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Chronic: A Memoir
In this powerful debut, Rebecca Dimyan details her experience with endometriosis, a chronic disease which effects one in ten women worldwide. This painful condition takes an average of seven years to be diagnosed and has no proven cure. Most women will undergo multiple surgeries, take countless painkillers and other drugs, and will still endure regular pain and other complications. With honesty, vulnerability, and sometimes humor, Dimyan explores the ways the condition has impacted her experiences, her body, her pain, and her joy. She takes her audience on an emotional journey through her teenage years, early twenties, and into her thirties as she becomes a professional woman, wife, and mother. Dimyan blends research, anecdotes, and advice as she shares the relief she's found through alternative treatments and holistic medicine. Chronic isn't just a story about one woman's illness—it is a memoir about all the pain, pleasure, heartbreak, friendship, love, and hope she experiences on her path to healing.
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Published June 6, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
May 29, 2023
This was an excellent memoir about living with chronic pain due to endometriosis. The author doesn't flinch away from sharing deeply personal stories about substance abuse, her sexual history, body image problems and her very disappointing experiences with western medicine. While some parts of her pain management methods seemed a little out there to me, who am I to deny what worked for her. Good on audio and a must read for anyone living with chronic pain and especially anyone with endometriosis - a difficult to diagnose condition that affects 1 in 10 women! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
June 12, 2023
It is clear that Dimyan has dedicated a lot of frustration, soul and pain - both physically and mentally - to this memoir about her struggles with endometriosis. This book introduces readers to the reality that chronic pain - specifically that which inflicts women such as endometriosis - is a condition with little knowledge, understanding or research. Western medicine has ultimately chosen to limit consideration and resources into bridging this clear gap. And as a result, many people, like Rebecca Dimyan, are left to deal with the consequences.
Dimyan highlights her struggle with the Western medicine system, as well as her ongoing struggle with the condition itself. Treatments and remedies that have worked in her experience are shared. These are largely drawn from Eastern medicine. And while Dimyan presents these as a possible alternative to the failures of the Western medicine many grow up with, she is also open to the possibility that it is also not a cure or treatment for patients.
Beyond just the medical journey, Chronic invites readers to understand how chronic pain can impact every facet of a person's life. Further, it illustrates the toll that the impact of gender within the medical industry can damage and dishearten patients in a very real way. This is just one story of living with endometriosis, but it is a powerful one.
Note: Review copy received from NetGalley. This does not impact opinions within this review.
becandbooks.com ‧ trigger warning database ‧ book depository ‧ more links
Dimyan highlights her struggle with the Western medicine system, as well as her ongoing struggle with the condition itself. Treatments and remedies that have worked in her experience are shared. These are largely drawn from Eastern medicine. And while Dimyan presents these as a possible alternative to the failures of the Western medicine many grow up with, she is also open to the possibility that it is also not a cure or treatment for patients.
Beyond just the medical journey, Chronic invites readers to understand how chronic pain can impact every facet of a person's life. Further, it illustrates the toll that the impact of gender within the medical industry can damage and dishearten patients in a very real way. This is just one story of living with endometriosis, but it is a powerful one.
→ trigger warnings: chronic pain, cheating, sexual assault, emesis, blood depiction, self-injury (specifically cutting), disordered eating (specifically attempted purging)
Note: Review copy received from NetGalley. This does not impact opinions within this review.
becandbooks.com ‧ trigger warning database ‧ book depository ‧ more links
May 30, 2023
The first thing that I want you to know about this book is that it is one woman’s complicated journey with her body and chronic pain. This will not mirror everyone’s experience and it is not meant to. I pray that western medicine will work for you and that you aren’t pushed to the “other” category. I have never been positively impacted by medications like Tylenol and Advil. I have been pushed to use essential oils as the only treatment that works for my body. This doesn’t mean that it will work for everyone but it does mean that it shouldn’t be judged as bad. I understand the frustration as someone the medical system has failed. I hope that you can read this memoir with an open mind and see this as a struggle with health in place of skepticism.
I learned so much about Endo and how it creates debilitating pain. I saw the strength it took to tell her story and to live with a chronic pain like this. I think that this an empowering story that can make many feel seen, heard and valued.
I received an arc via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
I learned so much about Endo and how it creates debilitating pain. I saw the strength it took to tell her story and to live with a chronic pain like this. I think that this an empowering story that can make many feel seen, heard and valued.
