You Don’t LOOK Sick!: Living Well with Invisible Chronic Illness chronicles a patient’s true-life accounts and her physician’s compassionate commentary as they take a journey through the three stages of chronic illness—Getting Sick, Being Sick, and Living Well. This resource helps you focus on building a meaningful life that contains illness as opposed to a life of frustration and fear. Designed for patients in at all stages of the chronic illness journey, this book will also be illuminating for caregivers and loved ones.

From the book:
“I’ve learned that having a chronic illness is not a prison sentence. It does not mean I must spend the rest of my life feeling depressed and angry, locked away from the world inside my little sick box. It does not mean that I am useless and no longer have any gifts to share, but it may mean that I must develop some new ones.”

You Don’t LOOK Sick! addresses practical aspects of chronic illness, such as:

• hiring a doctor
• managing chronic pain
• coping with grief and the loss of function
• winning battles with health and disability insurers
• countering the social bias against the chronically ill
• recognizing the limitations of chronics illness care and charting a path for change

In You Don’t LOOK Sick!: Living Well with Invisible Chronic Illness, you will find stories, dialogue, humor, examples, and analogy of the three stages to illustrate a challenging but navigable journey. You will also find suggested reading materials for learning to live well, medical Internet resources, illness-specific Web sites, names and addresses of national associations, and a bibliography of medical books by topic. The short chapters and straightforward language of the book will be helpful for readers who are weary and dispirited.

From the authors:
“I've learned that having a chronic illness is not a prison sentence. It does not mean I must spend the rest of my life feeling depressed and angry, locked away from the world inside my little sick box. It does not mean that I am useless and no longer have any gifts to share, but it may mean that I must develop some new ones.”
—Joy H. Selak

“My goal is to work with patients so that, like world class athletes, they can perform at their peak capacity. My job is more than giving answers; I must educate, counsel and encourage patients to set goals and implement a personal care program as well as take appropriate medications.”
—Dr. Steven Overman

Here are a few reasons...

“OPTIMISTIC. . . . EASILY DIGESTED. . . . You will find this book to be [a] sort of literary support group. The authors take you on a journey through one woman's discovery, diagnosis, and the subsequent disintegration of her previous lifestyle as a chronic illness evolves. One key area of exploration is her odyssey through a maddening maze of insurance requirements and paperwork. Her advice: 'be a squeaky wheel.' A QUICK READ.”
-- The Pain Community News (The Newsletter of the American Pain Foundation)

“A USEFUL GUIDE for those suffering from invisible chronic illness. It offers tips and lists of real and online information centers, names of disease-specific foundations, and other useful books on the subject. Joy Selak understands the problems of having an illness for which the symptoms are not conspicuous.”
-- BookWire

“There are many HELPFUL AND INSIGHTFUL IDEAS in this book for readers with a chronic illness. . . . What I came away with was a well-told story of one woman's struggle with chronic illness and, particularly, how to cope with your employer, your insurance company, and other people who think you don't 'look' sick.”
-- Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients

“How many times have you had the patient on your examining table who would not leave, whose list of complaints seemed endless, particularly when you have a waiting room full! This delightful and very readable text presents the patient's perspective clearly, with notes from her treating doctor. It will help the practicing physician to better understand and help such patients and an invaluable aid in helping patients to express what they really mean to say to their doctor.
-- Roger Brick, MD, Physiatrist in Private Practice New York, New York

“You Don't LOOK Sick is absolutely essential reading for anyone with an 'invisible' disease. Joy Selak's book saved the day for me with her invaluable practical information and tips on how to relate to the company I work for, and the insurance provider, about my disease.”
-- Kathy Olsen, communications manager for a division of a Fortune 500 company, has multiple sclerosis.

“As a nurse I have seen that invisible chronic illness and pain are not well understood by health care providers, nor does it generate much empathy. This is a must-read book with heart and soul, which offers humor, wisdom, and hope along with resources for all those whose lives are touched by chronic illness and pain.”
-- Trish Lehman, RN, Friday Harbor, Washington

“Joy and Steve have the insight and courage to present their stories and experiences with depth and integrity and in a very holistic manner. By weaving and blending the spiritual and material they offer both hope and courage for those with a serious medical condition who still search for a medical support system. THE FORMAT OF THE BOOK, THE CHAPTER SUMMARIES, THE QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AND THE LIST OF RESOURCES AT THE END ARE SUPERB.”
-- Mavourneen McGinty, SND, Sisters of Notre Dame de Nemur, Former Educator, Hospital Chaplain, Counselor

“This is a POIGNANT, EASY-TO-READ chronicle of the journey of a person afflicted with a chronic illness, her struggle to come to terms with her disease, and her acceptance of and adaptation to it. She takes this journey with her supportive husband, and takes the literary journey with her physician, who adds valuable reflection and a medical perspective. This book combines the difficult lessons she learns with some humor and more grace than I could imagine mustering. I think it will be very helpful to many of my patients going on the same journey.”
-- Bob Crittenden, MD, MPH, Chief of Family Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle

Haworth Press, 145 pages, paperback

• Why Can't I Make People Understand? Discovering the Validation Those With Chronic Illness Seek and Why
• Being Sick Well
• Beyond Casseroles: 505 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend
• You Look So Good!
• Just Fine: Unmasking Concealed Chronic Illness And Pain