Product Description

This groundbreaking new text explains and documents the scientific basis of chronic pain in Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (JHS) and other heritable disorders of connective tissue from the physiological, epidemiological, genetic and clinical viewpoints. It asks the reader to consider the possibility of JHS, identify it clinically, understand its co-morbidities, including interdependencies with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, while managing the condition appropriately.

Product Description
Do you know that fibromyalgia ("fi-bro-my-al'-jah")affects 10 times more women than men? Do you also know thatfibromyalgia is almost always accompanied with fatigue and difficultysleeping? And do you know that 30 - 70% of fibromyalgia sufferers alsohave irritable bowel syndrome and vice versa?

Fibromyalgia and the MindBodySpirit Connection, by William B. Salt II,M.D., and Edwin H. Season, M.D., helps people who suffer withfibromyalgia and those who also have arthritis. This patient-centeredbook presents a 7-step plan which empowers sufferers to focus on thepower of the mind rather than on the pain of the body in order toreclaim health and feel better than ever before! It is the only bookon fibromyalgia to describe a mind, body, spirit approach within aframework of the latest, state-of-the art scientific methodology.

Drs. Salt and Season will walk you through the 7 steps, fromunderstanding the connection of your mind, body, and spirit, learningabout fibromyalgia and myofascial pain, healing with diagnosis andeducation, making "the connection," emphasizing self-care andwellness, managing your fibromyalgia, and ending with taking action ifsymptoms persist. As expressed by Dr. Salt, "We believe symptoms canopen the door to healing and a new way of living."(The ColumbusDispatch, January 13, 2000) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Condescending and Offensive
My doctor recommended that I read this book after she gave me a tentative diagnosis of FBS last week.I am utterly shocked that a doctor would recommend this.Not only is it dated (ten years old), but it not-so-subtly evangelizes you, with a photo of a cross in the initial chapters and the backing of a Lutheran pastor on the back.Now, before you label me as an anti-Christian pinko Commie, I have a Masters from the Lutheran seminary that is across the street from the parish from whence this pastor had been.I still found its veiled pro-God talk being placed in the first chapter of the book instead of a later chapter, as well as the use of the word "God," which excludes Buddhism, in poor taste.

The book tells you that the pain doesn't actually exist: you are simply telling your body that it hurts.If you simply figure out how to tell your body to stop feeling the phantom pain with no real origin, then you will be cured!Here is a quote: "Suppose you believe that you originally hurt your back while lifting. You can experience fear and anxiety -- even panic --if you believethat you have a bad back and are called upon to life something again. . . (24-25)"

They claim to want to dispel the misconception that fibromyalgia is a mental disorder, yet all the information they give -- surround by child-like drawings about neuropeptides and "illnesses without a disease" cartoons -- says exactly this.

No, doctors, I know very well that when I got hit by a bus, that my back hurt.I also know that when I was weight lifting, I had injured my knees, my back, and I know at some point I strained my pelvic area.I am not merely sending psychosomatic phantoms through my body.

I am not saying that this book is completely inaccurate.There indeed is a relationship between the mind, emotions, and the body.I also know that stress, depression, PTSD, and other traumas can manifest in how the body handles pain, or how easily it is injured.But this book offensively says that it is actually all in your head, and one great tool for getting rid of the pain is to believe in God and to pray (not merely meditate and develop a spiritual life, which I agree is very useful in balancing the body-mind axis).They even recommend that I read a book by Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of the Christian Science movement!

A "must" book for fibromyalgics
This book is a "must read" for all of us living with CFS/Fibromyalgia.
It describes how the pain leads to depression and then leads to more pain cycle. Where friends and family have not understood me, this book does. It is now my "bible" for recovery. I am finally learning how to meditate and noticing how I talk to myself.Negative self talk brings on pain. And we do it unconsciously. This book helps where a tonne of medical specialists and medication has not.

Not Impressed
While looking at this book it became reality to me that the MindBodySpirit connection is actually lost in it's content. It becomes a Mind experience with many different antidepressant issues involved. There are treatments that I have experienced in this book that are supposed to help that do nothing but further frustrate the complex problems of Fibromyalgia. Also, the guaifenesen treatment may have no reason to work, and it may only show as a placebo effect in certain people during testing, but for those of us who try it and find that it does something to us that nothing in the past has even begun to do it is a life saver. Chronic Fatigue is a giant issue with this illness and guaifenesin treatment has helped me so much in this area that I would never give it up. I also see that there are MindBodySpirit issues with the illness of fibromyalgia, depression coming and going at will and especially during stress related situations, but it is something way too complex to even begin to work out in this book given the minute amount of space alloted each topic.
I too feel it was a waste of time and money for me. I didn't find much out in it except to "take a pill". Believe me...I've done that a lot over the past 18 years! What works for one person may never work for the next! hopefully the next person down the road will find a beginning to healing in it if they happen to buy it.

Disappointing
I feel I have wasted good money on this one. I am a strong believer in mind-body medicine, but the bits and pieces of boring information in primer form were a real turn off.

The information in this book seems to have been copied almost straight from other sources.

Try Jon Kabat-Zinn, Deepak Chopra, Emmet E. Miller, J. Sarno, Candace Pert, almost anybody else, for more inspiring reading.

There are many other better choices out there
This book, while telling SOME of the truth about fibromyalgia, was co-written by Edwin Season, who works as an "independent medical examiner" for the Ohio State Teacher Retirement System. That means it is his job to find reasons to deny disability to those who need it, thereby saving the retirement system money. (This retirement system is being investigated for misuse of funds.) I am one of their victims, my illness being labeled as "Somatization Disorder" despite the mounds of objective medical evidence of brain injury, etc. I provided. Thanks to Season, I now struggle to work just 20 hours per week and I cannot keep up on bills. All because he thinks that illnesses like Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are all in the mind. He needs to look at the evidence - and, a little compassion wouldn't hurt either. (Even the title of this book is contradictory - if you have widespread pain and fatigue, you're NOT healthy!) I'm now destroyed financially with little means of support. Thanks for nothing, Season. ... Read more

