1. Dan Moricoli’s ME/CFS Recovery and Community Map
Dan Moricoli, now in his 70s, has achieved near-complete recovery from a severe case of ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) that began in 2006. Formerly a high-energy businessman and adventurer, Dan’s life was drastically altered when he became nearly comatose after a fishing trip, with symptoms including slurred speech, myoclonic jerks, extreme fatigue, and disrupted temperature regulation.
Key Recovery Elements:
- Medical Guidance: Dan worked closely with ME/CFS specialist Dr. Nancy Klimas. A critical turning point came when a specialized exercise test revealed the heart rate threshold at which his body switched to anaerobic metabolism—allowing him to pace his activities safely.
- Heart Rate-Based Pacing: His recovery began with an extremely gentle routine—walking five minutes twice a day, with long rest periods. Using a heart rate monitor, he ensured he never overexerted himself. Over months and years, he very gradually increased activity, eventually returning to near-normal physical function.
- Yoga and Meditation: The final stages of his recovery were aided by careful yoga and mindfulness practice. These practices helped him reconnect with his body, reduce stress, and find mental and emotional balance. He later created a website, Yoga on the Path, to help others with chronic illness incorporate similar practices.
- Mindset of Acceptance: Unlike many, Dan accepted his illness early on without resistance or bitterness. He believes this mindset helped prevent further immune system damage and contributed to his recovery.
- Online Contributions: Dan also founded the CFS Knowledge Center and ME/CFS Community, offering support and resources. His most recent project is a global ME/CFS Community Map, enabling people with ME/CFS to connect and support one another locally and globally.
Now:
At 75, Dan is about 95% recovered. He exercises regularly, works on video production, travels, and continues to pace himself when needed. He still sees ME/CFS as part of his life but lives in harmony with it.
Final Insights:
Dan considers ME/CFS one of the greatest gifts of his life, having forced him to slow down, reflect, and embrace a more balanced, mindful lifestyle. His story emphasizes the power of pacing, self-awareness, mind-body practices, and community in living with or recovering from chronic illness.
2. Kyle McNease’s Severe ME/CFS Recovery from Heavy Metal Toxicity
Kyle McNease’s recovery from ME/CFS is a harrowing and ultimately inspiring journey from the brink of death to full reintegration into life. Once an athletic Oxford student, Kyle became catastrophically ill with ME/CFS: emaciated, light-sensitive, nearly nonverbal, and plagued by infections, neurological symptoms, and multi-system dysfunction. His condition was so severe that his parents were forced to make life-or-death decisions regarding further care.
Root Causes and Diagnosis
After years of failed diagnoses, a breakthrough came from a
Colorado toxicologist who uncovered
severe heavy metal toxicity—arsenic and another rare metal—from Kyle’s rural upbringing and barn renovation exposure. Instead of excreting toxins, his body had been
storing them, leading to a cascading collapse of immune, neurological, hormonal, and detoxification systems.
He was also positive for multiple infections (EBV, CMV, HHV-6, Lyme, candida), and suffered from:
- Orthostatic intolerance
- Low blood volume
- Hormonal failure (transient Addison’s disease, low testosterone, thyroid dysfunction)
- Sleep issues
- Bell’s palsy
- Severe mitochondrial energy dysfunction
Genetic testing revealed poor detox/methylation capacity, likely exacerbating his toxic overload.
Treatment and Recovery
Kyle began a
chelation-based detox protocol with expert supervision. The initial response was extreme fatigue—nearly 24-hour sleep cycles—followed by rapid, almost miraculous recovery. Within 6 months, he was
running sprints, and by one year,
a straight-A student again.
What Helped:
- Chelation therapy (carefully supervised)
- Antiviral treatment: valacyclovir helped, acyclovir did not
- IV and oral antibiotics for bacterial infections
- Antifungals: Questran, Diflucan
- Hormonal therapies: Cortef (hydrocortisone), testosterone replacement, thyroid support
- IV fluids and electrolytes for orthostatic intolerance
- Mitochondrial support: ribose, creatine, B12, Myers cocktails
- Diet experimentation, probiotics
- Medications: Klonopin (for calming CNS), modafinil (for wakefulness), Zoloft, LDN, CBD oil
- Mind-body work: prayer, meditation, reframing suffering, visualization, structured positivity
He emphasized that each intervention had its place in stabilizing different systems and that recovery was a
multi-pronged,
personalized, and
highly monitored process.
Kyle Today
Now married with a child and an academic career, Kyle lives a full life. He runs, travels, teaches, and contributes meaningfully to both science and the ME/CFS community. While he acknowledges residual vulnerabilities (e.g., needing IV fluids during high stress), he’s functionally recovered.
Commentary
Kyle McNease’s story is a powerful case study of just how
multi-systemic,
individually varied, and
potentially recoverable ME/CFS can be in certain cases—especially when root causes like toxic exposures are identified. Several takeaways stand out:
- Recovery is possible, even from extreme states – though rare, Kyle’s return to full functionality reminds us to hold space for hope.
- ME/CFS is not one disease – Kyle’s case illustrates the danger of “siloing” patients by single-cause theories. His recovery came through addressing detoxification, infection, hormonal balance, cardiovascular instability, and mind-body integration.
- Treatment must be personalized – No one-size-fits-all. What helped Kyle (e.g., testosterone, modafinil, Klonopin) might hurt someone else. Recovery required precision and constant adjustment.
- Mindset matters – His mental strategy of scheduling negativity, watching comedy, and spiritual connection suggests psychological resilience and reframing can be healing tools alongside biomedical treatment.
- Community and advocacy are vital – Kyle credits his recovery in large part to his parents’ persistence. He also calls for a more engaged physician community and a patient community willing to explore evidence-informed treatments now, not just await cures.
Comparison: BYOM vs. Other Popular Recovery Programs in the ME/CFS Community
1. Tone and Philosophy: Compassionate vs. Prescriptive
How BYOM Aligns with the Broader ME/CFS Community
