Chronic Fatigue & ME/CFS: A Practical Guide for Patients
Drummartin Clinic | Functional & Integrative Medicine
Fatigue affects people in countless ways. For some, it appears suddenly after an infection or period of stress; for others, it is an unwelcome lifelong companion that worsens over time.
Whether the fatigue exists alone or alongside conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, asthma, or long COVID, the most important thing to know is this:
Fatigue always has a cause — and with the right, thoughtful approach, most people can improve significantly.
I have been practising medicine for nearly 46 years, and I still spend most of my time treating chronic fatigue, ME/CFS, and complex multi-system illness. I have seen people of all ages — from young children to people in their 80s — recover quality of life they thought was lost. There are no miracle cures, but there are solutions.
The Reality: No Magic Bullets — But Real Progress Is Achievable
You will see countless “miraculous cures” online. These are unhelpful. Recovery requires rebuilding the body’s biochemistry, and that process takes time. A realistic expectation is 6–16 months, with visits every 4–6 weeks.
Many patients feel improvements within the first few months, but nothing is guaranteed.
If miracles are what you want, Lourdes is that direction.
If progress, stability and a thoughtful plan are what you want, then that’s what we work on together.
The Question That Matters Most
The key question throughout assessment and treatment is simple:
“WHY has this person developed fatigue?”
The label — ME, post-viral fatigue, fibromyalgia, unexplained fatigue — is less important than uncovering the root causes. Too often, patients are told “nothing can be done.” This is not correct.
I often see symptoms blamed on an existing diagnosis when, in reality, both the fatigue and the diagnosis may share the same underlying causes — and both can improve with the right approach.
Who Does Well? Who Struggles?
Patients who generally improve strongly
- People who maintain some structure in life, even when exhausted.
- Adults who are motivated and consistent with treatment.
- Those willing to follow a structured, layered programme.
Patients who require a more cautious prognosis
- Individuals largely confined to bed or housebound.
- Teenagers or young adults who struggle with consistency.
- Men who attend reluctantly because a partner insisted — motivation matters.
The person must want to participate. Otherwise, treatment is not worthwhile.
Understanding Chronic Fatigue: What We Look For
Every new patient’s medical history is a detective story. Key contributors include:
- Autonomic nervous system imbalance
- Trauma or prolonged stress
- Vagus nerve dysfunction
- Fungal or mould exposure
- Parasitic or bacterial infection
- Hormonal imbalances
- Post-viral syndromes
- Mast cell activation
- Low stomach acid
- Pancreatic enzyme insufficiency
- Bile acid deficiency
- Essential fatty acid imbalance
Why a Full Medical History Matters
The first consultation is 80 minutes and focuses on detailed history-taking. This helps identify:
- gastrointestinal issues (stomach acid, enzymes, bile)
- viral patterns
- trauma and nervous system dysfunction
- mast cell issues
- poor mineral absorption
- autonomic imbalance
Symptoms that appear unrelated often connect once the full history is explored.
Laboratory Testing
Testing begins with standard blood screens and then expands to include:
- mould and biotoxin testing
- bacterial toxins
- heavy metals
- environmental chemical exposure
- histamine and mast cell markers
- essential fatty acids
- food intolerances
This approach consistently produces actionable findings.
Treatment Overview
1. Prioritising the Gut & Immune System
Since 70% of the immune system lives in the gut, this is always step one. We address:
- low stomach acid
- pancreatic enzyme deficiency
- bile insufficiency
- magnesium and mineral deficiencies
Patients return within 1–2 weeks so we can begin treatment immediately.
2. Nervous System Regulation
Chronic illness often disrupts:
- vagus nerve signalling
- sympathetic/parasympathetic balance
- limbic system patterns
Supporting nervous system regulation helps immune recovery.
3. IV Therapies & Ozone — Powerful, But Only Within a Plan
Offered therapies include:
- Myers’ cocktail IV infusions
- Glutathione
- Phosphatidylcholine (Patricia Kane protocol)
- Ozone therapy
These can accelerate progress when used thoughtfully. They are not stand-alone cures.
Consultation Structure
Consultation 1 (80 min)
Detailed history, pattern recognition, biochemical and immune assessment.
Consultation 2 (approx. 60 min)
- Begin gut and immune treatment
- Start nervous system support
- Discuss IV therapies or ozone
Consultation 3
- Review lab results
- Adjust treatment
- Assess early response
Ongoing Care (every 4–8 weeks)
Treatment is refined continually as deeper layers emerge.
Final Thoughts
There is no single cure for ME/CFS or chronic fatigue — but there are pathways to improvement.
The goal is simple: identify what has gone wrong, correct it layer by layer, and restore the body’s ability to function.
With persistence and structured guidance, many patients — even those unwell for decades — can move toward real recovery.