Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

This book deals with day to day life problems, with the main point being LIVING! Rather than just another "disease of the week" tragedia, Judy Lynn and her "froup" tell it like it is.

If you're looking for high drama, you won't find it here. What you WILL find is a book about how ordinary people, living ordinary lives, make their lives "do-able" in sometimes EXTRAordinary ways.

I wish there had been something like this book around when I was seeking answers to my questions back when I was newly diagnosed. It would have saved me a lot of the fear that came from reading some of the misinformation that is still, unfortunately, out there.

It's not "gloom and doom", it's not "sweetness and light", it's factual, funny, sad, and presents life with MS in the matter of fact way that this "froup" deals with it all.

Thank you Judy-Lynn and online sisters! More, please?

Although the title specifically references women, the book offers a broader appeal. As a man, I was skeptical if I would find value in it. I did! I recommend this book to anyone and everyone with MS. Because it is written from the perspective of a support group, it doesn not get weighed down by medical jargon. It effectively expresses the emotional experience many of us, including men, go through when being diagnosed and living with this potentially disabiling condition.

This book is both humorous and serious; answers many concerns for the MS'er and family - an all-around great book to keep and reference as needed. It deals with everyday problems, concerns, etc. from the patient's point of view, but also has many items of interest for the families. Neurologists and other MD's would benefit from reading this book and referring it to their MS patients and families.

I am the mother of an MS daughter in her mid-30's who was diagnosed 10 yrs. ago. She's been mostly in remission until the last year or so, when she was on Prednisone three times in a 6-month period for "episodes" and fatigue, and has been on daily injections of Copaxon since early June. I bought this book on the recommendation of a relative whose daughter also has MS and have now ordered a copy of this and "Living Beyond MS" by the same author for my daughter. I am keeping my copy as a reference.

Well any of you that have MS will know exactly what I mean by the title of the review. I ordered this book from Ireland at the end of December and was delighted to recieve it the first week in January. I picked it up two days ago to read and could not put it down until I finished it at 1.30 a.m this morning.

It is so enlightening to read the experiences of all who particpated in the book, and to know that what I have experienced - you have also experienced - despite the Doctors telling me - "well that has nothing to do with M.S., be it my poor swallow, the MS hug, the pain in my face, the electrical sensations, or just the plain old fatigue!" Which my neurologist says there is no such thing as! Fatigue that is!. The stories are so common place with MS and I am delighted that you all have much the same temprament as myself, which I think the majority of MS patients have - - it is not a death sentance - its a life sentance, so therefore, we have to live with it whether we like it or not. And who could possible like it? You have truly inspired me ladies, and I am strongly thinking of setting something similiar up in Ireland. If you want to know something about MS - ASK SOMEONE WITH MS. I look forward to reading more of your books. By the way I havent been able to read a book in such a long time, but I think perhaps the short paragraphs made it a lot easier, as you know when your eyes start jumping on a page its almost impossible to find your place again. Keep up the good work, and for anyone who is thinking about purchasing this book - don't think - buy it now. I have a list of 10 of my friends who are waiting to read this plus family members.
Yours in M.S. Elaine.

Having lived with M.S. for over 20 years, I've read everything I could get my hands on. Nothing I read reached me like Women Living with Multiple Sclerosis. I loved it. Ms. Nichols and her "froup" members made me feel so welcome, so understood, so OK about myself. The book was so unabashedly frank, so helpful, and so very on target that I bought copies for two women friends with M.S., and gave my book to my mother and several other friends to read, just so they could see what it's like being ME, in layperson's terms, with no clinical mumbojumbo. This book is fabulous! Every woman with a diagnosis of M.S. - and all those who love her - should read this book. We really are all in this together, and there is so much for us to learn and share.

As a recently diagnosed 28-yr.old, this book depressed me more than informed or enlightened me. The women in the author's online circle are mostly 40-50 yrs. old, and while they have years of experiencing problems with MS, much of their info is outdated, as they were diagnosed, or not diagnosed with outdated methods, such as before the MRI came about, etc., whereas I got a diagnosis within a week or two after my first onset of an episode with the slew of testing at a wonderful clinic. Also, their experiences or episodes can be treated today, though they perhaps couldn't be treated 20 years ago. My problems are under control through the treatments available today, but reading these stories made it sound like I was in for an intolerable haul. I would not recommend this book to a younger (<30) MS patient because so much is outdated and actually lead me to a bout of depression.

These women have a togetherness that allows them to support and assist one another totally. They discuss openly what MS is all about and do it with clarity, but more importantly with a sense of humor and spirtualism. They should be congratulated for their attitudes and companionships. A very informative and interesting book. Gives one a look into someones elses life who is perhaps less fortunate than the reader, but who does not feel sorry for herself. This book should not only be read by those who have MS, but is truly informative to those of us who do not, but may know someone who does have this MonSter.