Anyone hear about this book? My cousin thinks I should get it.
Although I keep telling her I don't have fibro and not chronic fatigue, I believe she thinks its all in my head? Yet she does acknowledge, its may be autoimmune, so I should try it...thoughts???
Hi Bonnig,
Just checked this book out on Amazon where it's got four and a half stars. The lower rated reviews say that the author claims to have knowledge that no-one else does but they've read other books with exactly the same diet in them. It seems to take a spiritual approach to illness and while I'm all for thinking positive, I don't believe everything can be cured by faith alone. If you haven't already, look it over on Amazon and see if it appeals to you after reading some reviews. I didn't find many books written specifically about PMR but Dr Kate Gilbert's stood out - I'd recommend this for anyone looking for down to earth, practical info from someone who has suffered from this condition herself. Also there are many knowledgeable people on this site who are only too happy to help with any query.
All best wishes for your PMR free future.
Being a born cynic I probably would not buy it, but of course I may be totally missing out!
There is definitely a psychological/ emotional/ spiritual component that triggers this illness. A lot of us have had relentless stress or bereavement or some kind of disastrous emotional trauma before the onset. We also notice our symptoms worsening in stressful situations.
So why not think outside of the box? If it helps do it.
I have read this book & related to it as I firmly believe my PMR is viral based. Having had shingles when 30 then Ross River Virus while in Australia & numerous bouts of flu & thyroid issues, it made sense. He is clear about most illnesses today are spin-offs from the mutating Epstein Barr virus. You can ignore the spiritual component if you need to. Basically it gave me hope in that supporting my body in the best way possible will lead to better health. The case studies were very interesting. Have not read his life changing foods book or pre ordered the thyroid healing one but am very tempted to. I would agree with SheffieldJane, stress & grief are disastrous as well & if something is out there to inspire a positive outlook, then go for it.
Wouldn't it be great if all we had to do to cure our condition would be to use
"The Think Method"!
I am always grateful that people who care about me want to help, and I always say "Gee, thanks, but that won't work for me. I don't have _________. I have PMR. But if you really want to help me out, I could use help with scrubbing the tub/mowing the lawn/going grocery shopping/folding and putting away laundry/someone to take the dog for a good run/someone to talk to when I can't sleep...so I have the energy for a long lovely lunch with a good friend like you."
It has been amazing to me how many people have found the time to give me the kind of help that really helps once I tell them what that is.
love your reply! i wish i had the courage to reply with the second part of your answer.
If it isn't the correct disease then no. It would be a bit like treating the thyroid with insulin wouldn't it?
Pointless and unworkable.
How annoying to have a family member who may believe you are making it up.
I believe my son's wife has that attitude towards me. Well, If she really believes I don't want to see my grandchildren and have got rid of my car for fun, then so be it. That type of attitude really doesn't help towards recovery and just adds to the stress, making it more difficult.
😪
pMRandRA,
How frustrating and sad for you that your daughter in law doesn't understand. My heart goes out to you as grandchildren are such a treasure and I am sure her attitude impacts the relationship.
You are right though, it is her problem and loss. You are a very special person and we all love the support you provide our group.
I am sure your grandchildren see that part of you as well.
Thanks as always. We are glad you are here and helping all us newbies.
Hugs.
TJ
Hi,
Well, you never know, there might be something in the book that rings true for you. However, I have reservations about anyone who claims to have all the answers, especially regarding health and our souls. I think our illnesses are an interplay of physical make up, diet, life's trials, personality, relationships, emotional and spiritual state and who knows what else. I do think major illness forces us to make changes often big ones, to the way we live our lives and our emotional health. This is hard work with no easy fix at a time when our world has been turned upside down and we feel dreadful. An answer to, "why me, why now?" would be nice too, but perhaps it is a distraction from getting better trying to work it out and it is bound not to be a simple answer.
Trouble with having an illness that others don't understand or see is that many just don't get it. It can be very isolating and lonely. If it was Cancer with the whole hero image it has, you'd mostly likely have lots of support and sympathy. Those close to you may feel exasperated because you are suffering and they can't do anything about it to fix it. You are also not being 'normal'; the rules of game have changed. The tendency can be to blame in a kindly way, the person for doing something wrong; if only they did the right thing it would be ok or it's all in the head. It's just not as simple as that. I would ask you why it is so important for you to satisfy your cousin?
