Reviews written by Maff

Being written by a rheumatologist and a writer specializing in health and relationships makes this a well balanced book.

The latest fibromyalgia research is presented along with the latest treatment information. The treatments covered range from COX-2 inhibitor drugs which stop inflammation without the serious side-effects of steroids to nutritional supplements such as 5-HTP and SAMe which may help sleep and mood.

Specially developed exercises aimed at reducing deep muscle pain, increasing strength and energy, and alleviating stress and anxiety are described in detail.

The book manages to cover a huge range of treatments from both conventional and alternative medicine points of view that may resolve symptoms and help improve fibromyalgia patients quality of life. The complementary/alternative therapies information is extensive and covers homeopathy, chiropractic, guaifenesin, and ayurveda, amongst others. The chapter on improving sleep is particularly helpful and this has been commented on in many reviews by fibromyalgia sufferers.

Not as in depth in terms of research and medical information as some other titles but a good easy to read guide none the less.

This book can't be recommended highly enough for anybody suffering from fibromyalgia. It is, like the title says, a "survival manual".

Written by two fibromyalgia patients, one an M.D., the other a psychologist, it provides both detailed medical information regarding research and treatment options as well as practical information regarding coping with the illness day to day, dealing with relationship issues and other concerns, all in a compassionate an easy to follow manner.

The book discusses myofascial pain syndrome and its connection to fibromyalgia in detail. These condtions often occur together so it is great to have information about both in the same book.

There is also extensive information about trigger points, the specific areas of pain and tenderness that occur in fibromyalgia and are used for official diagnosis. The information is backed up with clear illustrations which greatly add to the reader's understanding.

An entire chapter is devoted to guaifenesin treatment and the theories of Dr. St. Amand. This seems to be one of the most successful treatent approaches available for fibromyalgia, going by anecdotal reports, and one of the authors of this book states that she was helped immensely by it and would not have been able to write the book without having used it.

This is a most comprehensive resource which covers all bases in detail. Treatment is covered from both a conventional and alternative viewpoint, there is a wealth of practical advice including how to deal with doctors, and everything is well laid out. There is little to argue against this book so I do not hesitate to recommend it.

For those suffering from the excruciating pain of fibromyalgia whose only relief so far has come from powerful pain medications, with equally powerful side-effects, this book and the treatment protocol it describes may well offer great hope.

One of the authors is a medical doctor who himself suffered from fibromyalgia for 15 years. In researching the condition in the hope of successfully treating himself he developed the treatment program described in this book.

Dr. St. Amand believes that fibromyalgia patients fail to rid their bodies of phosphate and oxalate through the kidneys/urine as healthy people would. This results in these substances building up in the tissues and causing the characteristic pain and tenderness of the illness. Treatment involves taking guaifenesin, a common ingredient in cough medicine, which causes the excretion of phosphate and oxalate. According to the book, patients must also avoid all foods and topical products that contain salicylates as they interfere with the action of guaifenesin. Finally a low carbohydrate diet must be undertaken to control hypoglycemia which Dr. St. Amand states as being a major problem in fibromyalgia.

The jury is still out on whether the theories of Dr. St. Amand are correct but from what we know about fibromyalgia they certainly appear plausible at least. They do seem a little simplified however considering the numerous other abnormalities that have been detected in fibromyalgia patients.

Since I myself do not suffer from fibromyalgia, rather CFS, I have not tried the guaifenesin protocol and therefore cannot comment from direct experience on whether it is effective or not. It's worth mentioning however that a quick search online reveals many many stories of people who report that they have been greatly helped by Dr. St. Amands treatment protocol. A quick look at the Amazon.com page for the book reveals 199 ratings, impressive in itself, with the vast majority giving 5/5 accompanied by glowing reviews.
With the lack of side-effects involved with guaifenesin treatment it would seem that reading this book and trying the treatment protocol would be worthwhile for any fibromyalgia patient.

An anti-fungal diet can seem very restrictive at first and many people will be stuck for ideas for meals. That is where a book such as this can be very helpful. With over 150 recipes including appetizers, main courses, and desserts, there are bound to be numerous dishes that suit your tastes.

Obviously sugar and high carbohydrate foods are not permitted on an anti-fungal diet so the inclusion of desserts will be a pleasant surprise to those fearing they will never eat anything sweet ever again! The author uses pure vegetable glycerin as a sweetener and it seems to work quite well. Some people have pointed out that glycerin can cause digestive upsets but I suspect this is not a problem at the amounts used in the recipes here. You could always substitute stevia, but this also has its detractors so I would advise people to do their own research there.

This book has been in publication for over 10 years now and that is a testament to how many people have found it useful. As well as the recipes the book also contains a wealth of information on Candida related illness in general. A definite recommendation.

The authors of this book are both long-term CFS sufferers themselves and have extensively researched the subject. As a result, readers may connect especially well with the great information contained within.

An extensive list of treatment options is provided along with pros and cons for each one as well as possible side-effects.

What makes this book stand out, as a result of being written by people with personal experience of the illness, is that they describe symptoms in a way only a fellow sufferer could really understand. This will make the information provided, with regards to explaining and treating particular symptoms, all the more accessible compared to the more heavy going texts written by doctors, some of which the average reader would find hard to understand even without brain fog!

