The FibroManual: A Complete Fibromyalgia Treatment Guide for You and Your Doctor Paperback – May 3, 2016

This book is amazing. I also was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia back in the 1980’s when no one knew anything about it. Many of the aids the author recommends are things that I discovered on my own over years of experimenting and researching, although I am not in the medical field. She also has insights and recommendations for products I have not used, but recently started — these suggestions are right on, especially about using the Magnesium oils and lotions. Having restless leg syndrome also, I have been taking over 1500 mg of Magnesium everyday for years, which has helped a lot. I am now cutting back on the amount taken by pills since using the magnesium lotion and have been feeling increasingly better every day. I also have not had any episodes of restless legs since!!!! Also hearing about the findings of the causes, her details about why sleep is such a problem, and now learning about always being in “fight or flight” mode has helped me immensely because I now have a good understanding about why I am the way I am. Just this understanding helps a lot, and most of her suggestions make perfect sense. Even my husband now says “no wonder you are the way you are!” Much of my frustration with Fibromyalgia over the years was not understanding why certain things affect me the way they do. Now, I have been enlightened on so many things. It really helps just knowing the reasons behind many of the symptoms!I have ordered copies of this book for multiple friends and family members with Fibromyalgia because it is the best book I have found in 30 years. The fact that she is a doctor suffering from it makes it very credible, and she writes about everything in thorough, easily understandable ways. I’ve had the book for about 3 weeks, and have read the first 7 chapters at least 6 times. This has become my wellness bible, and I cannot say enough good things about it. Obviously, I highly recommend this book to everyone who has, or knows of someone with Fibromyalgia.

Excellent book for anyone suffering from Fibromyalgia. It's written by a doctor who has Fibromyalgia herself. A lot has changed since she wrote this book. I hope she writes an updated version with current information and sources that are available.

very helpful manual on how to deal with fibromyalgia, from an alternative perspective. Rich and detailed and encouraging

This is an extremely informative book. If you are looking to understand the mechanisms of fibromyalgia, this is probably the closest you are going to get. Dr. Liptan does a nice job of admitting where the research is thin and needs further investigation, while simultaneously walking you through what is available to us now. There are a ton of practical tips from how to talk to your doctor, which medications to try (she focuses both on pharmaceutical and alternative medicines and treatments), and what other habits, foods, exercises, will be helpful (and more). It is delivered and organized very well - it is not dumbed down so much that the substance suffers but not too complicated for those of us who are not doctors to understand.I gave the book four stars for two reasons. First, the information was helpful to understanding fibromyalgia but did little to help me physically / as a guide for treatment, which seems to be a goal of hers throughout the book. But this may not be and probably is not true for everyone. Second, I felt there was vital information that was missing, especially from an emotional standpoint. Adjusting to fibromyalgia is a physical challenge and this book will help you a lot in understanding and addressing that aspect, but it is also a major emotional adjustment, which can at times be more difficult to cope with. Despite her own diagnosis with the condition, it often feels like there is a disconnect between what she is saying and what you are feeling. To clarify, she often sounds less like someone who has suffered with the condition and more like a doctor, and I think we have all heard enough from doctors!Still, Dr. Liptan has written an incredible, compassionate, and thorough initial look at what fibromyalgia is. This book helped me, and I am sure thousands of others, to better understand what happens in the bodies and minds of those with fibromyalgia, and it will not be a waste of your time or money to read it.