health also meant that Colin's life changed dramatically.
We decided that we would have to take matters into our own hands if we were ever going to enjoy all our favourite activities again.
This we did and now that I am on treatment for all my problems I now lead an active life again and we have been catching up on the travelling,walking and caravanning.
To have all this taken away from me at the age of 48 and to have to spend 6 years indoors, too weak to walk or even to talk to my friends on the 'phone, was totally devastating. Having to rely on Colin (my husband) to do the shopping, cleaning, cooking, and laundry made me realise how I had lost my independence.
Even though we have a lovely garden lying inside looking through the window did not compare with pottering about in it.
Our 3 granchildren live 2 hours drive away so we missed all the development they made during this period.
My ill-health also meant that Colin's life changed dramatically.
We decided that we would have to take matters into our own hands if we were ever going to enjoy all our favourite activities again.
This we did and now that I am on treatment for all my problems I now lead an active life again and we have been catching up on the travelling,walking and caravanning.
Excerpted from Active Again by . Copyright © 2002. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Originally I was struck down by extreme weakness in my thigh muscles which then spread to several of my other muscles. Also I had severe, frequently excruciating, muscle pains and twitchings all over the body.
I completely lost my sense of taste and smell and became extremely sensitive to noise and cold, and later to the computer, microwave and telephone. My brain wouldn't function, I couldn't concentrate. In addition I developed aches and pains in my fingers, knees and knuckles.
At times I have put on as much as two stones in weight as a result of fluid retention. I have also experienced bowel disturbances, loss of balance, different sorts of rashes, sore tongue, dry prickly eyes, tinnitus, earache, shocks on the scalp and arms, allergies, bloating , dry lips, eczema, a persitent dry cough, numbness and tingling, diabetes, hypoglycaemia, an abnormal heart rhythm and candida.
I completely lost my sense of taste and smell and became extremely sensitive to noise and cold, and later to the computer, microwave and telephone. My brain wouldn't function, I couldn't concentrate. In addition I developed aches and pains in my fingers, knees and knuckles.
At times I have put on as much as two stones in weight as a result of fluid retention. I have also experienced bowel disturbances, loss of balance, different sorts of rashes, sore tongue, dry prickly eyes, tinnitus, earache, shocks on the scalp and arms, allergies, bloating , dry lips, eczema, a persitent dry cough, numbness and tingling, diabetes, hypoglycaemia, an abnormal heart rhythm and candida.