The only drawback to this book is that it is now almost 10 years old so is becoming a little outdated.

Having said that, if you are looking for a comprehensive manual on how to deal with CFS that's written in your language, this is a good choice.

Like other doctors specializing in CFS such as Dr. Teitelbaum and Dr. Cheney, Dr. Ali believes there are many factors involved in causing chronic fatigue syndrome and that treatment must involve an overall approach to correct the root causes and resulting symptoms. Unlike his peers however, Dr. Ali uses an entirely natural treatment approach, believing that drugs just add to the stressors that the body of the CFS patient is already unable to cope with. As a CFS sufferer myself this is a position I tend to agree with.

Dr. Ali discusses the gut, liver and blood that make up the 'trio of ecosystems' within the body. As such he deals with treating gut dysbiosis, avoiding toxins, supplementing antioxidants and much more. Dr. Ali also addresses hormonal imbalances and neurotransmitter deficiencies which he states are a result of the body's 'trio of ecosystems' becoming toxic and unhealthy.

Dr. Ali believes that the root of CFS is a state of acidosis (too much acid) and oxidosis (not enough oxygen in the cells). This belief is backed by a lot of independent research and other CFS specialists also try to address these abnormalities. In this book Dr. Ali describes the problem and how he addresses it with the use of oxygen therapies and treatments aimed at balancing the body's ecosystems.

Dr. Ali runs a busy clinic, has many years experience treating CFS and has published papers showing the effectiveness of his treatment approach.

I recommend that CFS patients read this book as soon as possible.

Dr. Teitelbaum is one of the most respected doctors in the chronic fatigue syndrome community. He is the creator of a treatment program for chronic fatigue syndrome and related illnesses that has undergone clinical trials and been found to be effective. He is Director of The Annapolis Center For Effective CFS/Fibromyalgia (FMS) Therapies and recently joined Fibromyalgia & Fatigue Centers, Inc. as Medical Director.

This book provides the chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia patient with the benefit of Dr. Teitelbaum's substantial knowledge and experience. He describes the many factors that must be addressed in effective treatment of CFS and fibromyalgia including, hormonal imbalances, gut dysfunction, nutritional deficiencies and sleep disturbances.

The book includes information about all the treatments Dr. Teitelbaum has found to be effective which include both medications and conventional therapies as well as alternative and complementary therapies such as nutritional supplements, herbal remedies, and eastern exercise disciplines.

The final section presents all the results from the clinical trials that Dr. Teitelbaum has conducted on his treatment protocol. The book is worthy of purchase just for this section which could be very useful when trying to convince your own doctor to help you treat your condition with somewhat unconventional approaches.

This book should be near the top of any CFS/fibromyalgia patient's reading list.

This is a comprehensive guide for anyone suffering from CFS, the author of which is himself a sufferer of some 15 years. As a result of the author's personal experience the book is written in a very compassionate and understanding style which is easily conveyed to the reader. With an illness such as chronic fatigue syndrome which is poorly catered for by the medical profession as a whole, it is inspiring for a patient, particularly a new patient, to read about the illness from the perspective of someone who has been there.

True to it's title this book is comprehensive and covers every aspect of the illness from getting a diagnosis to dealing with confused family and friends. In this respect it focuses a lot more on coping with life as a CFS sufferer much more than many other CFS books.

This is the revised edition that contains up to date research findings from the National Institutes of Health and information regarding all the latest treatment possibilities. Another useful inclusion is the section comparing CFS with Fibromyalgia, multiple chemical sensitivity, and other conditions which often co-exist.

Adding further weight to this already impressive title are the contributions from leading CFS specialists including Dr. Paul Cheney whose work has been of great personal benefit to me in understanding my illness.

This is a considerable text that, despite the title, covers a lot of ground and looks at more than just the "yeast connection".

Dr. Crook puts forward the case that yeast plays a major role in CFS whilst also exploring other possible causes for the condition including viral infections, food sensitivities, and nutrient deficiencies. Many treatment options are explored including different forms of anti-fungal therapy along with nutritional therapy and the anti-viral drug Ampligen.

A major positive of this book is the fact that interspersed with Dr. Crooks commentary throughout are the opinions of a number of other prominent doctors who share what they have learned through working with those suffering from CFS and yeast related illness. These contributors include Dr. Jay Goldstein, Dr. Sidney Macdonald Baker, and Dr. Doris J. Rapp.

Despite being a little out of date now this book is still a worthy addition to any CFS patients library.

This best-selling book from leading naturopathic doctor Leon Chaitow is now in it's 5th edition. Regular updates since first publication over 10 years ago mean this book contains all the latest information on illnesses related to the common yeast Candida Albicans.

Dr. Chaitow writes in a very engaging style and provides a wealth of information on how Candida Albicans can cause disease and is connected to a host of conditions such as fatigue, PMT, thrush, and allergies. Being a licensed naturopathic physician, the author backs up each of his claims with research evidence without confusing the average reader.

The book contains information on drug-free treatment options for overcoming illness resulting from imbalances of Candida Albicans in the body. This section is not as extensive as it could be but will still be very helpful to most.

Although this book is not the most comprehensive on the subject it is a very good introduction from a well educated and knowledgeable author.