I received an arc via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
June 13, 2023
Thank you so much to Libro.fm for the advance audiobook ARC!
This was an eye-opening memoir of a woman's experience with endometriosis, a chronic illness characterized by the lining of the uterus growing on organs outside of the uterus. It results in chronic pain and many other devastating side effects, those of which are painstakingly illustrated in this book. Rebecca describes the battle she endures throughout her adolescence and adulthood, and all of the symptoms of her chronic illness, in a poignant and informative way. She also touches on subjects such as medical neglect, misogyny in the medical field and how doctors don't take a woman's pain seriously, and it was something that I could really relate to.
I really appreciated the information she supplied about Eastern medicine, particularly traditional Chinese medicine, as well. I felt as though she only scratched the surface of Eastern medicine, but I enjoyed learning about it all the same.
I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir! It was a short and quick read, and I'm excited for others to read it!
This was an eye-opening memoir of a woman's experience with endometriosis, a chronic illness characterized by the lining of the uterus growing on organs outside of the uterus. It results in chronic pain and many other devastating side effects, those of which are painstakingly illustrated in this book. Rebecca describes the battle she endures throughout her adolescence and adulthood, and all of the symptoms of her chronic illness, in a poignant and informative way. She also touches on subjects such as medical neglect, misogyny in the medical field and how doctors don't take a woman's pain seriously, and it was something that I could really relate to.
I really appreciated the information she supplied about Eastern medicine, particularly traditional Chinese medicine, as well. I felt as though she only scratched the surface of Eastern medicine, but I enjoyed learning about it all the same.
I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir! It was a short and quick read, and I'm excited for others to read it!
March 6, 2024
Content/Trigger Warnings: Chronic pain, infidelity/cheating, sexual assault (recounted), depression, emesis, blood depictions, talk of fertility/pregnancy issues, self-harm, disordered eating/eating disorder, talk of Covid, medical talk in general
I'm so SAD, friends! As someone with Stage III endometriosis, I'm always eager to hear other endo-warriors' stories and experiences, and I was so excited for this book. I was predicting this was going to be a new favorite read and instead I'm salty, I'm a little annoyed, and also kind of confused on this book because it felt more like a self-help book than a memoir to me.
For starters, let me express that it's very clear the author has poured a lot of emotions into this book. Many of the things the author talks about were very relatable for me especially when it came to trying to get diagnosed with endo and having medical professional tell me, "Oh you have cancer!" or "Oh, you just have a bad menstruation!" There's even a scene where the author finds herself in the shower at 3 a.m., sobbing from horrid pain from an endo flare, and that whole scene made me cry and something I deeply related to. I've been there and done that so many times and there were just a lot of scenes that hit extremely close to my own personal experiences with endometriosis. And it's because I was able to connect with this book on such a personal level that I didn't fully dislike this book.
However, my problem with this book isn't the author talking about their experiences. My problem with this book is how it went from reading like an actual memoir to a self-help book. There's a point in this book where the author stops talking about their experience, their life, and it just starts breaking down into a list of all the things the author started doing. This is a problem because most of these sections are told in this tone of if you were reading a '10 things that will help you' article online or if you were watching a video of someone telling you '10 things that solved my (insert issue here)." It felt so out of place instead of the author actually talking to you about how she started to include these things into her life.
The other thing I want to point out is the bits of misinformation that the author decided to throw into this book. One of them being about coffee. There's this huge debate in the Endometriosis community of whether or not coffee specifically caffeine causes Endo flares. I was to point out right now that there have been no studies that prove one way or another. Even in the endo community, people will tell you it's actually been hit or miss for them. So I found it interesting and a little annoying that the author was pushing this narrative that tea is better than coffee and will improve things with your endo or even your chronic pain.
Another thing that I thought was really odd was in her little section about exercise, she talks about how she'll do high intensity workouts such as running on the treadmill and then by listening to her body she'll go to an immediate low intensity workout when she starts to feel immense pain. While listening to your body is very important, I found it strange that she didn't know anything about the type of workouts that work best when you have endo. I find her talking about this to be really odd because for all the research she claims to have done on endometriosis especially the way she boosts about improving her daily life throughout this book, she should have found multiple articles dated as far back as 2016/2017 from not only medical professionals who endo specialists, but also fellow endo warriors stating that no matter what stage of endometriosis you have, you should be doing low to medium intensity exercises to avoid potential severe endo flares. It struck me as odd and weird that she wouldn't at least have an article listed in the footnotes, links, anything, like she does throughout this book with eastern medicine or even specific types of products she uses.