Product Description
This year, six million Americans--most of them women--will go to their doctors, complaining of an illness they have no name for. The majority will be turned away or treated for depression; the few who persist will go to an average of four doctors before they receive the correct diagnosis: fibromyalgia.In their earlier Making Sense of Fibromyalgia, noted medical writer Janice Wallace and Dr. Daniel Wallace, a leading expert on this disorder, provided a comprehensive guide--for both patients and professionals--to this little known and poorly understood syndrome. Now, in All About Fibromyalgia, the Wallaces provide a thoroughly revised and updated version of that highly successful volume, incorporating a wealth of new information. This edition provides the current understanding of the disease as well as the latest drug treatments--all laid out in clear and accessible language.As in the previous volume, the authors provide a detailed, yet clear explanation of the disease. Fibromyalgia, they explain, is a form of chronic neuromuscular pain, a pain-amplification syndrome brought on by abnormal interactions between hormones, the immune system, neurotransmitters, and the autonomic nervous system. Sometimes the syndrome occurs spontaneously; in most cases, the authors write, it is associated with trauma, stress, such conditions as lupus and hypothyroidism, and over forty microbes, from hepatitis to Epstein-Barr to Lyme disease.Drawing on actual cases to illustrate their points, the authors help break through the isolation that patients often feel when doctors misdiagnose or simply ignore their symptoms. All About Fibromyalgia addresses a desperate need for information on this disease and offers reassurance to patients and their families. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Not a Casual Read
Now that I've finally been diagnosed with fibromyalgia after 15 years of hunting for answers, this is the best book I've found so far. It is fairly technical and not a light read. However, it provides the best understanding of what is happening at the biochemical level of the body. Finally, someone can really explain why fibromyalgia patients suffer from the panoply of symptoms that make up the syndrome. He connects the seemingly disconnected dots of fibromyalgia.

I have Fibromyalgia.
I am a retired RN (retired do to thedisease.) I was diagnoses with FM in 2000. Since then I have researched this disease until my fingers can no longer type.This book is easy to read and very informative...and I have read and seen many books on the subject of FM.My Rhuematologist suggested I read it, and I am glad I did because it talks about how the diagnosis was formulated and it's not a new disease, because it's been called many names.It also talks about every kind of treatment used and makes it so I can choose which is best for me.

Great Resource
This is a great book that answers a lot of questions and it cross- references well with other autoimmune diseases. It is certainly one of the best books I have read concerning fibromyalgia. I have this book along with Dr. Wallace's book about lupus and they make wonderful companions. Again, I highly recommend this book!

Buy this book!
Dr. Wallace is a life saver and one of the most well respected Rhuematology doctors in the country!I was undiagnosed for 3 years and had gone to 10 doctors when I finally went to Dr. WallaceHe actually listened to me, thoroughly tested me and finally diagnosed me.He got me into a comprehensive pain management program and I'm now out of my wheelchair.I've read this book cover to cover and keep it as a reference tool.I can't say enough about it.Buy it!

Good Science
I was fortunate enough to find this book right after I was diagnosed. It explained everything I wanted to know, and more. Each chapter or section begins with a literary quotation that brings the subject into focus.The second section is heavily scientific, and the author even recommends skipping it and reading it later. I found the second section well written, but complex. It requires several readings. Each chapter of the book ends with a "Summing Up" paragraph (especially helpful in the scientific section)that helps you remember what you just read.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know what is happening inside his/her body. However, it is not the best choice for someone who just wants to feel better without understanding the biology behind this complex syndrome. ... Read more

Product Description
Fibromyalgia is a common and chronic medical disorder
characterized by widespread pain and often coupled
with other symptoms such as fatigue, disturbed sleep,
chronic headaches, and other ailments. Recent research
shows that the disorder is directly related to decreased
levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine. The solution,
renowned rheumatologist Dr. David Dryland argues, is
to regulate levels of dopamine in the body through an
"off-label protocol" using the FDA-approved medications
Mirapex and Requip, which help mute pain
signals traveling from the body to the brain. This vital
and necessary book will also show readers how to:
- develop a protocol to successfully treat fibromyalgia
- identify what causes the disease and its debilitating
flare-ups
- determine which symptoms can be attributed to
fibromyalgia and which cannot
- use non-drug treatments for relieving the painful
symptoms of the disease
- and more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Not for me, or most patients.
I bought this book looking for a more recently published book on FMS....the best one I have is 10 years old.
I found that I should have known better....I have too many years of experience with CMP and FMS to believe that there is ONE exciting new idea or medication out there that will be THE answer to all patient's needs.
It takes a whole body approach and a lot of time finding the right combo of "medication, meditation and make-up" along with a lot of love, good food and supplements to get through each day.
This book was a disappointment. I only recommend it to the sufferer who wants EVERY book on the subject in their library.

A Lifesaver
I was in a dark place before I read this book. Dr Dryland gave me the first hope I'd had in years. After following his simple, common sense program; I am on the mend.

Get this book!
This book has been the best investment of both time and money for fighting my fibro.Some reviews have rated this poorly due to the meds mentioned in the book...don't let that fool you.The author does mention what he feels are the best medications to take for symptoms, but by no means dose he imply that is the only way to find relief!The authors approach to fibro and the connection to the fight or flight response has opened my eyes to my symptoms and has me going in a positive direction in regaining my life as I once knew it.If you are at all interested in regaining control of your fibro and getting back to some sense of normal this book is a must!

The Fibromyalgia Solution
Have only had enough time to flip through this book ,but looks very interesting, and came in good shape and in a very short time.

Better then most, but claims are carried too far
Fibromyalgia "cure" books seem to proliferate, but unlike the vast majority of them (usually some sort of "natural" or alternative cure), this book has good scientific evidence for the theory presented.
This is probably the most effective treatment out there- studies indicate it is more effective then either of the FDA approved medicines for fibromyalgia.It addresses some of the core dysfunctions.This book is an excellent resource for people trying to get these medicines covered for fibromyalgia.
But fibromyalgia is a multi-faceted, multi-system disorder.It also very likely has multiple causes.There is immune system, endocrine, and neurological problems.For those who are interested in the scientific basis for fibromyalgia symptoms, [...]/ has some excellent articles. Some people have an onset of fibromyalgia after physical trauma to the back or neck, some after an illness, some during pregnancy or childbirth, some in addition to an autoimmune condition like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, and some for no clear reason whatsoever.There is clearly some genetic link, although to what degree is unknown.The author says that if you don't respond to dopamine you are most likely misdiagnosed.That is not something that can be stated with the evidence that exists.30% of patients w/ Lyrica and Cymbalta had signifigant improvement.The dopamine meds are around 50%- a very substantial number, but not "the cure" by any means.And the side effects are intolerable for a lot of people.The "I have THE cure" aspect of this book is why this book got three stars instead of five. ... Read more

Product Description
You Can Feel Good Again!Dr. Murphree explains it all in concise, easy-to-understand terms:How FMS and CFS are diagnosed and the underlying conditions that contribute to them.Why traditional medicine alone isn't successful in treating FMS and CFS.Why you can't sleep and how to safely and consistently solve this problem with natural supplements.Why you're in pain and how to reduce or eliminate chronic muscle aches.What tests should be performed and how to interpret these tests.What dysautonomia is and how to effectively treat it.Why you have "fibro fog" and how to correct it.How to accurately and easily test your thyroid at home.And how to feel good again!

