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

After receiving a diagnosis this year of Lupus SLE, I had no idea where to start or begin. My doctor threw me on some medication and basically told me to "buck up", which left a lot of my questions unanswered. Fortunately, this book sets out answering those difficult questions that may come after a diagnosis. The book is set up into "days", "weeks", and "months" after a diagnosis, all of which are stages that most of us have (or will) go through- everything from shock, to depression, to just wanting to learn more about the disease and how this disease will impact our lives. And how this disease will impact the lives of those we love and who love us. This book touches on a wide variety of issues that come from having a diagnosis. The author's voice is both personable and candid, while remaining truthful and factual. This book came as a blessing in disguise for me. It answered so many of my unanswered questions. It gives a voice to all of the thoughts and feelings I have had since being diagnosed. I bought a copy of this book for my mom to have, and I also have made my husband read my copy. It's a great book, and it's a must have for anyone who has Lupus or who knows someone who has Lupus. I can't recommend it enough!

I really loved this book. It was very informative and it helped me better understand my desease. It also has helped my family members to better support me during flares and different symptoms of Lupus. Easy to read and for an recently diagnosed lupus patient is a great coping tool, it explains symptoms and feelings that you might be experiencing and that you had no idea were related to your Lupus. I recommended it to everyone diagnosed with this desease and anyone who needs to undertasnd what we go through.

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.

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.

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.