Bladder-Diseases Books

I enjoyed reading this edition of this book. As a pathologist in practice, I occasionally buy new editions of books as a review. Much better than going to a meeting for CME. The material in this book is particularily "real world" and directly applicable to everyday practice. Highly recommended also to new pathologist or those in training.

I have bought this book at the begining of my pathology residency. Decision proved to be wise. It is concisely writen, language is plain and easy to understand. Photomicrographs are clear, subtitles are informative. But of course this book alone shall not make you master of the craft. The real value is shown, when using the book as the companion to daily practice. For novice path residents, combined with sound knowledge of general pathology it should make "pimping behind the scope" bearable.

An excellent and concise review of the common endometrial biopsy. Simply a must-have for pathology residents!

This is a concise and easy-to-understand overview of the topic. Unlike a lot of textbooks, this one can be read cover-to-cover without too much effort. Once you've read it, you're equipped to handle endometrial currettage specimens in your daily pathology practice. The only down-side is that many of the pictures are in black-and-white. But there are color photos as well. Overall, this is a wonderful book!

I ordered this book when I needed to master the diagnostic criteria for a wide ranger of endometrial pathology commonly seen in biopsies. I was amazed by how easy a read it is, as well as how informative and useful the book has been. A little pricey, but definitely worth purchasing.

I just happened to pick this book up in 1991 when I'd been suffering from terrible bouts of, what I thought were, repeated urinary tract infections. Things got so bad I couldn't sleep, couldn't ride in a car more than 15 - 20 minutes, and if it had gone on much longer would've been suicidal.
Thank goodness for this book - which was very ahead of it's time at that time (1991), and my OB/GYN who read the book, spent a lot of time with me, and dx'd me with IC - which not many physicians were doing back then.
One of the really valuable tips (I think I picked up in this book) was drinking baking soda in water - to make the environment more alkaline - a real life saver from time to time.
I haven't needed another book specifically on IC or bladder disorders since this one. I did see a URO/GYN and got excellent care which, combined with this book, put my IC into remission. Other than that I get on the internet now and then, but this book was a real life saver.

Written by Dawn R.Mahowald only

I remember when I first discovered I had Interstitial Cystitis, a chronic inflammatory bladder condition, also called IC. I was looking for help and this was the first book I had located with an easy-to-read, but authoritative synopsis of IC. Later, as I began working with people with bladder disorders, like bladder cancer and prostate difficulties I found I was recommending the book to more and more of my clients as a really good, solid source of basic information on their condition.

People can relate to the patient stories. The descriptions of each disorder are clear and simple to comprehend. Readers understand the explanations of the various tests and possible treatments. And, people liked getting a quick overview of the drugs they been prescribed. For some, information they get from this book satisfies their needs. For others, it sets the groundwork and provides them with what they need to move to the next level of knowledge on their condition.

A good "first book" for anyone with incontinence, cystitis, prostate disorders, and bladder cancer or for anyone who just wants to know about them.

This book is well worth purchasing. The information on interstitial cystitis is current, backed by research, and encouraging. I would have to rate it as "outstanding."

Elizabeth Vierck has written a very practical book for those of us who have been afflicted with a lack of bladder control. She explains the problem in simple language and offers very easy sensible solutions. I was surprized to learn that the problem is curable in most cases and that it's not an affliction one must bear as one grows older. I've tried her program for only two days and already I'm gaining control; I feel such relief. I liked the book so much I'm sending it to a friend as a gift.

Elizabeth Vierck puts her audience at ease from the very beginning. The introduction covered stories of people, ranging from young atheletes to retirees, who have different types of bladder problems. I immediately was able to identify the type of bladder control problem I have. Vierck then explained very well the physiology of the urinary system and how to effectively train one's pelvic floor muscle (Kegel exercise). This is the only book I have read so far that made me fully understood how to do the kegel exercise properly. There are also many tips on how to avoid embarrasing situations. Within a week, I already feel much more confident and in control.

Blaivas does something here that no other urologist has ever done. He has written a book that answers any and every question, but he has written it in a way that is easy to understand. He even intertwines humor, so rare in a informational medical book. His compassion, understanding, and extensive knowledge far surpassed my expectations. If you have even thought about buying this book, then do it. It will help.