About the Author: Dr. Murphree has been in private practice for 12 years, and he has been successfully treating fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome for the past seven years.He is the founder and past clinical director of a large integrated medical clinic staffed with medical doctors, chiropractors, acupuncturists, and a nutritionist, who combine prescription and natural medicines to treat chronic illnesses.Dr. Murphree is a board-certified nutritional specialist, chiropractic physician, author, speaker and health consultant.He lives with his wife and daughter in Birmingham, Alabama. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Please Note!!!!
The Treating and Beating book that's red and yellow is the SAME book as the green one. The green one is the 3rd edition and is much larger. I noticed that amazon's software tries to sell you both because the titles are slightly different - so please be advised. You can buy both but will be happier with the green one with the redwood trees on it.

Treating and Beating Fibromyalgia
This is a terrific book, it gives valid and interesting information as well as tips for improving your life, great info about vitamins, minerals and other supplements to try if you're tired of prescription drugs. And includes ways to integrate both Eastern and Western medicine, tips for a more healthy lifestyle, tests to ask for to determine if you have associated health problems. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is frustrated about being tired, and aching all the time- tips are great to help cope with this. I would really like to see the author, Dr. Murphree, in Birmingham, Alabama. In fact this my new goal. ... Read more

Product Description

A Personalized Approach to Feeling Better

Customer Reviews (2)

A Holistic Approach
Bassman has written a book unlike others I've read on fibromyalgia & chronic fatigue syndrome.Her book is extremely well researched & offers many different options for treatment, both conventional & holistic.In addition to treating physical symptoms, she provides guidance for dealing with emotional, psychological & spiritual aspects of these syndromes.There is a wealth of good scientific information in this book, written in a user-friendly style.

Wealth of Information
As a health-care professional, I began having significant health problems
and followed a traditional medical course of treatment.After about a
year, I was getting sickerand sicker despite my doctor's reassurances
that the multiple medications I was taking were working.I stopped seeing
my doctor and tried several alternative therapies that eventually led me
to becoming healthy again.As I read Dr. Bassman's book, I wish it had
beenavailable to me when I was doing mysearch.It has a wealth of
information written in plainlanguage that is extremely important in our
society which emphasizes disease instead of the wellness model that Dr.
Bassman presents. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

the FM book you need..the rest don't compare
I was diagnosed in 2001 with FM and since purchased various books on how to help me manage it..most were a total waste of money...this one is worth every penny!

Last year after dealing with a doctor that didn't belive in FM and just wanted to ship me off to the psych ward because she didn't want to help me deal with my pain and lack of restorative sleep..which was clear every time I saw her as she always referred to treating my "mood" problem...you try to be cheerful when your in a lot of pain, stressed out, and can't seem to ever feel rested, then add people who think your just there to get drugs.
In trying to change providers I found a small practice where a Nurse Practioner and an RN helped to treat just patients suffering from FM.The first visit(and everyone since then) was very pleasant. They had a copy of this book "Taking Charge of Fibromyalgia" in their waiting room...come to find that co-author Julie Kelly was the RN at this practice, so for the first time in a long time I feel like I have someone that truely understands my condition and can help me unlike 90% of doctors I've seen over the years (most don't belive in the condition and refuse to actually do any reading on it).I still have flare ups but now I have the tools I need to get myself through them.

Excellent book...
This book is extremely helpful for anybody living with the pain and frustration of Fibromyalgia.I was fortunate enough to have been able to go through the Fibromyalgia Clinic run by Julie Kelly several years ago.Now I can use this book to learn more about or refresh what I already know about this awful condition that so often debilitates me completely.You would be wise to get it!

Fantastic
Fantastic book - explains a lot. It was written by two people who have FMS and work in healthcare. I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to know more about this condition.

Informative BUT Depressing
Taking Charge of Fibromyalgia: Everything You Need to Know to Manage Fibromyalgia, Fifth Edition is a well written book and very informative, although there are places which could be slightly less technical and more for the everyday reader.I found myself checking a few medical terms on the internet to be sure I understood what it was trying to explain.

I particularly enjoyed the information provided concerning supplements and nutrition.I am very interested in working with my health care professional while complementing medical treatments/advice with doing what I can holistically/nutritionally to alleviate symptoms and problems.

I will say the section concerning dealing with your family about your condition borders on the ridiculous and seems to be better advice for patients with either a terminal disease or something degenerative and totally disabling.While fibromyalgia is not curable and it has times when it flares and you feel miserable, it is not completely debilitating and I don't know of anyone who has died from fibro.I know a bunch of people whom the disease has impacted their lives in some manner requiring some adjustment during a flare period but these book sounds like it is helping you prepare you family for constant vegetative state coma care.

Plus if I used some of the recommended things to tell my husband - he would hurt himself laughing. He knows I hurt - some days more than others. He knows I tire more easily during a flare. But I just can't see telling him it is ok to grieve the loss of a healthy me.

Best Book I Have Read Yet
You can really understand this book! I have 3 other books on this illness. I would have given it 5 stars if I didn't have this "fibro-fog" so may understanding is not at my best. ... Read more

Product Description
More than six million Americans - most of them women - have been diagnosed with the controversial medical disorder fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Because of the absence of definitive physiological markers, a well-understood cause, or effective treatment, FMS is controversial. Many have questioned if FMS is a "real" illness or if women sufferers are modern-day hysterics. Amidst the controversy, millions of women live with their very real symptoms. Rather than taking sides in the heated FMS debate, Kristin Barker explains how FMS represents an awkward union between the practices of modern medicine and the complexity of women's pain. Using interviews with sufferers, Barker focuses on how the idea of FMS gives meaning and order to women beset by troubling symptoms, self-doubt, and public skepticism. This book offers a fresh look at a controversial diagnosis, avoids overly simplistic explanations, and empathizes with sufferers without losing sight of medicine's power over our lives. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Fibromyalgia patients and their doctors: toward understanding each other.
Now that I am retired from 35 years as a medical doctor (Internal Medicine), I often reflect on what people believe about medicine and illness, and the process by which those beliefs change.As I approached the final years of my career I sought relief from the responsibilities of primary care by limiting my work to disability examinations on those seeking benefits from the Social Security Administration or workers compensation insurers. It was here that I finally found time, free from other distractions, to listen at length to the stories of individuals with diagnoses of fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, Gulf War syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivity, and other problems loosely termed "functional somatic syndromes" in the medical literature. I also examined them and reviewed voluminous medical records. Dr. Barker's account of the subjective experiences of the individuals she interviewed for this book resonates with, and makes clearer, the stories that I heard and described in my reports.