Overall, I don't want to keep hashing out all the issues I had or things I found odd about this book. Despite everything, I do think the self-help part of this book can be very beneficial to readers who have chronic pain or endometriosis. There's a little section where she talks about the Ohnut and this is one of the few times I've seen it be talked about outside of the endo and chronic pain communities, in a book. So there is some great information in this book that I think other endo warriors could benefit from. The only thing I would really say is if you're a chronic pain reader or an endo warrior reader, I highly encourage doing your own research and not fully relying on this book for solutions or answers. Talk to other individual people, read articles, talk to specialist of chronic pain or endometriosis, check out the website for the Endometriosis Foundation of America to learn more, etc... That would be my recommendation.
All thoughts, feelings, experiences, and opinions are honest and my own.
Instagram|Ko-fi|Throne
I'm so SAD, friends! As someone with Stage III endometriosis, I'm always eager to hear other endo-warriors' stories and experiences, and I was so excited for this book. I was predicting this was going to be a new favorite read and instead I'm salty, I'm a little annoyed, and also kind of confused on this book because it felt more like a self-help book than a memoir to me.
For starters, let me express that it's very clear the author has poured a lot of emotions into this book. Many of the things the author talks about were very relatable for me especially when it came to trying to get diagnosed with endo and having medical professional tell me, "Oh you have cancer!" or "Oh, you just have a bad menstruation!" There's even a scene where the author finds herself in the shower at 3 a.m., sobbing from horrid pain from an endo flare, and that whole scene made me cry and something I deeply related to. I've been there and done that so many times and there were just a lot of scenes that hit extremely close to my own personal experiences with endometriosis. And it's because I was able to connect with this book on such a personal level that I didn't fully dislike this book.
However, my problem with this book isn't the author talking about their experiences. My problem with this book is how it went from reading like an actual memoir to a self-help book. There's a point in this book where the author stops talking about their experience, their life, and it just starts breaking down into a list of all the things the author started doing. This is a problem because most of these sections are told in this tone of if you were reading a '10 things that will help you' article online or if you were watching a video of someone telling you '10 things that solved my (insert issue here)." It felt so out of place instead of the author actually talking to you about how she started to include these things into her life.
The other thing I want to point out is the bits of misinformation that the author decided to throw into this book. One of them being about coffee. There's this huge debate in the Endometriosis community of whether or not coffee specifically caffeine causes Endo flares. I was to point out right now that there have been no studies that prove one way or another. Even in the endo community, people will tell you it's actually been hit or miss for them. So I found it interesting and a little annoying that the author was pushing this narrative that tea is better than coffee and will improve things with your endo or even your chronic pain.
Another thing that I thought was really odd was in her little section about exercise, she talks about how she'll do high intensity workouts such as running on the treadmill and then by listening to her body she'll go to an immediate low intensity workout when she starts to feel immense pain. While listening to your body is very important, I found it strange that she didn't know anything about the type of workouts that work best when you have endo. I find her talking about this to be really odd because for all the research she claims to have done on endometriosis especially the way she boosts about improving her daily life throughout this book, she should have found multiple articles dated as far back as 2016/2017 from not only medical professionals who endo specialists, but also fellow endo warriors stating that no matter what stage of endometriosis you have, you should be doing low to medium intensity exercises to avoid potential severe endo flares. It struck me as odd and weird that she wouldn't at least have an article listed in the footnotes, links, anything, like she does throughout this book with eastern medicine or even specific types of products she uses.
Overall, I don't want to keep hashing out all the issues I had or things I found odd about this book. Despite everything, I do think the self-help part of this book can be very beneficial to readers who have chronic pain or endometriosis. There's a little section where she talks about the Ohnut and this is one of the few times I've seen it be talked about outside of the endo and chronic pain communities, in a book. So there is some great information in this book that I think other endo warriors could benefit from. The only thing I would really say is if you're a chronic pain reader or an endo warrior reader, I highly encourage doing your own research and not fully relying on this book for solutions or answers. Talk to other individual people, read articles, talk to specialist of chronic pain or endometriosis, check out the website for the Endometriosis Foundation of America to learn more, etc... That would be my recommendation.