Sincerely, Matthew Wilkin

The book is very organized and in depth. It is written and the diagrams are very helpful to look at. I thought the book has great merit to anyone who suffers from incontinence, interstitial cytstitis and prostate problem. I highly recommend this book to read before embarking on treatment and surgery.

Thank you Drs. Rogers and Shagam and Ms. Kleinschmidt for this great book.

There's a saying in business, "You can't manage what you can't measure" and this book certainly lives up to its name, it gives any woman the means to both measure and manage those embarrassing "leaks." Thouroughly and knowledgeably written and illustrated.

REGAINING BLADDER CONTROL: WHAT EVERY WOMAN NEEDS TO KNOW covers a very treatable and very common problem. Many women may know of it - but few know that urinary incontinence is very treatable: there are both behavioral changes and exercises that improve the continence of eight in ten women.

'Managing Incontinence'is a valuable resource for anyone needing insigth into the daily problems faced by persons who are incontinent.

The book is a must read for anyone advocating for the 'Restroom Challenged"

I have just recently been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and wanted to do some research on the matter. A friend loaned me her copy but my puppy ate it. I had to not only replace my friends book but I also ordered my own copy. Amazon is usually always timely with their shipments and this order proves it! The books were high quality at a lower price and I received them on time. Thanks Amazon!!!

please read this book if u have fibro i improved immediately buy a used copy and if it works for u give it to friends. just do it. ur doc will tell u not to believe in it but docs can b wrong sometimes. just do it.

This book is written by a male physician that was stricken down with fibromyalgia and has devoted his life to find a cure. His three daughters also inherited this disease. He claims he has found a cure (you need to read the book and/or possibly visit this doctor). And since there was such a stigma attached to fibromyalgia diagnosis a lot of useful information and help was swept under the rug by our physicians for many years. My mother is now deceased, but she went to many doctors for years complaining of this ailment searching for help. My mother was told that she was crazy and was sent home with pain medications and to suffer in silence! Now ALL of her four children have Fibro as well. I feel so bad that so many people (including my mother) are suffering needlessly because the male researchers of the past have left the fibro suffers down. It's a disgrace to anyone with connective tissue disease. People with fibro need to read this book! We're told that fibro is a "syndrome" because the medical industry just doesn't know what causes it. Which I find utterly offensive because when you live with this disease of severe pain over your entire body we certainly don't think or feel it's a snydrome!! The majority of fibro victims are females. If more males had this disease then the medical field would already know what causes it and there would be a definite cure! Just stating a fact. Come on doctors and researches!! I am sorry if I sound angry but the truth is I am very angry. And so should everyone else who has connective tissue disease aka fibromyalgia. You need to reach out to your doctors, nurses, researchers, and politicians to get something done to help! When you read this book you will see yourself and your siblings who also suffer. All the fragmented ailments start to come together and make sense. A must for your fibro library!

IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU LOVE HAS FIBROMYALGIA, THIS BOOK IS THE ONE TO READ.IT IS PACKED WITH INFORMATION THAT MAKES SENSE OF A NEBULOUS CONDITION AND OFFERS HOPE FOR REVERSAL OF THE SYMPTOMS.

Amand claims that Guaifenesin can reverse Fibromyalgia, and cites a study by Robert Bennett, M.D. to "prove" his point. In fact, no Peer Reviewed Medical Journal has yet to publish that study and Dr. Bennett concluded at the end of the study that:
Guaifenesin does NOT increase either phosphate or uric acid excretions.
Study Participants were not taking salicylates over the course of the study.
Blood and Urine tests showed that Phosphate and Uric acid levels did NOT change.

Amand claims that Guaifenesin may not work if there is excess Phosphate in the body, and that you should avoid salicylates. There is absolutely no scientific data that proves that excess phosphate can cause Fibromyalgia.

Guaifenesin acts as mild muscle relaxer, although it can cause muscle paralysis.

Of course some people are going to experience relief if that's what they're expecting, especially when they're told that it's a "cure."

Don't waste your money on salicylate-free makeup as Dr. Bennett found that you would have to apply a large volume of makeup several times a day in order to absorb enough salicylates to effect uric acid levels.

