The First Year--Lupus: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed (Paperback)

by Nancy C. Hanger (Author) "YOU'VE JUST gotten a diagnosis from the doctor that you have Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)..." (more)
Key Phrases: clinical chronic fatigue, life with lupus, oncoming flare, Raynaud's Syndrome, Sjögren's Syndrome, Lupus Foundation of America (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
A patient-expert walks those newly diagnosed with lupus through everything they need to learn and do during their first year with the condition

Lupus, a serious rheumatological, autoimmune disease found predominantly in women, affects the connective tissues and linings throughout the body. Because of the diversity of its symptoms and severity with which it can manifest, it remains one of the most difficult conditions to identify and diagnose. Since her diagnosis with the disease, author Nancy C. Hanger educated herself on every aspect of her condition. Now, as a "patient-expert," she guides those newly diagnosed step-by-step through their first year with lupus. Starting with the day of diagnosis, Hanger provides vital information on a variety of subjects including:

• Strategies for accomplishing necessary lifestyle changes

• Guidelines and tips for modifying your diet

• Choosing the right medical team

• Coping with overlapping syndromes

• Discussing your condition with family, friends, and co-workers

• Current medical research and medications

• Effective alternative therapies

• Support group resources

By providing reliable, useful, empathetic, and up-to-date information you need to know when you most need to know it, The First Year™—Lupus is an invaluable guide for everyone learning to live with their lupus diagnosis.

From the Publisher
Includes special sections on coping with chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, discoid and overlapping lupus, Sjögren’s and Raynaud’s syndromes, the lupus mask, sleep disorders, and lupus and pregnancy

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press; 1 edition (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1569245096
• ISBN-13: 978-1569245095
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #88,782 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #5 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Disorders & Diseases > Lupus
  #10 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Disorders & Diseases > Rheumatic Diseases
  #19 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Disorders & Diseases > Immune Systems

• This is item 1 in The First Year Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely Essential!, June 29, 2004

By	Inge Nakel (Newburyport, MA USA) - See all my reviews

Many thanks to Nancy Hanger for outlining the things that a Lupus patient needs to know. She organizes the information in such easy bites that it doesn't overwhelm you. The explanations are clear and the information is valuable. So many doctors rely on information (or misinformation) based on what they learned about Lupus back in medical school twenty years ago. Even some rheumatologists dance around the diagnosis, the symptoms, what you should be told. Nancy Hanger spells it out clearly.

If you are newly diagnosed, or even if you've had Lupus for a while, this is A Must Read. Thank you, Nancy Hanger.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Important Information Every Newly Lupus Diagnosed Patient (and their friends and families) Needs to Know, March 19, 2006

By	D. Moses (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I found this book very informative and it helped me personally answer many questions that I have had about how I'm feeling, not only now, but for many years. I found that I personally had many of these symptoms for the past 20 years, yet it took the medical profession to finally give me a diagnosis after being hospitalized for over 2 weeks with zero white count, bone marrow suppression, and many other symptoms in this book. I was tested for every disease from HIV to Hepititis B & C, all negative and 3 bone marrow biopsies that were incluclusive as I did not have enough bone marrow to test and my red cells and platelets started depleteing. As a friend put it I had a Text Book Case of Lupus, yet, my rheumatologist couldn't give me a Lupus Diagnosis until I finally had a Full Blown Lupus Flare Up, although, 2 years ago I did have a postive ANA test, they had to wait for the flare up, which did not occur until 2 and half years after my hospitalization. This book is not only helpful to the patient, but to their families and friends also. I copied many sections to give to friends so they could better understand what I was going through. I also ordered more books for family members, so they also could understand why I act the way I do or feel the way I do, but also Lupus can be hereditary and I believe we all need to better educate ourselves with our familie's medical histories. I believe this author did a very well and informative job on educating those people who are newly diagnosed with Lupus.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for all lupus patients, August 27, 2005

By	Tonks18 (Stillwater, OK USA) - See all my reviews

This book helped me so much and I have been diagnosed for over a year. The author explains everything so that it is easy to understand and is very thorough. You are supposed to read the book throughout the year, but it took me four days. It read almost like a novel.