Living Well with Autoimmune Disease

July 8, 2002
It took physicians two years after the author complained of weight gain, depression and fatigue to diagnose her with the autoimmune disease Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Autoimmune disease, which includes such conditions as multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and chronic fatigue syndrome, are estimated to afflict at least 8.5 million Americans. According to Shomon (Living Well with Hypothyroidism), because of the difficulty of diagnosis and tendency of some physicians to prescribe treatments that may have serious side effects, those with autoimmune illnesses are being shortchanged by the medical establishment. Since those who suffer from one are more vulnerable to other autoimmune disorders (not to mention that they may have a genetic predisposition toward a disorder), this informative self-help manual is badly needed. Drawing on extensive research, as well as doctor-patient anecdotes, Shomon's guide is designed to empower patients to participate in their own care. In addition to a detailed discussion of every type of autoimmune disease, the author provides advice on how to choose an appropriate medical team that will work to integrate conventional and alternative therapies. Based partly on her own experience, Shomon advocates an integrative approach to treatment that may include meditation, herbs, exercise and dietary changes along with antibiotics and hormones that together will minimize symptoms and maximize health.

October 1, 2002
It takes a unique combination of knowledge and skill to present complex medical information accurately and make it understandable to the average nontechnical reader; unfortunately, this book does not meet that expectation. Shomon, who wrote Living Well with Hypothyroidism after her own diagnosis, is a self-described patient advocate and editor in chief of several newsletters for patients. Nowhere in the book does it indicate that she has a professional clinical background, yet she feels competent to interpret autoimmune diseases, which are highly complex and comprise between 50 and 100 different illnesses, such as type 1 diabetes, Crohn's disease, and lupus. Many of these illnesses defy cure, and clinicians and patients alike hope to be able to manage symptoms and minimize organ or joint destruction. Yet Shomon claims that her guide will go beyond symptom management to "discover cutting-edge approaches that can actually reduce and even reverse the autoimmune response [and] even cure autoimmune conditions entirely." Relying on interviews with patients and various practitioners, her own experience, and a mix of research sources, she discusses conventional and alternative approaches to more than 25 autoimmune conditions. Unfortunately, many of her references are not drawn from peer-reviewed resources but come from newswire services, electronic journals, newsletters, web sites, or press releases. Throughout, Shomon frequently interchanges IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), though the treatment and course of these two entities are completely different. And there are other such errors. Shomon has a deep personal interest in the topic, but is she the best person to interpret and present this highly important and complex information. This reviewer thinks not. Not recommended; a better choice would be Simone Ravicz's Thriving with Your Autoimmune Disorder.DLisa McCormick, Jewish Hosp. Health Sciences Lib., Cincinnati

Copyright 2002 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.