Published in 2000, this is an excellent book for one to begin to get information on bladder cancer. However, we find it is becoming quite outdated. For example, chemotherapy drugs have progressed beyond those referenced in the text and CT equipment is now newer than that which appears to have been standard when the book was written. The authors could do a tremendous service by updating this book, and in so doing, provide a great service to many people with this disease.

written by a very talented and capable doctor. Johns Hopkins is an outstanding facility, filled with top-level physicians.
Dr. Schoenberg rises to the top! He is straight forward and chillingly honest with his patients. You can believe what he says when the patient is under great pressure to make a decision about a very serious condition and surgery. This book is most helpful in helping a patient make a wise decision. I have not found another book that spells it out and tells it as it is. I own two copies and am constantly allowing friends to borrow one while they make this terrible discovery and decision on their life and future. Highly recommend it.

Bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer and the least discussed: Dr. Mark Schoenberg's Guide To Living With Bladder Cancer tells what is needed to know about symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. Chapters move from the basic initial signs of such cancer to treatment options and bladder preservation therapy. A quite comprehensive portrait evolves.

Written in plain English, so you can understand everything that's necessary about bladder cancer. No need to sit with a medical dictionairy to explain terms, since everything is put in plain words. I have bladder cancer and this book has put the disease in perspective for me. I would advise anyone that wants to understand this form of cancer to read it now.

Bladder cancer is a very common form of cancer. It is a messy disease and painful. Despite its frequent occurrence, there is little public discussion of its symptoms or treatments. So until I became a bladder cancer patient, I knew essentially nothing about this disease.

But bladder cancer patients need good information fast. There are critical treatment decisions to be made right after the initial diagnosis, and the choices one makes will affect one's future quality of life to a major degree. Discussions with one's urologist are helpful, but there is much to learn if one wishes to make informed decisions.

Mark Schoenberg's book provides the essential facts to help bladder cancer patients make those critical decisions. I know: it helped me.

This updated fourth edition of Dr. Randall Schapiro's Managing The Symptoms Of Multiple Sclerosis uses clear language and illustrations to explore all the common symptoms of MS and tested, proven treatments for it; from tremor and weakness to bladder and sexual difficulties. From a survey of common symptoms to helpful exercises, Dr. Shapiro covers the latest information on MS and its impact.

Ably written by Doctor Randall T. Schapiro (the Medical Director of The Fairview Multiple Sclerosis Center) and now in an newly updated and expanded fourth edition, Managing The Symptoms Of Multiple Sclerosis is a practical, informative, and medically sound instructional guide to dealing with the day-to-day difficulties induced by MS, ranging from bladder and bowel difficulties, to spasticity, tremors, physical weakness, and sexual problems. Managing The Symptoms Of Multiple Sclerosis is especially commended as being a "reader accessible" resource written especially for those with MS and their medical/familial caretakers.

I bought this book because my MS has been acting up quite a bit. I found the book very informative and useful. I had some things going on with me and I wasn't sure if it was MS related. I checked out swollen ankles and my answer was there with tips on what do to. It saved me a trip to my doctor's office and time off work.

Symptom management is a hot issue for many people with MS, for obvious reasons. Once you've committed to taking one of the disease-modifying drugs, you are still left with the consequences of MS, an often dizzying array of interlocking symptoms. Facing up to life with MS means coping with symptoms that range from the inconvenient to the painful, debilitating, and disabling. It also means coping with the emotional fallout of both your current symptoms, and the likelihood that they will over time worsen and diversify.

I was attracted to this book because it is written by a doctor. I am reminded constantly when reading it, however, that while he is an expert on MS, he is experiencing MS symptoms only second-hand. In consequence, it is clear that on many issues, he just doesn't get it. I was also attracted to the fact that this book has been popular enough to go through four editions. This means both that it sells well, and that it is likely to be up-to-date. The world of MS research is moving so fast these days that the information in books very quickly becomes outdated. Which is, of course, a good thing provided readers keep their wits about them. Not all of the book appears to have benefitted from a rewrite, however. Parts of it were written in 1986 and are, as we will see, beginning to show their age.

