Long Illness - by Meghan Jobson & Juliet Morgan (Hardcover)

About the Book

"In 2020, a surge of long-haul COVID-19 patients came to Drs. Jobson and Morgan's clinics and one thing was clear to them: We have seen this before. The pattern was strikingly similar to other long conditions: fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic pain, post-infectious syndromes, and autoimmune diseases. And that is because long illnesses manifest in similar ways. They follow patterns in the body as the result of inflammation, trauma, and toxic stress. Whether it's chronic pain, long COVID-19, or any of the myriad conditions that require long-term maintenance, people with long illnesses have been invalidated by a lack of assistance and care. The public health crisis of long COVID-19 highlighted these inequities. Drs. Jobson and Morgan are on the front lines of research and treatment; while at UCSF, they have developed an integrative program that goes beyond conventional medicine (which struggles to understand long illness). Their approach uses evidence-based integrative medicine that addresses the whole person: body, mind, and spirit. Not only do they legitimize long illness, but they also offer an unparalleled, holistic approach to healing. Drs. Jobson and Morgan empower readers by giving them expansive, accessible recovery tools: from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), traditional Eastern medicine, and mindfulness practices, to emerging therapies, self-healing techniques, and cutting-edge research. They also offer support and validation, with survivor stories and journaling prompts woven throughout for an interactive healing exercise. By the end of this book, readers will be equipped with the tools to accelerate their healing"--

Book Synopsis

From COVID-19 and autoimmune disease to chronic pain and inflammation, this new integrative approach and practical guide from two UCSF doctors is an essential guide to living with long illnesses.

Having a long illness--from autoimmune disease to dysautonomia, long COVID to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) to chronic pain or depression--can mean a long struggle to get adequate care. From explaining symptoms over and over again to doctors and family members to making sure you are receiving the correct diagnosis and treatment, having a long illness can be a fulltime job. And it's a hard one.

Drs. Meghan Jobson and Juliet Morgan specialize in treating long illness; from their work on the frontlines with long COVID, they know that all long illnesses share many of the same hallmarks. Using evidence-based integrative medicine, they have put together a program that legitimizes long illness and validates concerns where other physicians often dismiss them. In Long Illness, you'll find an unparalleled, holistic approach to healing, with valuable information on:

• The foundations of long illness and what it means for your life
• How to work with your medical team to get the care you need
• Common symptoms, such as pain, fatigue, headaches, difficulty breathing, digestive disruption, insomnia, and more
• A wide range of accessible healing techniques, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), traditional Eastern medicine, mindfulness practices, and emerging therapies
• Your mental health with long illness and how to manage it
• Long term solutions

Recovery is a process, not always a destination. This book will help you build your recovery tool kit, reclaim your identity, manage your symptoms, and become empowered to get the care team you deserve.

About the Author

Dr. Juliet Morgan is a neurologist, psychiatrist, and integrative medicine physician. She cares for patients with long illness in private practice and is an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco Weill Institute for Neurosciences. Dr. Morgan earned her BA from Duke University and her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine. She completed her medical residencies and fellowship at the University of California San Francisco.

Dr. Meghan Jobson is an internist with specialized training in integrative and palliative medicine. She cares for people with long illness as a physician with the San Francisco Department of Public Health. Dr. Jobson earned her BA from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, her PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Utah, and her medical degree from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She completed her medical residency and fellowships at the University of California San Francisco.

They live in San Francisco, CA.