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I’m a married 31 year-old who has been diagnosed with fibromylagia for 12 years. I am on a quest to raise awareness and help others by sharing information and staying positive. Read more
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You Don’t Look Sick! Book Review

In August I told you about the book You Don’t Look Sick: Living Well With Invisible Chronic Illness after attending an Arthritis Foundation conference. It was a finalist for USABook News Best Health Book 2005 and I have just recently read it. The book shares various experiences that Joy Selak, who has fibromyalgia, went through. Some of the experiences have to do with social interactions, work experiences, emotions and spirituality, heath care and insurance company hassles and relationships. After each anecdote, Dr. Steve Overman shares his reflection of what happened, from a medical standpoint. He was her rheumatologist and he has the added insight of personally dealing with a coronary atherosclerosis diagnosis and living with a brother who was terminally ill with cancer. The accounts are in told in order of the four stages of chronic, invisible illness, as I explained in my previous post.

I believe that the people who would benefit most from this book are those who’re newly diagnosed with fibromyalgia or other invisible, chronic illness and their family and close friends. Reading the book as someone who received their main diagnosis over a decade ago it was more of a reminder of what the earlier phases felt like. Of course, I also felt like I could completely relate to most of Selak’s experiences. I believe to someone newly diagnosed it would help them feel as if they’re not alone. It is easy to read, in fact I read 3/4 of the book during a domestic flight! Support group leaders will love the discussion questions in the appendix.

There is an updated version of the book that in the works now and it will hopefully be out in 2012. The update includes more on the fourth stage of chronic, invisible illness, grief and acceptance, as well as deeper comments from Dr. Overman. Selak has a website where you can learn more about the book and her speaking appearances. Some of her go-to resources are patient support group publications, The Fibromyalgia Network e-newsletter and The American Pain Foundation.

What are you favorite fibromyalgia books?

You Don't Look Sick book cover

You Don't Look Sick!



Comments

Comment from Pam
Time December 19, 2011 at 7:53 am

Sounds really good. I think I will check it out when the new edition comes out. Thx!
Pam recently posted: A City Girl & Country Drivin’ Don’t Mix

[Reply]

Comment from Peter
Time December 20, 2011 at 10:05 am

That one has been on my “to read” list for a long time. I will definitely have to check it out now :)
Peter recently posted: 3 Sacrifices I Refuse to Make with Chronic Illness

[Reply]

Felicia Fibro Reply:

I feel like my to-read list always gets longer and longer and never shorter =)

[Reply]

Comment from annie
Time December 21, 2011 at 1:33 pm

Thank you for sharing this review…I’ll put it on my to read list for january. I was diagnosed almost two years ago, and recently started to realize the phases I’ve gone through…lol wonder which stage I’m at now.

[Reply]

Felicia Fibro Reply:

I didn’t feel like I was going through phases at the time I was – I just thought I was getting more used to living with it. I guess that is true in its simplified from, but looking back I definitely can see where I switched from phase to phase. Did you see the link to my previous post where it briefly explains the phases?

[Reply]

Comment from Annie
Time December 22, 2011 at 3:52 am

I have’t read your previous post, was going to last night, but was tired….will read it today?…sister-in-law and nephew coming tonight, so I’ll be getting ready for that…no cooking though…costco lasagna!

[Reply]

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