Healing Options: A Report on Graves' Disease Treatments, 2nd Edition

Rating:
Summary: Truly, a Gift of Strength and Hope
Review: As a newly diagnosed patient, this is a book I need in my life. I am so grateful to have found it. Not only is this book informative with a terrific index, glossary, and resource section, but heartfelt and easy to read besides. Kate Flax's personal excursion to wellness is truly inspiring and gives me the strength and hope to make that path mine.

Rating:
Summary: Read the reviews and save your money.
Review: It's OK as far as it goes, but it IS after all, only one person's account of her experience. Otherwise, having been given a mildly borderline diagnosis "possible Graves", I quickly figured out that going on the internet would probably give me more information from which to make my own decisions about what is, after all, my (as opposed to the medical industry) body. If you do feel the need to buy this book, do so. Otherwise, read the reviews, go on the internet, and save your money.

Rating:
Summary: Read the reviews and save your money.
Review: It's OK as far as it goes, but it IS after all, only one person's account of her experience. Otherwise, having been given a mildly borderline diagnosis "possible Graves", I quickly figured out that going on the internet would probably give me more information from which to make my own decisions about what is, after all, my (as opposed to the medical industry) body. If you do feel the need to buy this book, do so. Otherwise, read the reviews, go on the internet, and save your money.

Rating:
Summary: Good information, lousy presentation
Review: Readers looking for books on Graves' Disease have few choices, so anything on the subject is welcome, especially if you are newly diagnosed. While Kate Flax's empathy and genuine desire to help others comes through on most pages, the book is a muddle of poor punctuation, listless writing, careless spelling errors (example: spelling Dr. Andrew Weil "Dr. Wile"), and generally could have benefited from the work of a proofreader or copyeditor. Flax writes that she is dyslexic, but surely someone could have read the manuscript before it was printed? The errors, which abound on every page, distracted this reader from an otherwise valuable and informative book. Despite the protestations of Natalie Goldberg and Anne Lamott, both of whom are mentioned in Flax's acknowledgments and both of whom have encouraged thousands of fledgling writers, not everyone is a writer. At the very least, this book proves that certainly not everyone is a proofreader. This book feels like a manuscript-length post in an online support group. The errors in form reflect poorly on the accuracy of the information contained in the book. If you are the kind of person who corrects misspellings on billboards, this book will drive you nuts and is best to be avoided. If you're not this kind of reader, you may find the contents comforting and helpful.

Rating:
Summary: Good information, lousy presentation
Review: This book is the Thyroid Bible
I learned everything I needed to know about thyroid disease not just Graves' disease in this book. I learned how the thyroid works, how to be a good self-advocate, how to find my doctor, how to talk to my doctor, how to include complementary treatments into my healing, how to choose my treatments, and some very personally important information on women and pregnancy and children and thyroid disease. My husband also read the book. He too found it helpful in understanding my "off " behavior, which is currently, thank goodness, under control since adding T3 into my T4 medication and making the time to take care of myself now. Thank you Ms. Flax for your research and caring. I am a new woman.

Rating:
Summary: a great resource!
Review: True to its title, "Healing Options" brings those with thyroid disease the good news that they have many options beyond radiation, surgery, and drugs-options that can change their mindset from one of  "chronic illness" to one of  "chronic wellness."  This book was probably thought to be way out on the fringe when it first was published. Now in its second edition, at a time when alternative therapies are increasingly acknowledged and accepted, Kate Flax's book is an incredibly helpful and encouraging resource. Anyone with Graves/Hashimoto's should read this book.