I guess if a book gives you the confidence to make changes that you have identified that's fine, but I would say that if you are looking for it to give you an easy plan to follow I'd be wary. Perhaps try to look deep and decide what YOU need right now and what is positive in your life and what brings you down. Nourish your body with good foods to support it as you're in this together and it has been trying to do its best but has run out of steam.
Hi Snazzy,
This went straight to my heart, especially the second paragraph.. trying to get across to family that although I'm still 'Mum' and 'Gran' to them, there's an altogether different person here inside.
Sometimes the blame is not kind, through lack of understanding and/or interest, which leads to anger and frustration on both sides and an increasing alienation from family life. When our children look at us, the parent, they see only what they've always seen, the patterns of behaviour are firmly in place no matter how much we try to explain (which gets tedious for everyone). They lead busy, full lives and suddenly we are 'old' and on the outskirts of their thoughts, it's a big adjustment to move from being the pivot of your children's lives to a remote region on the periphery of their concern. It's maybe easier for the parent to make the adjustment, along with all the other adjustments, than the 'children' since they don't perceive the invisible changes. It's a hard road to walk.
Thank you for your post x
Oh yes, the mum thing. I think we can end up losing ourselves, something I swore I'd never do as wife and parent. My project is to dig out the real me from under the piles of dirty washing and then give her some time. My teenagers and husband haven't got it yet, but then I'm pulling the rug out from under their feet too. The doer of all things and everybody's second brain needs more than an extra help with the washing up occasionally. I am going to be fair and work out what it does mean and present my new order rather than giving them a woolly, "Things have got to change, I can't do this any more, work it out".
Doing this may or may not be the big cure, but it is a question of quality of life. I guess the biggest turn around is that rather than aiming to get better in order to be able to resume the standard of service everyone has come to expect, I am aiming to get better and make my life one where my needs don't always come last and I stay healthy. The other up side to that is I should be able to cope better with losing my career and eventually my children as it is not their job to keep me happy and make me feel like I'm somebody. Well that's the master plan anyway.
SnazzyD,
You bring up several great points!! I suppose if I don't try the book, then "I will allow" her to make me feel like I'm not doing everything possible to help myself....suppose it shows my loss of self esteem through this period of my life.
The PMR came on when I found out I was losing my job and I'm still out of work. I'm having a very hard time focusing on looking for a job and can't pull myself out of this funk.
I'm so traumatized with all the side effects of the pred. I'm no longer eating well and I'm drinking too much. A part of me believes I am not doing everything possible to help myself.
Ah, self esteem. Nothing like an invisible major illness to remove it plus your major life event of losing your job. While you poke around in the wilderness looking for it, it is easy to stop making choices because it removes the need for taking responsibility (not blame!) which requires self esteem that you can't find!
So, the book. You can choose to read it because even if you think it's rubbish you will have formed an opinon and lost nothing apart from some money. You may well get something useful like rosajur did. Either way you are doing it for you not your cousin.
I felt traumatised taking Pred, still do to some extent. Are you actually allowing yourself to be in that place or are you self medicating with food and drink in order to get a grip? It's very like grieving it's a process that needs to work through. Cry buckets more and moan on here, I bet others will have felt the same. I'm sure you know that if you put crap in your body it'll feel like crap, especially now. That's a positive choice for you, to nurture your body.
As for work, can you delay that? You have a serious condition that needs serious TLC, your funk is part of it.
Then you need to find something where you feel you are in control - and diet is by far the easiest aspect.
Talk to us about your pred problems - many can be managed when you know how.
Believe me - whatever it is there will be at least one person who has been there before you xxx
you all have been great and have answered me recently about the moon face and hair loss. i've at least worked hard to not gain weight thus far.
just also so lonely being alone all day without anyone to help me over these last nine months.
Anything that claims to have "secret" knowledge that isn't part of the mainstream is almost certainly after one thing and one thing alone: income! Achieved by the transfer of money from your bank account to theirs.
There are a lot of more targeted claims that are dodgy enough - anything that claims to cure next door to everything probably cures nothing.
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