WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SHINGLES AND PHN

Thomsen, longtime public relations and advertising executive, first exhibited the symptoms of shingles in 1986. The disease—which includes a variety of rashes, muscle problems and other ailments—is produced by the same virus that causes chicken pox. During the author's varied treatments, he found very little written about the disease and so researched the first edition of this book. What began as an annoying twitch in his right eyebrow ended up being a debilitating illness that kept Thomsen hospitalized and at times unable to work. Here, he shares details of his experiences and offers basic information on the disease and its treatment including alternative therapies and exercise regimens. The writing is straightforward and occasionally irrelevant (including references to Job and whether he had shingles) but overall, helpful, particularly for newly diagnosed patients. The final "summing up" chapter will be of interest to both patient and the patient's family members who will end up participating in the patient's care. Specific medical references are included for readers wanting additional information. Surprisingly, given that nearly one million people will suffer from shingles (or PHN, postherpetic neuralgia) in the near future, there are only few books on the disease (one is Living with Shingles: New Hope for an Old Disease). This book is a useful guide for patients eager to be more proactive about the treatment they receive for this disease. (Sept.)