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I Hurt Like Hell
Living with a disease is inexplicably difficult, so much so that you often think of suicide or just not waking up one morning.
After discovering she has fibromyalgia, or FMS, a disease causing unbearable chronic pain in the body, Annette's life starts to change. Her first husband leaves her, she loses her job, and she is called several names both by unknown people and by those she trusts.
Having the disease is a constant battle with severe pain, and it doesn't help that she is feeling worse despite the condition being not progressive. But she has to fight every day and redeem the life she has before.
I Hurt Like Hell , by Annette L. Jackson, is a true account of how a common woman suffered from FMS and eventually got back--it's a book of inspiration for others with the same condition.
After discovering she has fibromyalgia, or FMS, a disease causing unbearable chronic pain in the body, Annette's life starts to change. Her first husband leaves her, she loses her job, and she is called several names both by unknown people and by those she trusts.
Having the disease is a constant battle with severe pain, and it doesn't help that she is feeling worse despite the condition being not progressive. But she has to fight every day and redeem the life she has before.
I Hurt Like Hell , by Annette L. Jackson, is a true account of how a common woman suffered from FMS and eventually got back--it's a book of inspiration for others with the same condition.
33 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 27, 2014
I think it fair to say that I empathize with Ms. Jackson's struggles with fibromyalgia and bipolar disorder. This book might serve as a helpful introduction for people who know someone with FM or bipolar and don't understand what it's actually like. She has a couple premises that I don't agree with, like right in her subtitle: "we have all heard of Fibromyalgia, Now Hear it from Someone who Lives it Every day." Before I got my diagnosis of FM in March, I didn't know anyone with it, and most of the people I've told don't know people with FM either--- my doctor and therapist being exceptions. The only reason I'd heard of it before my diagnosis was because of trying to self-diagnose for a couple years before that through online sources. So, I don't know who this "we" is.
Additionally, the book was poorly organized and short on information. One of the earlier chapters has a list of chronological events, but after that, it's all over the place. I say with sympathy for others who have fibro fog and have trouble organizing, remembering, staying on topic, etc. My brain isn't what it used to be, and I know that I'm not the only one. Oddly, though, Ms. Jackson maintains on pages 6 and 18 that her mind is going strong, saying that she's always trying to learn new things, that "it's kind of a weird feeling, your mind thinks you can do all these things, then your body lets you know that you can't." It's a weirder feeling when you realize the things your mind used to be able to do that it can't anymore.
She touches on several cogent points and provides some elementary information at the end of the book about the tender points and the 1990 Criteria for the Classification of Fibromyalgia. Considering the book was published in 2012, I'm a little surprised she didn't provide the 2011 criteria for diagnosing fibromyalgia. One of the few medicines she mentions by name that she takes is Methadone, which is a synthetic opioid. I have never received prescription painkillers; I have asked for them and been turned down; I think the doctors' words were "Oh, you don't want those." Whatever I say about her book, I am truly convinced that she is facing more severe suffering than I am, and I admire her fortitude and perseverance. That said, opioids aren't one of the usual recommended drugs for fibromyalgia that I have come across in my study of the syndrome. I'm not saying I know better, I'm just...saying. I can't imagine living with her level of pain for 13 years, and this book doesn't provide very much help in filling in that picture. She says on page 15 that she wants to keep on learning about new treatments for fibromyalgia, and I take this statement in good faith and hope she does. Once she has some more particular information to share, I will be glad to read it.
Additionally, the book was poorly organized and short on information. One of the earlier chapters has a list of chronological events, but after that, it's all over the place. I say with sympathy for others who have fibro fog and have trouble organizing, remembering, staying on topic, etc. My brain isn't what it used to be, and I know that I'm not the only one. Oddly, though, Ms. Jackson maintains on pages 6 and 18 that her mind is going strong, saying that she's always trying to learn new things, that "it's kind of a weird feeling, your mind thinks you can do all these things, then your body lets you know that you can't." It's a weirder feeling when you realize the things your mind used to be able to do that it can't anymore.