In my earlier medical practice, individuals with these problems were difficult and often frustrating to care for because their needs were so great and there seemed so little to offer them from available conventional treatments. On occasion, attempts to relieve their discomfort with pain medications led to substance abuse.One faces the task of distinguishing from among persons with broad arrays of somatic symptoms those individuals who have occult organic illnesses of a more immediately threatening nature, such as cancer or multiple sclerosis.The physician must also be alert for complicating psychiatric problems and for those who simulate symptoms to achieve secondary gain. But once these other problems are excluded by medical investigation, it does not mean that "nothing is wrong," as fibromyalgia patients are often led to believe. Their testimony is often the most significant evidence of their illness, since objectively verifiable signs (verifiable by the examiner, of course) are usually lacking or inconclusive.

My educational background prior to my medical training was in engineering.Needless to say, I lacked any exposure to sociology, much less to the concept that illnesses are in part "socially constructed."I recognize now that this was not a trivial deficiency. I highly recommend this book for primary care physicians, rheumatologists, physiatrists, neurologists, and other "evidence-based" specialists likely to care for individuals with fibromyalgia.It should assist health care providers to interact not only with fibromyalgia patients, but with all sufferers from whatever cause, in a more constructive and empathetic way.Fibromyalgia sufferers will gain a more in-depth understanding of their illness, and should find themselves on stronger ground to understand and communicate with their doctors.

Excellent Scholarly Examination of the Social Construction of Medical Authority
This is a highly recommended book, mostly due to its aggressive and thorough examination of FMS as a prime example of the power bestowed to medical authority in Western culture.Whether you believe FMS exists or not, you should buy and read this book.

The social construction of reality is a pervasive and powerful concept that shapes every individual's existence--this book provides excellent scholarly analysis of one prime example of the disconnect between individuals' perceptions of reality, while simultaneously illustrating how medicine (and more generally, "scientific knowledge"), even when unable to produce the evidence necessary by its own standards to be unequivocal on an issue, trumps the experienced reality of millions.

The theoretical position outlined in this book, backed up with solid historical evidence and extensive interviews, is easily extrapolated to other medical "conditions," daily occurences, gender and cultural roles, wars in the middle east for oil, etc.--I hope that as many people as possible are able to get a copy of this book and mull over the propositions.

Awesome work Dr. Kristin Barker. ... Read more

Product Description

Nearly 1 in 2 Americans suffer from some chronic condition—either an illness like fibromyalgia or conditions such as migraine headaches or chronic neck and back pain.  With numbers like these, it’s fair to say we have a health crisis on our hands.

Respected therapist H. Norman Wright, along with Lynn Ellis, a researcher with firsthand experience with fibromyalgia, lupus, and chronic fatigue, shares practical, hopeful answers for those who suffer from what are often called “invisible illnesses.” 

Readers will benefit from realizing they are not alone even if others don’t understand what they are experiencing.  They will also find

• helpful ideas for managing relationships with their doctors and their families
• insight into God’s perspective and caring for those who suffer
• practical ways to manage the stress, fear, and depression that often comes with chronic illness

Coping with Chronic Illness is the perfect resource for those who struggle as well as for their families and friends, lay counselors, medical professionals, and pastors. 

Customer Reviews (1)

The author understands chronic pain
Living in chronic pain is so difficult.Most people are sympathetic but cannot really understand what it is like to live this way.The authors are compassionate and make me feel as if somebody understands and cares.I would give this book to anybody I know that is struggling with a chronic illness.The support I feel when reading this book is better than any counselor I have ever talked too. ... Read more

Product Description
The first-ever complete guide to dental health and fibromyalgia

If you’re one of the millions of people who suffer from fibromyalgia (FMS), you are likely aware of the many oral complications that can often accompany the condition. In The Fibromyalgia Dental Handbook, dentist Flora Stay provides an accessible and comprehensive look at FMS and its important connections to the mouth and offers advice on how to achieve optimum oral health in order to better manage symptoms related to fibromyalgia. Among the issues Stay addresses are:

• Coping with oral symptoms common to FMS, such as dry mouth, bad breath, burning mouth syndrome and oral sores

• Gum disease and how best to treat its different stages

• The effects of diet and nutrition on FMS and oral health

• How to find the dentist that’s right for you

• Guaifenesin, salicylates, and their relationship to FMS

• FMS medications and their oral and non-oral side effects

This invaluable trove of information—unavailable anywhere else—demonstrates that in order to fully manage fibromyalgia, you must take care of your mouth. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Must Read!
Finding information on fibromyalgia and dental health was a challenge, until I found this gem of a book.Before picking up this book, I had no idea about the link between fibromyalgia and poor oral health.

Many conditions that go along with fibromyalgia are discussed. For example, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, and TMD are some of the common conditions that most people with fibromyalgia experience. Gum disease or poor health, in general, are risk factors, as explained here and greatly enhance the possibility of deterioration of one's condition.I was grateful that this book put a missing piece of the puzzle together.

This is an excellent reference guide; I know I will go back to it for many years to come.I recommend this book whether you have fibromyalgia or not.There's even a section with great tips on how to keep your mouth clean, such as why using an alcohol free mouthwash before you brush is helpful.

I'd give this book 10 stars if it was possible. I even gave a copy to my dentist who knew absolutely nothing about oral health and fibromyalgia.
Now he recommends it to his patients as well.

Don't Waste Your Money
This book is filled with typographical errors. There is little to no information provided. Generally, it provides lists of products to purchase...most of which belong to one company. I was really looking for help and answers. I didn't find them here. ... Read more

Product Description
Chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia and environmental illness can be permanently reversed using non-toxic alternative medicine treatments.In this book, 26 leading physicians explain the techniques and natural substances that brought complete recovery to their patients. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Good Book..Very Good condition
The book arrived in a timely fashion and it was in the condition as described.
Would buy again from this seller.

The Bible on Chronic Fatigue!
This book is a must for all people who suffer with chronic fatigue andfibromyalgia.I read it slowly, trying to absorb each and every suggestionthat was written.

Changed My Life (For the Better)
My boss bought this book for me, and I thought it was going to be just another, "yeah, you have fibromyalgia and it's a real shame, this is how you cope with it", but instead, this book CHANGED MY LIFE!(Sorryfor the run-on sentence).I had so much pain that some days I couldn't getout of bed.I would find a position that was minimally pain free and notmove until I was better.It got so bad that I had to use a cane so I couldget to work.But I read the book and I couldn't believe the casehistories.But when the pain got so bad that I thought I would lose myjob, I changed my diet (hey, what did I have to lose? ) and low and behold,within a week the pain was gone (I stopped taking pain medicine everyday),the "fog" lifted and I felt better than I had in YEARS!Anotherside benefit, is that I have lost weight!But I recommend this book veryhighly.I will also say that my doctors have pooh-poohed these results,but I firmly believe that what we eat, really effects how we feel.I justnever knew how much!

