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(3 reviews)
Editorial Review: In the course of a lifetime, more than half of all women will experience some form of debilitating pelvic disease or discomfort, including chronic urinary tract infections, various kinds of incontinence, pelvic floor prolapse, and interstitial cystitis. Surprisingly, until recently there has been only scant attention paid to this very common group of disorders, considering the vast population of sufferers. What’s more, doctors have long tended to dismiss many symptoms of urinary tract disorders as an inevitable consequence of the aging process or, worse still, as indicators of underlying psychological disease.
In this concise, clearly written, and sympathetic new book, Elizabeth Kavaler suggests that a new approach to UT disorders is long overdue. One of the surprisingly small number of female urologists practicing in the U.S., Dr. Kavaler explains what these diseases are and what patients can do to get themselves diagnosed and treated properly. But more than that, she exten...
Customer Reviews:
0 of 0 found this review helpful:
Explains these diseases in plain terms, 2008-04-04
Written by expert urologist Elizabeth Kavaler, M.D., A Seat on the Aisle, Please! The Essential Guide to Urinary Tract Problems in Women is a straightforward yet sympathetic discussion of women's urinary tract disorders, including chronic urinary tract infections, different types of incontinence, pelvic floor prolapse, and interstitial cystitis. For too long, too many doctors have paid inadequate attention to pelvic discomfort, relegating it as a natural consequence of aging or even viewing patient complaints as evidence of psychological malfunction. Written for patients and medical practitioners alike, A Seat on the Aisle, Please! explains these diseases in plain terms, with black-and-white medical diagrams as needed. Patients and their loved ones will find the candid pros and cons of various treatment options especially helpful. Highly recommended.
3 of 5 found this review helpful:
The typos got to me, 2006-09-28
Yes, we do need books like this, but here's what I didn't like about this one. I flipped randomly through it (it has great diagrams) to Stress Incontinence, a chapter that starts out with a horribly scary story about a woman who has the wrong corrective surgery -- a hysterectomy!! and "bladder lift" -- due to a misdiagnosed (elsewhere) incontinence. She was no better after the surgery, and of course this was miraculously repaired by a second surgery performed by the author. Stories like this scare the begeezus out of me, and I'm not sure it's helpful to relay a misdiagnosis and improper repair. In the same chapter, there is a description of an examination in which the practitioner is alternately portrayed as a she and then a he, which is always disconcerting when I happen upon it. Later in the book, there is a section that discusses spinal and epidural anesthesia and we are told that cocaine is derived from the cocoa plant. If you didn't know that it was actually from the coca plant, you might be nervous. All this from a random riffling, so I'm not sure what I would find if I had more time to devote to sitting down and reading the whole book. Perhaps I would be more forgiving, but at this point I'm not motivated.
4 of 4 found this review helpful:
Every woman should read this book, 2006-07-26
This book can help you, or someone you know, break through the wall of shame and silence that surrounds bladder problems in our society -- and get relief. If you've never recommended a book to anyone, let this one be your first! You'll be thanked by friends, sisters, mothers, or grandmothers, any one of whom may have experienced loss of bladder control, recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), cystitis, or pelvic pain but was too embarrassed to talk about it even with a doctor.
Although the title is tongue-in-cheek, "A Seat on the Aisle, Please" is a serious book for any woman with a urinary or pelvic condition. Millions of women of all ages who are suffering from these problems can use this book to learn more about their disorders and discover that they can be successfully treated. If you've ever experienced such a problem and been brushed off by an uninterested doc, you know exactly why you want this book.
I remember a time when breast cancer was a subject that we could only discuss in whispers. Today we still have similar taboos about urinary leakage or incontinence. What we need are more women brave enough to write and speak out about their bladder problems, and more physicians who treat them with compassion, patience, and persistence. In "A Seat on the Aisle, Please," you'll find many female patients with stories that may be similar to your own, and a caring doctor who can help.
This book is well organized to guide you through each type of urinary tract disorder. Dr. Elizabeth Kavaler first explains the general "nuts and bolts" of the female pelvis and what can go wrong. Then she describes in detail the experiences of an actual patient. In clear, straightforward language, using helpful diagrams, she explains each condition (additionally, there's a very useful glossary of terms in the back). Finally, she discusses the most current treatment options available.
Thanks to Dr. Kavaler for writing this book and serving as such a passionate advocate for women's health. Urinary tract problems don't have to ruin our quality of life! Every woman should read this book -- and join Dr. Kavaler in speaking out to remove the stigma of bladder problems.
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