Your Personal Guide to Fibromyalgia

by Arthritis Foundation

Although it is not life-threatening, fibromyalgia is a very real condition that can seriously impact your quality of life. Just knowing that you have fibromyalgia, what it is and what to do about it allows you to discontinue expensive testing and develop a more positive attitude about your condition.

Genres: Nonfiction

221 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1997

Reviews

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the drawbacks of the book is that the examples reinforce the stereotype that people with fibromyalgia are all middle aged women. When you're younger and unmarried, the advice to apply for disability, think about early retirement, and try to get by on the husband's income, are not helpful. At all.
This book still stands out however for the gentle tone of the book. Others are scientific sometimes to the point of sounding harshly matter-of-fact; to the point of unhealthily encouraging the perfectionist that the sufferer of fibromyalgia often is. At the same time, the tone wasn't so peppy that reading it made me feel tired. Back when I read this book, most reading made me feel tired. But finishing this book only took about 10, 11 days. It was a good place to start; much preferable to "Complete Idiot's Guide" or "Everything Guide to" Fibromyalgia, which I tried unsuccessfully to read and disliked intensely. Even though I felt that I was at a mentally low state, I didn't feel like thinking of myself as an idiot.
This is a book that doesn't treat you like an idiot or a statistic or an ersatz druggie. Which is much appreciated.

[Deena Scintilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-have for your personal library if you have fibro.

[Lynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good basic guide, but a little out of date.