A must have for the Chronic Fatigue/Fibromyalgia sufferer!
If you have or know someone who suffers from fibromyalgia (chronic muscle pain) or chronic fatigue, you absolutely must get this book.Don't waste one more minute, order it now.IT could save your life.Don't believe thenaysayers who tell you that nothing can be done.There is plenty that canbe done.Not all of it will work, but at least you now have a good placeto get started, and techniques that have proven successful for others. Plus the book gives you excellent resources for finding the best doctorsout there to get you well.Any questions feel free to contact me atsrowe@nbn.net

A Book with HOPE
Anyone person suffering these illness, and has struggled with the lack of medical help, NEEDS HOPE. I felt this was truly provided in this book along with the information of Healing. Just reading this book, helped mydepression of long term illness that no Dr. could see, touch or give me aRx for. Getting older or gaining weight, being female did not cause thesehealth problems. Seeing other accounts of similar problems has given me aplace to start investigating just what is wrong with my health and so armedwith this information, I think can be the first step on the path towellness. ... Read more

Product Description
In "Fibromyalgia Syndrome" - a practitioner's guide to treatment - Leon Chaitow and his contributors provide a comprehensive overview of this epidemiologically significant condition and describe the most effective multidisciplinary approaches to treatment. Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) was recognised as a syndrome by the WHO in 1990. Sufferers from this complex syndrome may experience a wide variety of symptoms, ranging from headaches and fatigue to widespread muscular pain or irritable bowel syndrome. FMS is the second commonest condition encountered in clinics for the treatment of chronic pain. Because of its many presenting symptoms, different clinicians and therapists become involved in the treatment and management of FMS patients. Fibromyalgia Syndrome - a practitioner's guide to treatment - aims to help clinicians and therapists involved in the treatment and management of FMS to better understand the syndrome, and to plan appropriate treatment and management. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A Well Rounded and Thorough reference Book for anyone having exposure to those with FMS or CFS
Good book. Chaitow is an excellent researcher/teacher/writer in combination. Very practical book for those with patiants or clients with Fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome. General info but i found it very helpfull as a MT, NMT with clients with FMS.

Informative and well written
The information in this book from Leon Chaitow alone is worth the price. In addition to his fine writing, he brings together many authors who are blazing trails in fibromyalgia research. They offer many treatment options and perceptions.

As Dr. Chaitow explains, it is now recognized by many researchers and practitioners that fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS)is often perpetuated by myofascial trigger points (TrPs). Most patients with FMS have TrPs as well, and treating the TrPs can significantly reduce the symptom load. Fibromyalgia and myofascial pain from TrPs are not the same. Many people have TrPs but do not have FMS. Knowing that the central sensitization of FMS is present in patients with both conditions will enable the practitioner to adjust TrP therapies accordingly. Dr. Chaitow is very clear about this.

Fibromyalgia is not yet curable, but it can be treated, and many of the components that add to the patient's burden can beminimized or eliminated with adequate treatment. This book is a toolbox full of ways to accomplish that task.

Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Practitioner's Guide to Treatment
Whether you treat people with Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) or you have been diagnosed with FMS, Leon Chaitow's "Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Practioner's Guide to Treatment" may be exactly what you have been seeking.As a person living with FMS--who has read MUCH about this topic--I can tell you that this book is the best thing going.This practioner's guide is especially good for those familiar with "medicalese."But, even if you're a "beginner" with FMS who simply wants to help educate those on your health care team (physicians, massage therapists, chiropractors, etc.), owning this book will allow you to lend it to your practioners.I have no doubt that, after they have seen your copy, they will want to purchase their own.

In "Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Practioner's Guide to Treatment," Chaitow briefly describes a number of theories about FMS, discusses the validity of these, and explains the treatments that flow from the theories.Some of the treatments can be accomplished by persons with FMS; others require the cooperation of practioners on the health care team.Treatments are described in detail, supplemented with illustrations.

Kudos to Leon Chaitow for this fine work! ... Read more

Product Description
Fibromyalgia: Up Close & Personal is packed with 43 chapters of "inside" medical information and "hands-on" practical advice for everyday living. Dr. Mark J. Pellegrino brings readers up-to-date with the newest drug and physical treatments for fibromyalgia. He also presents the latest thinking on diet and exercise to help people with this condition lead a full life.

Recognized by fibromyalgia sufferers for understanding what they are going through, Dr. Pellegrino is a welcoming and encouraging presence for everyone with this condition¯and this quality comes through very clearly in his writing. It’s as if each person reading his book is having a private consultation about their shared disease.

In Up Close & Personal Dr. Pellegrino has enlisted two leading attorneys to bring readers much needed insight into disability and personal injury issues. Also, he asked a knowledgeable physician to contribute a chapter on common pain problems. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

So helpful everyday
I diagnosed myself with fibromyalgia after reading several articles about the condition and ordering books from Amazon.I found this one especially easy to read and so helpful and was fortunate to be able to schedule an appointment with Dr. Pellegrino after my doctor insisted I needed a specialist's diagnosis.I found him to be an amazing person with a wonderful sense of humor and the kind of doctor you wish all patients could find. I refer to this book almost on a daily basis when a new symptom arises or I just need to realize I'm not alone or I need a lift.

The newest from Dr. Pellegrino shines...
To say that Dr. Mark Pellegrino has done it again is quite the understatement. At first glance, you may be a bit overwhelmed but don't let the size of Up Close and Personal intimidate you.While it's not a weekend read-I tried that for my review - the 400 plus pages are worth their weight in gold even if you risk a fibro-flare carrying it home from the bookstore! It's a reference book that mixes a blend of fibromyalgia history, diagnosis, therapy, research and legalese with a twist of Dr. Pellegrino's unique sense of humor. Dr. Pellegrino puts it best in his own words, "My approach has been to help all patients deal with their symptoms, first by helping them understand fibromyalgia, and second to encourage them to use successful strategies to become a fibromyalgia survivor". Author of several other fibromyalgia books and a physician with a clinical practice experience of more than 15,000 patients, he's more than qualified to share his opinion.

Still, you may be asking why you would need another fibromyalgia book. After all, is there really anything new to write about?For the newly diagnosed, this book is an easy to understand reference.For the seasoned, it's updated to include the latest in fibromyalgia research including chiari malformation, nutrition and the legal aspects of post-traumatic fibromyalgia, updates gleaned in the three years since his last book, Inside Fibromyalgia. While 400 pages may seem daunting, the book is divided into six sections, with 6-8 chapters in each section, which helps the reader break down and absorb the well-presented information. In addition, exclamation points on certain pages draw your attention to helpful bite-sized facts. For those wanting more, at the end of each chapter is a resource list "If You Want to Know More" that satisfies their appetite. Illustrations help the reader get a visual focus on what is being explained verbally and the only stick figures you'll find are the ones getting tastefully into "comfortable positions" in the chapter on Sex & Intimacy.

Even the title Up Close and Personal, Dr. Pellegrino explains, was chosen because "I see it up close in my patients, and I deal with it on a personal basis every day. I understand fibromyalgia". Throughout the book, he profiles several of these patients in Up Close Patient Snapshot like "The Rodeo Roper's Rotator Woe", as well as himself in Personal Profile. One of my favorite glimpses of Dr. Pellegrino that he shares is how his deafness helped him later in dealing with fibromyalgia. Nobody likes to think they are different. But with his great sense of style,you almost wantfibromyalgia so you can be "just like Mark". Not to be left out of the updates are familiar favorites from previous books -- such as FMS Greeting Cards, Famous Last Words Before a Flare (FLAWS) and Fibronyms. Dr. Pellegrino also includes what he calls his "diversionary writings" which lighten up the complex task of explaining fibromyalgia, although he doesn't need much help as he does it so well. Previous topics are expanded -- nutritional approaches (including weight loss!) and post-traumatic fibromyalgia -- and new topics on disability and legal issues are added, written by attorneys who deal specifically with medical-legal issues.

Is there any that Up Close and Personal lacks? I don't think so. Even if Dr. Pellegrino's explanation that "As part of my therapy, I enjoy writing" may be true, it is therapeutic as well for his readers who benefit from this catharsis. His dedication to educating and empowering the reader into becoming a "fibromyalgia victor"--his new slogan-is both a support and a challenge. Dr. Pellegrino claims that "his simple philosophy is treating fibromyalgia is to find whatever works", but it's his personal caring that comes through in each of his books. This one is no exception. Buy the book - it may be the only fibromyalgia book you will need-until he writes his next one!

Program Director-Fibromyalgia Training Services, Support Group Leader and Certified Fibro Instructor, FMS over 20 years.
Dr. Pellegrino does it again!He has provided us with another great book about Fibromyalgia and living with this chronic illness.

"Up Close And Personal" not only encompasses the areas we face in daily life but also gives us the latest education and techniques to improve its quality, thus bringing encouragement and hope many times to the hopeless.

I can go to this one book for a fast answer or study it in detail to make life changes to help me regain control.

We at Fibromyalgia Training Services (FTS) recommend "Up Close & Personal" inour courses to the participants and their support person and we are excited to be able to do so.

This book helps you, help yourself !
I think you will find that there is valuable information for all types of fibromyalgia patients in Dr. Pellegrino's latest work, "Fibromyalgia: Up Close and Personal." It is a comprehensive and expanded version of his earlier book, "Inside Fibromyalgia." The update information should be helpful to a range of patients and in particular those that are newly diagnosed. For the newly diagnosed patient, validation of this diagnosis, from a physician that has fibromyalgia himself, is so important.
For the long term patients with more resistant forms of fibromyalgia, like myself, it is comforting to encounter a physician that can state (p. 231)"There are no easy answers." "I try to emphasize that their pain is not their fault or caused by something they are doing wrong." In my interactions with physicans, it is rare that fibromyalgia veteran leaves the doctor's office without being blamed for their condition. I think Dr. Pellegrno shows a perspective rarely considered by most physicians and it is the biggest strength of the book.
I think this book can help you, help yourself.

FibromyalgiaSupport Group Leader, Medical Social Worker, FMS sufferer for over 30 years
As with all of Dr. Pelligrino's books one knows he knows what he speaks of.Both as a DR. who treats people with this and other allied conditions and as a person with Fibromyalgia.He is up to date with research and writes clearly and informatively.I have and will continue to recomend this book to the many people with FMS I speak to. ... Read more

Product Description
Millions of Americans suffer from the debilitatingsymptoms of fibromyalgia, which may include sleep disturbances,fatigue,depression, and digestive complaints, as well as generalizedbody pain and stiffness. This book is the first to discuss this commondisorder from the point of view of Chinese medicine. In addition tothe Chinese medical viewpoint on fibromyalgia, this book gives a hostof safe, simple, low-or-no-cost home therapies to help prevent or healthis all-too-common problem. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great for students, not so much for patients
As an acupuncture and TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) student, I find that this book gives an absolutely wonderful overview of fibromyalgia in its various forms.It goes over the patterns very clearly, and because the patterns come with such a concrete example (ie, fibromialgia), it really helps learn the patterns.

While I think this is a wonderful book to keep on hand for TCM students & practitioners, I don't know how useful it would be to someone suffering FM without TCM training.The sections on diet, exercise & teas would probably be useful, but the patent medicines would likely be confusing.Flaws' attempt to summarize chinese medical theory in the first 60 pages of the book would probably be more so.I think this is what the first reviewer unhappily referred to.On the other hand, it does spell out the symptoms fairly clearly, so I think that some people could pick out their own pattern(s) and attempt to self-medicate.I'm just not sure it's a good idea.

The section on self-massage is a great idea -- but the pictures aren't enough for an untrained person to find the acupoints.HOWEVER, they would make a good reference guide for an acupuncturist to photocopy & give to patients to use, AFTER the practitioner has taught the patient how to locate the points & how to do self-massage.

Overall, the book is wonderful for a student, and probably quite useful for someone fully trained.(I've only been in school for a year and a half).But I don't know how much a lay person would get out of it.

Long-Time Fribromyalgic
Though this book offers an array of alternatives to treat fibromyalgia, sufferers must beware. Fibromyalgia is an incurable disorder. First of all, unless you are familiar with Chinese medicine, you may feel like your reading Chinese. The remedies offered by this book are difficult to do alone, you will need the knowledge of someone trained in Chinese medicinal practices. For the sake of toxicity, you will at least need an herbologist of Vita-Nutritionist. The greatest flaw with this book is the writer's presumption that all those who have fibromyalgia have suffer in the same way. He offers therapies for few symptoms, but ignores the vast number of other problems that are associated with fibromyalgia. The author also ignores the group of people who suffer with fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, or chronic fatigue syndrome, all at once. I should know, I'm 29 and have suffered with fibromyalgia for 14 years already. I also suffer from the chronic pain of myofascial pain syndrome and chronic fatigue. For example, for someone like me, acupuncture doesn't work, it only amplifies the pain; but acupressure or Shiatsu works wonders. I recommend for those of you out there interested in learning about fibromyalgia, look for the The Fibromyalgia Network online, or books by Devin J. Starlanyl, M.D., she is a doctor with fibromyalgia/myofascial pain complex; she offers wonderful insight into these incurable condition. Another physician to look into is Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, who suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome and offers more insight into all three disorders and their co-existing symptoms. Knowledge is your greatest ally. You must educate yourself, and sometimes even your doctors.

