I've noticed that there aren't many books about being chronically ill for children.  I'd love to read and review more on here.  So I was glad to be contacted by author Judith Klausner, asking me to review her book, Noah the Narwhal: A Tale of Downs and Ups.  This children's book, which is delightfully illustrated by Sarah Gould, follows Noah the Narwhal through a day of being ill.  (Narwhals are small whales with tusks on their heads.)

Noah hears from friends, family and colleagues what we all hear when we have a bad day with chronic illness:  "You sound (look) just fine", "You were fine yesterday"; and when he feels better he gets blamed for faking it, and being self-centered and unreliable.  "Today is not yesterday," Noah counters, feeling more and more down as he continues to be disbelieved and criticized.

In the course of the book, the folks who were not understanding or compassionate about Noah's ill health come to grips with their judgments of him, realizing that he is usually sociable, dependable, and kind, and that he had been having a bad day.  They value Noah for his good qualities and become more compassionate about what his illness does to him.

Young children with chronic illness will feel comforted when they hear about Noah's bad days, because they have bad days, too.  They will be able to relate to others not understanding what they go through and the emotions that they experience.

I see even more value in this story being read to groups of children, where there is one or more with illness, so that the others may learn to develop compassion and empathy toward their friend's limitations and bad days.  Understanding how invisible chronic illness changes and limits others, and learning how to be kind and supportive when others are having a bad day, are valuable lessons to be learned early on in life.

Of course, family members who read this book can become much more sensitized to how their ill loved one experiences life.  These are the people who can become most frustrated by dealing with the child's limitations on a daily basis.

Can you imagine how much easier and fulfilling our chronically ill lives would be if others accepted our limitations when they were younger, or even now?  Can you imagine how much better we would have felt about ourselves when we became chronically ill if we had known that others experienced the same emotions and complications in their lives?

This is an important book for enlightening youngsters about the reality of chronic illness and appreciating the person who has the illness as a whole person, not just someone who is different from them.  If we can nurture acceptance and compassion at a young age, this world will be a better place. 

When we help young (and adult) people with chronic illness to accept their limitations and live beyond them as whole and vital human beings, not as labels or isolated sectors of the population, our society becomes richer with their creativity, spirit and contributions.  When we accept, respect, support and celebrate others who are ill, disabled or different from us in any way, we embrace a practice of kindness that impacts the the entire human race.

Thank you, Judith, for writing this book.

You can purchase Noah the Narwhal: A Tale of Downs and Ups from Amazon and Barnes and Noble in hardcover.

Recovery from an illness or injury is often a long and arduous process, if it ever happens at all.  When we get impatient about recovery, we lose hope.  Jennifer Mulder has written this beautiful little ebook to help you envision recovery and create a step-by-step plan that introduces incrementally more healthy behaviors into your life, slowly and steadily increasing your wellness and well-being with consistent, small changes.
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Mulder makes no claims about curing what ails you.  However, creating an action plan for recovery can lead you onto a path of an increased level of general health and quality of life which, ultimately, helps you feel better emotionally and physically.

It's up to you how you define recovery.  Is there a possibility to reverse your injury or disease and be cured?  Is your physical situation chronic but able to be improved?  Are you permanently disabled but looking to improve your general health and, therefore, your quality of life?  Where there is room for improvement, you can create your own personal plan to make your life better.
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The Action Plan that Mulder helps you create includes:

• Restoration with rest and relaxation
• Replenishment through diet guidelines and ways to overcome obstacles
• Rebuilding by recognizing your starting point, defining appropriate levels of exercise and slowly building movement into your life
• Regaining focus by examining the mental aspects of your illness/injury and learning ways to clear your mind

Guidelines, helpful information and worksheets assist you in creating a personalized plan.  I especially like the extra hints and tips that Mulder includes in this book, such as:

• How to make a nutritious meal when you’re tired
• Relax your body and mind
• Instructions with photos on restorative yoga poses

I give a thumbs-up to How to Create Your Own Action Plan for Recovery: a step-by-step guide on rebuilding your health after illness or injury by Jennifer Mulder.  You can purchase your copy by visiting http://thehealthsessions.com/shop/.  Even though the price is in Euros, you can still purchase using other currency.

