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Stricken: Voices from the Hidden Epidemic of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 1st Edition

by Peggy Munson (Author)

9 ratings

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Develop a better understanding of what CFS/CFIDS sufferers are going through!In the 1980s, a strange emerging epidemic baffled doctors in Incline Village, Nevada. Dismissed by the media as “The Yuppie Flu,” Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) turned out to be neither a faddish disease of the wealthy nor a passing trend, but rather a growing worldwide epidemic of devastating proportions.In the voices of a South African journalist, a former marathon runner, a teenage girl, a public health activist living on the edge of race and gender, a cancer patient neglected by doctors because of disdain for her chronic illness, and a theologian relearning the art of spiritual empathy, the people who share their stories in Stricken: Voices from the Hidden Epidemic of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome defy cultural stereotypes and explore the complex social and political dynamics of this hidden epidemic. Through their distinct points of view, we feel the grief and hope of those stricken with CFIDS and learn of the complex nature of this misunderstood disorder. These are compelling stories about a quiet and baffling epidemic. The first American anthology to contain stories from a diverse range of people with CFIDS, Stricken offers an intimate look at the political and social issues surrounding CFIDS, as told by those who are living through this ordeal. Stricken addresses several issues, such as:

why some doctors still do not believe CFIDS is real
how the disease is mocked in the media
myths about this illness
the personal fight for medical or public recognition
the skepticism and hope that is felt by the ever-growing number of CFIDS sufferers

Stricken confronts fascinating CFIDS issues such as the Kevorkian suicides, accusations of Munchausen Syndrome By Proxy, Gulf War Syndrome, the role of storytelling in a memory-impaired patient movement, and the feasibility of mass activism in a disabled population. With contributions from Pulitzer-prize nominated writer Susan Griffin, renowned health writer and radio host Gary Null, well-known feminist activist Joan Nestle, and award-winning poet and essayist Floyd Skloot, Stricken is an eloquent testament to the heroism, defiance, and diversity of the CFIDS community.

ISBN-10

0789008947
ISBN-13

978-0789008947
Edition

1st
Publisher

Routledge
Publication date

November 16, 2000
Language

English
Dimensions

6.2 x 1.01 x 8.76 inches
Print length

302 pages
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Peggy Munson

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Routledge; 1st edition (November 16, 2000)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 302 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0789008947
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0789008947
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.35 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.2 x 1.01 x 8.76 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #10,120,587 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #111 in Medical Essays
- #1,013 in Medical Diagnosis (Books)
- #2,089 in Diseases

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K. Huggs

It made me feel less ill.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 18, 2021

Verified Purchase

I've had ME/CFS for ten years and am pretty much homebound with my loving wife. Reading the harrowing stories of many of the writers in this anthology makes me relieved that my illness is relatively mild and that I contracted it about 2010-11. My wife and I were retired by then so we didn't have to sweat over social security, disability payments, and so on, and I didn't encounter skeptical doctors who told me that I was just depressed and self-pitying and I should just suck it up and get over it.

The book was published in 2000 so the accounts were from the 1980's and 90's and the cases described did involve a skeptical and unsympathetic world. Many of the writers had extreme cases, terrible pain, even inability to sit up for very long. The world in which they lived offered little help or compassion. It's not surprising that one of the essays discusses the individuals who sought the help of that wacko, Dr. Kevorkian, in committing suicide.

One essay discusses the issue of pediatric ME/CFS, which is just horrendous, and another revealed something I didn't know, that the age range with the largest number of cases is 35-45. I did know that more women contract the illness than men, and the fact that their cases developed thirty or forty years ago means that they dealt with a world that we even tougher for women than it is now. We still have a long way to go before women truly have the same opportunities as men, but it seems to this old fart that things are improving.

Even if your illness is as bad as that of the writers, it may help to know that others has lived through it in much darker circumstances. In some ways, the most amazing thing about these essays is that the writers were able to overcome their severe illness sufficiently to write about their story.

