Managing Major Chronic Diseases

by Alexis Dupree

Don’t Let Major Chronic Diseases Prevent You from Living Your Life Well

Did you just get diagnosed with a major chronic disease or condition like multiple sclerosis, type 2 diabetes, epilepsy, or something you can’t even pronounce (like congenital hypogammaglobulinemia)? Well, I have all those and more. What are you going to do now? Give up? Whine? Sit in your house for the rest of your life and not do a darn thing? Forget about your dreams?

When I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) over 30 years ago, I thought my life was over. I had lots of crazy and upsetting relapses. One night I saw my toe moving of its own accord and realized it was the start of a particularly weird relapse. That relapse inspired me to start taking control of my life. What could I do to help myself?

I needed to change my attitude. But I didn’t do it right away, because it’s hard and no one told me to do it. Doctors and nurses, who treated the relapses, didn’t mention it. They don’t live with the disease. Patients do. I had to figure it out myself, and, if you’re battling disease symptoms, who has the time? As I accumulated more diseases and had more surgeries though, I learned. Twelve major chronic diseases don’t get me down.

In this book you will learn the following:

• What changing your attitude really means

• How to redefine your dreams

• How to create a new game plan for your life

• How to manage your disease or diseases

• What the four challenges are for any major chronic disease

• What the five key tactics are for managing any major chronic disease

• The vital importance of lying to yourself

• How a previous prime minister of Great Britain should influence your life

• How to be a survivor

We all have good genes and bad genes. It’s just a matter of luck, and those of us with major diseases got a rotten deal. Stop asking why. Just decide some stupid disease isn’t going to bring you down. Learn what you need to do to manage it. Control your life.

Pick up your copy today!

$9.95

Reviews

The MidWest Book Review

Managing Major Chronic Diseases: Advice from a Patient isn’t a medical book that addresses specific diseases. Instead, it is a psychological and practical self-help book written by a patient with chronic diseases, for patients with chronic diseases. Chapters focus upon the importance of adjusting one’s outlook to adapt to a “new normal” while continuing to enjoy everyday life. Author Alexis Dupree draws upon her personal experience with diseases to present her insights in plain terms. “In the United States if you must go to the ER, be prepared to wait unless you are actively dying. ERs do not use a first-come, first-serve process. Instead, they sort patients’ needs for medical attention using a process called triage to determine how severe patients’ illnesses are. If you need to wait, it’s a good thing. Yes, you will be in a lot of pain, but you aren’t dying.” Managing Major Chronic Diseases is a “must-read” for anyone diagnosed with a chronic disease, and an excellent supplemental resource for family members and caregivers. Highly recommended.

—James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief, The Midwest Book Review

Five-Star Reviews by Readers’ Favorite

If you had a choice of getting directions to a new destination from someone who had never been there or from someone who goes there on a regular basis, who would you choose? I hope you would choose the person who regularly goes there. If that is your choice and you have a major chronic illness, then Alexis Dupree’s book Managing Major Chronic Diseases; Advice from a Patient is the book for you. I have had several major illnesses since I was a young teen and this book was eye-opening. Alexis gives advice on handling your diseases with wisdom received from her years of dealing with a dozen major chronic diseases. This book is not full of medical advice but gives a common sense approach to managing your different symptoms, including the realization that you can’t do what you used to do.

Alexis Dupree knows what pain and limitations are due to having over twelve major chronic diseases. She gives simple advice and words of wisdom to all who are struggling with a chronic disease or those who help or know someone with a chronic illness. In Managing Major Chronic Diseases, the reader will find easy-to-understand words of encouragement and guidance. Receiving a diagnosis of a chronic disease is often accompanied by all the stages of grief. Alexis gives suggestions as to how to respond to those who offer what they think is help, but in reality, not helpful. I remember once when my son was in the middle of a seizure and a lady asked if she could get him a glass of water. I really appreciated the offer, but one cannot drink while in a seizure. This book will shed light on what to expect and offer ideas to adapt and adopt as you travel on your new journey through the land of illness. After suffering from chronic diseases for over 50 years, I can highly recommend this book.

—Philip Van Heusen for Readers’ Favorite

In Managing Major Chronic Diseases: Advice From a Patient by Alexis Dupree, readers will learn how to cope and live with illnesses in a manner that will have a better effect on their lives. Illnesses are hard enough to deal with, so finding ways to manage every aspect of each problem can have a lasting, positive impact on your life. Don’t wait until the last minute or until things get too bad to tell your doctor about symptoms or to visit the ER. It is extremely important not to let depression get the better of you and to learn everything possible about your illness from every resource available.

I love the extensive information in Managing Major Chronic Diseases by Alexis Dupree. This short guide is full of relevant information concerning the way a patient responds to and copes with illnesses. It is written from the patient’s perspective with timely advice that is useful in medical situations. I enjoyed the way Dupree explained ways to handle illnesses and then used personal experience to reinforce the point being made. Although Dupree points out that she is not a medical professional, the information in this book will help you to interact and be prepared for doctor visits.

I recommend Managing Major Chronic Diseases to anyone who is suffering from a long-term illness or knows someone who is. I hope Dupree decides to write more books like this from personal experiences with chronic issues that will help others feel like they are not alone and discover new ways to cope with the problems they are facing.

—Amy Raines for Readers' Favorite

Managing Major Chronic Diseases: Advice from a Patient by Alexis Dupree is a candid and insightful guide for individuals facing the challenges of living with major chronic diseases. The author, who herself has battled multiple major chronic conditions, shares her personal journey and offers valuable advice for managing these illnesses effectively and maintaining a positive attitude. The book is presented as a beacon of hope for those who feel overwhelmed by chronic diseases. Alexis's emphasis on changing one's attitude, redefining life goals, and creating a practical game plan for managing diseases is particularly empowering. Her acknowledgment of the challenges that patients face, including dealing with symptoms, others' reactions, and the impact on work and daily life, provides a holistic perspective on the subject. The book's practical advice is the highlight, with tactics such as learning about the disease, treating medical professionals with respect, and managing the disease effectively.

Alexis Dupree's personal and humorous anecdotes add a relatable touch to the book, making it more engaging and inspiring. The short and concise format is a positive aspect, ensuring that readers can easily absorb valuable information without being overwhelmed. The author's message that survival is a matter of attitude and determination is empowering and provides hope for individuals living with major chronic illnesses. Managing Major Chronic Diseases is recommended for patients, caregivers, and anyone seeking guidance on how to navigate life with chronic diseases. After suffering from chronic diseases for many years, I found Alexis’s book to be refreshing and unique, beautifully written, and a pleasure to read.

—Natalie Soine for Readers' Favorite

About the Author

Since she wrote Managing Major Chronic Diseases: Advice from a Patient, journalist Alexis Dupree has acquired three more chronic diseases or conditions. "An excellent physician discovered I have a condition caused by congenital gene defect that explains why I have such a medically rich life," she says. "The condition has caused me to get more diseases, conditions, allergies, and so forth. Getting a new disease every year is only a mild exaggeration. C'est le vie. At least, I now have an explanation. Plus there's treatment to keep the condition from causing more serious problems."

She was 61 when she found herself joining the knee replacement community and has had both knees replaced. After her right knee was replaced, she wrote Knee Replacement Advice, Checklists, and Journal. She used the book to record her medication after her left knee was replaced. Now in her early seventies, she'll soon have surgeries twenty and twenty-one for cataracts. She laughs, "I'm looking forward to it. Cataract surgery is the most performed surgery in the United States. Plus I'll no longer need $1,000 glasses because of my bad vision. My new glasses might be as cheap as $200."