If you suffer from depression and/or anxiety, as I do, you know that there are times when your mind is not your own.  Thoughts from another planet seem to take over and hammer your brain with beliefs that you know on a certain level aren't healthy or true, but you're quickly under their spell.  The enemy's army comes marching through, aided by a barrage of negative thoughts, brutally attacking your sense and sensibilities, and an emotional coup topples every last bit of wisdom, love and positivity that had once ruled your world.

It gets ugly.

Let me introduce you to a beautiful and effective peacekeeper; a gorgeous little book described as "an illustrated guide to making peace with your mind - even when it's driving you crazy."  Who's Mind is it Anyway? by Lisa and Franco Esile is a picture book, whimsically illustrated, accompanied by lighthearted yet profound text that lassos your stampeding thoughts while instilling a sense of calm and control through it's gentle guidance.

This book is a quick, delightful, healing read; keep it handy to re-read whenever those negative thoughts and beliefs start a mutiny in your mind.  I recommend sharing it with your family, as well. There could be a benefit to reading it together at a family meeting, introducing a new and better way of dealing with upsets; then making it your go-to whenever things get a little crazy.  

We all need a gentle reminder at times.  "You are already the best and only version of yourself.  You just have trouble seeing it."  Thanks, Lisa and Franco.  I needed that!

Whose Mind is it Anyway? Get Out of Your Head and Into Your Life by Lisa and Franco Esile is available for Kindle and in paperback at https://www.amazon.com/Whose-Mind-Anyway-Your-Head/dp/1101982632.  You can check out their website at http://francoandlisa.com/ for more cool, happy stuff!

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I know...it's February.  There have been years when my Christmas tree was still bedecked on this date.  I'm aware that for most of us, Christmas 2016 is but a faded memory by now.  So, why am I reviewing a book about Christmas with chronic illness two days before March? 

​Christmas has always been my favorite time of year, but this last one was difficult for me, having just lost my father last summer.  The day after Thanksgiving, I asked my friend to bring the tree up from the basement and was all ready to break out the many boxes of ornaments in my closet when I flat-out freaked-out!  I just couldn't do it; I froze!  I told my friend to forget the tree, gave him his presents in a shopping bag, told him not to give me anything, and - END OF DISCUSSION - sent him out the door!  I could not move toward Christmas!  Grief held me tightly in its Grinchy grouchy grip.

​After a few days, I relented.  Taking baby steps, my apartment finally started to show signs of festive joy, with ornaments full of memories and frivolous trinkets adding to the usual dust collectors.  The halls were not bedecked as beautifully as usual, but every room had something that held a bit of holiday spirit in it.  I baked a couple dozen cookies, but nothing like my usual offering of sweet treats.  Then on New Year's Day, all that glittered got stuffed back into their boxes.  I was done with it.  I'd had enough.

​Though grief was the catalyst for my freak-out, chronic illness can do that to us, too.  The whole prospect of Christmas or any other holiday, and everything that goes with it - the big meals, company, visiting others, endless shopping, giving presents, trying to look happy, the expectations and demands - all becomes way too much.

​I was also trying to get back to writing my book at the time, which presented another source of struggle.  I was wiped out from my father's death and its aftermath (closing his accounts, notifying people, organizing interment, clearing out his house).  I was super exhausted, an emotional basket case, over-committed and totally overwhelmed.  It doesn't take a death in the family to get like this.  Just your normal everyday life with chronic illness can flatten you out like roadkill in the very same way.

​Because of the state of my life at the moment this book was given to me, I could relate to every word.  However, I was just too distracted and exhausted to write a review.  But, no worries, you can buy this book now and be prepared for the next round of holidays!  You can even utilize its wisdom for any time of year that demands more of you than you can give.

​Andersen's sweet, humorous, and insightful book, Chronic Christmas: Surviving the Holidays with a Chronic Illness​, is written in the form of an Advent calendar, giving you day-by-day hints to navigate through the pre-holiday crazies up to the after-Christmas sigh of relief.  Each day has a section of tips for the chronic illness sufferer, and another section for that person's caregiver or friend who is willing to share the holidays' demands and turn them into something more simple and memorable. Breaking down the enormity of the looming holiday into bite-sized bits, sharing those bits with a friend, and eliminating the unnecessary demands makes your Chronic Christmas so much more enjoyable and less taxing, mentally and physically!  It's all about self-care, my friends; a hard lesson to learn, but oh-so-wonderful when you finally make it a habit!

