Product Description

You’ve been repeatedly poked, prodded, tested and scanned, yet, despite how awful you feel, your doctor, like many of your friends, co–workers, and family members have begun dropping subtle (and some not–so–subtle) hints that they think it’s “all in your head.” Maybe you’re one of the lucky few CFS sufferers who’ve received an accurate diagnosis but nothing your health care provider does seems to help. Well, you’re not alone. According to recent estimates, of the approximately 800,000 Americans with CFS, more than 90% have been misdiagnosed, dismissed, or are not receiving proper treatment.

Don’t despair, help has arrived. Written by a national expert who has successfully treated scores of CFS patients in her own practice, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for Dummies gives you the knowledge and tools you need to beat CFS and get back to living a normal life. In plain English Doctor Susan Lisman fills you in on:

• What CFS is, how you get it, and how it effects your body     
• Its major symptoms and warning signs
• Getting an accurate diagnosis
• Avoiding situations that might be making you sicker
• Teaming up with the right doctor and crafting a treatment plan
• The most effective drugs, therapies and alternative approaches
• Coping with CFS in your personal and professional lives

Packed with checklists, self–tests, questionnaires, and other powerful tools, and featuring many inspiring real–life stories of patients who’ve licked CFS, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for Dummies puts you on the road to recovery.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #234636 in Books
• Published on: 2007-05-18
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

From the Back Cover

Tips for getting treatment and getting back to life

Here′s great advice on controlling CFS at home, work, school, and more

If you think — or know — that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is affecting you or someone you love, take heart! This upbeat guide helps you assess symptoms, walks you through diagnosis and treatment options, arms you with the right questions to ask the doctor, and provides loads of tips for getting your life back on track, even with CFS.

• Determine if your symptoms are due to CFS

• Find the right physician

• Understand various treatment options

• Manage your CFS in a variety of situations

• Help someone who′s living with CFS

About the Author
Susan R. Lisman, MD, is Director of Pediatric Anesthesia at Newton–Wellesley Hospital, Newton, MA. Karla Dougherty is a leading writer and editor in the fields of medicine, health, diet, and exercise.

Customer Reviews

Excellent thorough starting point
After having been adviesd that I may have Chronic Fatigue I wanted to look into the matter further since I had no real knowledge about it other than the unfortunate name of 'Yuppy Flu' which had been attached to it some years ago.

I found this book extremely positive and upbeat (it is American after all!) and provided very useful avenues for further research. It sets the basic information in easy to read sections providing information for the sufferer and also for those around them who may need to help them or simply understand the condition. I would highly recommend this as the first book you buy to get an insight into the tests which you may undertake, understood causes and how to manage the condition with examples of cases which you may be able to connect with, with a view to making life changes to combat the symptoms of the disease. All the information and advice is set out clearly and in straight forward positive language.

Having now been left with the conclusion that I have CFS I have reread the book again and am using this as a base for further research, do bear in mind it is American and much of the information is geared towards their medical system, thankfully we do not have the inherrent problems they have in respect of cost of tests and insurance pay outs here in the UK.

Definately well worth the money, it may not answer all of your concerns but will leave you feeling more positive and having the tools to find out more.

Really Good
This book is great, very in depth and very informative. A definate guide and contains little stories of people who have had CFS along the way.
THe only bad points are that there is no functionability scale and it is an american book so the disabilities section is not right if you are in briatin. But overall a really good book!
P.s. it is not about ME beacuse it is NOT meant to be about ME

Misleading claims and false expectations.
My problem with this book and its authors, stems from the false assertion that CFS/ME is cureable. It isn't, and it is detrimental to all sufferers and their carers to assume otherwise.

It seems to me that many members of the medical fraternity, can't face up to the reality of this illness. They are not prepared to admit that they are impotent, so they broaden their definition of the illness. By including anyone who has been suffering Post Viral Fatigue for several months into the definition, they can now claim to have "cured" people who would have recovered naturally without their intervention.

Because of such false claims of cures, those of us who have to face a lifetime of dreadful illness are triply damned. In order to boost their own egos and bank balances, doctors have given license to everbody to accuse us of being unco-operative malingerers or psychotic. As a result we become increasingly socially isolated and are denied the great deal of help we need. In order to get any help at all we are forced to try and jump through higher and higher hoops, making ourselves more and more ill in the process. In severe cases, lack of quality support has inevitably led to death by organ failure or suicide. I was especially saddened to find out that a Swiss clinic assisted a non-terminal sufferer to die this year.

If you think you are suffering from this condition then please visit the website of one of the main charities (Action for M.E., M.E. Association, 25% M.E. Group).