'A Delicate Balance' guides the chronically ill

Reviewed by Jack Rightmyer

"A Delicate Balance, Living Successfully with Chronic Illness" (Insight Books, $28.95) is divided into nine different chapters, all dealing with separate aspects of illness.

The first chapter deals with finding a diagnosis. It examines why a chronic disease may be hard to diagnose, and looks at the self-doubt and social stigma that comes with having unnamed symptoms.

Other chapters deal with finding the correct healthcare partner, searching for the most helpful treatments, dealing with the emotional fall-out of chronic illness and the effect of chronic illness on personal relationships, examining how sick people look at themselves, and dealing with ways to turn your physical limitations into opportunities, which may reveal a path to a happier and healthier life.

The author, who suffers from a variety of chronic illnesses, was having a difficult time coming to terms with the impact of her health problems on her family, her friends and her career. She did an extensive amount of reading on the topic but didn't find what she was looking for. As she writes in her preface, "I wanted information that was comprehensive, focusing not on a specific illness but on the experience of living with chronic disease. I also wanted something that was consumer-oriented and based on the real-life experiences of individuals living successfully with chronic illness. I wanted concrete practical advice based on personal experiences."

Wells interviewed more than three dozen women and men throughout the United States and Canada to learn how they manage pain, uncertainty and the fear of living with ongoing health problems. She also spoke with family members and friends of the sick to find out how their lives have been affected, and she interviewed more than a dozen professionals -- from social workers to physicians to disability advocates -- to explain in more detail the physical and emotional impact of living with chronic illness.

The well-written book includes an excellent glossary of terms and diseases along with a helpful resources section of support groups and volunteer opportunities, including phone numbers, addresses and web sites.

It is an easy book to read that doesn't bog itself down with a lot of technical terminology, and her focus on individuals personalizes the disease and allows the reader to experience first-hand what it might be like to suffer from such an illness. "A Delicate Balance" is an important book to read, not only for people suffering with chronic disease, but also for their friends and family. It would also be helpful for doctors, members of the clergy, psychologists and counselors.

"When I started talking to others about their experiences with chronic illness, I discovered that I am not alone," writes Wells. "I learned that my doubts, fears, and grief are normal, and that laughter is good medicine for pain. My conversations with patients, providers, and family members gave me both the validation I was seeking and the information I needed to live a healthier life."

(Editor's note: The reviewer, a teacher, lives in Burnt Hills.)

(02-04-99)