​I especially like the idea of hygge (pronounced hue-gah), a Danish tradition that Andersen has embraced since childhood.  Hygge is all about making things cozy and intimate, and involves yummy food and time spent with your favorite people.  Andersen says it almost always involves candlelight, and "it's nothing short of magical."  Get the picture?  Hygge isn't about running around malls and burning up your credit card on Amazon to get that perfect gift (or ten) to impress everyone on your shopping list.  It's not about baking enough ham and turkey and side dishes and desserts to feed an army.  It isn't about going to every party in the neighborhood and baking your best cookies by the tens of dozens.  It isn't about winning the local house decorating contest.  It's about being together and relaxing.  Aaah, sounds good, doesn't it?

​Andersen not only shares tips about achieving a more sane and enjoyable holiday season that won't tax your limitations, but she also shares recipes, book lists, gift ideas and giggly anecdotes to make your new kind of Christmas fun!

You and your carer or friends can actually improve the quality of your time, together and apart, holidays or not, by creating a whole new paradigm of approaching life in a very hygge way! 

​Buy a copy of Chronic Christmas: Surviving the Holidays with a Chronic Christmas​​ by Lene Andersen today, enjoy the read, then put what you learn to use when any holiday draws near.  And add a little hygge to each and every day.  It can only improve the quality of life for you and your loved ones, and that's the best gift of all, year round!

Chronic Christmas is available for Kindle or in paperback on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Chronic-Christmas-Surviving-Holidays-Illness/dp/0991858670/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1488234461&sr=1-1&keywords=chronic+christmas

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This book made me realize just how far a mother's love will drive her to make her daughter's dream come true.  Elizabeth Gross's daughter, Page, truly needed a dream to latch on to, as well as hope in seeing that dream come to fruition. Page was only 8 years old when she witnessed her mother's health deteriorate from Myeloproliferative Neoplasm (MPN), a rare incurable blood cancer where the bone marrow cells that produce the body's blood cells develop and function abnormally.  

This account of this mother's journey with cancer and her family's plot to meet Taylor Swift is so compelling that Gross was chosen as the 2015 New Apple Book Awards Winner For Excellence In Independent Publishing, General Non-Fiction Category.  Not bad for a first book!

Anyone with a rare disease knows how difficult it is to find a doctor that can help you, let alone diagnose you.  Gross's battle wasn't just with the disease, which left her severely fatigued, but also with a parade of doctors who couldn't or wouldn't agree on diagnosis or treatment, and hospital staff who behaved toward her in a most abysmal manner.  If it wasn't for her perseverance and intuition, she would have remained vulnerable to stroke as well as potentially lethal consequences of a drug she knew was harming instead of helping her.

Where does Taylor Swift come in?  This is the fun part. Page is a devout Swiftie. She lives and breathes Taylor. Gross and her husband could see how the medical crisis was impacting their sensitive and thoughtful daughter.  So these can-do folks concocted a boldly outrageous yet incredibly efficient plan for Page to meet her idol.  I won't spoil the adventure for you, but suffice it to say, the second part of the book, dedicated to their Help Me Find Taylor Swift Adventure, is a joyful read.

Gross accomplishes something that isn't easy to do - she instructs us on a rare disease and shares her lowest of low experiences with us, but contrasts this with the lighthearted mischief of their trip to find Taylor. She allows us into her heart, home and hospital room, and eventually into their hotel, to witness an incredible example of creating joie de vivre even in the worst of times.

Gross is a role model for those who want to be empowered patients, and shares good tips on getting the best care for yourself, including listening to your gut, leaving a doctor who doesn't listen to or respect you, and bringing a tape recorder to your doctor visits (I've done that, too).  She also provides helpful links and resources for those with cancer or chronic illness.

This book honors Taylor and her big-hearted generosity, as well as helping and inspiring others who fight devastating illnesses.  But Gross doesn't stop there.  No, Taylor Swift is not the only big-hearted, generous woman in this book.  All proceeds from the book are donated to various charities to help those with cancer and invisible illness.  

This book gets a big thumbs up from me!  I wish could live next door to such a great family as the Grosses.  I just love adventurous can-do people!  Don't you?