All thoughts, feelings, experiences, and opinions are honest and my own.
Instagram|Ko-fi|Throne
July 9, 2023
For any woman who has suffered a life of pain, heartbreak, anxiety, and depression from endometriosis, you must read this book!
This book validated all the feelings I have had for almost 2 decades. The descriptions this author gives of her accounts absolutely resonated with me. I cried so much with this book but also took away so much from it on alternative treatments.
Thank you, Rebecca, for giving us endometriosis warriors a voice! Bravo!
Thank you, NetGalley and Rebecca Dimyan for my advanced listening book. #Chronic #NetGalley
This book validated all the feelings I have had for almost 2 decades. The descriptions this author gives of her accounts absolutely resonated with me. I cried so much with this book but also took away so much from it on alternative treatments.
Thank you, Rebecca, for giving us endometriosis warriors a voice! Bravo!
Thank you, NetGalley and Rebecca Dimyan for my advanced listening book. #Chronic #NetGalley
September 24, 2024
I’m glad to have read this as a woman who also struggles with endometriosis, because it is difficult to find literature (especially memoirs) about having this illness. I was able to relate to the author a few times, especially when she discussed her pain, dismissal from doctors, and the frustration she experiences. I also related to the internal difficulty of having a chronic illness but struggling to identify with that. This was so helpful in making me feel less alone with this disease. HOWEVER. Then she discusses her laparoscopy and introduction to naturopathy, and this is where she lost me. Holistic interventions, such as diet changes and vitamin supplements, can and do help many women (including myself). But you will never be able to convince me that someone can feel my pulse and look at my tongue, and determine what pain I have and what diet changes I need. Nor can you convince me that a spoonful of extra virgin olive oil in the morning is going to be the thing that helps my pain (switching to it for cooking, rather than using a different kind of oil, though? Yes, that’s helpful). Also, she barely mentions excision surgery which is considered the gold standard of endometriosis treatment (along with lifestyle changes and holistic remedies). I’m not a doctor but I do my research, and while I’m still learning about this disease every day, and what changes I need to make in my own life, I still felt more informed about this disease than it appears the author is. I’m glad her remedies have been helpful for her, but it’s important to note that some of these things are CERTAINLY more evidence-based than others, especially because the tone of her memoir changes about halfway through and starts feeling like a self-help naturopath book than a memoir.
June 3, 2023
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to listen to this memoir, Chronic by Rebecca Dimyan.
In Chronic, Dimyan shares her story of living with endometriosis. She bares the painful realities of what it feels like, and how it affects all aspects in a woman's life. While I don't suffer from endometriosis, I do have chronic pain through migraines, and this book serves as a reminder that there are other women who experience life-altering pain, who change their diets and lifestyles in an effort to alleviate that pain, and who find value and purpose above it all.
Dimyan also goes through an expansive list of things that helped alleviate her endo pain, which I think would be helpful for others suffering from endometriosis.
While you may spend so much time hurting, the pain doesn't define you, nor does it become your identity. This book felt like a nod in solidarity to those of us who have overcome Chronic pain.
I'm grateful I had the chance to read it.
In Chronic, Dimyan shares her story of living with endometriosis. She bares the painful realities of what it feels like, and how it affects all aspects in a woman's life. While I don't suffer from endometriosis, I do have chronic pain through migraines, and this book serves as a reminder that there are other women who experience life-altering pain, who change their diets and lifestyles in an effort to alleviate that pain, and who find value and purpose above it all.
Dimyan also goes through an expansive list of things that helped alleviate her endo pain, which I think would be helpful for others suffering from endometriosis.
While you may spend so much time hurting, the pain doesn't define you, nor does it become your identity. This book felt like a nod in solidarity to those of us who have overcome Chronic pain.
I'm grateful I had the chance to read it.
November 30, 2025
Just a reminder to everyone that this is her story and that you should not take medical advice based on someone else’s story.
I had endo excision surgery and it helped me tremendously. I was told before the surgery that it’s not a guarantee that it will help as endo is an inflammatory disease. Holistic medicine needs caution, herbal supplements can contain things that are extremely toxic. Acupuncture is great in all aspects, I even know spine surgeons that recommend it for pain.
I also found that reducing gluten helps but I still eat it with moderation without severe pain and I have stage 4 endo.
