Fibromyalgia: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed

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Overview

Fibromyalgia affects between three and six million Americans—80 percent of whom are women—yet remains one of the most difficult conditions to identify and diagnose. In the tradition of the other titles in the First Year series, The First Year—Fibromyalgia uses a unique approach—guiding readers through their first seven days following diagnosis, then the next three weeks of their first month, and finally the next eleven months of their first year—to provide answers and advice that will help everyone newly diagnosed with fibromyalgia come to terms with their condition and the lifestyle changes that accompany it. Starting with the day of diagnosis, patient-experts Florence and Marek provide vital information about the nature of fibromyalgia, choosing the right doctors, treatment options, psychological issues, holistic alternatives, self-management strategies, illustrative charts and tables, and much more. The First Year—Fibromyalgia will be a supportive and educational resource for everyone who wants to take an active role in the management of their condition.

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Coauthor of What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia, Marek is also a medical assistant and patient who has counseled others suffering from the condition. Along with journalist Florence, she aims to help newly diagnosed patients learn about fibromyalgia and develop coping skills over a one-year time frame. Typical questions a new patient might have (e.g., how to prepare for travel, how to communicate with health professionals and employers) are addressed in a highly readable and understandable style and presented in manageable learning bites. The authors also plainly but sensitively address the genitourinary symptoms that may accompany fibromyalgia. What is especially good about this guide is that the authors' tone is not alarmist but calm and evenhanded in articulating important precautions. Individuals who have pain-related disorders with no standardized treatment and no foreseeable cure are especially vulnerable to drastic or unproven therapies, which the authors address by emphasizing that patients seek out second opinions and do credible research for themselves. This is information a patient would hope to get from a good support group but provided in a format that can be revisited as symptoms and time progress. Recommended for all popular health collections.-Lisa McCormick, Jewish Hosp. Lib., Cincinnati Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781569245217
Publisher: Da Capo Press
Publication date: 4/28/2003
Pages: 320
Sales rank: 323,572
Series: The First Year
Product dimensions: 5.98 (w) x 9.05 (h) x 1.09 (d)

	Foreword	xiii
	Introduction	xvii
Day 1
	Living: Getting the Right Doctor to Diagnose You	1
	Learning: Relaying Your Symptoms to Your Doctor	6
Day 2
	Living: What Fibromyalgia Is--And Isn't	10
	Learning: Coming to Terms with a Complex Illness	13
Day 3
	Living: Musculoskeletal Symptoms: Mapping Your Pain	20
	Learning: Taking a Closer Look at Your Pain	26
Day 4
	Living: Some of it Is in Your Head: The Central Nervous System	33
	Learning: Coping Strategies for CNS Symptoms	44
Day 5
	Living: Understanding IBS and How It Affects Your Life	57
	Learning: Strategies for Living with IBS	67
Day 6
	Living: The Pain and Shame of Genitourinary Syndrome	73
	Learning: Coping Strategies for Your Genitourinary Symptoms	81
Day 7
	Living: Dealing with All the Unanswered Questions and Symptoms of Fibromyalgia	89
	Learning: Frequently Asked Questions about Fibromyalgia	102
	First-Week Milestone	107
Week 2
	Living: Keeping Your Relationships Alive Even When You Don't Feel Well	109
	Learning: Introducing Fibromyalgia to Your World	118
Week 3
	Living: The Impact of Stress	122
	Learning: Managing and Reducing Your Stress	126
Week 4
	Living: Exercise Can Heal You	138
	Learning: Planning Your Exercise Regimen	147
	First-Month Milestone	157
Month 2
	Living: Working with Your Doctor	159
	Learning: Follow-up Appointments with Your Doctor	165
Month 3
	Living: Hypoglycemia and Fibromyalgia Can Go Hand-in-Hand	169
	Learning: What You Need to Know about the Hypoglycemic Diet	176
Month 4
	Living: Medications and Fibromyalgia: A Double-Edged Sword	185
	Learning: The Guaifenesin Protocol: A Possible Treatment Option	198
Month 5
	Living: Alternative Therapies	202
	Learning: Physical Therapies That Might Help You	213
Month 6
	Living: Putting Your Health House in Order	220
	Learning: Taking Charge of Your Overall Health	233
	Half-Year Milestone	239
Month 7
	Living: Fibromyalgia and the Workplace	241
	Learning: Housework Is Real Work, Too	256
Month 8
	Living: Juggling Fibromyalgia and Your Personal Life	260
	Learning: Tips for Guys	268
Month 9
	Living: Take a Vacation	273
	Learning: Practical Travel Advice	279
Month 10
	Living: Finding a Support Group	289
	Learning: Starting a Group That Works for You	293
Month 11
	Living: Discovering Fibromyalgia in Other Family Members	300
	Learning: Should You Worry about Your Children?	308
Month 12
	Living: Staying Up to Date with New Resources	317
	Learning: Searching the Internet for Resources	322
Appendix 1	Medications	329
Appendix 2	Supplements	340
	Notes	345
	Glossary	347
	For Further Information	357
	Acknowledgments	363
	Index	365

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Anonymous

Posted June 8, 2003

I wish I had this book when I was diagnosed!

As the title indicates, this book is geared towards those who are new to fibromyalgia and are facing what I wrestled with when I was first diagnosed: eight million questions about what was happening to me, what do about it, and what my diagnosis meant to me and those around me. Ms. Marek does an excellent job of providing a comprehensive overview of all the things I remember needing to learn. In addition, the writing is clear and easy to follow. I'd describe it as conversational; I felt Ms. Marek was having a private discussion with me. She illustrates the practical information with her personal experience (she too has fibromyalgia), as well as with the experiences of others. One of the things I enjoyed most about this book is that Ms. Marek also talks about the emotional aspects of living with this illness and how it affects not only the person with fibromyalgia, but those around them. She addresses things like denial and acceptance, and the role those play in our lives. Ms. Marek speaks to the human being underneath the illness...the person who is struggling to maintain their identity in the face of a body that no longer works the way it used to. In summary, this is a solid, well-written book that I wish someone had handed to me when I was diagnosed. As the title says, this is an Essential Guide.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted January 4, 2010

Excellent explanation of fibromyalgia

I found this book to be very informative and helpful in explaining fibromyalgia. It provided useful information in a very organized manner. It is organized so it is easy to review. It gave me what I needed to come to terms with this condition.
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Fibromyalgia: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed

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I wish I had this book when I was diagnosed!

Excellent explanation of fibromyalgia