Women Living with Multiple Sclerosis: Conversations on Living, Laughing and Coping [Paperback]

Judith Lynn Nichols (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 21, 1999

This is a unique guide for women dealing with the difficulties of multiple sclerosis. After she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1976, author Judith Lynn Nichols realized that people suffering from chronic illness fare better when they share experiences with people fighting the same disease. While researching MS on the Internet, she connected with a group of women fighting to live with MS. The group quickly became each woman's support network, and, in the daily emails compiled in this book, they offered each other wisdom and humor about everything this disorder affects: diagnosis, employment, spirituality, family reactions, sexuality, pain control, depression, and more.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The author, herself a victim of multiple sclerosis (MS) for over 30 years, uses a compilation of E-mail chats to relate 23 women's experiences with MS. The use of various electronic media has provided these women, who sometimes suffer isolation as a result of their disability, "a way to `leave' [their] everyday surroundings and seek out a safe place where [they] can talk about [their] ups and downs with others who are going through the same experiences." The author states that very little medical information is given and that "all the experiences are shared in a conversational context, and are not intended to be medical advice." Although trite at times, this approach to a discussion of life with MS is more open and appealing and less frightening than Ellen MacFarlane's Legwork: An Inspiring Journey Through Chronic Illness (LJ 9/15/94). Recommended for all general collections and caregivers and physicians involved with MS patients.AMary J. Nickum, Bozeman, MT
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

Twenty-three women with multiple sclerosis share their e-mail discussions; the result is a ready-made support group for others with the disease that offers plenty of practical tips for day-to-day coping. Nichols (a former reporter and freelance writer) has had MS for over 30 years; she introduces the other women in the group by age and circumstances (medical and otherwise): the range is wide enough so that readers will easily find experiences here that speak to their own conditions. Chapters are loosely organized around guiding themes, but among the big questions covered here are mobility, work, family issues, sex, pain, depression, bowel and bladder control, and spirituality. Medical information is reliable as far as it goes, but much more valuable are pointers on getting good medical care, coupled with advice on all the subjects that either won't come up or wont be adequately covered in a physician's office. Nichols and company are particularly helpful in dealing with the uncertainty surrounding diagnosis (MS is notoriously hard to pin down) and the resulting emotional roller coaster. At the time of Nichols's own diagnosis, her priest visited her in the hospital to tell her he was sorry she had MS, but ``it's your own fault for assuming that you know more than God about what's best for you''. Nichols and her friends have stood up under that kind of assault, as well as the trials MS has hurled their way. Their strength and their practical outlook can help others cope. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Hunter House; 1 edition (January 21, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0897932188
• ISBN-13: 978-0897932189
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #396,187 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #72 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Disorders & Diseases > Multiple Sclerosis

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not the book to read for the newly diagnosed...., December 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Women Living with Multiple Sclerosis: Conversations on Living, Laughing and Coping (Paperback)

When you are first diagnosed with such a horrible illness and only know about the extreme signs and symptoms, it hits you hard. You need time to understand possible outcomes other than the chronic progressive cases. You need to go through the steps of grieving as well. When you first read a book such as this, you very well might think that all ms cases suffer as badly as these women. I am a fairly new diagnosed case and it took me a while to figure out that not all wind up unable to ambulate, control their bladder, have difficulty with thought processes, etc. I first read this book right after diagnosis and did nothing but sob, thinking I would wind up as badly as these women. Not so. It very well might be a good book to read cover to cover after you developed a "thickened skin" and come to grips with the illness, but not for us "you look so good" types. You have to be psychologically ready to handle this book.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I wanted to laugh and cry as I read this book., October 24, 1999

By 

Betty J. Petropoul (Odell, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Women Living with Multiple Sclerosis: Conversations on Living, Laughing and Coping (Paperback)

As I read "Women Living With Multiple Sclerosis" it made me much more aware of the many different symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis. Judith Nichols does a good job of describing the many things that can and do happen to women living with Mulitple Sclerosis. She tries to look at the humorous side of things as well as the serious. Life is too short for being serious all the time. I thoroughly enjoyed her book and would read any others she might write on this subject, if she were to write a another on this same subject. It made me want to laugh and cry. I had a hard time putting it down to even eat! As Judith Nichols suggested her doctor to read the book, I suggested to my own neurologist that he read this book. It has a wealth of information that a male neurolisist might not even be aware of. He said he was very much interested in any material concerning women and Multiple Sclerosis. I highly recommend this book to anyone living with Multiple Sclerosis, even though it is not aimed at the male living with Multiple Sclerosis.

31 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not for those with "benign" or newly diagnosed MS, September 7, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Women Living with Multiple Sclerosis: Conversations on Living, Laughing and Coping (Paperback)

I purchased this book after reading the numerous enthusiastic reviews on this site. I was disappointed to find that the women who participate in the author's on-line support group are older and predominately have a more disabling form of the disease. There was only one women whose age and disease course are similar to mine, and she was largely not heard from in the book.

While I did find information about a few symptoms I've had (and thought were my imagination) and about frank topics such as sexual dysfunction, the book contained little other information I could relate to. There was some medical discussion, but it consisted mainly of group members' diagnostic experiences which occurred prior to the advent of modern tools. I would have been interested to read about what medications the group members were taking to slow the progression of the disease and their experiences taking these drugs, but found no such dialogue.

The group's use of terms such as "froup" and "flutters" were mildly annoying. The use of the term "MonSter" to describe MS patients or the disease was objectionable. I do not choose to give the disease that much power. All in all, the group seemed to be a boring clique I would not wish to be a part of. I would not recommend this book for anyone who is newly diagnosed, has a milder form of the disease, or is seeking up to date medical information.