TESTIMONIALS
Sean Less
English Teacher
"Managing Mad Mast Cells is informative, passionate, and harrowing in its ability to detail the life of a woman who will not give up, will not accept the status quo, and will not be defeated by the debilitating pain this horrific disease causes.
It is Joy’s overwhelming positivity in understanding her own situation and equally helping others with their fight against this disease, down to the minutest details, that continually shines through this work.
Her personal narratives make it easy for the reader to understand the many complexities faced by those suffering from mast cell activation syndrome.
Most of all, my greatest hope for this remarkable work is that family, friends, and as many people as possible read this. I have learned so much from this work, and it has greatly enhanced my empathy for those suffering from any horrible disease. It is truly empowering."
Molly Stauffer
Registered Nurse
(BSN, RN, CMSRN)
"A great book covering a topic that has been frequently ignored by medical science. The effects of MCAS on the quality of life cannot be understated. I myself am a nurse attempting to live and work with this disorder, and I appreciate the honesty Joy puts into the description of her struggles."
Ellie Fletcher
MCAS and CM Patient
"It was a pleasure to read this book, as the author delves deeply into the realities of living with a mast cell disorder. Whether you have MCAS or Mastocytosis, many of your experiences will likely resonate: baffled doctors, confused specialists, and countless hours on the internet, trying to make sense of why your body and mind seem to have failed you.
This book is an invaluable reference for anyone newly diagnosed, undiagnosed, or simply looking to better manage their condition. While the topics covered can be expanded with your own research, it provides many practical tips and insights for staying healthy and sane. It can also serve as a useful tool for your healthcare providers, family, and friends, giving them a clearer understanding of what you're going through. I highly recommend this book to anyone living with this challenging condition."
Midwest Book Reviews
D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer
Managing Mad Mast Cells: A Practical Guide to Living with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) is not just an important guide, but is an essential read for anyone struggling with acute or chronic hives, allergies, and a body response which involves ongoing reactions to a host of environmental and food triggers.
As these sufferers likely know, there is little published about this condition that so many suffer from. Head to a library or bookstore and you're likely to come up empty-handed. One reason why Managing Mad Mast Cells is and will become increasingly relevant to a wider audience is because, as chemical triggers and allergens in everyday food and environments increase, more and more are being forcibly introduced to new knowledge about what a mast cell is, how it reacts, and how heavily it can impact daily life and choices.
Those who face years of struggle just getting back to a place of relative health will appreciate knowing that just consulting Managing Mad Mast Cells provides a kick start to solutions that work, having been backed and tested by both medical research and Joy Schweizer's own experiences. Recovery may no longer take years of trial-and-error thanks to this book.
Those who have experienced long-term allergies well know about their ongoing impact. Diagnosis of the allergens is half the battle; but addressing them is the other, often more difficult piece of the health equation. An understanding of what mast cells are, how they operate, and what happens when they flare up is one of the keys to maintaining health - thus the importance of this book.
As Schweizer states about her journey:
I hadn't yet found anything on how I could learn to live with this disease, let alone how to heal it. I was hoping to find a book that would provide some real insight and a few clues on how to move forward, but it increasingly seemed that I'd have to find my own way.
This book can serve as a guidepost for those who want to know more than what mast cells do, how they can impact health, and the science behind them. The all-important tips on living with allergies and mast cell impacts are essential to better health and health management.
Most readers will find they perhaps aren't as ill as Schweizer, with the wide-ranging symptoms she exhibited and the ongoing puzzles over how to identify and resolve them. Thus, the descriptions of all these symptoms and reactions won't be a 'one-size-fits-all' situation for all mast cell sufferers, but provide pieces to the overall health puzzle to a wide audience.
Section 1 is the author's memoir of her many health challenges and journey from doctor to doctor in search of answers; Section II focuses on understanding MCAS and its triggers (this is where the meat of the book's science lives); and Section III, about managing a diagnosis, holds the nuts and bolts of how to live with these conditions. Section IV reviews daily survival tactics, while Section V covers one of the foundations and impacts of mast cell management: diet.
Readers who don't have this condition but want to better understand its physical and emotional impact will also benefit from Schweizer's self-analysis, "Becoming Hypersensitive," which explores what it feels like to go through life with a mast cell condition.
Libraries and readers will, in short, find a treasure trove of personal, scientific, and medical details under one cover that demystifies the process of understanding mast cell issues. Given that little exists on library or home health shelves about this condition and its variances, Managing Mad Mast Cells will offer education, coping strategies, and hope to an exceptionally wide audience.
Link to original review: https://www.midwestbookreview.com/mbw/feb_26.htm#dianedonovan