Customer Reviews

Confronting Lyme Disease: What Patient Stories Teach Us (IPPY Award Winner - Health/Medicine/Nutrition)

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This is an excellent book which details the lives of various lyme disease patients. It dispels the myths of lyme disease that it is easily curable, and readily addressed by the medical community. Often, patients such as myself, suffer severe disability , financial losses, and difficulty in obtaining treatment. A divided medical community, who do not know the full extend and effects of tick borne diseases, unable to reach consensuses what the diseases are , what the full effects are and the pressure from outdated studies and insurance payemnts contribute to the nightmare. Tick borne diseases have systemic effects beyond what can be described by other illnessses and chronic conditions that are already known. It defies being compared to any other disease process that is currently known to mankind. This is a must read. It is an excellent resource. The only perceived flaw that I could indicate as a lyme patient is emphasis on coinfections. The general public is unaware of the dozens or hundreds of other virsuses, pathogens and bacteria the tick carries to cause addtional harm to the victim. Sadly, the medications that treat lyme do not always control or cure the other diseases that the tick transmitts. This is a book that every family should own. One must not have a false sense of security as now most tick bites occur within several yards of the home. Any one, any where is at risk: the risk will continue to propogate. For myself? I was bitten by a tick that got into my apartment ina major East Coast metropolitan area. No camping, no hiking, no major risk factors. Please read this book - it may save your life or someone that you know.

I am a physician who also suffered from long-standing Lyme disease. I only learned what patients really go through once I became so sick, and my colleagues didn't have a clue what to do with me. This book tells it like it is. This book should be read by physicians, nurses and others in the medical profession who need to see what it really is like from the patient's perspective.

I had no idea that Lyme Disease was as much of a problem-- nor was it such a great controversy and cause of human heartbreak-- until I read this book. The stories of patients from every walk of life and their struggles for treatment broke my heart. I would urge anyone who does not know about the Lyme Disease issue, or perhaps even those who are involved in it and seeking some hope, to read this powerful story.

My son and I have chronic Lyme disease and have lived a story much like those in this book. I sincerely appreciate the excellent job that the authors did describing the devastating affects of chronic Lyme Disease and the tireless effort put forth by those sick with Lyme Disease and those who love them to find the answers. Each story is the same in at least one way. No matter how many times Lyme illiterate Doctors in mainstream medicine told these sick people that there was "nothing" wrong with them the patients and their families pressed on knowing in their gut that the Doctors were wrong...it wasn't in their head. The stories that are shared put faces to chronic Lyme Disease. The book truly sheds light on how debilitating and how life changing that it can be. Most importantly it shows how courageous these patients are, and how supportive they are of others who are fighting the same battles.

Finally, there's a book out that tells it like it is. As a Lyme patient myself, I felt like I was reading my own story in some of these words. I highly recommend this book for everyone because it is highly informative.

I give this book 10 stars. it is so well written. What an examplary way to tell stories of the suffering of Lyme Disease patients, not only personal suffering, but the indignity of the medical professionals who ignore us thus causing more suffering, permanent damage and even death. As a Lyme patient since 1993 I would have loved to have information and the courage that this book gives you to be your own advocate and keep searching. This book tells you to never give up. It tells you where and how to seek help. I recommend this book to anyone who is chronicall ill so they may learn how to help themselves or others who need an advocate. It also gives caregives an understanding of this devasting disease. We aren't crazy, we are sick and need help. This book needs to be in every library including medical school libraries. I think it should be required reading for anyone who wants to become a doctor. It covers all aspects, the undiagnosed, the very ill patient and most importantly the political arena surrrounding not ony Lyme Disease-but other illnesses tha are "given to us" whether it fits ore not.
My sincerest thanks to all who have contributed to the excellent writing of this book. It is very easy to understand. I found myself in every story told. Most of all, I know that I am not alone in my battle with Lyme Disease.
Sincerely living daily with Lyme Disease,
Connie Siese, Wayne, Michigan
Support Group Leader and Lyme Volunteer

I found Confronting Lyme to be a useful and informative exploration of the effects of Lyme Disease on real people in real situations. This book helps the reader to emphasize with those afflicted, and offers stories of hope for those with this disease.

Additionally, Confronting Lyme provides a number of helpful contacts for those with Lyme Disease. This book is well written, and the writers have accomplished their goal in spreading the word about this dibilitating disease.

Karen Yerges and Rita Stanley's new book tells the story of the shear brutality of Lyme Disease from the perspective of the patient.Confronting Lyme Disease:What Patient Stories Teach Us is a candid account of how the number one vector borne disease in the United States has wrecked patients' lives due to late diagnosis, under treatment with antibiotics, and the politics surrounding insurance companies that don't want to pay for treatment, state medical boards that attack doctors who treat Lyme Patients who walk the line between life and death in a daily battle to get back their lives.

-James Lockey,R.E.H.S.
Registered Environmental Health Specialist by the National Environmental Health Association and former Public Health Sanitarian &Environmental Health Specialist for Public Health Seattle & King County, Washington (Emeritus)

This is a GREAT book! It is full of patients telling their stories concerning their battles with Lyme disease. It never ceases to amaze me how I can see so much of my story in the stories of others! Though we each have a unique experience with Lyme disease, so many similar things happen to each of us. This is a great book to share with family and friends. When I was first diagnosed, it was very difficult for those around me to understand how I could be so sick. Many (even the supportive friends!) thought maybe my symptoms were "psychosomatic". When I had those folks read a book or two
about Lyme they often said, "Oh my God! This sounds just like you!" With that they quickly came to understand that these symptoms were in fact real, not induced by any psychological problem, and that I WASN'T the only one around with these same strange symptoms. Confronting Lyme Disease is not one story that shows how disastrous this disease is but FOURTEEN stories!

These fourteen stories will not only help friends and family understand what you're going through, they will also help the patient understand and offer all affected by this disease hope for the future. This is definitely going to be a book I always keep extra copies of around so I can readily share it with others.

Please note: I authored a small section in this book. I did this because I think this book has SO much to offer the Lyme disease community. I have no financial gain in this project and will be purchasing my books like everyone else. In fact, I will immediately purchase ten books for my family and friends to help them continue to understand what I have gone through and what I continue to deal with. The more people who learn the realities of this disease the easier it is for all of us to be understood.

=)
Robynn Harris
Robynns_Lyme_List-owner@yahoogroups.com

Praise to the authors and every participant in "Confronting Lyme Disease"! These personal journeys of courage and perseverance, in the face of the frustrating obstacles they meet when seeking truths, diagnosis and appropriate treatment, are powerful insights into the harsh realities of Lyme Disease. As a fellow Lyme patient, each intimate story was painfully familiar. I found myself captured in their heartaches and cheering their triumphs. This book provides valuable perspective overall, important advice in seeking help and a list of useful resources. My highest regard to everyone who contributed in this educational endeavor!