Customer Reviews

The First Year: Hypothyroidism: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed

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

 

 

My first year of diagnosis was a hard one. Hypothyroidism isn't something that you are cured of overnight. It takes months and months of hormone therapy before you begin to feel normal again and even more before the energy is there to support the feeling. :) This book helped me to see where I was in the process and let me know when I was expecting too much. If you've been diagnosed hypothyroid, you should really buy this book. It will take 12-18 months to get back to normal, wouldn't it be nice to have a friend to help you along? :)

I first 'found' this book at the library while looking up information concerning HYPOTHYROIDISM. Even though I had been diagnosed many many years ago my specialists never explained to me the many situations this book discusses.
I was so happy that I could get this book for my personal library -at a discounted price- It was in near perfect!!! condtion.
This distributor was very accurate with the discription of the condition of this book.
I will order from them again/ with no hesitation.

Maureen Pratt is not an MD. She is a journalist, author, and frequent speaker on thyroid disease and autoimmune disorders, as well as chronic pain and spirituality. So, what makes her an expert on thyroid disease? She has hypothyroidism, herself, along with lupus. She has lived, up close and personal, with two life-altering diseases. With this book, 'The First Year---Hypothyroidism,' she will wrap her arms around the newly diagnosed, cradle and reassure them, while arming the reader with practical information for coping with this serious condition, one that can wreak havoc on every single cell in the body.

While there is ample information regarding latest trends in treatment, medication alternatives and research, it is the sharing of her personal experiences that makes this a first read choice for the newly diagnosed; those trying to cope with the shock of the diagnosis and its implications. I know that when I read some of the negative symptoms she suffered through, I no longer felt alone with this disease. I felt a kinship with Pratt, that had me sharing a few tears, at times. And, this is one of the most dog-eared books I now own, because when I'm feeling blue, I turn to pages where she described feeling likewise. For example, when you share that your hair is falling out to your physician, they acknowledge superficially, that this is a symptom of hypothyroidism, and move on. Only one woman, relating to another, both with globs of hair in hand, can relate to how heart-wrenching this can feel, how de-feminizing. My Dr. is wonderful, but she's a victim of the system, too, with set limits for time she can spend with each patient. There's not much time to assess, and be nurturing, in 10 minutes; a system problem we must all deal with.

I can fully understand why Pratt is a valued speaker. When faced with any illness, or situational problem, we want to speak with, or hear from someone who has walked in the same shoes. In this case, she was more validating than my Dr. who, while supportive, has never experienced hypothyroidism except through a textbook. Believe me, I now know the difference, as I'm a RN, and when this disease struck home, it opened a new world beyond what I had previously understood about thyroid disease. It will bring on an entirely new dimension, and understanding, to my patient education practices.

I have moved on to more comprehensive, medical tomes, to enhance my knowledge base, but Pratt's book will always remain my nurturing introduction---my 'warm-fuzzy' book to turn to, as I would turn to a good friend. I thank her for sharing her experiences, the bitter and the sweet, with others. If I needed this type of support, as a health care practitioner, I believe that lay people will find it a Godsend. Thankfully, it is presented in a thorough, but simplistic manner that can be readily comprehended, by all.

This book was such a downer that I had to review it to warn other people with hypothyroidism who might consider buying it. It was so depressing. I am 21 and was diagnosed with it over a year ago after having many symptoms since childhood. I found this book to be vague and simplified. Alot of the information seemed lacking proof as hypothyroidism is relatively unstudied by Western Mediciners. Most of it is about "coping" with your hypothyroidism. However, once taking my medication I found my life to improve almost immediately and more so over time. Being diagnosed should improve your symptoms not give you cause to feel disabled. Aside from this negativity it might be good for someone who knows nothing about the disorder but it might cause them to think negatively about themselves. Also I feel that there should be a much larger healthy eating section. Diet is a major way for me to control my symptoms including weight gain and mood. She barely touches on this very important factor in how we feel. Diet and exercise I feel are much better therapies than feeling sorry for yourself.

There are much better books out there. The Thyroid Solution. Stop the Thyroid Madness. Thyroid Power.

This book worries a lot about adding T3 to your treatment and distrusts Armour thyroid or any natural dessicated medication. Many, many people find they do MUCH better on a natural product, including me. Hypothyroidism goes WAY untreated and undertreated based on the ideas in this book. The author herself admits she doesn't think she's on her optimal dose of thyroid medication. It could be because she's listening to her doctor too much. Endocrinology is an area where patients really need to be self-educated. [...] is a radical site, but there is plenty of information written by MD's. Don't waste money on this book.

I was diagnosed six months ago and thought this book might be useful in figuring out what to expect while my doctor is fine-tuning my medication dosages. It was not helpful, and IMO it could have negative impact on some patients.

The book contains very little information that is not available on-line from the Mayo Clinic or other websites -- or that my own doctor had not already told me. Maybe I'm lucky in that my doctor (a D.O) believes in talking to her patients and has an particular interest in thyroid conditions.

Without going into details (because I really don't feel like wasting any more time on this book), I found the book to be a downer, a real "doom and gloom" scenario. Perhaps because the author has other medical conditions (which you don't really find out until late in the book), she had a particularly difficult experience, but that doesn't mean everyone will hace such difficulties. (For example, I probably know two dozen people who have had various types of thyroid conditions - several of whom had thyroid cancer - not ONE of them has had their marriage fall apart because of the condition. Not ONE of them has lost their job or had to reduce their work hours.)

I'd advise finding a book that is more objective, more informative, and that will leave you with the feeling that you can and will control the condition rather than it controling you.

On the other hand, if you want to feel sorry for yourself and have a little personal poor-me pity party, reading this will probably put you right in the mood for that.

There is what seems like a contradiction in the weight chapter, between what's said on p. 103 and p. 105. It's something like: (p.103) Once the med. is at the right level, as long as you eat right and exercise, the pounds will eventually come off.
VS. (p.105) It's not that you can't lose the weight. It's just going to get a lot harder to lose it.

Which is it?

I was recently diagnosed with hypothyroidism, and took this book out of the library. Apparently, life as I know it as over. I have a chronic disease that will change my relationships with my family and friends. I will no longer have the energy to continue the activities I enjoy. There is no hope; I should give up now.

Baloney. My husband and mother both have hypothyroidism, and both started feeling themselves again after a month on medication. I have no reason not to believe the same will be true for me.

I found this book over-dramatic and over-simplified.

The book was sent quickly, which was greatly appreciated. The book is chock full of helpful information.