AUTOIMMUNE VASCULITIS RECOMMENDED READING LIST  (Updated 20 Feb. 2010)

In depth interviews with patients, care providers and family members. Touches on finding a diagnosis, alternative medicine, strengthening relationships with your family and friends, career decisions and emotional well-being. A book every chronically ill person should read!
This book details a method to assure that blood sugar levels don't rise too quickly, nor stay elevated too long.  The right kind of carbohydrates  balanced with  protein quantities and consumed in five meals a day keeps one from becoming too hungry.

This book is a collection of essays describing life lessons the author happened upon while caring for his wife who has fibromyalgia. I like the honesty with which the author portrays his story. Unlike the last book I reviewed, this is one to read together.
The book centers around the caregiving journey experience by the author. It includes advice from leaders in the fields of aging, medicine, finance and spirituality. It explores medical and financial problems including depression, stress, housing, home care and end-of-life concerns.
Working with a workbook allows you to go through a "counseling" of sorts in the comfort and safety of your own home. Or - use it with counseling as a guide for your sessions. This is an excellent resource and should be a part of your library.
This book concentrates on how to be an informed caregiver - including information on healthcare systems, costs and burdens put on the family. It addresses the issue of making sure the caregiver has their needs met.
This book is a touching story of a woman living with a chronic illness and the journey her physician takes with her in order to help her learn to live well. It also documents her frustrations in dealing with insurance companies and how to fight them for the care you need and deserve. Dr. Overman's viewpoint and advice is insightful and his care for Joy is a dream for every patient. This is a wonderful book for someone who has just been diagnosed or for someone who is going through a flare.
 Provides good information on taking care of an ill person in a home setting. Also dealing with Medicare, Medicaid and long-term care insurance. A section is also devoted to taking care of the caregiver.
                     Anthony S. Fauci , Eugene Braunwald , Dennis L. Kasper , Stephen L. Hauser , Dan L. Longo , J. Larry Jameson , Joseph Loscalzo
This is considered a guidebook for patients, visitors and caregivers. Includes activities that help to heal including bedside yoga and massage.
"The complete new nutrition program to prevent and reverse heart disease, arthritis, allergies and asthma. It describes the Inflammation Syndrome as the cumulative effect of low grade inflammation, including aches and pains we experience each day that grow into chronic debilitating disease."
Conversations and Life Lessons From Young People With Serious Illnesses (Paperback)
Love, Medicine & Miracles will help you to become an exceptional patient who can take an active role in determining the quality of life that you have each day regardless of how desperate your situation may be. Dr. Siegel's methods of relaxation techniques, meditation and visual imagery are simple and effective. Create a new awareness and you will begin to move toward new goals. Create peace of mind and you will give the meds a chance to do their job and a chance for your body to heal.
The Merck Manual is available both electronically and in print, both hardcover and paperback.
by Icon Health Publications (Paperback - March 31, 2004)
Excellent source for the healing of the mind and spirit. A great book for those lost in the depths of WG.
Although this book is not specifically dealing with chronic illness or care giving, it does talk about the direction your life is taking and how you can still make choices to redirect your life journey into one of happiness and success.
The author interviewed 40 spouses, whose partners were in varying degrees of illness, to gather information first hand from caregivers. The information is brutally honest and I warn patients to think before reading this book. Let me just say that you might not be ready. However, this book could one of the best gifts you can give your well spouse. The author wrote this book to provide caregivers with a tool she wished had been available when her husband first became ill. Caregivers need to know they are not alone when negative feelings flood their emotions.
                   The book is clear and helpful.  Especially usedful are the on-line and printed resources listed in the back.