One of the most widely recommended guides to living with multiple sclerosis, now completely revised and updated, including the latest research, the most recent information on treatments (including the news on Tysabri(r)), and new tips for managing MS. Multiple sclerosis is as much a mystery as it is a disease, but this chronic and often disabling condition of the central nervous system affects over 400,000 people nationwide. From the moment of her diagnosis in 2000, Margaret Blackstone took charge and educated herself on every aspect of her condition. Now, as a "patient-expert," she guides...

More than 25 million Americans and 92 million worldwide suffer from liver disease and cirrhosis, a degenerative and potentially fatal condition in which liver cells are damaged and then replaced by scar tissue, impeding liver function. The disease is most commonly caused by excessive alcohol consumption, hepatitis, or complications from prescription drugs. Immediately after his diagnosis, James Dickerson set out to educate himself on all of his options and found there is hope for recovery. Now, he offers The First Year: Cirrhosis, the first guide for patients and their families to...

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive disease of the retina that develops when the light-sensing cells in the central area of vision (the macula) stop working and eventually die. Thought to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, the disease is the leading cause of blindness in people over 50. In 1995, Dan Roberts retired from teaching to help others who also suffered from macular degeneration. Roberts has established support networks for AMD patients and provided free presentations about vision impairment at schools, community organizations, and...

Parkinson's diseasea chronic disorder that causes a progressive loss of nerve cell function in the part of the brain that controls muscle movementis an incurable neurological condition with debilitating symptoms. Over 1.5 million Americans are affected, and the numbers continue to grow. From the first moment of her Parkinson's diagnosis, author Jackie Christensen took charge and educated herself on every aspect of her condition. Now, as a "patient-expert," she guides those newly diagnosed step by step through their first year with Parkinson's. She provides crucial information about the nature...

Lupus affects an estimated 1.5 million people in the U.S.90 percent of whom are womenbut due to the diversity of its symptoms and severity, it remains one of the most difficult conditions to identify and diagnose. In the tradition of the other titles in the First Year series, The First Year Lupus uses a unique approachguiding readers through their first seven days following diagnosis, then the next three weeks of their first month, and finally the next eleven months of their first yearto provide answers and advice that will help everyone newly diagnosed with lupus come to terms with their...

Fibromyalgia affects between three and six million Americans80 percent of whom are womenyet remains one of the most difficult conditions to identify and diagnose. In the tradition of the other titles in the First Year series, The First YearFibromyalgia uses a unique approachguiding readers through their first seven days following diagnosis, then the next three weeks of their first month, and finally the next eleven months of their first yearto provide answers and advice that will help everyone newly diagnosed with fibromyalgia come to terms with their condition and the lifestyle changes that...

The hepatitis B virus causes an estimated one million deaths each year worldwide, and despite the availability of a hepatitis B vaccine, a combined lack of awareness and educational resources has turned this virus into a deadly epidemic. Author William Finley Green, who has lived with hepatitis B for almost twenty-five years and has become an expert on the condition, guides those newly diagnosed step-by-step through the first year following diagnosis. He provides charts and tables, crucial information about the nature of the disease, treatment options, diet, exercise, social concerns, the...

Like the other titles in the -First Year- series, The First Year--IBS offers two distinct advantages. First, it is written by a patient-expert, Heather Van Vorous, who has managed her IBS for more than fifteen years and knows firsthand what's required to manage her condition. Second, it guides readers through their first seven days following diagnosis, then the next three weeks of the first month, and finally the next eleven months of their first year, offering answers and advice to guide those with IBS into their new lifestyle. Starting with the day of diagnosis, Van Vorous provides...

This supportive resource explores the next generation of HIV/AIDS drugs and also includes new research on HIV and crystal meth, as well as new insights for the hardest hit population -- African Americans.

This newly revised edition includes new research and insights to help everyone newly diagnosed with IBD come to terms with their condition and the accompanying lifestyle changes along with other vital information about IBD."