I had endo excision surgery and it helped me tremendously. I was told before the surgery that it’s not a guarantee that it will help as endo is an inflammatory disease. Holistic medicine needs caution, herbal supplements can contain things that are extremely toxic. Acupuncture is great in all aspects, I even know spine surgeons that recommend it for pain.
I also found that reducing gluten helps but I still eat it with moderation without severe pain and I have stage 4 endo.
February 10, 2024
A prime example of how western medicine continues to either discount women’s pain (esp when involving gynelogical issues) or not have enough solutions to help. If someone has endometriosis they might find this a helpful read (if anything it might be validating). I do not have this particular issue, but I’ve had my own experiences with chronic pain and having to push doctors to take it seriously even when they claimed they didn’t “see anything wrong.” Quick listen and could be helpful to some.
August 9, 2023
Listened to the audiobook.
March 19, 2024
This memoir is for people dealing with a chronic illness, and particularly endometriosis. I really appreciated this memoir for what it provided, but I did feel like it sometimes came so close to putting Dimyan's experience into a broader context and it would dip into that, before pulling back. And while I appreciated Dimyan being very careful not to ever suggest that what worked for her to get her endo under control would work for others, I did sometimes wish for some more broad commentary. Ultimately though, I appreciated the vulnerability and the realness that Dimyan shared. I would read from her again.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC copy, though I did read this via an audiobook I purchased myself.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC copy, though I did read this via an audiobook I purchased myself.
December 29, 2023
Short, honest, raw memoir that opened my eyes to the world of chronic pain and how many women are let down by a system that refuses to take their pain seriously.
August 29, 2023
DNF- Wow. I really did think it would dislike this book so much. This feels like more of a memoir of this woman's general struggles in life that also include endometriosis, not a memoir about having the condition itself. The prose is also overly flowery and generally too much. She is trying way too hard. I'm sure this is a book that many people can appreciate, but I just could not.
June 8, 2023
*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*
CHRONIC is the raw and vulnerable memoir of Rebecca Dimyan. Part non-fiction health guide, and part memoir, Dimyan delves deeply into her experiences with substance abuse, sexual assault, body image issues, chronic pain, and her treatment by western medicine institutions. At its core, CHRONIC is about a woman and how her life has been shaped by endometriosis. Starting from her first menstruation, Dimyan describes the heartbreaking reality of the dismissal of women's pain and her journey to find treatment for her crippling pain.
As a women's health nurse, I nearly always pick up memoirs written by either fellow nurses, or women who are writing about their experiences as patient's. CHRONIC falls into the latter, I was heartbroken to read about Dimyan's experiences in doctor's offices and hospitals-- and believe, while no patient should be dismissed as she was, her story is not unusual.
It's clear when reading certain sections (the health guide parts) that Dimyan did her research, and was very clear that treatment (especially with eastern medicine) should be tailored to the individual with help of a professional. I appreciated her thoroughness and the resources she provided readers-- and believe this book could be a good place for readers to begin their research. CHRONIC is approachable, relatable, and informative; exactly what, I believe, Dimyan was aiming for.
CHRONIC would be a great choice for anyone recently diagnosed with, or wondering if the have, endometriosis. However, this book may also be a good choice for anyone struggling with chronic pain and considering eastern medicine as an alternative or complementary treatment.
CHRONIC is the raw and vulnerable memoir of Rebecca Dimyan. Part non-fiction health guide, and part memoir, Dimyan delves deeply into her experiences with substance abuse, sexual assault, body image issues, chronic pain, and her treatment by western medicine institutions. At its core, CHRONIC is about a woman and how her life has been shaped by endometriosis. Starting from her first menstruation, Dimyan describes the heartbreaking reality of the dismissal of women's pain and her journey to find treatment for her crippling pain.
As a women's health nurse, I nearly always pick up memoirs written by either fellow nurses, or women who are writing about their experiences as patient's. CHRONIC falls into the latter, I was heartbroken to read about Dimyan's experiences in doctor's offices and hospitals-- and believe, while no patient should be dismissed as she was, her story is not unusual.
It's clear when reading certain sections (the health guide parts) that Dimyan did her research, and was very clear that treatment (especially with eastern medicine) should be tailored to the individual with help of a professional. I appreciated her thoroughness and the resources she provided readers-- and believe this book could be a good place for readers to begin their research. CHRONIC is approachable, relatable, and informative; exactly what, I believe, Dimyan was aiming for.