She touches on several cogent points and provides some elementary information at the end of the book about the tender points and the 1990 Criteria for the Classification of Fibromyalgia. Considering the book was published in 2012, I'm a little surprised she didn't provide the 2011 criteria for diagnosing fibromyalgia. One of the few medicines she mentions by name that she takes is Methadone, which is a synthetic opioid. I have never received prescription painkillers; I have asked for them and been turned down; I think the doctors' words were "Oh, you don't want those." Whatever I say about her book, I am truly convinced that she is facing more severe suffering than I am, and I admire her fortitude and perseverance. That said, opioids aren't one of the usual recommended drugs for fibromyalgia that I have come across in my study of the syndrome. I'm not saying I know better, I'm just...saying. I can't imagine living with her level of pain for 13 years, and this book doesn't provide very much help in filling in that picture. She says on page 15 that she wants to keep on learning about new treatments for fibromyalgia, and I take this statement in good faith and hope she does. Once she has some more particular information to share, I will be glad to read it.
September 29, 2012
While there seems to be a plethora of blogs, articles, “authoritive” books and books on the treatment and cure of Fibromyalgia,, Annette Jackson, a North Carolina author living with the disease has written a personal account titled: I Hurt Like Hell: We have all Heard of Fibromyalgia, Now Hear it from Someone Who Lives it Every Day.
Jackson says she wrote the book she wanted to read, an accounting of the reality of living with chronic pain, the stigma of having to rely upon medication, of having an “invisible” disease that disrupts one’s life and more often than not, severely tests relationships.
One of the most valuable aspects of the book is Jackson’s honesty about not only living with (at times unendurable pain), but balancing Fibromyalgia with her bi-polar disorder. Living in pain, realizing loss of function and having to change lifestyle to adapt to restrictions is depressing. Doing it alone is almost impossible. So Jackson honestly shares her days, her fears, what she has learned, hoping others won’t feel alone.
I did have a pang after finishing the book in that I felt that people are so different, in age, life-style, the challenges they balance, whether they take a allopathic or naturopathic approach to healing, etc., that I wish this was part of collection of others accountings,
an anthology of stories. Now with access through the internet, that may be possible.
The E-book is reasonably priced at $4.00. I bought five of the 33 page soft-covers for about $7.00 at Amazon. Two go to daughters who have the disease, one will go to our local Support Group for lending, one will go to my doctor, and I’m keeping a copy for myself, as I also have the disease.
Jackson says she wrote the book she wanted to read, an accounting of the reality of living with chronic pain, the stigma of having to rely upon medication, of having an “invisible” disease that disrupts one’s life and more often than not, severely tests relationships.
One of the most valuable aspects of the book is Jackson’s honesty about not only living with (at times unendurable pain), but balancing Fibromyalgia with her bi-polar disorder. Living in pain, realizing loss of function and having to change lifestyle to adapt to restrictions is depressing. Doing it alone is almost impossible. So Jackson honestly shares her days, her fears, what she has learned, hoping others won’t feel alone.
I did have a pang after finishing the book in that I felt that people are so different, in age, life-style, the challenges they balance, whether they take a allopathic or naturopathic approach to healing, etc., that I wish this was part of collection of others accountings,
an anthology of stories. Now with access through the internet, that may be possible.
The E-book is reasonably priced at $4.00. I bought five of the 33 page soft-covers for about $7.00 at Amazon. Two go to daughters who have the disease, one will go to our local Support Group for lending, one will go to my doctor, and I’m keeping a copy for myself, as I also have the disease.
March 22, 2017
We could be the same person
The pain is severe and unrelenting. I think that's the primary cause of extreme depression and fatigue. Most everyone can handle bad pain on a limited basis. But very few have had to endure for 10-20 years plus. It wears you down and destroys happiness and hope. Not to mention the loss of loved ones and the grief that causes. I'm fed up. Done.
The pain is severe and unrelenting. I think that's the primary cause of extreme depression and fatigue. Most everyone can handle bad pain on a limited basis. But very few have had to endure for 10-20 years plus. It wears you down and destroys happiness and hope. Not to mention the loss of loved ones and the grief that causes. I'm fed up. Done.
March 28, 2014
Good read , very short though . I expected more and wanted more of this book to read.
March 4, 2015
This is a good book to share
If you have been recently diagnosed, or have difficulty explaining fibromyalgia to family, this book explains it in easy to understand language.
If you have been recently diagnosed, or have difficulty explaining fibromyalgia to family, this book explains it in easy to understand language.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews