The First Year: Fibromyalgia: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed

Upon my diagnosis of fibromyalgia in the Winter of 2012, my physician let me borrow The First Year: Fibromyalgia: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed in order to grasp a better understanding of my condition. It starts with the first day of diagnosis and covers day by day for the first seven days, then the first few weeks, and then the last months of the first twelve months of being diagnosed. It covers, in detail, the symptoms, possible causes, treatments, and personal stories from affected women and men.

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The First Year: Fibromyalgia: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed by Claudia Craig Marek

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Here is the book description of The First Year: Fibromyalgia on Amazon:

“Fibromyalgia affects between three and six million Americans—80 percent of whom are women—yet remains one of the most difficult conditions to identify and diagnose. In the tradition of the other titles in the First Year series, The First Year—Fibromyalgia uses a unique approach—guiding readers through their first seven days following diagnosis, then the next three weeks of their first month, and finally the next eleven months of their first year—to provide answers and advice that will help everyone newly diagnosed with fibromyalgia come to terms with their condition and the lifestyle changes that accompany it.

Starting with the day of diagnosis, patient-experts Florence and Marek provide vital information about the nature of fibromyalgia, choosing the right doctors, treatment options, psychological issues, holistic alternatives, self-management strategies, illustrative charts and tables, and much more. The First Year—Fibromyalgia will be a supportive and educational resource for everyone who wants to take an active role in the management of their condition.”

Why it’s an essential guide for the newly diagnosed

I really thought all adults lived with daily pain and other ailing symptoms and that I was too weak to push through the pain. Many, many days as I sat on the bench taking a break at the playground with my kids; I would look around and wonder how my fellow playground parents were so happy and pushing through the pain when it just hurt so much!!

I was falling apart on the inside with pain and anxiety, wondering why I couldn’t be strong like the other parents. I wanted so much to play with my kids, run around with them, and be the fun mom I desperately wanted to be so very much, but the pain was too great at times.

The pain would break me. I wanted to hide in my bed, under the covers, and stay there. What was wrong with me?

Being a part of a community

Until this book, I had no idea that I was a part of a community of people living with fibromyalgia and chronic pain. When I read a similar playground story in which a fellow parent was unable to play with their kids, I cried. I cried a lot.

Many emotions were flowing through me at that point –

• anger
• relief
• self-pity
• sadness for my kids to have a mother so sick
• confusion
• depression
• anxiety
• desperation
• anger – I mention it again because I had a lot of it.

This book was an eye-opener for me. I read it cover to cover, leaving no page unread. It brought a lot of comfort to me, and it was hard to return the book to my physician in the following months. Even though this was an emotional read for me, I am grateful to have been given it to read.

What books do you know of for fibromyalgia? Please share in the comments below!

Book of the Month Club

I enjoyed books so much that I joined the Book of the Month Club to continue receiving the latest and greatest books via mail. Some of the books are exclusive to BOTM club members a month prior to their official publishing date! Each month I’m excited about the monthly selections, and it’s tough to select just one. (And when I can’t decide on one, I can add additional books for a small add-on charge and – as always – shipping is included in the monthly membership fee.) Can’t find one you want? That’s okay, too! Skip a month, pocket the credit to spend next month, and you won’t be charged for that current month.

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Book Ratings and Reviews

Each book I review is based on my opinion. This does not mean you will agree with the review or love/like/dislike the book, too. There’s a quote that says, “No two persons ever read the same book” by Edmund Wilson, and it’s quite true!

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