CHRONIC would be a great choice for anyone recently diagnosed with, or wondering if the have, endometriosis. However, this book may also be a good choice for anyone struggling with chronic pain and considering eastern medicine as an alternative or complementary treatment.
June 16, 2023
A quick and captivating read! Rebecca bravely shares with the world the kind of stories many of us only ever whisper to our closest confidants, illustrating how intimately endometriosis affects the lives of ‘Endo Warriors’. I learned more about endometriosis reading this book than I have from any health class or doctor’s appointment, which included, importantly, rooting the mantra of “a woman in pain is not normal” into my mind. ‘Chronic’ sheds light on the disparate care far too many women in our healthcare system receive by even the most well-meaning healthcare professionals.
In addition to recounting the long, painful road to diagnosis, Rebecca honestly shares her journey into (and success with) Eastern medicine, noting what worked for her and passing along what was recommended to her but hadn’t yet tried. These remedies are written into the text, as well as being set apart in an index for easy reflection by the reader. Rebecca is not a doctor, as she tells us several times, but a friend sharing advice, leaving the reader with accessible, introductory information and encouragement to dive deeper into the opportunities of Eastern medicine that are most relevant to their own experience.
‘Chronic’ is a must read for those affected by (or hoping to understand) chronic illness and a must reread for those who want to explore complementary treatments.
In addition to recounting the long, painful road to diagnosis, Rebecca honestly shares her journey into (and success with) Eastern medicine, noting what worked for her and passing along what was recommended to her but hadn’t yet tried. These remedies are written into the text, as well as being set apart in an index for easy reflection by the reader. Rebecca is not a doctor, as she tells us several times, but a friend sharing advice, leaving the reader with accessible, introductory information and encouragement to dive deeper into the opportunities of Eastern medicine that are most relevant to their own experience.
‘Chronic’ is a must read for those affected by (or hoping to understand) chronic illness and a must reread for those who want to explore complementary treatments.
July 4, 2023
I don't understand what this book is trying to be : is it a memoir or is it a YouTube video named " 10 alternative ways to fight off endometriosis #endowarrior "
Don't get me wrong I really felt for her , going through all those doctors only for them to grope for some diagnosis in the dark. As someone who also has chronic pain I related to her when the pain took so much out of her. With chronic pain , things always revolve around it , and you don't really get time to even recoup. It's you trying to do basic tasks with constant foreground pain.
The author starts the book off with her sexual history , her futile doctor appointments and then how she finally tried eastern medicine to see how it goes .
And , it was all good until here.
After which she goes on about what she did and used , which gave me mixed feelings. On one hand I believe she's saying " here's what worked for me" and on the other hand she does seem like she believes in it to the point where she's giving you a step by step of what you should be doing.
Which .... Look... It is ok as a YouTube video.. because you can take it or leave it... But idk if it works for this book.
And then there's a section on COVID effecting endometriosis.. and I think she should have left the speculation in the drafts and just stuck to the feelings and incidents in her life instead.
Don't get me wrong I really felt for her , going through all those doctors only for them to grope for some diagnosis in the dark. As someone who also has chronic pain I related to her when the pain took so much out of her. With chronic pain , things always revolve around it , and you don't really get time to even recoup. It's you trying to do basic tasks with constant foreground pain.
The author starts the book off with her sexual history , her futile doctor appointments and then how she finally tried eastern medicine to see how it goes .
And , it was all good until here.
After which she goes on about what she did and used , which gave me mixed feelings. On one hand I believe she's saying " here's what worked for me" and on the other hand she does seem like she believes in it to the point where she's giving you a step by step of what you should be doing.
Which .... Look... It is ok as a YouTube video.. because you can take it or leave it... But idk if it works for this book.
And then there's a section on COVID effecting endometriosis.. and I think she should have left the speculation in the drafts and just stuck to the feelings and incidents in her life instead.
July 22, 2025
This memoir is not supposed to be a guide to healthily managing endometriosis (as it is one person's journey), but it is in my opinion a great starting resource.
I am reading this at a time where I have a holistic care plan in place to manage my chronic pain from endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, and IBS that is successfully improving my quality of life.
It felt validating and comforting to read someone else having success with a similar approach.
I also love that Rebecca doesn't dismiss western medicine entirely and instead uses it in conjunction with eastern medicine. Because that has also been key to my pain management.
