Women Living with Multiple Sclerosis: Conversations on Living, Laughing and Coping

Well any of you that have MS will know exactly what I mean by the title of the review. I ordered this book from Ireland at the end of December and was delighted to recieve it the first week in January. I picked it up two days ago to read and could not put it down until I finished it at 1.30 a.m this morning. It is so enlightening to read the experiences of all who particpated in the book, and to know that what I have experienced - you have also experienced - despite the Doctors telling me - "well that has nothing to do with M.S., be it my poor swallow, the MS hug, the pain in my face, the electrical sensations, or just the plain old fatigue!" Which my neurologist says there is no such thing as! Fatigue that is!. The stories are so common place with MS and I am delighted that you all have much the same temprament as myself, which I think the majority of MS patients have - - it is not a death sentance - its a life sentance, so therefore, we have to live with it whether we like it or not. And who could possible like it? You have truly inspired me ladies, and I am strongly thinking of setting something similiar up in Ireland. If you want to know something about MS - ASK SOMEONE WITH MS. I look forward to reading more of your books. By the way I havent been able to read a book in such a long time, but I think perhaps the short paragraphs made it a lot easier, as you know when your eyes start jumping on a page its almost impossible to find your place again. Keep up the good work, and for anyone who is thinking about purchasing this book - don't think - buy it now. I have a list of 10 of my friends who are waiting to read this plus family members.Yours in M.S. Elaine.

Having lived with M.S. for over 20 years, I've read everything I could get my hands on. Nothing I read reached me like Women Living with Multiple Sclerosis. I loved it. Ms. Nichols and her "froup" members made me feel so welcome, so understood, so OK about myself. The book was so unabashedly frank, so helpful, and so very on target that I bought copies for two women friends with M.S., and gave my book to my mother and several other friends to read, just so they could see what it's like being ME, in layperson's terms, with no clinical mumbojumbo. This book is fabulous! Every woman with a diagnosis of M.S. - and all those who love her - should read this book. We really are all in this together, and there is so much for us to learn and share.

Although the title specifically references women, the book offers a broader appeal. As a man, I was skeptical if I would find value in it. I did! I recommend this book to anyone and everyone with MS. Because it is written from the perspective of a support group, it doesn not get weighed down by medical jargon. It effectively expresses the emotional experience many of us, including men, go through when being diagnosed and living with this potentially disabiling condition.

These women have a togetherness that allows them to support and assist one another totally. They discuss openly what MS is all about and do it with clarity, but more importantly with a sense of humor and spirtualism. They should be congratulated for their attitudes and companionships. A very informative and interesting book. Gives one a look into someones elses life who is perhaps less fortunate than the reader, but who does not feel sorry for herself. This book should not only be read by those who have MS, but is truly informative to those of us who do not, but may know someone who does have this MonSter.

This book deals with day to day life problems, with the main point being LIVING! Rather than just another "disease of the week" tragedia, Judy Lynn and her "froup" tell it like it is. If you're looking for high drama, you won't find it here. What you WILL find is a book about how ordinary people, living ordinary lives, make their lives "do-able" in sometimes EXTRAordinary ways. I wish there had been something like this book around when I was seeking answers to my questions back when I was newly diagnosed. It would have saved me a lot of the fear that came from reading some of the misinformation that is still, unfortunately, out there.It's not "gloom and doom", it's not "sweetness and light", it's factual, funny, sad, and presents life with MS in the matter of fact way that this "froup" deals with it all.Thank you Judy-Lynn and online sisters! More, please?