It is my feeling that the presentation style of this book may run the risk of alienating a significant fraction of MS patients. The approach taken is top-down, and assumes that you need to know the mechanism (couched in college textbook terminology) of a bodily function or process before you can talk about it; but for many of the processes described in this book, it just isn't so. Often dry and technical for no good reason, it over-utilizes the passive voice. It lists a dizzying array of drugs, mostly dismissed with a few lines rather than given the in-depth description they deserve. It emphasizes the mechanics of coping, not the emotional side. In places it is downright patronizing about the emotions felt by a person with MS, a trait unfortunately shared by many medical professionals. For example, from Chapter 8, "A person with impaired mobility who does not use the right tool cannot accomplish the job of walking. Although it may be difficult at first, try not to have negative emotional feelings about using assistive devices. They are simply tools to improve mobility."

The visual presentation of the book is somewhat lacking. A significant fraction of people with MS have vision problems. I believe that this audience would be better served by a larger font size and the selection of a clearer typeface, both in the main text and in the figure labels.

The book is broken into 22 chapters and four appendices, which are divided into four major sections. The second section alone is divided into subsections, five in number, comprising of from one to seven chapters each. I am somewhat skeptical as to whether this division is of any practical assistance to the reader. The chapters are as follows:

1. What is Multiple Sclerosis? This chapter gives the standard explanation of MS, which will be of some interest to the newly diagnosed. It includes two excellent sections on "Choosing Your Physician", and "Complementary Medicine".

2. Managing the Disease Process: An excellent, if dry, description of the standard disease modifying drugs, current as of 2003. It should ideally be supplemented with more up-to-date information by the discerning reader.

3. Fatigue: This chapter is essentially the standard polemic on fatigue, including the usual tiresome lists of things you can do in everyday life to reduce the amount and effects of fatigue. These would be wonderful in an ideal world, but as many of us have to work and care for children while coping with MS, most of them seem bizarre if not totally divorced from reality. Some of them are merely condescending ("Plan ahead" and "Set Priorities" for example), others show a worrisome level of naivete (the person who wrote "Use the same grocery store on a regular basis and learn where various items are located" clearly does not do the family shopping, or shops in a quaint old grocery store where the shelves are not constantly reorganized in pursuit of a rapidly shifting and seasonal demographic), and some are antediluvian ("Use disposable diapers", honestly, does anybody in the western world use cloth diapers anymore?).

4. Spasticity: A good chapter that discusses the three major options, exercise, drugs, and surgery. I was disappointed that there was no mention of either yoga or acupuncture, which in recent years have become popular in the MS community for managing spasticity.

5. Weakness: I actually learned something about proper exercise in this chapter. I only wish that this chapter were longer than 2.5 pages.

6. Tremor and Balance: Another good chapter.

7. Paroxysmal Symptoms: At just over a page in length, I wish this chapter could have been longer also.

8. Mobility: Putting it All Together: This chapter illustrates many of the minor presentational flaws in the book. For example, one must ask oneself why the use of the word "Ambulation" in the section heading "Walking (Ambulation)"? What advantages does it bring? Isn't it a gratuitous use of terminology? Doesn't it just serve to intimidate the less well educated reader? The author shows here and elsewhere a disregard for the MS sufferer who is on a limited budget when he states "Leather soles wear with time amd need to be replaced frequently, but their advantages far outweigh this minor problem." The problem of replacing leather soles may seem minor to somebody on a physician's salary, but must seem daunting to somebody trying to live on a Social Security Disability allowance. Nonetheless, this chapter provides some excellent advice.

9. Pressure Sores: Another good chapter. Some discussion of the relative merits of some of the choices presented, such as sheepskin versus gel pads for wheelchairs, would be a useful addition.

10. Bladder Symptoms: An excellent chapter. I'm in two minds as to the applicability of the figures, however. I found them confusing. I suffer from DSD (detrussor sphincter dyssynergia) myself, and was surprised to see the disorder described but not mentioned by name.

11. Bowel Symptoms: An excellent chapter.

12. Speech Difficulties: A very good chapter that should perhaps be longer.

13. Swallowing Difficulties: A good chapter in the sense that I already do the things that he recommends to compensate for swallowing difficulties.

14. Vision: A chapter that is again too short, particularly given that many MS patients are diagnosed during their first bout of optic neuritis.

15. Pain: It's nice to see a doctor who admits that a significant fraction of people with MS experience pain. I can't begin to count the number of people with MS who have confided to me that their doctor has pooh-poohed their report of pain, responding that pain isn't a "normal" symptom of MS. The truth is that chronic pain can be debilitating and can seriously affect the quality of life for MS patients and their caregivers.

