Customer Reviews

The Endometriosis Sourcebook

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I purchased this book after reading the many rave customer reviews on the amazon.com site. The book is actually a compilation of papers and articles by experts and activists. It does offer a great deal of expert information as well as many articles that will bolster the resolve of any woman suffering with endometriosis to become her own best advocate for compassionate medical care, and, with luck, cure.

However, I believe the book is actually a source for those who are already well-acquainted with the disease. While there are articles that refer to things like "stages" of the disease (stages being I through IV), the book does not contain a basic overview chapter that spells out how these stages are defined. There is no overview of common "endo" effects (i.e.--likely to first affect the ovaries and fallopian tubes, affect on bowel and bladder indicates more widespread or advanced stage of disease?)

I recently underwent surgery to remove an ovarian mass that turned out to be an endometrioma. I am in my 40s, and until two weeks prior surgery I (fortunately, luckily) did not experience pain. My doctors did not suspect endometriosis because I had never displayed classic symptoms. Suddenly, I am dealing with a disease I have never considered. I need in-depth information, but I need it to take me from a beginning level. I don't deny that this book is a marvelous resource, but if you are looking for basic information and explanations, I would suggest searching further, or supplementing this purchase with another, more basic, reference. (Personally, I'm hoping to find "Endometriosis for Dummies!") Also, this book was published in 1995--a lot can change in 5 years.

I don't know how an association that is majorly funded by a pharmaceutical company, which touts its medicines as good for endo, can write an impartial book on the subject.

The pharmaceutical company? It makes Lupron. Check out the Lupron Victims Network. Please be careful. These medications hurt. I should know. I was diagnosed with this disease in 2001 and have had surgeries for it.

I picked up this book soon after I was diagnosed with endo. Although it had some good information, it lacked comprehensive information on the newest treatments for the disease, as well as any real information on new directions in clinical research. It frightens me to think that some women will pick up this book and not look further. The book fails to provide information on how women dealing with chronic pain from this disease can obtain the comprehensive, personalized type of help they need. Furthermore, the book fails to explore adequately how an increasing number of endometriosis surgeons are treating severe cases of endometriosis very much like cancer; both diseases need to be treated similarly surgically because both diseases require resection of both disease and the healthy margins surrounding the disease if a patient is to have any chance of a successful outcome. Perhaps most disconcerting is that this book does little to inspire or motivate women to become active consumers in their own health care - much more could be said about the continuing failure of the medical profession to diagnose and treat this disease as it should and a woman's need to respond accordingly. And, much more could be said about pain clinics and the pain specialists that can be the key to a woman learning to function with this disease. I eventually found Jennifer Lewis's book Endometriosis: One Women's Journey, and for the first time I no longer felt alone; I felt inspired to take real responsibility for my own health care; and I learned that there were pain professionals out there who could help give me my life back. For a sourcebook, this book is missing some really important pieces. It's okay for what it does, but be sure to supplement your reading with other books and materials.

I do not recommend "The Endometriosis Sourcebook", as it is an EA sponsored publication, and the EA charges women and doctors for their help, and it is disgusting.The Endometriosis Association, who is behind "The Endometriosis Sourcebook", has received a grant from TAP Pharmaceuticals, makers of Lupron, the drug that destroys women on a daily basis, so that any doctor who wants to be on the EA's "endo specialist" list can join for free before a certain date. The usual $100 sign up fee for doctors to pay to be on the list is "waived" because of this "grant". This is straight from the EA's web page under the tab marked "doctors", see for yourself the hypocrisy of the EA at their own site! It sickens me that thousands upon thousands of women have used an "EA referred doctor", only to be put into the hands of a doctor who only had to pay the EA money to be put on the referral list, since that's the only background check and requirement they have for the doctors to be on the list! Any doctor can sign up! Be afraid, be very afraid of the treatment you get from an EA doctor! Good luck in your fight against endo!

I was diagnosed with endo in July of 1998 and I frantically searched for information about this disease. When I found this book I felt relieved because the medical professionals didn't fully explain all of the symptoms and the emotional aspect of this illness. After reading the book I was more proactive in my treatment and I was correcting the medical staff. I'm a professional counselor and I recommended this book to all my clients that have endo.

This is an extremely helpful and informative book on a frustrating, but widespread women's health problem. If you have been diagnosed with, or suspect you might have endometriosis, this is the book to read. It covers diagnosis, medical and holistic treatments, tips on finding a knowledgeable and understanding physician, pain management, fertility problems relating to, and emotionally dealing with a relatively common, yet misunderstood disease. This is the most complete and informative book on endometriosis I have seen and I would highly recommend it to anyone who needs a better understanding of what endometriosis is, and wants the latest, most up-to-date information available.

After several years of increasing pain, I was finally diagnosed with endometriosis. The first book I read on the subject contained numerous myths and misstatements and, quite frankly, made me feel very guilty for having "caused" myself to get this disease. When I found the Endometriosis Association and ordered this book, I could finally understand what was happening in my body, what others were going through, and the latest research. This book debunked the myths (including that a "cure" for endo is getting pregnant or that only women who delay childbearing for a career get it). It was no longer my fault and there were others out there in the same predicament, some much worse off. I learned about the theories of the causes of endometriosis, what it could look like, how it could be treated, the side-effects of various treatments, and the possibility of it affecting fertility. While covering this very serious illness extensively, this book also contained humor and life-affirming stories about women with the disease. I highly recommend it!

I found this book to be amazing. It is the only time i have been given all the facts about endo, the treatments and the symtoms of endo. I strongly recommend this book to all people who suffer with endo, or friends and family who know someone that does.

Anyone with endometriosis should own this book, and it's a great addition to doctors' libraries, too. It is a definitive enough source to bring to doctors appointments, comprehensive enough to give you an understanding of the disease, and personal enough to be readable. I don't agree 100% with the treatments and theories in the book, nor do I find sufficient information on individual treatments (allopathic or alternative).

The book is an overview that everyone should read - not an individual treatment plan. It's also a good read if you don't have endometriosis - as a women's issue, this disease seems to be lightning rod for sexism from doctors, co-workers, families, etc. Notions that women's pain is insignificant or not real, that women's value is only in their reproductive abilities, that women cannot be intelligent partners in their medical treatment.

My BF bought me this book and a great tasting beverage to drink it with. Since he knows I quit coffee recently, he's been really wonderful helping me in cope with my mood swings. S o y f e e is made from soy beans that is roasted just like coffee. I enjoy the taste and don't miss coffee one bit. Buy it online at www.s o y c o f fee.com.

its a great book. it contain all the infomation a women with endometrosis needs. the section on part iv " new research direction" is very enlightening. it shocks me to know the link between the environmental pollutants and the seeming epidemic of ensometrosis. and i now finally understand that theres a link bet. my asthma and endo.