Life Disrupted: Getting Real about Chronic Illness in Your Twenties and Thirties

by Laurie Edwards

Book Overview

An inspiring guide to staying in control of your health care, your life, and your dreams despite having chronic illness, by a popular journalist and award-winning blogger. Twenty-seven-year-old Laurie... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802716490
• ISBN13: 9780802716491
• Release Date: June 2008
• Publisher: Walker & Company
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.6" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

One of the Must-Read Books if You Are Ill, Regardless of Age

I have read many books on how to cope or live successfully with a chronic illness, and as the founder of National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week, I am eager to read the ones that specifically address the emotions behind an illness, not just the illness facts. Even some of the best books, however, don't resonate with me in a personal way. And then I read Laurie Edwards "Life Disrupted: Getting Real about Chronic Illness in Your Twenties and Thirties." Not only did I discover a gifted writer who discussed everything from humanizing hospitals to difficult diagnoses, but also one understood the emotional roller coaster that I've personally been on since being diagnosed with an invisible illness. I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at the age of twenty-four, and ironically, I Laurie's book was published the year that I turned forty. I wish I'd had this book years ago, but the impact the content had on me was not diminished in any way because of my age. I believe I related to the book even more, since I have already experienced so much of what Edwards writes about. I've had an illness through college, dating, marriage and parenting. Through the past sixteen years I've trudged my way through all of these without a manual. Although I wouldn't call Edward's book a "how to" book, the validation that it provides through her own illness experiences, as well as her professional journalistic look at the sociology behind illness is exceptional. It provides helpful professional information, with the hint of her diary between the lines. And I found a friend in one who copes with her illness best by burying herself in work. She writes, "As a college student I studied for finals and wrote newspaper articles from the ICU. In graduate school, I taught writing classes so fresh from being discharged that I still had a hospital bracelet on my arm. And all of this seemed perfectly reasonable to me. Why shouldn't it?" (p. 142). Edwards, a journalist by trade, is not afraid to put aside her professionalism and "get real" by talking about things that gals with illness can be concerned about, such as not being able to wear "cute shoes" or trying to find the energy to have a conversation with college friends. She even discusses gazing out a hospital window longingly looking at her dorm rooms. These things are a big deal when you are young. Emotionally we learn to live with illness. . . but it's just so daily! Edwards reminds us that those daily events of living with illness that can seem so significant are significant and not minor decisions. How do we explain our illness when we are dating? When do we reveal it? How do we survive the embarrassment of healthcare situations that are a little more intimate than we would like? For example, when the home healthcare professional shows up is a bit too good-looking and close to our age? How do we become independent adults who care for our illness when our parents still want to be consulted? Is accepting our l

A fantastic, non-whiney look at the real challenges of being "struck down in your prime"

This is a great read for anyone struggling with a debilitating illness, (especially for those of us who have rare illnesses) or for friends and family of such folk. It deals with some of the very real adjustments that aren't often talked about in health books---when not to ignore symptoms (even though it's just one more on the list and not life-threatening) looking chic without sacrificing much-needed comfort, how to set boundaries with doctors, nurses, etc. (e.g., "I don't care that this is a teaching hospital. I'm here to get well, not to be studied..."). The focus of the book is on young adults with chronic illness, but it shares stories and experiences from all age groups in a way that is sympathetic without being patronizing, realistic without being whiny, and on the whole a very pleasant read despite the very serious subject matter. The rules that I've set up for my life (always comfortable shoes, never watching a movie in the theatre, never passing up a chance to sit instead of stand) were not always changes I made gracefully. Although most of the tips and tricks of coping were things that I had long established in my own life for dealing with my rare conditions, it was still a comfort to read that I wasn't alone in the struggle. Especially useful are tips and tricks for the workplace, how much to share, and how to make an employer a strong part of your overall support team. This book has been needed for a very long time, and I'm so greatful to have found it!

A wonderful book for people with chronic illness of ANY age

I've been reading author Laurie Edwards' blog, A Chronic Dose, for quite awhile, so I knew that I'd enjoy her writing style. But with the title suggesting it's for people in their 20s and 30s, I wondered if at 41 I'd find much to identify with. No question -- I did. Despite the vast differences in our health situations, I really felt like I recognized myself in Laurie's writing, whether about herself or the people she interviewed. I'm an insatiable reader, and since I got sick in 2007 with a "mystery illness" that continues to defy diagnosis but has left me mostly housebound and unable to care for my 3.5-year-old daughter, I've read many books on chronic illness. But fewer than a handful stand out as books I'd recommend, and Life Disrupted is at the top of the list. The reviewer of the Boston Globe called Laurie in a review "the Carrie Bradshaw of chronic illness" and I'm still wondering how the heck s/he came away from Life Disrupted with that comparison. But I do think Laurie is an inspiration to all of us who either have a chronic illness or love someone who has one. She is so honest about the compromises chronic illness forces, but she still manages to do more than so many so-called healthy people can manage. I don't know if I'll ever be able to manage my life and my illnesses as well as she does, but she gives me something to aim for as well as the hope that someday there will be more to my life than there currently is.

Inspiring Perspective

We all have our own fair share of struggles, but Edwards chronic illness is more than what the average 20-something has to worry about. I read the book not looking for support on how to handle disease but to appreciate and understand others that do. We come to understand, appreciate, and respect each other through our stories and Edwards' story is compelling and inspiring. I was touched by her candidness and her wit as she describes a life filled with many hardships but with just as many joys. Even though I don't struggle with chronic illness I found her story very relatable - falling in love, friends, family, going to college, etc. Edwards' story along with stories of other young people with illness shares the same common theme of optimism. Sometimes we can get caught up in the trivial things, but with perspective and gratitude we can get through anything. I would recommend this book to anyone who is going through a time of hardship, adjusting to a new medical diagnosis, or just someone who is looking to read some inspiring stories and gain some healthy perspective!

Resounds with multiple audiences

Laurie is someone who is truly living-in the best sense of the word-a life that happens to include chronic illness. I purposely left my copy of Laurie's book on my coffee table when a friend came to stay with me because of a doctor's appointment with a specialist. With only a couple of hours to read before I got home from work, my friend flipped through different chapters selectively. What spoke to her the most from the book was the section that discussed caregivers and the chapter on not being able to make advance plans. My friend is not in her 20s or 30s, but she still feels young enough that she should be able to commit to her work or be able to travel with her spouse. I imagine most people will similarly find some topic in Laurie's book that speaks to them as either a patient, caregiver, relative, or friend of a loved one with a chronic illness. Laurie's book is a reaffirmation that each person's thoughts and emotions are normal, you're a strong person-not a nuisance-if you are your own advocate, and that you can still succeed and have what you desire-even if your definition of success is shaped in some way by illness.