• Why Can't I Get Better?

  • Solving the Mystery of Lyme and Chronic Disease
  • By: Richard I. Horowitz
  • Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor
  • Length: 19 hrs and 11 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (98 ratings)

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Why Can't I Get Better?  By  cover art

Why Can't I Get Better?

By: Richard I. Horowitz
Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor
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Publisher's summary

You may not know that you have Lyme. It can mimic every disease process, including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, autoimmune conditions like MS, psychiatric conditions like depression and anxiety, and cause significant memory and concentration problems, mimicking early dementia. It is called the "Great Imitator," and inaccurate testing - combined with a fierce, ongoing debate that questions chronic infection - makes it difficult for sufferers to find effective care.

When Dr. Richard Horowitz moved to the Hudson Valley over two decades ago to start his own medical practice, he had no idea that he was jumping into a hotbed of Lyme disease. He would soon realize that many of the chronic disease diagnoses people were receiving were also the result of Lyme - and he would discover how once-treatable infections, in the absence of timely intervention, could cause disabling conditions. In a field where the number of cases is growing exponentially around the world and answers remain elusive, Dr. Horowitz has treated over 12,000 patients and made extraordinary progress. His plan represents a crucial paradigm shift, without which the suffering will continue.

In this audiobook, Dr. Horowitz breaks new ground with a "Sixteen-Point Differential Diagnostic Map," the basis for his revolutionary Lyme treatment plan, and an overarching approach to treating all chronic illness. Introduces MSIDS, or Multiple Systemic Infectious Disease Syndrome, a new lens on chronic illness that may prove to be an important missing link. Covers in detail Lyme's leading symptoms and co-infections, including immune dysfunction, sleep disorders, chronic pain and neurodegenerative disorders - providing a unique functional and integrative health care model, based on the most up-to-date scientific research, for physicians and health care providers to effectively treat Lyme and other chronic illnesses.

Cutting through the frustration, misinformation and endless questions, Dr. Horowitz's enlightening story of medical discovery, science, and politics is an all-in-one source for patients of chronic illness to identify their own symptoms and work with their doctors for the best possible treatment outcome.

©2013 Richard I. Horowitz (P)2013 Tantor

Critic reviews

"If you have suffered from unexplained, chronic or hard-to-treat illness, this audiobook is your pathway to health." (Mark Hyman, M.D., author of The Blood Sugar Solution)

What listeners say about Why Can't I Get Better?

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  • MM
  • 07-29-14

Fantastic and insightful

Any additional comments?

Note that I am a nurse that is studying to be a nurse practitioner.

This book was a big surprise to me. I see chronically ill patients all the time, and I never considered conditions such as Lyme disease or babesia. I was amazed by the wide spectrum of symptoms that often get diagnosed as other conditions. In particular, I was amazed to read stories about patients that, when treated, recovered from chronic pain, disability (going from completely wheelchair bound to walking), and recovery from psychiatric symptoms.

This is a very important read for nurses, doctors, nurse practitioners and the like. Similarly, I highly recommend this book to those that have suffered from chronic conditions and haven't received answers as to why they weren't improving.

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4 people found this helpful

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Worth the journey

Very long medical books like this can be a trial to get through. But let me tell you, this book is amazing. It is mostly about Lyme disease, but even if you do not have Lyme I think you can learn a lot about how the right doctor with the right focus can attack a patient's chronic illness. There are a lot of terms in here that you, and probably most doctors don't even know. The audiobook put me to sleep plenty of times, but it was absolutely a crucial read and they definitely picked the right narrator. Amazing book. Seriously.

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3 people found this helpful

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Excellent for clinicians and understandable for pt

Would you listen to Why Can't I Get Better? again? Why?

I'm glad I got this audiobook, because it can listen while writing up my clients notes after working with them. It's very detailed; everything is very well explained and examples abound. The case histories are interesting. The only negative I can say is that the narrator's pronunciation is not always correct. Maybe in some parts of the world, things are pronounced the way he says them, but it drives me crazy. The most important thing is, pronunciation aside, the information is very helpful and in my opinion, accurate. True works from the front lines of the Lyme wars!

What other book might you compare Why Can't I Get Better? to and why?

I've read many books about Lyme and co-infections and this one is unique. Good because it is helpful to the clinician, and understandable for a patient who really wants to know. Most Lyme patients really are very well educated because they have to be. Might as well know the best current information.

Did Patrick Lawlor do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Characters were not the problem. It was his pronunciation of certain medical terms that set my teeth on edge.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The general public would never watch a movie made from this book.

Any additional comments?

If you are a clinician working with Lyme and co-infections, get this book. If you are a Lyme patient who really wants to be informed, get this book!

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Groundbreaking Integrative Neuroimmunology

This excellent book by Dr. Horowitz's represents a groundbreaking contribution to the emerging science of integrative neuroimmunology and the well being of chronically ill patients everywhere. I am very thankful for having had the opportunity to assimilate the volumes of useful information it readily provides, describing the complex topics of healing the human immune system in plain language. I just gave my favorite MD a copy of it today. My only regret is in having been ill and needing to have read it so earnestly. Why not get better?
Thank You Dr. Horowitz

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Lyme guidepost

This is a Very extensive and robust education on Lyme disease and co-infection cases!

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Mostly good content, lousy narration

Richard Horowitz is one of the most knowledgeable of the Lyme-literate medical professionals in the world today. I do wish that he had decided which audience he wanted to write for, though--the general public or his fellow doctors. Most of the book was much too technical for the lay reader, and the rest of us don't need to be told that 'B cells are a type of lymphocyte,' just to give an example of the simplistic explanations he tosses in. In spite of that, and in spite of the fact that I disagree with some of his conclusions, the book is an invaluable addition to the Lyme professional's library, whether the person is a practicing physician or a researcher or a teacher.

The narration is another story. The constant mis-pronunciation of body parts, medications and disease conditions was wearing. The narrator's attempt to mimic women's voices when Horowitz quoted conversations with his patients was both unnecessary and offensive. It is possible for a woman to say "Doctor, I don't know what's wrong with me" without sounding like a helpless child. It would have been just as factual and effective if it had been read in the narrator's own voice.

If facts about Lyme disease are what you need right now, then go to the many papers published online and in journals. If you have a long commute each day and just want something to expand your general knowledge, this is a good way to fill the time usefully. If you have little prior knowledge of Lyme, it should scare you into learning more, and hopefully prevent you from telling your patients that there is no such thing as chronic Lyme disease.

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Great Resource


this book was exactly what we needed. We live in a very tick infected area and are dealing with tick vector infections. I have a clearer picture of what course of action must be taken for recovery.

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Very Helpful

There is a lot of information in this book. Dr. Horowitz covers the many aspects of Lyme Disease thoroughly. He uses detailed examples of patients and their journeys through their persistent Lyme issues. I learned so much from this book. It has helped me to better care for myself and ask my doctors questions to find the best care for my Lyme symptoms.

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very compelling

, this book touches on the many and various aspects behind Lyme disease the government and possibly methods of getting better

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So glad I found this book

I feel compelled to write a review. There is no way I would be this armed with Lyme information had it not been for this book. All of the other research I had done online only left me more confused, but Dr. Horowitz has very nicely put together this jigsaw of a puzzle that Lyme and MSIDs is. The presenter did about as good of a job as anyone could do when reading essentially a medical book. I would recommend to everyone wanting to really know all about Lyme.

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