Dream Accomplished: A Story of Cancer, a Mother's Love and Taylor Swift is available for Kindle and in paperback on Amazon.com and from dreamaccomplished.com/buy.html where you can purchase an autographed print copy of the book.

Years ago I studied Buddhism in a university philosophy class.  Decades later I would discover the less cerebral and more healing and practical side of Buddhism through meditation practice.  Practical? Does that word surprise you?  Think about it:  what could be more practical than a way to instantly calm yourself, to draw your focus into the present moment, and to be able to deal well with the problem or pain at hand?  Buddhism is a tool box, and mindfulness is its most powerful tool.

In terms of dealing with chronic illness, we consider practical tips to be those associated with comforting ourselves with aromatherapy, diet and body work, making things easier for ourselves with adaptive technology, and the like.  Yes, those physical comforts are wonderful, and often a necessity.  But if you don't deal with the state of your mind and how you respond to your situation while you're at it, you are not going to live well. You will suffer. You know what I'm talking about. This is where the mindfulness, or paying attention, comes in.  As Bernhard states, "This is mindfulness practice - mindfulness infused with compassion for ourselves."

Reading Toni Bernhard's latest book, How to Live Well with Chronic Pain and Illness, I found something on every page that made me say out loud, "Yes!  Yes!  Yes!"  And there was also something there to make me pause and then say "Ah!"  The foundation of all of Bernhard's books come from a long-time practice of Buddhist mindfulness woven into the fabric of her experience with long-term chronic illness.  The title of the Introduction to her latest Mindful Guide is "Making Peace with a Life Upside Down." That says it all.

If you aren't convinced that mindfulness practice is practical, all you have to do is read the titles of the first six parts of the book:

1. ​Skills to Help with Each Day
2. Mindfulness: Potent Medicine for Easing the Symptoms of Chronic Illness
3. Responding Wisely to Troubling Thoughts and Emotions
4. Special Challenges
5. Isolation and Loneliness
6. Enjoy the Life You Have

Our day to day dealings with chronic illness or pain usually include talking to others about how we feel, making decisions about treatments, minding our symptoms, and requesting help.  Bernhard echoes what I've often said about being chronically ill: it's a full-time job. She doesn't decide for us or make a case for making the never-ending decisions one way or another.  Instead, she acknowledges the difficulties we face every day in making these tough decisions while offering practical, mindful ways to approach the process. 

Part of mindfulness practice is patience.  What patient has patience??  We're constantly waiting on something: a glass of water, a doctor who has left you alone in the exam room, the verdict of a test result, for the meds to kick in, for the next symptom to occur.  Yet the process of mindfulness - of slowing down, becoming aware of the moment, of our surroundings, noticing what thoughts and feelings are coming up - brings us to a point where we fully acknowledge that moment and patiently await the next. This patience transfers to our dealings with situations, with others, with ourselves and our broken bodies.  We see the thirst, the anxiety and apprehension, the disappointments and the discomfort for what they are without attaching our selves to them.  It's a process of letting go.  

Bernhard covers hard topics, such as chapter 19, "The Special Difficulties Faced by Young People Who Are Chronically Ill."  She acknowledges sensitively the challenges the younger person faces with being told they're too young to be that sick, isolation and missing out on a social life, completing school, getting a job, stigma, romance and child bearing/raising. Her words gently steer the focus to positive, practical ways of dealing with the challenges.  In Part VII, she also offers a sizable chunk of mindful guidance for family, friends, caregivers and others who aren't quite sure how to deal with you. 

I loved one of her final chapters, True Confessions, where Bernhard bares her soul and admits her "imperfections" to us.  Some of her confessions gave me the giggles, some gave me pause because I knew exactly what she meant, and I couldn't help but think how brave she is to acknowledge these things in print. But that is where perfection lies: in being honest and in the moment, acknowledging our humanness - that is perfect, whether we're sick or well, Buddhist or non-Buddhist.

You don't have to be a Buddhist to learn mindfulness or to benefit from this book.  I highly recommend this comforting, highly-readable and immensely practical book to anyone who is at their wit's end with their life with chronic illness or pain, or anyone who doesn't want to reach their wit's end. There's nothing mysterious or difficult about mindfulness.  It's as simple as paying attention to your breath. Bernhard will gently take you there.  The results are breathtaking.