Helpful

Jodi-Hummingbird

Very good with personal stories and descriptions

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 6, 2005

Verified Purchase

This is a book that leaves you changed after you've read it, it's so powerful and compelling.

Each essay is well written and the format makes it easy to read a chapter at a time. It's even available in a more MCS friendly version.

This is a good (if imperfect) book for in some way getting across how severe M.E. can be, both from the medical information given and from individual case studies as well - although M.E. is mixed with CFS case studies sadly. You get a real sense of how horrific M.E. really is, in parts.

This book is an interesting read. (M.E. is not the same thing as CFS or CFIDS, but this book is a M.E. book in the descriptions of the disease for the most part, absolutely. For political and medical information on M.E. see books by Dr Hyde, however.)

Jodi Bassett, HFME

13 people found this helpful

Helpful

D. Stewart

A variety of ideas and stories

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 14, 2005

Verified Purchase

This collectin of essays all pertain to fibromyalgia, but each is different. There is personal stories mixed with medical information. It is a must for someone struggling with this illnes. It gave me the courage to tell those who love to say" You don't look sick!" that I don't care what they think. I am not going to pretend to feel well when I don't.

10 people found this helpful

Helpful

terri rainspirit

A MUST-READ FOR ALL WHO SUFFER

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 3, 2007

I have been living with ME/CFIDS for a little over 4 years now, and when I was dx'd, I must have purchased atleast 30-40 books on the subject, because it was immediately clear to me that I was NOT going to learn from my drs! This book is SO ENLIGHTENING to all of us who suffer through our daily lives trying to "do the best that we can", which on most days for me, is to be able to stay out of bed for atleast 6 hrs/day. It showed me through reading everyone else's personal experiences that I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS BATTLE!!!! I have spent a very long time feeling like I am the only one who suffers so severely, but there were actually several others like me in this book..ie: who are mostly bed-ridden, who are on complete disability, who have to rely on someone else just about 24/7 to manage to get through a day, etc.
This book, I feel would also be WONDERFUL for the family's, spouses', and friends of those of us who have this disease, because it is written by OTHER SUFFERERS---NOT DOCTORS OR SPECIALISTS!!!
It is also a very very easy to read book. You can skip through it anywhere that you would like. It definitely does not have to be read front to back. There are soooo many personal storys in this book that whomever you may be, if you suffer with ME/CFIDS, you will DEFINITELY find someone in this book who is telling your story!! It's extremely comforting to read from others who are just like me!!
Out of all the books that I own on this God-aweful disease, I would rate this one in the top 5!!
I hope that this will help anyone who is "wondering" if this book is worth purchasing out of hundreds that are out there on the subject. THIS ONE IS DEFINITELY WORTH IT!!

5 people found this helpful

Helpful

Jonathan Sembritzky

For those with CFS to know they are not alone

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 23, 2006

It is beyond nice to know that I do not suffer alone. These are accounts of people who have or still have CFS or Fibromyalgia. Some stories tore at my heart. Particularily one story whose author wishes to someday ride her bicycle again, the same goal as mine. Other stories filled me with hope or new thoughts to look upon this grayness that is CFS.

Even if you don't have CFS, buy this. Trails of the mind and body are universal in many aspects. And if you have a loved one who has chronic fatigue, buy two. One for yourself so you can at least have a better understanding (and of course one for your loved one).

With these stories, I do not suffer alone. I open this book on hard days. It's hard to go to college and have CFS.

I open this book on good days, because it fills me with a certain kind of comfort that I can't get elsewhere.

8 people found this helpful

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jmac

there does seem to be a treatment/cure

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 9, 2005

according to the newest research (by dr. a martin lerner) cfs has been shown to be a persistent viral infection of the heart by the ebv virus or a coinfection of ebv/hcmv viruses. yhe treatment is merely an antiviral drug, valtex or ganciclovir respectively. this treatment has brought me back from the depths of the disease and i am extremely grateful. my sympathy to all who have suffered.

15 people found this helpful

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