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Title: Against Medical Advice: One Family's Struggle with an Agonizing Medical Mystery
ISBN: 0316024759
Author:
James Patterson
Hal Friedman
Cory Friedman
Publicate Date: 2008-10-01
Publish: 2008-10-01
List Price: $26.99
Average Customer Rating: 4.5
Format: Hardcover
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $9.20
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $9.65
Amazon Merchant Price: $17.81
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| Customer Review: |
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1: A story of change
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (12/08)
James Patterson, along with Hal Friedman and his son Cory have given readers an extensive view of what it is like to be trapped in a world of Tourette's syndrome. With the ability to describe in detail, Mr. Patterson has with this family given knowledge, hope and love to all readers.
At the age of five, Cory Friedman began having an uncontrollable urge to shake his head. This started thirteen years of the most hellish life anyone could ever think possible. Cory is able to describe all the years of uncontrollable tics and behaviors that led him to be ridiculed by peers, teachers and to be used as a guinea pig for medical science. Not knowing what was causing this syndrome, doctor after doctor prescribed medications and treatments that either made the symptoms more severe or didn't work at all. Not only did Cory have problems in attending school, he was continually in and out of psychiatric hospitals.
Never once did Cory or his family give up. His mother maintained very detailed notes of Cory's treatments and daily behavior. She fought for him every step of the way. Cory's attitude was he could beat this, but it came with a price. At the age of seventeen, Cory found alcohol could help his Tourette's and release some of his obsessive-compulsive disorder. It also led to an in-patient treatment program that was a nightmare in itself.
Reader's will be amazed at the blind attempt of several doctor's prescribing drug after drug without real knowledge of what they were doing. Secondary drugs had to be given in order to offset some of the side effects of the initial drugs. Some doctor's attempted visualization telling Cory to visualize that his tics were not there.
The authors, James Patterson and Hal Friedman, and Cory have given us a firsthand look at what it is like to have Tourette's syndrome, OCD and alcohol problems. If nothing else, "Against Medical Advice" gives readers more information about this syndrome and resources where help can be given.
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2: A good, quick read
I liked it. It was recommended by the Glenn Beck radio show. Although Beck's a nut most of the time, he was on the money here. It tells a good human story in straightforward and easy to read fashion.
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3: Amazing!!!!
I read this book in 2 days!! I could not put it down. I had always been interested in this disease having been a nurse, working in the pharma business etc. Cory is a hero! He tells the story from his heart. This family is amazing. The courage and kindness and strength they showed. I don't know how many people could do the same. It really makes you look at your life. I am telling all my freinds and family to read it. I admire James Patterson for co-authoring it. He is a great guy! It is a must read!!!!
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4: Against Medical Advice
They were right! Against Medical Advice is a quick read you cannot put down. This true story draws you in to experience the emotional roller coaster this family endured. As an educator, you can see how important a teachers' influence is on a child; it can really make or break student success.
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5: Disappointing
As a Special Ed teacher, I was very excited to read this book. I am sad to say that I was quite disappointed in the book. First of all, I thought the layout was strange. There were 72 chapters and each chapter was one or two pages. Secondly, I thought the book lacked depth. I finished the book in two days, and I really felt I was left without much of the story. Although I don't want to ruin the ending, I thought it was also somewhat unbelievable.
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