16. Dizziness and Vertigo: This chapter is again too short, and contains almost no useful information aside from a drug list.

17. Numbness, Cold Feet, and Swollen Ankles: This chapter seems to exist solely for the author to blow off these symptom. Terms such as "annoying" and "nuisance" are used over and over. Despite the author's claims (and methinks he protesteth too much), numbness can significantly reduce quality of life. This chapter would benefit from a serious attempt to analyze and advise courses of action with less condescension.

18. Cognition Difficulties: This chapter contains the usual frustrating list of bullet points containing didactic and quite impractical advice, including "make lists" (I do, but I lose them), "organize your environment so that things remain in familiar places" (but I have young kids), and "carry on conversations in quiet places" (and on which planet exactly are these quiet places to be found?)

19. Diet and Nutrition: This chapter, written by Daniel Kosich (who has a PhD), is sound but "old school", based on the traditional food pyramid. There is no mention of Atkins or other diets currently under investigation. Some of the advice, such as reading food labels, is a good idea. If your diet is the traditional American meat-and-potatoes fare, then this chapter will probabaly be an eye-opener for you. But if you show any degree of dietary sophistication, it will probably be ho-hum.

20. Exercise: A chapter with some solid messages, such as the fact that "no pain, no gain" does not apply to people with MS, but it consists mainly of pointers to other chapters, indicating perhaps that a reorganization of material is overdue.

21. Sexuality: The clinical approach in this chapter is a big turn-off. It leads me to ask whether there are ways of coping that are more sexually attractive. Although some interesting advice, such as the use of a bag of frozen peas as a sex toy, does slip through the clinical facade here.

22. Adapting to Multiple Sclerosis: An excellent chapter. It however does not mention the use of on-line forums and support groups for those unable or disinclined to join group counselling sessions.

There are 47 pages of appendices, as opposed to 142 pages of ordinary text. I'm used to the appendix being a minor organ, not almost a quarter of the organism. I'm led to wonder why these are appendices at all and not chapters? The appendices are as follows.

A. Glossary: I found the Glossary useless, neither comprehensive nor particularly well explained.

B. Exercises for Spasticity: A great section with many well-explained diagrams.

C. Transfers and Mobility: Another great section with many well-explained diagrams.

D. Resources: A somewhat shabby list of books and electronic references. This should be replaced by a web page that is updated regularly by the author.

This book contains an Index, which I applaud. So many MS books do not, which is particularly frustrating when searching later for misremembered topics. This Index was however obviously not done by the author. If it were done better, it would have perhaps uncovered some of the inconsistencies in the book, such as the subject of drinking water. The Index refers us to pp. 115-116, omitting references to fluid intake on p. 76, 81, 118, and 133. In all we are exhorted to drink "six to eight glasses per day", "8 to 12 cups daily", and "eight glasses of water per day" in three different places in the text, leading one to wonder at the disappointing quality of editing of this book.

In summary, this is a good book in the sense that it contains much useful information, but its primary weakness is in presentation. It does not appear to be designed to be read by the patients who have the very problems that it describes. It could become an excellent book if the author would take on a co-author who knows how to write for a general audience, is compassionate, and has first-hand experience with managing the symptoms of MS.

how can anyone add to the previous review? this book is an excellent resource. it seems to be written, not so much for the clinician, but for those who suffer from ms. however, i agree with the previous reviewer, it could be improved, perhaps, by being more practical or in-touch with the experiences of the m.s. patient or caregiver. much of the management recommendations involve medications, which you may wish to discuss with your *ms specialist*. dr. schapiro offers some very practical suggestions for dealing with symptoms and coping. as new symptoms crop up, i first pick up this book. i, usually, augment it with visiting good web pages. definitely worth the price, used.

The concepts set forth in this book are a bit too farfetched to be believed, but they are thought-provoking to say the least. I agree with the general premise that many disorders may originate from insufficient elimintarion. However, the writers take the point too far. The letters at the end make for a good laugh.

Although the writing style of this book is significantly different from their book Dress to kill, I thought that some parts of the book provided some interesting concepts.

This is a very down to earth easy to understand book. I enjoyed reading it because it takes a revolutionary look at health problems. The book is quite frank to the point of great humor in some parts.

My only reservation was that it was a bit short in content...I would have liked to read more in one volume.