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sianlouiset's review against another edition
4.0
Great to see a well structured, informative book on the disease but found the writing difficult to digest easily. Found myself stopping and starting over a period of time. Still have unanswered questions but I learnt more from this than I have from my doctors and found the statistics included in the writing fascinating. Still a must read for all endo sufferers and those close to them.
lindseyamazur's review against another edition
3.0
I feel conflicted about this one. On the one hand, it’s probably one of the most extensively informative books on the subject, and full of HEAPS of useful information. There’s also a lot of really empowering, validating language too - definitely a great read for anyone with endo or anyone curious enough to learn more about it. On the other hand, some of the book (the last third of the book especially) touched heavily on their “tried and true” treatment plan. No doubt I’m sure it works.. but only a small portion of the population can actually afford to invest in and maintain such a plan. With all that they’re outlining.. it’s just, a lot: Physical therapy, different doctors, specialists, excision surgery/surgeries(?), nutritionist/strict diet regimen, cleansing every toxic household product.. I feel like for wanting to be such an approachable book at the beginning, it really wrapped things up with a rather unrealistic, elitist tone. Who has that kind of money lying around? Much as it pains me to say, I closed the book feeling really bummed, and it’s likely so many others felt similar: that this beautiful solution they propose is just too far out of reach.
kowalkat's review against another edition
2.0
y i k e s
There is some good information here, however the entire book only has 31 references and the tone of the authors is, at multiple points, extremely patronizing. They claim to be revolutionizing the field of endo treatment, however that revolution is only occurring on an individual level. The suggestions range from eating a controversial anti-inflammatory diet, a low acid diet, avoiding all plastic, doing only the right kind of exercise, and eventually expensive excision surgery by a specialist. At the end of the book a few paragraphs are dedicated to discussing systematic issues, however not enough space. If these women were revolutionizing anything other than their wallets they would focus much more on educating their professional peers and less time insisting that every woman should just eat all organic and give up vacations in order to afford treatment. I recognize the issues with insurance and believe specialists deserve to be compensated fairly -- as a testament to this I am paying for an excision with a surgeon this year that will cost several thousand dollars after insurance. However while reading more about Dr. Orbuch online I found out she charges $1200 for a consultation and over $600 for follow up visits. We need to stop pretending this is accessible health care.
Anyway, here are some of my favorite quotes from the book:
And now, for my favorite quotes:
This is a perfect example of the kind of absurd argument the authors make without any sort of citation. I read this to my partner (a university professor who researches with biologists) who said "What?? I have seen the cutting edge of microscopy, we can VISUALIZE ATOMS."
I cannot state emphatically enough that I would rather live with endometriosis than DIE IN A FIRE because I was the dumb b*tch who bought a mattress that wasn't flame retardant. WE PUT FLAME RETARDANTS IN THEM FOR A REASON.
But I guess fire is all-natural, so it's nothing to worry about.
There is some good information here, however the entire book only has 31 references and the tone of the authors is, at multiple points, extremely patronizing. They claim to be revolutionizing the field of endo treatment, however that revolution is only occurring on an individual level. The suggestions range from eating a controversial anti-inflammatory diet, a low acid diet, avoiding all plastic, doing only the right kind of exercise, and eventually expensive excision surgery by a specialist. At the end of the book a few paragraphs are dedicated to discussing systematic issues, however not enough space. If these women were revolutionizing anything other than their wallets they would focus much more on educating their professional peers and less time insisting that every woman should just eat all organic and give up vacations in order to afford treatment. I recognize the issues with insurance and believe specialists deserve to be compensated fairly -- as a testament to this I am paying for an excision with a surgeon this year that will cost several thousand dollars after insurance. However while reading more about Dr. Orbuch online I found out she charges $1200 for a consultation and over $600 for follow up visits. We need to stop pretending this is accessible health care.
Anyway, here are some of my favorite quotes from the book:
The cost would go well beyond what Elena’s insurance plan would cover; Elena calculated quickly and decided that the new sofa she was eyeing for the apartment could easily be put off.
For example, if you buy yourself a nice gluten-free, dairy-free meal but it is packaged in plastic, you might well be taking in some of those aforementioned endocrine disruptors as well as setting off an inflammatory response in your body. That would sort of cancel out some of the good you counted on with your choice of food.
About the only way to ensure absolute and complete protection from the possibility of dioxin exposure from food is with a strictly vegan diet, but of course, as noted, don’t eat your vegan meal out of plastic containers.
And now, for my favorite quotes:
And there is research suggesting that nanomolecules of these kinds of products, smaller than can be seen even microscopically, can somehow seep into the body and enter the bloodstream.
This is a perfect example of the kind of absurd argument the authors make without any sort of citation. I read this to my partner (a university professor who researches with biologists) who said "What?? I have seen the cutting edge of microscopy, we can VISUALIZE ATOMS."
t can’t hurt to check those mattress tags we’re not supposed to remove “under penalty of law” to see if your mattress might contain flame retardants or PVC or polyurethane foam. You may want to replace it with an organic mattress one day
I cannot state emphatically enough that I would rather live with endometriosis than DIE IN A FIRE because I was the dumb b*tch who bought a mattress that wasn't flame retardant. WE PUT FLAME RETARDANTS IN THEM FOR A REASON.
But I guess fire is all-natural, so it's nothing to worry about.
bwluvs2read's review against another edition
5.0
A comprehensive and thorough approach to endometriosis as a disease and life-altering condition. Each chapter tackles a different part of the body affected by endo. I thought I was pretty well-versed in what endo is and how it affects all body systems but I still learned SO much from this book! My only critique of this book is that endo in the LGBT+ community was not discussed; trans men and nonbinary individuals can have endo too and it would have been nice to see some resources directed towards inclusive health care and options for treatment.
heytherekaity's review against another edition
4.0
I'll write more tomorrow, but for now:
This book has a lot of great information laid out in extremely user friendly way. As I mentioned in my reading notes, I found the gendered language distracting. Overall, a solid book about how to deal with something I live with every day.
This book has a lot of great information laid out in extremely user friendly way. As I mentioned in my reading notes, I found the gendered language distracting. Overall, a solid book about how to deal with something I live with every day.
pacing_the_pages's review against another edition
5.0
Essential reading for EVERY woman considering that endometriosis is so often misdiagnosed.
drbrizzlybear's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
3.0
Really out of touch with the lives of most women. Most of what is described is inaccessible to women without insurance or lower incomes and the authors either don’t acknowledge this, or when they do, they frame it as though “if you want to feel better you have to figure out how to pay for these services. Otherwise you don’t really care about yourself.” Very cis/het focused.
gay's review against another edition
informative
2.0
a very gendered and privileged look at how to treat endometriosis. lots of information here that could be helpful if you are just beginning your research, however there are much more inclusive resources available online for free (i personally got more out of r/Endo's resource section and interviews from excision surgery specialists)
grimamethyst's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
4.0