Links to purchase this and Toni Bernhard's other two books can be found at tonibernhard.com
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I like Yvonne deSousa.  She's a sista from anutha mutha.  And I like her book MS Madness!  I like her humor about her disease.  Mind you, she's had a rough journey with relapsing/remitting MS (as her doctor said, bluntly, "MS sucks!), but she still finds something to laugh about around every corner.  

My two takeaways from this book : 1/"...laughter is a legitimate way to release negative energy." (I knew that, but deSousa reinforced my belief.); and 2/"MS can mean the end of some things for you (as can any chronic illness)...If you dig deep down and find what truly inspires you, you can do anything you really want to...(though) you may have to adjust your dreams..." Nailed it.

Now as I do not have MS, but my sista from the same mutha does, I decided to enlist her help in reviewing this book.  Here's what she had to say:

"I recently had the good fortune to have a copy of Yvonne deSousa's MS Madness!: A "Giggle More, Cry Less" Story of Multiple Sclerosis put into my hands by a loving sister who knows chronic illness herself and has witnessed the results of my long struggle with multiple sclerosis.  I'll admit to being somewhat reluctant to read yet another "my experiences with this or that disease" type of book but was quickly drawn into MS Madness by Ms. de Sousa's breezy writing style and humor.  Even though we are almost a generation apart in my estimation (and I don't deeply appreciate the same music she does), I certainly found a great deal to identify with in this writer's chronicle of going from being a multi-tasking, arrive early/stay late dynamo in a busy front office setting of a medical practice, to a person profoundly changed by an incurable disease of unknown specific cause.  Ms. deSousa's details about the sometimes baffling symptoms and the difficulty in finally getting to a diagnosis after a long struggle had me nodding my head up and down, saying to myself, "Yep, I know what you mean...". 

Ms. deSousa relates her struggles with "brain fog", a condition that plagues many who have multiple sclerosis.  Cognition changes are scary and I sense that this issue and her overwhelming fatigue were very hard on a woman who prided herself as a can-do/go-to person that she was to her work associates, family and friends.  I identified strongly with her descriptions of the changes in her body as the MS took hold.  Her frustration at figuring out what was going on rang very true, as did the sadness in recognizing the losses this disease causes in one's life.  Ms. deSousa is fortunate to have been diagnosed sooner into her struggle with multiple sclerosis than I was and to have found, with some effort, a doctor that she can depend on.  But what shines through in her telling of her story of coming to terms with this chronic illness is that humor and personal insight rule the day and win in the end."  ~Leslie A. Guyer


Thanks for the eloquent review, Les!  That's definitely two thumbs-up here!  If you have MS or any chronic illness, this is a great book to help lift your spirits and change your perspective if you've been down in the dumps.  DeSousa reminds us that no matter what, there is always something to smile about, though sometimes we have to look pretty durn hard to find it!

MS Madness! A "Giggle More, Cry Less" Story of Multiple Sclerosis is available from Amazon in Kindle and paperback format at http://www.amazon.com/MS-Madness-Yvonne-Desousa/dp/0989972364, or in paperback from Erase MS, where 50% of the profits go to the Race to Erase MS http://shop.erasems.org/products/ms-madness-a-giggle-more-cry-less-story-of-multiple-sclerosis.

When we think of cancer, we often think of an illness that is more or less acute unless it is tragically fatal.  Sometimes if it is surgically removed or treated, we can consider the disease as "cured."  But cancer is actually a chronic illness for those with metastasis and genetic predispositions such as Lynch Syndrome.  In cases like this, the cancer "journey" is one that is never-ending.

Dennis Maione tells his story of living with Lynch Syndrome with intelligence, candor, humor and aplomb. As he describes his tale, "This is not a story about cancer; it is a story about me...", and in it, he vividly describes the emotional and physical journey that he, his family and his close friends experienced when, at the young age of 27, he was first diagnosed with colon cancer which, eventually, was linked to an inherited gene.  His rendering is personal and sensitive, acknowledging that, though the illness was his, those around him absorbed his challenges and made them their own. The book becomes a celebration of the intimate community of friends and family that are so vital for us in life, especially during times of crisis. Particularly moving was the discovery that the Lynch gene was passed down to one of Maione's progeny.

