If You Have to Wear an Ugly Dress, Learn to Accessorize: Guidance, Inspiration, and Hope for Women with Lupus, Scleroderma, and Other Autoimmune Illnesses

by Linda McNamara, Karen Kemper

""Lupus and scleroderma are our shadows but they do not define us. We may have to wear the ugly dresses of chronic illness but we don't have to be the ugly dresses."" -- Linda and KarenIf you are experiencing a long-term illness or disability, this book is for you -- as well as your family and friends. The authors share a collection of deeply personal stories and poetry to describe their journey from illness to health, well-being, and fruitful living. Their creative life management strategies provide a road map to help you: overcome overwhelming feelings of loss, grief, anger, fear, and powerlessness;navigate a healthcare system filled with individuals who can be patronizing or dismissive;field well-intentioned but hurtful remarks such as, "But you look so good "walk the tightrope between seeking and accepting help and fiercely guarding your independence.

Chronic illness forces you to slow down and reexamine your values, your choices, and the way you define yourself. In "If You Have to Wear an Ugly Dress, Learn to Accessorize," Linda McNamara and Karen Kemper offer companionship throughout the process, helping you face your challenges with dignity and grace.

About the Authors

Linda McNamara, RN, MBA: Linda is a registered nurse, healthcare consultant, and certified health coach with over forty years experience in health and wellness. She has been living with systemic lupus since 1996.

Karen A. Kemper, PhD, MSPH: Karen is a health educator and university professor in health promotion and public health. She has certifications in health fitness and life coaching and has worked in health and wellness for twenty-five years. She has been living with scleroderma since 1992.

Genres: Nonfiction

212 pages, Paperback

First published August 15, 2011

Reviews

[Jolene Rodenbaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG... this is such a small world. I am reading this book, which is really good and applies to all of us, not just those with autoimmune disease. We all have things to overcome in our lives and this positive and inspirational book by a woman with Scleroderma and one with Lupus can help. I go to a Scleroderma support group meeting and there are these two very wonderful and strong ladies there for the first time as well as me. When I hear the names I can't believe that they are the mother and the aunt of the one author with Scleroderma. There by coincidence, I pull out the book and tell them how much I love the book. This is a great read and applies to all of us and how we manage our own "ugly dress" whether it be autoimmune diseases or something else from being over weight to dealing with cancer. I am truly blessed.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a warm blanket on a chilly day. I recommend it to anyone experiencing and/or seeking to understand the emotional side of chronic illness. I anticipate rereading this book.

[Tess Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lighter book about dealing with the social, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of living with lupus. Not medical advice, but quick read affirming the need to balance care on all these areas as well as medically.

[Dawn Leitheuser · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED it!! Was very inspiring and uplifting. Had great explanations for dealing and coping. A must for people with auto immune diseases.

[Riv · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a quick and easy read. It is nice to read the stories of two women who have learned to live well with autoimmune disease. That is no small feat! It helps the reader to feel less alone in her struggle.
The reason I gave this book a low rating (which I rarely do), is because it is not very well written. Unfortunately, I don't feel like I learned very much from the book. The authors promise many practical tools on the back cover, such as "overcome overwhelming feelings", "navigate the healthcare system", find balance between asking help and remaining independent. Yes, it was nice to hear of how they have done thingsthemselves, but it didn't provide me with any new practical tools or strategies.
The set-up of the book was choppy and a bit weak. Some chapters were so short that it felt like they'd just gotten started and then it was done. I think that it would have been helpful for the authors to sit with the ideas for the book much longer until they had distilled them into a much more focused whole.

[Wanda Argersinger · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I expected. I actually found the idea behind the book to be a funny idea, but the book itself was not what I expected, nor what I wanted. Perhaps a newly diagnosed patient would find it helpful. As for me, NO.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great resource for anyone suffering from lupus or scleroderma!

[Naomi Ayala · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great first book to read on this subject. While not so substantive, it's written with so much heart and it's so uplifting.