Easy to read account of one woman's journey with a chronic invisible illness. Narrative goes back and forth between Joy Selak and her doctor, Steven Overman. The result is a very informative, well-written guide for people who have been diagnosed with a chronic illness. Discussions include how to deal with insurance, doctors, family, friends and know-it-alls. As someone dealing with several chronic illnesses, I found Joy Selak's story so familiar. Her problems with the insurance company made me mad partly because I know how truthful she was, Lots of great information from the doctor about what to expect, what to ask your doctor and what to look for. I would recommend this book for anyone who is diagnosed with a chronic illness and for their families and friends. This would probably be a good first book to read on chronic illness, too.

(Review based on complimentary Advance Reader copy.) ( )

Well-written and easy to read, this is a book about coping with a chronic health condition. In alternating sections Joy Selak, a patient, and Steven Overman, a physician, discuss the Four Phases of Invisible Chronic Illness: Getting Sick, Being Sick, Grief and Acceptance, and Living Well.

I have lived with invisible chronic illness for 11 years. I wish I would have had this book at the start of my journey. I have read many books about my health condition, many of which promise a miracle cure with an exercise, a supplement, or a diet, which ultimately did not work for me. This guide does not dispense specific medical advice, but offers a glimpse into how to live, and indeed thrive, when you live with an ongoing medical condition. Outlook, understanding, and relationships are at the heart of the discussion. To hear Joy so eloquently describe many of my internal and external challenges and to know I am not alone in my experience brought tears to my eyes on a few occasions. (E.g. wondering what to say when people ask, "How are you?" in passing) This is a book I will keep and reread over the years when I find myself needing a bit of a boost. Highly recommended for those living with an invisible chronic illness as well as their caregivers and family members!

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Library Thing Early Reviewers. This is no way affected the content of my review. ( )

I read this book, not as one suffering from a chronic illness, but rather as an interested friend and supporter of several individuals, my sister included, who do suffer from one. Joy Selak and Dr. Overman share helpful and useful insights for those who are felled by debilitating diseases that do not necessarily manifest themselves in obvious ways. The book takes individuals through the varying stages of getting sick, being sick, grief and acceptance, and living well (within the limitations of the disease). Among other things they deal with the difficulties faced by interminable paperwork, disability insurance claims, the ins and outs of trial and error medicine as one seeks to find the best possible combination of therapies to lead to the best possible outcomes.

I found the book helpful from the standpoint of an outsider in understanding the frustrations and challenges that those who are wrestling with chronic illness face on a daily basis. I recommend it highly for that group of persons, and feel that it also has substantial benefits for those actually dealing with chronic illness.” ( )

In their book, You Don't Look Sick! (second edition), Joy and Dr. Overman tell the story of the four different phases of living with a chronic illness from the unique and experienced perspectives of patient and physician. The four phases are: Getting Sick, Being Sick, Grief and Acceptance, and Living Well. Living with a chronic (and invisible) illness, for many patients, often means that in addition to living with their illness, patients also have to go through the daunting task of convincing people that their experiences are, in fact, real. Sometimes this process involves seeking advice from many different doctors. Dr. Overman explains that it is necessary for the health care team to work together with a Team Captain or a Coach to facilitate treatment and care plans for the best interest of the patient. It is also important for the patient to play an active role in their own care plan through honesty, trust, and willingness to participate in documentation, testing, and a variety of treatments until the best methods are found.

This book takes the reader through each stage of life with chronic illness with stories of physical and emotional struggles, physician’s perspectives, and careful and detailed instructions to help those currently coping with a chronic illness learn how to navigate through each of the phases in order to ultimately reach the final goal of learning to live well with an illness. We share along in Joy's personal journey, her strengths and weaknesses, her fears, and her personal realizations that all together have contributed to the wonderful collaboration of this book that will become a tool to many facing similar struggles. Joy explains what has worked for her in order to both manage her illness and find ways to enjoy life and participate in her community.

Through his caring and professional insight, Dr. Overman sounds like the chronic illness patient’s dream doctor! He offers valuable professional advice that readers of this book can use and implement in their personal lives to help maintain control of their medical situation. What I noticed most about Dr. Overman's stories were the way that each of his patients stories seemed to personally affect him and influence his quality of care as a doctor for patients with chronic illness. In such a delicate and fragile state as many of them are when they come to him, I am sure that they are able to take comfort in knowing that they not only have found a doctor who understands them, but also one who cares about them as a person and not as an illness. He truly cared about the quality of life his patients were able to achieve through his care. The stories he shared of helping his patients accomplish goals they had almost given up on were very inspiring!

At the end of the book, there are additional resources including answered questions about the changes resulting from the Affordable Care Act, a list of helpful medical resource websites and disease-specific associations, and finally discussion questions for patient support groups that walk through each section of the book. ( )

This is a great book on living with chronic illness. It is so hard to go through and this book helps you not only to cope, but gives suggestions and knowledge of what could happen and how to handle it. I found this book uplifting and informative.