Maione's book is divided into three parts:  1/ his story of being diagnosed and treated, and living with Lynch; 2/ essays about the things that he learned through his experience; and 3/ an informational "dialogue" with a doctor concerning the science and genetics involved in cancer.  Formatting the book this way added to the ease of reading.  It gave me a breather after the tale of his breath-taking ordeal, allowed me to absorb his thoughts about, and wisdom gained from, his experience, and then learn more about the disease. Many personal memoirs revolving around disease tend to bunch emotional and informational material together which make them considerably more tedious to read.

Being a cancer survivor myself, coming from a family with a history of multiple cancers, and currently on "lung cancer watch" for both myself and my father, I can truly relate with the frustrations around medical professionals' misdiagnoses, uncertainties and the continual waiting game we must endure to finally understand what we have and what can be done about it.  Maione is fortunate enough to be abundantly blessed with intelligence, heart and a closely knit group of friends and family, some in the medical profession, who were willing to assist him in uncovering the mysteries of his cancer and genetics. 

Quite frankly, I shudder to think what would have happened to Maoine and his son if they didn't have that support base on which to draw, and I grieve for the hordes of patients out there who don't have the mental ability to understand medical "speak" nor a strong community to have their backs.  So many of us have had to go it alone into that deep and murky jungle.  Even so, with a book like What I Learned from Cancer, we can understand the nuances of one's cancer journey.  We realize that it is not an easy trip and sometimes the professionals we rely upon can make it even harder.  We learn that it is good to question and research and not settle for the first opinion that a doctor hands to you.  And we discover what cancer actually is, how genes come into play and what we can do to prevent it.  This book can be a god-send to help you along your way.

As emotionally spent as I could have become while reading about the difficulties and frustrations that Maione endured, his wit was refreshing, insightful, honest and uplifting.  The book left me with a deep sense of hope. Maione made it through his surgeries and challenges, and though he is still subject to constant scrutiny to stay on top of new bouts of cancer arising, he is living life fully and sharing his experience freely. I thank you for that, Dennis.  And thank you for sharing a well-written book that was such a pleasure to read.  

I highly recommend this book to anyone going through cancer, especially if you have a family history of the disease.  

You can learn more about Dennis Maione on his website: http://www.dennismaione.com/
 
Softcover and ebook editions of What I Learned from Cancer are available for purchase on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/What-Learned-Cancer-Dennis-Maione-ebook/dp/B00QDFAU56.

I discovered the magical benefits of Yoga in my forties.  At the time I had ongoing lower back pain that occasionally kept me from twisting my torso.  I often walked with a noticeable limp.  My neck was causing me grief.  Chiropractic care gave me temporary relief, but the pain returned.  After being encouraged by several friends, I finally started Yoga classes.  Not only did the gentle stretches ease my pain for longer periods, but the Yoga may have saved my life.  Now that I have been diagnosed with Fibromuscular Dysplasia impacting my carotid arteries, as well as arthritic spurs, I've learned that I could have endured fatal or paralyzing consequences from continued Chiropractics.  

Author and yogi Shoosh Lettick Crotzer has taught yoga since 1974, focusing mostly on teaching adults and children with developmental disabilities.  She has produced two yoga videos: Yoga for Arthritis, in partnership with the Arthritis Foundation; and Yoga for MS, which she developed while teaching classes for the National MS Society.  

Her brilliant little book, Yoga for Fibromyalgia, offers easy-to-follow instructions for gentle, basic Yoga poses. Even if you have never done yoga before, you can easily find relief in these simple, relaxing stretches. Crotzer offers the option of seated or standing poses as well as poses laying on the floor, and encourages the use of props to assist with impeded flexibility and physical limitations. Each pose description features a photo of a model (who actually has Fibromyalgia) doing the pose, what parts of the body are involved and the benefits received. Guidelines are provided to help you get the most out of each pose.  Pose sequences (combinations) are suggested for specific relief, such as low back pain or reducing fatigue and stress.

