CHAPTER ONE

WHY BUY THIS BOOK?

 This book is expensive compared to similar books. So, why should you buy this book? The reasons are in this chapter but this book is not for everyone. A lot depends on what sort of person you are and how you respond to illness.

  This was the first book in the world published on this illness in 1985. It is the only book that is in its fifth edition. This tells you that it documented the problem before anyone else, and it has changed with advances in knowledge more than others. Yet this book has great disadvantages. The solution it proposes is difficult as the principal player is yourself. This book demands a lot of you. If you are afraid of this commitment, read no further as this book is not for you.

  We buy books that we like. This is fine if reading is for enjoyment, but if it is for knowledge our likes are less important. If the object is better health, again, it is not about one’s likes. Most patients find this book hard reading, many dislike the demands being made on them. Indeed, 20% of patients cannot cope with these demands and decide it is too much to ask of a sick person. Thus, you need to choose this book because it can make you better rather than because you like it. The decision to make any choice or purchase is dependant on several factors. Here, the most important are: the other options, what a book offers and what suits you best.

OTHER OPTIONS

In today’s world of the Internet we are all faced with many options. Indeed we probably have too many choices. How does one make a good decision? One answer may lie in our understanding of how we make these choices.

1. Cheap advice

For most patients, this is easily available. Friends and relatives are quick to bring to your attention newspaper articles, radio and television programmes. In addition, the Internet has websites that offer advice and ways to get better. With so much information, patients have difficult choices, especially as their minds are not functioning normally. One consideration is the cost. When things are free or cheap, it is often because they cannot be sold. What they offer is often less than what is required. This book provides a complete strategy for recovery.

2. Presentation

When my sons were young, they liked large and heavy presents. They felt that these would have the best content. So, one Christmas, I put their presents in a large box and added a big rock. They really looked forward to opening their presents. And they would have thrown the rocks at me, but they were too heavy. Many treatments are well presented with the offer of quick, guaranteed results. For an ill person, such alternative remedies to traditional medicine are very attractive. The desire to be better and back to normal is so strong that it seems reasonable “to try anything”. Sadly, there are many such treatments, often with the testimonial of someone who has benefited. Like diets, there are many and varied, but few that work for most individuals. Patients must separate presentation from substance. You need to judge if a treatment can deliver on the promise of getting better.

3. Good value

Good value is not the same for everyone. Some like quantity, others like quality. However, for an ill patient it is about getting better. This book is 3-5 times more expensive than others. Yet, it is 10 times cheaper than a consultation. The last edition was offered for sale on the Internet for more than £206.71, a special “low price” of £89.75 and ex-library copies at a “low price” of £67.00. Why are people prepared to spend these sums on a book? Over the years, and four editions of this book, the key messages on energy have not changed; but the other aspects of the book have changed for emphasis, effect or what works. This book is good value as it represents what I say to patients when I see them. I had found that often I was repeating myself and hence this book is what I would say to you in a consultation.

THIS BOOK

It is important that you are clear of what this book offers. Over two decades, each edition has been changed to reflect what has helped patients to get better

1. The Strategy

Most books and advice from charities have adopted aspects of my management strategy as described in the first edition published in 1985. It is nice that so many others have wanted to copy my advice!! However, only this book has the whole management strategy. There are problems when you use substitutes. It is like a meal of beef stew; if you substitute yoghurt for the cream and soya protein for the beef, it will just not be the same. This book focuses on helping you to stay within your energy limits so that your body can use its energy to recover. There are separate chapters on gaining energy, making energy last and how to stop losing energy. The strategy is based on what has worked or failed with patients.

2. Being selfish

Before they became unwell, most patients were generous, loving individuals. They were keen to help others and did much good. However, I believe that these attitudes are inappropriate for someone who is ill. When you are ill, you need to focus on getting better, to be selfish. Many patients find such statements abhorrent. They still want to be the hero. Perhaps, before you can truly help others, you must be able to help yourself. In consultation, I would spend most time in conveying this hard message to patients. 

3. Monitoring progress

If patients follow my strategy, they improve 10% every two months. The very best patients can improve 20% every two months. This means that most patients get better in 10-12 months. There is no quick recovery, but slow gradual progress as patients change their lifestyle. However, how do you monitor progress? I believe in a daily diary, taking only 2-3 minutes per day. Patients hate the daily diary, but if you cannot do a daily diary, I do not see you. The diary is like a compass, it ensures you keep making progress. It is the best way to understand how your behaviour influences progress. Two people can stay in bed all day, but one will get better and the other will get worse. The diary will tell you why. As with many things, what you hate can help.

4. Motivation

Many readers have said that this is the most important aspect of the book. Patients and their carers are often given advice, but the philosophy and reasoning behind the advice is not available. This book aims at providing knowledge to reinforce the management strategy. The entire management of patients is based on what has worked on other patients. Thus, you are reassured that others have faced similar problems and have overcome them. Overall, 80% of patients who are able to adopt the philosophy in the book have got better.

   As with all motivation, there has to be reinforcement of key messages. This book is designed to be read by ill patients. The layout is easy to read and repetition takes into account poor memory and concentration. Thus, a few pages can be read at a time. It is also recommended that this book is read again and again to reinforce key messages. It is a great help if the patient and carer can read the book together. The excellent track record of this strategy and its durability is a testimony of the many patients who have been helped.

YOUR BEST CHOICE

What is one person’s best choice may not suit someone else. This individuality depends on several factors:

1. Your role

Some patients like to help themselves and for these, this book is ideal. However, other patients may feel that it is the doctor’s responsibility to help them; and for these individuals, this book is not for you. About 20% of patients find this book too demanding and do not like the approach. Others feel that they are too ill to undertake the responsibility of getting better. A lot also depends on the carer. I insist on seeing husband and wives together as it is important that both get the same message. It is a great burden for a patient to have to explain what was said to a partner. The feelings of the carer are also important in deciding if the patient should follow this book. A joint decision produces best results.

2. Crusades

Two decades ago, patients had difficulties in getting a diagnosis. Treatment was “nothing can be done” or “the disease will burn itself out”. To get a diagnosis and correct treatment required a crusade. Now, diagnosis should not be a problem. However, management is still variable. Many patients are involved in a crusade to get appropriate treatment. This takes much energy, and I believe that this energy is best spent on getting better. If your crusade is to the detriment of your getting better, this book is not for you.

3. Commitment

This book is for those who can commit to getting themselves better. If you have this commitment, this book is for you. If you want to understand the illness and its effects on you, this book will give you the information. You must make getting better your main objective. If you feel responsible for others and have other things that you “must do”, do not buy this book.  This book teaches about the use of energy by using the analogy of energy as money. If you are good with money it will be easy to learn the use of energy. This book requires great commitment as getting better is a big task.

SUMMARY

How long have you been ill? What have you tried? How successful has it been? These questions require answers. The answers determine if you should buy this book. If you are prepared to follow all that is in this book, you will get better in 10-12 months. This book requires an understanding of the illness, energy and yourself. You will have to change many things that you are doing as they are not helping you to recover. This book does not offer quick, easy solutions. However, if a change of lifestyle returns you to good health, is it not worth the sacrifice?