Managing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia: Feel Better, Take Charge, Regain Hope

by Bruce F. Campbell, Charles W. Lapp (Foreword)

A solution-oriented book filled with practical strategies for managing symptoms and improving quality of life. Includes step-by-step discussion of pacing. Also addresses treatment options, managing stress, addressing feelings, improving relationships, learning self-management skills, and finding hope. Foreword by international CFS/FM authority and physician Charles Lapp, M.D., who writes: "I have encouraged virtually all of my patients to read this book and follow Campbell's advice. This book offers hope to those with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and fibromyalgia."

Genres: Nonfiction

335 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 4, 2016

Reviews

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had hoped it would be a standalone text and you didn't need to do their course. Far too much is "read this article on our website". I don't want to read a website, I am reading a book!
A LOT of repetition too, sometimes the exact same sentences.
To me the Expanding Your Envelope chapter nudged dangerously close to GED and the dangers weren't properly explained.
Better for "beginners" who are new to the illness/es.

My favourite quote (also repeated maybe 3x): "I now have a half life but i am going to make it the best half life that I can."

[april james · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really helpful self help book

This book is aimed at self help for ME and fibromyalgia sufferers. It take you through diagnosis, symptoms, and how to live with these conditions. It is undoubtedly the best and most researched book on the subject I have read.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth the price tag, as it is the most helpful resource on ME I’ve read so far. If you don’t have the ten dollars, a ton of the book is available as articles for free on the related website.

I found the book validating, as it acknowledges the variety of experiences of people with ME. The author has ME himself, and did research working with other patients. This book is not a quick-fix, as there are no known treatments for ME. However, it gives ideas and suggestion for some adaptations and coping strategies. These can take a very long time— years— to be effective, and may not work at all. But at least it’s given me some ideas of things to try versus the nothing I had otherwise. For example, I had no idea that the differences could be so small between what my body can tolerate and what it can’t: 20 versus 25 minutes, or morning versus afternoon activity. That had never occurred to me. I’ve taken notes as I read the book, and I plan to re-read it promptly.

The book is very repetitive. I believe it is designed to be read in sections as needed, and not straight-through as I did. The latter organization would explain the many repetitions.

[Gretchen Caldwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A useful guide to living well with CFS/Fibro. I gave it 4 stars because resources that are practical without being depressing or Pollyanna are few and far between. However, beware that this book is repetitive to the point that you will wonder if your losing your mind. The same quotes and stories are used over and over again throughout the book, sometimes only a few paragraphs apart.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent practical advice for living with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia, but is useful for other chronic and energy-sapping illnesses as well. This book gave me solid ways to conceptualize the long term management of my life with long covid, which has become my new full time job.

[Kim Brosan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is extremely repetitive and probably could have been 1/3 the length.