A very good book, not only for patients.
Bob Flaws focuses the view on fibromyalgia patients. It's very interesting not only for patients, but also for practitioners. He gives detailed information for (self-)curing fibromyalgia, treating with herbs,acupuncture and dietery management. He gives information about theunderlying processes in the view of chinese medicine. ... Read more

Product Description
This year, six million Americans--most of them women--will go to their doctors, complaining of an illness they have no name for. The majority will be turned away or treated for depression; the few who persist will go to an average of four doctors before they receive the correct diagnosis: fibromyalgia.

In Making Sense of Fibromyalgia, noted medical writer Janice Wallace and Dr. Daniel Wallace, a leading expert on this disorder, provide a comprehensive guide--for both patients and professionals--to this little known and poorly understood syndrome. The authors offer detailed information in a clear and accessible style, taking readers through the steps of diagnosis, all the established forms of treatment, and alternative therapies that have yet to be proven effective. Fibromyalgia, they explain, is a pain amplification, brought on by abnormal interactions between hormones, the immune system, neurotransmitters, and the autonomic nervous system. Sometimes the syndrome occurs spontaneously; in most cases, the authors write, it is associated with trauma, stress, such conditions as lupus and hypothyroidism, and over forty microbes, from hepatitis to Epstein Barr to Lyme disease. They draw on actual cases to illustrate their points and to break through the isolation that patients often feel when doctors misdiagnose or simply ignore their symptoms.

When Dr. Wallace wrote The Lupus Book, he brought hope and relief into the lives of countless Americans, in a book that sold through many printings. In Making Sense of Fibromyalgia, the authors address a desperate need for information and reassurance, in a groundbreaking book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Dr. Wallace is also my doctor
I have the priviledge of being a patient of Dr. Wallace.I did not even know he had a book until he gave it me at my first visit with.He knows what he is talking about and I know first hand as I have followed his treatment plan.While I still suffer daily from fibromyalgia, I have accepted it and am able to have a full life, and work a stressful job.something that most fibromyalgia patients cannot do.I look forward to another book from Dr. Wallace soon.

A Comprehensive, No-Nonsense Explanation of Fibromyalgia
I found Dr. Wallace's book to be extremely informative.He discusses the dynamics of fibromyalgia in layman's terms, as well as the mechanisms of the syndrome scientifically.
Being a health care professional myself, i appreciated the succinct nature of the book.I have read it twice from the library and it was so good that I feel it necessary have at home for reference.Also, I have recommended it to 3 women that I personally know with fm.

Making Sense of Fibromyalgia--Doesn't Make Sense in Places
Making Sense of Fibromyalgia is roughly speaking divided into the science of fibromyalgia and the therapies to help control the disease. The second half of the book on improving the quality of your life is well worth reading. The book begins with an informative section on the history of fibromyalgia and its acceptance into the current medical classification system.While the authors attempt to provide an up- to- date overview which serves to legitimize the disorder it, for the most part, does not, in terms of severity, focus on the spectrum of the disease, leaving the beginning reader with the impression that this is a relatively mild, and controllable illness.I began reading the book with expectation and felt at first a sense of appreciation for the authors' attempt to combine the science of the disease with literary and historical references.It is some of the literary references, interestingly enough, that seem to speak to the debilitating aspects of the disease, almost as if the authors could not: Emily Dickinson talks about the unending pain.Nobel talks about the paralyzing fatigue.

I see numerous patients who have fibromyalgia.My skepticism began with the case examples. They have such happy endings.The authors focus primarily on relatively mild cases that respond to the treatment protocol and patients improve often to their prior level of functioning.The patients I see would wonder if they were reading about the same disease. Regarding treatment protocol, there is no discussion of first line, second line, and third line drugs which would be helpful to both patient and professional alike.Especially since in more severe cases, we enter the realm of needing different and more effective pain medications which then initiates into the discussion of treatment the hotly debated use of opioids.

A chapter is devoted to disorders that are not currently accepted as medical disorders which are often confused, according to the authors, with fibromyalgia.The authors warn potential patients about such suspect diagnoses.Given the fact that fibromyalgia was until recently also such a suspect illness and still raises skepticism among some, their attitude seems rather uncharitable.I agree with the reviewers who voiced some concerns about the book. One noted that the book was just too rosy in its outcome examples.The other observed that the authors still could not get away from the notion of a fibromyalgia personality and that stress causes the disease:"Severe emotional stress and trauma frequently triggers and aggravates fibromyalgia.There is little doubt the fibromyalgia can come about or be accelerated by the diminished ability to cope with life stress and traumas." (p.16). The latter is especially puzzling since the authors also often reassure the reader throughout the book that fibromyalgia "is not in your head."Indeed this was the reason for writing the book.

An entire chapter is devoted to challenging the idea that fibromyalgia is a psychological disorder and reviews the DSM IV classification system (the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) as it might pertain to fibromyalgia. They list the psychological disorders that fibromyalgia patients do not have (such as hypochondriasis), give the definition of the psychological disorder and differentiate it from fibromyalgia symptoms. They note that fibromyalgia is not directly mentioned in DSMIV, but some of its symptoms are listed, according to them, under undifferentiated somaticization (They meant to write Somatoform.) disorder: these include, among others, myofacial pain syndrome, chronic fatigue, back and joint pain, etc.The authors claim that in the 1970's and 80's fibromyalgia patients were wrongly diagnosed under this psychological disorder.In my experience, psychologists have diagnosed fibromyalgia patients with this disorder well into the 1990's and continue to do so today. In the future, mental health professionals may stop labeling fibromyalgia patients with psychological disorders.In the meantime, they might make better use of the various categories of psychological disorders under the category called, "due to a General Medical Condition."Finally, at present the diagnosis of Adjustment Disorder (Chronic) might be the best DSMIV diagnosis and reflects the psychological reality of fibromyalgia.

Making Sense of Fibramyalgia
I have had Fibromyalgia for a long time now.This is the first book that actually answers the whys.The author is a MD and speaks in scientific whys and hows.I have read a lot of other books and this one is a must, especially for family and doctors.

A book that has been needed for a long time!
For those of us that suffer from this disease, many of the books availableare full of mis-information and are not easy to understand.This bookexplains things in clear and concise terms, and I would recommend it to anyone with fibromyalgia, or to their family members. ... Read more

Product Description
Revised and expanded, this edition offers the latest findings on chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and overlapping diseases such as Gulf War Syndrome. It includes new information on the interaction of the brain, emotions, and immune system as well. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

The definitive book for FM and CFS patients
This wonderful book is our second copy of Berne's book. We have both CFS and
FM and have found this book very helpful and informative. Since these two syndromes are very difficult to diagnosis, having information that is practicaland realistic is invalluable.............