Lastly, I also appreciate her acknowledgement of the emotional pain her partner experiences due to her endometriosis. It's important to realise that endometriosis impacts more than just the person living with it.
I highly recommend this to anyone who is interested in learning more about living with endometriosis, a person who has family or friends living with endometriosis, and people living with endometriosis themselves.
I am reading this at a time where I have a holistic care plan in place to manage my chronic pain from endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, and IBS that is successfully improving my quality of life.
It felt validating and comforting to read someone else having success with a similar approach.
I also love that Rebecca doesn't dismiss western medicine entirely and instead uses it in conjunction with eastern medicine. Because that has also been key to my pain management.
Lastly, I also appreciate her acknowledgement of the emotional pain her partner experiences due to her endometriosis. It's important to realise that endometriosis impacts more than just the person living with it.
I highly recommend this to anyone who is interested in learning more about living with endometriosis, a person who has family or friends living with endometriosis, and people living with endometriosis themselves.
June 7, 2023
Chronic: A Memoir by Rebecca Dimyan
Narrated by Devon Sorvari
Publisher: HighBridge Audio
Genre: Biographies & Memoirs, Health, Mind & Body, Nonfiction (Adult)
Published: June 6, 2023
Chronic: A Memoir by Rebecca Dimyan is the book I didn't know I NEEDED to read right now.
Chronic is the author's experience with endometriosis, life, and the medical community in the United States. The author is very candid about her experience and is so relatable. I felt as if she was telling parts of my own health story.
I'm so grateful to have read this book. For years I have struggled with pain that has no known cause and have been told by doctors that "pain is not a symptom" because their tests don't show any reason. This book provided some great alternative medicine resources that I'll be pursuing to help me get my life back!
The narration by Devon Sorvari was absolutely wonderful!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Narrated by Devon Sorvari
Publisher: HighBridge Audio
Genre: Biographies & Memoirs, Health, Mind & Body, Nonfiction (Adult)
Published: June 6, 2023
Chronic: A Memoir by Rebecca Dimyan is the book I didn't know I NEEDED to read right now.
Chronic is the author's experience with endometriosis, life, and the medical community in the United States. The author is very candid about her experience and is so relatable. I felt as if she was telling parts of my own health story.
I'm so grateful to have read this book. For years I have struggled with pain that has no known cause and have been told by doctors that "pain is not a symptom" because their tests don't show any reason. This book provided some great alternative medicine resources that I'll be pursuing to help me get my life back!
The narration by Devon Sorvari was absolutely wonderful!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 28, 2023
Thank you Netgalley for my free ALC for my honest opinion.
I appreciate Rebecca’s honesty with her struggle with endometriosis, I cannot imagine having endo day in and day out.
With that said, the first quarter of the book was all about her sexual escapades which always made the endometriosis worse…so that was a little frustrating to me as a reader, who only wanted Rebecca to prioritize her health, not her sex life.
Also, the information on the Eastern Medicine was very surface level at best. I was ready to have a deep dive on how holistic medicine really came through for her.
This is a memoir so this is her personal lived experience…so I think women who suffer from endometriosis will find her memoir helpful.
I appreciate Rebecca’s honesty with her struggle with endometriosis, I cannot imagine having endo day in and day out.
With that said, the first quarter of the book was all about her sexual escapades which always made the endometriosis worse…so that was a little frustrating to me as a reader, who only wanted Rebecca to prioritize her health, not her sex life.
Also, the information on the Eastern Medicine was very surface level at best. I was ready to have a deep dive on how holistic medicine really came through for her.
This is a memoir so this is her personal lived experience…so I think women who suffer from endometriosis will find her memoir helpful.
June 13, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and HighBridge audio for this audio ARC!
This book is a memoir of Rebecca Dimyan, a woman who not only struggles with pain from endometriosis, but struggles with medical professionals to get diagnosed. Dimyan is a very strong writer, and she gets her points across beautifully. The first half of this book was very intriguing, as she goes through her earlier experiences with endometriosis and her beginning journey in reaching a diagnosis. The second half, however, really turned me off from the book. Dimyan has learned to manage her endometriosis through numerous forms of alternative medicine, including diet, essential oils, and acupuncture. I understand why Diman had to turn to natural medicine - she abuses opioids earlier on in her life. Thus these pain killers are not an option, and over-the-counter pain medications are ineffective. She did not come off as overly "crunchy," but she gave a lot of information that felt a bit on the side of "do your own research." Thus, when one of her last chapters touches on the COVID vaccine's effects on menstruation, I felt like I had completely disconnected from this. She repeats that these effects are for only a few months after the vaccine and only affect a small number of women, but the damage is done in my eyes.
