As someone living with chronic pain and chronic health conditions, I was really intrigued by this book. I feel like author painted a vivid portrait of what it is like to live with pain and deal with everything that goes with that. Definitely worth reading. Informative and empathetic.

As someone who has chronic pain due to MS and a back injury, it was very easy to relate to Anne’s struggles coping with this condition. I didn’t know much about sickle cell disease so it was good to educate myself in how this effects patients. I have trained as a counsellor and holistic pain practitioner for people with chronic pain and I can see this is a great resource for my work with clients and my writing workshops,
Although I don’t share her faith I can see how she finds it uplifting and how it sustains her in her pain journey. This is something many people will identify with and I advocate using mindfulness, self-care and uplifting/ challenging activities, It’s important that patients are still participating in life and keeping engaged through learning.
I loved her determination to live life as fully as she can despite this debilitating condition and found her positivity encouraging, However, the books most important lesson is that it’s ok to ask for help. It can be hard to accept we need help but it can really transform your life and help you live more fully. I would recommend this to clients and use it for work and my own self-care. Warm, uplifting and encouraging.

Pain-Less is a interesting memoir on a woman living with Sickle Cell. I wish there had been more scientific information in this book. I also have a family member living with a extremely painful disease,that medications will not help the pain. The author gives some good advice.

As a suffer of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome I found this book so useful. Yes it talks about sickle cell but chronic pain is chronic pain across the whole spectrum.
Great read. Highly recommended
Thank you to both NetGalley and publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book

Do you know anyone who suffers with Chronic Pain?

If your answer is no, then you are extremely lucky.

I have been living with debilitating and demoralizing pain since 2009. It has affected and still affects all aspects of my life.

"I am often asked what sickle cell pain feels like and for me there are no words to describe it, but if I must try, all I can say is that it is like someone using a hammer to knock on your bones over and over again."

Anne's pain is caused by Sickle Cell Disease and she has been dealing with it's effects her entire life. I admit to having heard of this disease before reading this book, but I knew next to nothing about it's symptoms.

After reading Anne Welsh's memoir, I feel that I am much better informed about Sickle Cell Disease and it's details.

This book contains terrific tips and ideas of how to live with a chronic illness, as well as wonderful ideas for the families and friends of those of us who have an invisible illness as to how they can assist and support us. These ideas can be applied to any chronic illness, and are not specific to Sickle Cell Disease.

Anne's upbeat attitude and her determination to live life as fully as possible despite her terrible and debilitating condition is inspiring and offers hope to the rest of us. The following quote really spoke to me.

"Finally I had come to understand that to become a better me, I had to accept help as well as not be afraid to ask for it. This is a realisation that all of us who live with a chronic illness need to come to. We cannot do it on our own, so accept the help offered, and it will make an enormous difference to your life."

I rate this book as 4 OUT OF 5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐

***Thank you to #NetGalley and the #publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book.***

In this book, Anne tells us of her life long struggle with sickle cell, a complicated chronic illness and the toll it has had on her family, friends, life, career and even travel and getting pregnant and having her children as well as advice for how to cope with all parts and effects a chronic illness can throw at you.



As I've been living with multiple chronic illnesses for nearly ten years though not sickle cell, I can totally relate to many points made in this book and could really commiserate on the bad and find the joy in the same good such as a pain free day!

It is a great book for educating about chronic pain and illness as well as providing a relatable experience through reading

story.

As someone who suffers from chronic pain from several invisible illnesses, I found it very easy to relate to this book. I think the author did a great job of laying out all the layers of feelings and emoyions y9u go through with chronic psin. The thing I most enjoyed reading was the struggles she faced as a child with this disease. She gave great details and zdvice for parents with hikdrdm that suffer. From things like signs and symptoms to look for in a child to ideas of just how to deal with this new reality. The author grew up with brothers and sisters and the book even gave ideas on how to help your other kids understand the limitations of the sick child to how to ounish your sick child when they are deserving.
At one point the author talked about how her brother fell ill and died and someone asked her Mom if she wished it was Anne instead since she was already sick. How devastating for anyone to hear, especially a child.
Unfortunately, many CP patients are treated that way. As if thsy are lying or lazy or just worthless. Books like this will help bring awareness to this very real issue.

I didn’t know much about sickle cell disease before going into this but I do know what it’s like to live with chronic pain. I know the loneliness and how hard it can be to stay positive and hopeful about the future - especially when you don’t know where your illness will take you.

I found it easy to relate to Anne and also the book was written in a way that I could sympathise with how difficult it must be to live with her illness. It was inspiring to see that despite everything Anne continued to achieve and not let her illness take over.

Her insight was helpful and her ideas we’re different to what I’ve seen before. I think a lot of people could benefit from this book!

I did not know anything about sickle cell disease before reading this book. I was stunned to learn of the suffering this disease causes. I also found it very disturbing that although this disease is so widespread in many parts of the world, so little funding or research is given to it.

Anne paints a very vivid picture of the pain and disruption of SCD on her life. But through determination and a very strong spirit (and a loving and supportive family) she has managed to achieve so much. Those of us without chronic pain or disease cannot possibly understand how every aspect of life is affected.

Anne gives very clear ideas to help those with a chronic disease better manage pain and the debilitating depression that can go hand in hand with it. But maybe more importantly she teaches us to change the way we view people with an invisible illness.

A beautifully written book.

Nice sentiment, not much actual science and a whole lot of cheese and reasons for pain sufferers to feel bad abt themselves for. Not inspiring or helpful.

I really enjoyed this book. I am a medically retired RN with chronic autoimmune disease and chronic pain. The author has sickle cell disease. Her journey started in her childhood; mine in adulthood. The author does an excellent job of explaining sickle cell disease and it’s ramifications. I wish I had had this information when I cared for sickle cell disease patients when I was a new nurse. I did take care of sickle cell disease patients when I floated as an inpatient nurse. I did not have the greatest understanding of the disease process but do remember the importance of IV fluids and IV pain medication.

The author’s journey was a difficult one. I do believe it takes time to realize the importance of good consistent self-care. I am now there myself. The author discusses the importance of a healthy diet as well as exercise. She gave up her disability pass which helped her emotionally but I do have a disability parking pass that has opened up travel, more access outside my home. The author is very open to the reader doing what is right for themselves. There is no judgement involved. She does discuss the importance of spirituality in her life which I also think is important. I like the idea of “patients of determination” vs patients with disabilities.

I think any patient with sickle cell disease or family member of would benefit from reading this book. It may be a little scary to a new parent to read about the many years of pain and suffering the author has experienced but she does an excellent job of describing what she has been through which may help another patient be able to avoid a sickle cell crisis. I think any chronic pain patient would also be able to identify with the author as well as benefit from the helpful advice she gives. Thank you for allowing me to review an advanced copy.