Book update

[ashleyPT]

Hey guys,

So I got a book from the library and I thought I'd share a little bit since some others were interested.  It's called Life Disrupted by Laurie Edwards.  The subtitle is: Getting real about chronic illness in your twenties and thirties.  It is divided into 3 parts and I just finished the first.  The author has a rare respiratory disease, and since I am not diagnosed, I was interested in a book that was not specifically related to MS, so I'm enjoying that aspect.  She brings in other people also and their experiences with different diagnoses.  

I'm not really a critical reader beyond knowing if I like something or not.  I'm not the type that notices much about writing style.  So far I know that I look forward to reading it - the chapters are short so it's easy to sit down for 10 minutes and get something out of it.  I am identifying with the writer a lot - who had a strong focus on work while being diagnosed.

There is a lot in the first part about speaking up and being your own advocate and it focuses on the medical world - navigating the system and such.  I wrote some quotes down that spoke to me.

"A doctor shouldn't view what we say as a laundry list of complaints, but as necessary tools to guide him/her toward better treatment.  The more we disclose, the more both parties benefit."


"Being well means being able to find a place for chronic illness within the context of our relationships and our professional lives, not at the expense of them."

"The first step in the process [diagnosis] was that I began to truly listen to what my body was telling me instead of listening to what the doctors thought they heard."

"Specialists who are used to being right enjoy a challenge.  You're a challenge.  So they put you in their carefully constructed diagnostic boxes, sure they will be right.  When you do not fit inside their box, they are not willing to build a new one, because that would mean admitting their error."  (My husband and I have been talking about fitting into boxes for years).

"The line between adapting to physical problems and ignoring them is precariously thin."  (I definitely called what I was doing adapting, I think I was horribly wrong).

I'm looking forward to the second part which is called - Public Life: chronic illness in an otherwise healthy world.  

[sunnyinthesnow]

You know what's funny? Someone else doing the leg work, making your life a little bit easier, has so much more meaning now. Thank you for helping me conserve brain energy.

(seriously)

I see a book store run this weekend...

[rendean]

Thanks for the excerpts from the book. The author makes some very good points. Please continue to share pertinent points from the book with us!

Ren