A $5 pantry cure for the fatigue epidemic sweeping the U.S.
Sherry D. Martinez, was bedridden with fatigue and doctors couldn’t figure out why. But she refused to give up until she discovered the cause and restored her vitality—and now she helps others do the same
This breaks my heart,” Sherry whispered as her teen daughter, Isabella, played the role of caregiver, bringing Sherry breakfast in bed because she was once again too exhausted and achy to get up. “Bella completed the task with a smile, but I knew it was a big burden for a child. I’d been so tired that I stayed in bed all day, conserving strength in the hopes I’d have energy to stagger to the dinner table to see my family.
Barely getting by
“Six years ago, my health fell off a cliff. I’d been raking leaves in the yard one fall day and got totally run-down. I was sensitive to mold spores, which I knew could have been in the leaves, so I wasn’t surprised to end up on the couch feeling ill. Two days later when I came down with a fever, I figured it must be the flu, so I tried to sleep it off.
“When I got up to go to work after resting all weekend, Bella asked how I felt. ‘Like I should be in bed,’ I answered. But I powered through. I was the one who juggled everything— the household chores in between my commercial cleaning business. There was no time to be sick. My goal: to appear well so my loved ones wouldn’t worry.
“When the fatigue didn’t let up, I blamed stress. My husband, Albert, and I had been growing apart and it seemed our marriage was falling off the cliff too. Of course I felt awful!
“Eventually, I did go to the doctor, who diagnosed bacterial pneumonia and prescribed antibiotics. I was relieved, thinking I was on the road to recovery. But the medicine made me feel worse. Plus, I developed a skin rash, joint pain and leg swelling. Over the phone, my doctor said, ‘You don’t have to come back to see me. Just stop taking your medicine. I’ll prescribe something stronger.’
“After that, my health improved… but then worsened again. For two months straight it felt like I had the flu. Talking and walking drained me. And since finances were a concern, Bella had to help juggle my cleaning clients.
“At family gatherings, I would excuse myself and go find a bedroom so I could lie down. I felt so lonely hearing everyone talking yet not being able to participate. Whatever was happening to me seemed worse than the horror stories I had heard
about aging and menopause. Something was really wrong.
“I bounced from doctor to doctor until one day my eye doctor, after hearing about my recent misery, said, ‘Hmm, pneumonia huh? Has anyone tested you for valley fever?’ I’d heard about the condition, which is caused by fungus in soil. It was rampant in my area. The fungi can cause illness when spores are disturbed—which can happen from gardening, raking, hiking or even windstorms— and then become airborne and get inhaled. I thought back to that autumn day in the yard…the dots were beginning to connect.
Fighting back
“My blood test came back positive for valley fever and I moved into my mom’s house so she could take care of me. As I rested in her guest room, I learned all I could from online support groups. I found out most people who inhale the valley fever spore quickly recover, but since my system was weakened—by a mold allergy and stress—the infection had really taken hold in my body. And those antibiotics I took when my doctor thought I had pneumonia? Turns out they can make a fungal infection worse!
“I focused on lowering stress and feeding my immune system. I ate blueberries and cooked with fresh garlic. My mother had just started the Atkins diet so I joined her, eating lean protein and alkaline veggies—none of the starchy carbs that can feed and fuel the fungus. I also detoxed with massage and Epsom salt baths. The changes did wonders for my pain and inflammation.
“After three months, my energy started to return. The window of time when I could be productive widened to four hours, then six, then eight. Getting my days back felt like being reborn! Albert even wanted to give our relationship another try, ‘In sickness and in health, right?’ he said. He started to pamper me and cook for me. We fell back in love!
“I believe God gave me this illness because He knew I had the strength to help others. So I started the Facebook group: Valley Fever/ Fungal Recovery and Support. I give, but get a lot of love in return.
“Now I’m back to working, and best of all, Albert and I have been together for 28 years. The future is bright. I’m 51 and fabulous!”
—as told to Lisa Maxbauer