I wish this book had gone deeper into her earlier experiences with endometriosis and her struggles with doctors. As a woman, I know I am not believed by doctors as much as I would be if I were a man, and I was deeply angered by Dimyan's constant dismissal. I was a bit shocked that Dimyan could mention how often she was not believed by doctors without once mentioning that Black women are believed even less than white women. Regardless, if Dimyan had focused her book more on this aspect than the 'healing' aspect of her endometriosis, I feel it would have been one that more women could connect with. Instead, because of the politicization of health after COVID, I struggled with Dimyan's consistent emphasis on natural forms of healing.
This book is a memoir of Rebecca Dimyan, a woman who not only struggles with pain from endometriosis, but struggles with medical professionals to get diagnosed. Dimyan is a very strong writer, and she gets her points across beautifully. The first half of this book was very intriguing, as she goes through her earlier experiences with endometriosis and her beginning journey in reaching a diagnosis. The second half, however, really turned me off from the book. Dimyan has learned to manage her endometriosis through numerous forms of alternative medicine, including diet, essential oils, and acupuncture. I understand why Diman had to turn to natural medicine - she abuses opioids earlier on in her life. Thus these pain killers are not an option, and over-the-counter pain medications are ineffective. She did not come off as overly "crunchy," but she gave a lot of information that felt a bit on the side of "do your own research." Thus, when one of her last chapters touches on the COVID vaccine's effects on menstruation, I felt like I had completely disconnected from this. She repeats that these effects are for only a few months after the vaccine and only affect a small number of women, but the damage is done in my eyes.
I wish this book had gone deeper into her earlier experiences with endometriosis and her struggles with doctors. As a woman, I know I am not believed by doctors as much as I would be if I were a man, and I was deeply angered by Dimyan's constant dismissal. I was a bit shocked that Dimyan could mention how often she was not believed by doctors without once mentioning that Black women are believed even less than white women. Regardless, if Dimyan had focused her book more on this aspect than the 'healing' aspect of her endometriosis, I feel it would have been one that more women could connect with. Instead, because of the politicization of health after COVID, I struggled with Dimyan's consistent emphasis on natural forms of healing.
June 4, 2023
In this memoir, Rebecca Dimyan offers up an honest, reflective, and vulnerable recounting of her experience managing chronic pain as well as growing up. We're offered a look into her past and Dimyan shows us how she's grown throughout her years of self-discovery. Dimyan describes a very personal experience early on and this openness is what had me impatiently flying through the rest of the story. I also appreciate Dimyan's balance between critiquing Western medicine and acknowledging where it has been helpful for her and could help others. This book is a must-read for anyone suffering from chronic pain and looking for someone who understands the experience of not being heard or believed.
May 27, 2023
Chronic explores the author’s relationship with chronic pain and chronic illness. It’s difficult to write so vulnerably about health conditions without crossing over into annoying victim territory, but the Rebecca Dimyan does a decent job. I am not this book’s specific audience as I do not have endometriosis, but I do deal with chronic illness and lots of what the author said resonated. Overall, I think this is good, but it is very prescriptive which I’ve found can be really frustrating when you feel like you’ve heard and tried it all.
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December 11, 2023I don't know if I can rate this one. This is someone else's story, and the experiences of the author are valid, and I love that she found things that work for her to bring relief, but this is not my favorite memoir about chronic illness/pain. There were a few points in this book that just sit kind of weird with me and I don't know how I feel about it as a whole.
March 1, 2024
These words are heard!! I walk so much of this. After 7 laparoscopic surgeries two children I had to have a hysterectomy that was done in 3 surgeries. They still think I have endo due to hormone replacement therapy. I wish I would have had this book when I was in the middle of the darkness! Thank you so much for your words!
June 27, 2023
If you know ,you know. Rebecca knows. Grateful to Rebecca for the language of translating the living hell of endo into literal words. #endowarrior #1in10
August 11, 2023
This book is absolutely beautiful. A must read!
November 2, 2025
If you want to hear an all-too-common woman's experience on the medical gaslighting that comes with having endo & what an endo flare-up can feel like, give this book a quick read/listen!
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