Wonderful book
I was pleasantly surprised by this book, which was honest both in the debilitating nature of the diseases and had a much better discussion of pain medication then many other books.Too often books on fibromyalgia and ME/CFS, while claiming to recognize that these are real, physical illnesses, then spend most of their time on lifestyle changes and counseling and antidepressants being the best treatment for fibromyalgia, showing that they do believe it's all in your head and if you just did "x" better, you'd feel better.This book isn't condesending and doesn't try to play psychiatrist, which I greatly appreciated. A great read, especially for the newly diagnosed.

Excellent Resource
I have finished all but the conclusion of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Other Invisible Illnesses. This is an excellent resource for sufferers of these diseases. The one and only difficulty with this book is its age; it was published in 2002. Next time I visit the bookstore I will be looking around for an updated book. However that in no way negates the usefulness of this particular work. Dr. Berne (PhD) suffers from Chronic Fatigue herself and she has done a masterful job of portraying a life so afflicted. The book begins with descriptions of both Fibromyalgia and CFS, moves on to discuss overlapping symptoms of both these illnesses and numerous others such as Gulf War Syndrome, Lupus, etc. Then she heads into the symptoms and these were a revelation to me. A lot of things I had been passing off as age or menopause could be symptoms of these illnesses. The book follows the history of diagnosis for these two diseases and paints a portrait of the typical sufferer. I asked my husband to read this chapter and he said it sounded just like me. It is some comfort to know that you are not going insane. Unfortunately the health care industry has shown little interest in researching these illnesses but here is where the age of the book is a detriment. The pharmaceutical industry has produced Lyrica recently and it shows signs of affecting the brain chemistry which may be responsible for the symptoms. As far as that brain chemistry goes it is a strong possibility there is a neurotransmitter glitch that is sending signals of pain for no reason. Environmental and other toxins could be responsible for this glitch, however, you need a predisposition to this malady which should be obvious because otherwise everyone would have it. There are toxins in everything. The latter part of the books deals with treatments (there are none) and alleviation of symptoms, including your own attitude adjustment. Berne mentions Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and I would just like to add my two cents about CBT. When I was seriously depressed the most helpful thing my psychiatrist did was introduce me to Cognitive Behavior Therapy. I have been using it ever since and I believe it is this mental discipline which allows me to be happier than I have ever been even while living with the symptoms of Fibromyalgia. All in all I recommend this book to anyone suffering from these illnesses. It really does help to know you are not alone and you are not crazy - it is not all in your mind although it is quite possibly in your brain. Good luck to all my fellow sufferers.

Great book!
This is a wonderful book for patients, doctors, family members, caregivers, or anyone wanting more information on what CFS/FMS really is and how to live with it and have a productive life. As a FMS patient, I strongly identified with the symptoms and feelings, and found the sample letters to my doctor, my family, my friends, extremely valid and able to put my feelings into perspective.

While it was hard for me to keep reading the "reality" that this disease has no cure -- (I face that in daily life too but it's easier to forget about it than when you're reading it every few pages!), it was important for me to realize that I'm not just "dreaming this up" -- nor am I "faking it". For years, I went undiagnosed, and had many doctor's tell me that it was "all in my head"....this book helps patients realize that these ARE real diseases that have not been given the proper "title" or validation by the CDC that they deserve.

This book was a great source of information and support for me and I highly recommended it to my doctor and to other FMS/CFS patients as well.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Other Invisible
An excellent book, full of useful advice and support. As a Consultant Psychiatrist, I have been treating Chronic Fatigue Syndromes since 1982 and this is one of the best books on the subject, that I have ever read. I would thoroughly recommend this book to all sufferers and their relatives. The illness is extremely difficult to treat and is very frustrating for both the patient and also the therapist. However, books like this offer considerable hope and guidance.
Keep up ther good work.
Dr. Adrian Winbow, Consultant Psychiatrist ... Read more

Product Description
It's the flu, I thought, but of course the flu never came. Author Cherie Stechly knows firsthand that living with Fibromyalgia is not easy. She has suffered with intense pain, poor sleep, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Adrenal Fatigue, and a host of other symptoms. In her first book, Overcome Your Fibromyalgia, Cherie takes a new approach to battling an old disease and offers alternatives to the standard advice. She takes readers along on her journey of healing and spirituality, combining personal anecdotes with thorough research to present the disease from all sides--and to show its weaknesses. From hormones to vitamins, diet to stress, readers will be able to overcome all obstacles and learn about themselves as they defeat a debilitating health issue. Join Cherie on this path to healing and live a pain-free life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

I Did it - You Can Too!
Cherie Stechly gives a detailed, positive and empowering account of her battle againt fibromyalgia. She worked as an equal partner with her internist and was supported by her husband, friends and personal faith. She broke down her fibro into many different pieces, diligently researched each issue and managed her symptoms one by one. She gives plenty of references and promotes nutrition, supplements, vitamins, herbs and yoga. By using such an integrative approach, she regained her health. She wrote this book so as to help others through her personal story and I was quite impressed and inspired by it. ... Read more

Product Description
THE HIDDEN EPIDEMIC There are legions, literally millions upon millions of people, living in pain and suffering in silence and is the number one reason for doctor visits in the U.S. and nothing else even comes close. The number of people is staggering: 200 million who suffer pain on some regular basis, at least once a month, and 92 million people in unrelenting, chronic pain every day without letup seven days a week. Everything to be found regarding dealing with pain revolves around managing, coping with, or in some way learning how to live with pain. There is not a word to be found as regards how one might go about removing the cause of the pain because it has been accepted as fact that the cause is unknown.At present there are many books on the topic of pain in general, as well as numerous books on specific conditions, but not a single one of them reveals the underlying cause of the pain and how to remove it, eliminating the need for drugs. Until now. Harvey Diamond is the bestselling author of the enormously successful series of FIT FOR LIFE books. Harvey has one of the most compelling and moving human interest stories you will ever hear. While serving his country in Vietnam, as a 21 year old in 1966, he was exposed to Agent Orange which brought on a condition called peripheral neuropathy. Along with extreme, unrelenting pain, this condition also slowly deteriorates muscles until individuals are confined to a wheelchair unable to move. Most cases are fatal. In his landmark new book, LIVING WITHOUT PAIN, Harvey reveals to those 200 million people who are in pain and looking for answers, how they too can live life free of pain without having to rely on dangerous drugs. Harvey's engaging and light-hearted, reader-friendly writing style highlights this book which is brimming over with common sense information that changes people's lives. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

No Pain
I found this book informative and helpful.I suffer with Arthritis, Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and felt that some of the information was very well stated.I will definitely reread this book and use it as a reference for my conditions.I can recomend this book to others suffering from these conditions with confidence.The information given is not a cure-all but I know I enjoyed reading it (it is easy reading)and there are several things I am going to try. ... Read more