Yoga benefits the Fibro sufferer through reducing fatigue, lengthening muscles, lowering blood pressure, improving circulation, reducing stress, increasing range of motion and improving mobility.  As with any exercise, you should consult your doctor before embarking on a Yoga practice.  Also, consider taking a class, if you are able.  I found it helpful having a teacher to assist me in adjusting poses to my ability, as well as correcting my pose so that I got maximum benefit without injury.  However, as the poses in this book are very simple and gentle, you certainly can start your practice using the book as your teacher.  You may find it easier to do this with a friend, however, as it can be difficult trying to read and pose at the same time.

You can purchase Yoga for Fibromyalgia: Move, Breathe, and Relax to Improve Your Quality of Life by Shoosh Lettick Crotzer in paperback and for Kindle on Amazon.

Many of us are now embarking on our first chronic illness journey.  We are navigating very choppy waters, and most of us have difficulty weathering the storm, and we need help. Even veterans, such as I, who have fought for their right to the best medical care possible, or to just find a doctor who believes them, find it a lonely and frustrating peregrination that can make medical conditions worse because of the stress involved. The Take-Charge Patient to the rescue!

My major chronic illness journey began in Australia  and followed me to the USA.  After four heart attacks and continual bouts of what was thought to be Prinzmetal's angina, along with other chronic issues, my pcp called me a hypochondriac and my local cardiologist threw up his hands and told me to find a doctor at a research hospital.   Through a roundabout journey online and on phone, I found a cardiologist at Tufts who turned out to be one of my elementary school classmates, but he couldn't do anything for me.  He led me to a specialist at NIH who was kind enough to call me on the phone and discuss what he could do.  But when we discovered that one of the drugs he used in testing could trigger my asthma, my hopes were dashed.  However, he pointed me to research by a cardiologist with whom he was familiar at UPMC.  Through testing, the new doc also found an arterial issue beyond my heart, diagnosed me with Fibromuscular Dysplasia (FMD) and referred me to a neurologist.  That neurologist was more involved with people who had had a stroke, and not neccessarily my disease, so thanks to the FMDSA, I knew there was a program for FMD at Mass General, where I hit the jackpot. I'm now a participant in their research and get top quality care by a team of specialists.  And they have discovered that the FMD may have played a role in my coronary artery dissection in 2005.  This only took, hmmmm, almost 9 years.

I've learned to be a Take-Charge Patient the hard way, and I still have a lot to learn.  How much easier my life would have been during those stressful years if I could have read this book!  Even though I've become a veteran traveler on this chronic illness journey, I found an incredible amount of information and assistance in this valuable resource. 

Award-winning author Martine Ehrenclou tells of her own journey with chronic pain, which, ironically, began while she was writing The Take-Charge Patient: How You Can Get the Best Medical Care.  Her research with 200 medical professionals provided her with strategies to navigate the health care system, and she was able to incorporate the lessons she learned along the way to create an even more brilliant resource for others suffering with chronic illness and pain.  

Patients and caregivers will both find a wealth of guidance and support in The Take-Charge Patient, a simple step-by-step guide to becoming a self-advocate and navigating the health care system (a most confronting enigma in and of itself) with confidence.  Ehrenclou wrote the book with the intention to empower patients to become pro-active and assertive participants in their own health care.  She guides you through preparing for appointments so that you are taken seriously and given better care; creating your own Health File; finding a good doctor or specialist; managing medication and medical errors; how to research your condition; covering the cost of care and health insurance; preparing for surgery; and clinical trials. She provides easy-to-use checklists and a plethora of resources and medical definitions, with an index to help you find just what you need to know.

The only flaw I found in The Take-Charge Patient is what seems to be a persistent issue with many publications these days, be they self-published e-books or hard copies from major publishers:  Typos.  This may not bother many people.  A few are okay by me, but this many tend to irk me. 

Having said that, I do not hesitate to HIGHLY recommend this quality book for everyone with chronic illness and their caregivers, as well as any family who will soon or later be confronting the befuddling maze of our health care system.  It is easy to read, easy to use, and provides a wealth of information so that you can jump ahead in the queue and not waste years trying to find the best care for your health and well-being. This book is empowering and thoughtful, and I am so very grateful that Ehrenclou has the compassion to share her journey and accumulated knowledge with us.

The Take-Charge Patient: How You Can Get the Best Medical Care (2012, Lemon Grove Press, LLC) is available as an e-book and in paperback from these outlets.