Colitis Books

This book is a great guide for people with a variety of digestive disorders - and perhaps even for those with other auto-immune illnesses. It contains clear, well-reasoned, thoroughly researched and documented nutrition advice. Also, it's a diet that I could live with (unlike many others!). The author is not selling any products of his own, which enhances his credibility. The only drawback is that he doesn't include any recipes; wish he'd write a cookbook or add some recipes to his next revision.

This book provided me with information and insight into issues related to my disease that no doctor has been able to provide in the 9 years since my diagnosis. Although I have yet to put the actual diet piece into practice, the information I am learning is so important and really helping me to feel like there are other solutions to my disease than medications.

I bought this for my son who was recently diagnosed with Cohrones Disease., He said the book has been very helpful

This book is mostly a review of literature and interviews conducted by the writer who sees to have written many other diet books for chronic illnesses. Did not like its contents much.

He speaks in easy to understand terms.

I bought at least six books over the last 18 months - this is by far my favorite one.

I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis about a month ago. This book was given to me as a gift. I finally started to read it, and the introduction itself was enough to get me hooked. Someone else knew what I felt! I am only a few chapters in, but the descriptions of the disease as well as personal accounts and talking about the greiving process is exactly what I need right now. When I am doubled over because I feel sick, I can grab the book and just read a little bit and know that someone else is or was doubled over too.

I thought the book has some good info in it but It was not what I was looking for. I wanted to know the basics ,what is this what can I expect and what to do. I didn't find that.

I bought this book when diagnosed with UC and it really helped to take the fear out of the situation. When you suffer from an incurable disease you can at first feel overwhelmed but this book answers pretty much all the questions you might ask. My only reservation is that it doesn't mention the Specific Carbohydrate Diet which some people, including myself, have found extremely useful for treating IBD. Mention of the SCD would be a useful addition for any later edition.

I thought this book was very interesting and a very good read. It was real easy to understand and the first person perspective kept me reading page after page.

I really liked the author's straightforward style, and I found in it a wealth of information about IBD. I thought though, that the chapter on
diet and nutrition was lacking. I thought the author did a better job of
explaining the role of nutrition than my doctor did, but he said that Ulcerative Colitis has nothing to do with diet, which seems to be the prevailing attitude with many doctors (GI or otherwise) I was surprised that the author did not mention more about special diets, esp. The Specific Carbohydrate diet or at least a gluten-free diet. When I was diagnosed, I had to research and pour over books and the Internet to find
answers to my questions. The author states to use caution with info. on the internet, and of course you need to use common sense, but the internet
was the place I found The Specific Carbohydrate Diet by Elaine Gottschalk,
and after trying everything the doctor ordered (and not getting much relief) I tried the Specific Carbohydrate Diet out of desperation, and
it has been SO great, I got my energy back, and have been steadily and
consistently improving to the point where I have been relapsing less often ( it used to be all the time) and I feel like my life was given back to me! So, this long story of mine is to let you newly diagnosed out there know-yes, this is a very thorough book, but it doesn't have everything in it, I would highly recommend buying "Breaking the Vicious Cycle" by Elaine Gottschall, to go with it-it will be more than worth it.

This book provides a good resource for those suffering from IBD. It was a great comfort to know that someone else had gone through something so similar to my own experience. It was a little disappointing that the writer did not detail his experience with the SCD diet further (ie, problems he may have encountered etc.) However despite this I often reach for this book on bad days for some much needed motivation.

This story will make you feel uplifted and hopeful. It also goes to show that no doctor knows your body better than you do and that one should trust their instincts. You are not alone in your battle and I felt so relieved to learn I am not the only one with colitis who is searching everyday for answers. It is a personal adventure which highlights the shortcomings of the 'system' and empowers the individual to fight back.

This book is not only a moving portrait of a young man's struggle with--and ultimate control over--colitis; it is also, as importantly, a helpful lens through which others can view and address this serious health problem. I would recommend this book for anyone battling this oft-misunderstood disease, especially those who think they've exhausted their treatment options. Colitis & Me may offer fresh insight and management techniques. It will most certainly offer hope.

Not only is this an excellent book for those suffering from bowel disorders, but I feel that anyone with health issues can benefit from the text. The author shares his battle with a debilitating bowel diasese (Ulcerative Colitis). He shares the most personal of experiences as he hits the lowest of lows but continues to fight back and take control of his health...and his life again. Very inspirational! The author has a unique writing style that captivates the reader and makes one hang onto his every written word. The artwork is outstanding, as well. It is unique in its own right, and fits in very nicely with the text. Those with bowel issues will most certainly relate and find this book helpful, but I think anyone who has ever faced an "uphill battle" in life (who hasn't?)will benefit from reading how the author found the inner strength to continue to fight his battle with illness despite a lack of insight from the medical community, a lack of support, at times, from loved ones and a deminishing state of health. Great book!!!!!!!

I will start off by saying that I don't have colitis. I borrowed this book from a friend for a long bus trip, and I read it straight through. IBD must be a nasty affliction to have, to be sure, but that's not what kept me turning page after page. Prasad's narrative is so thoroughly engaging and intelligent that he could have been writing about someone's battle with a splinter received from a chopstick and still I would have kept reading.

Both the nature of IBD and its associated medical consequences are obviously complex and not well understood, and Prasad explains them clearly and doesn't let the explanations muddy the overall narrative. This, coupled with the wonderful design and layout of the book makes for a enjoyable read. I look forward to his next publication.

My daughter just started the specific carbohydrate diet and we had been brainstorming on different, yet appetizing foods to work with, especially in the dessert department. When I purchased this book and experimented with the recipes we were both extremely happy with the end results. The recipes make it easy to create mouth watering, delicious and creative meals! I had used several of the recipes for Thanksgiving and family members were intrigued and I will say, very surprised, that the taste of the food was "normal"; which I think is a major misconception with this diet. Instead of focusing on the "cannot haves" we focus on the "can haves"! Thank you so much for making the transition into SCD land easier! :)

Really enjoyed looking through this book can't wait to start using it but it makes it hard when there are so many to choose from.

The photos in this book are exceptional. The recipes are delicious. This cookbook is a must for anyone who wishes to augment their SCD cooking library. The Specific Carbohydrate Diet has completely healed me of Crohn's Disease. I have been free of disease for over 5 years and am taking no prescription medications, all thanks to this diet. This diet is the only way to control my chronic diarrhea.

Healing Foods is a helpful adjunct for a specific carbohydrate diet recipe collection. The photography is especially appealing. I would suggest that the author make a few changes to a possible next edition; a) include a "what to order in a restaurant" section, b) find a more successful bread recipe to accommodate sandwiches (those in the book are either too sweet, or break apart and can't be used as sliced bread, and c)proof the text more carefully as there are some errors. Finally, and important, would be a section listing sources for internet or phone orders for hard to find, organic, and vitamin orders. In summary, buy this book, as it's worth the money.

I am sort of collecting SCD books now! I have really been enjoying this book. There are many great, well-thought out, tested, recipes. There are comments and how-to's with recipes, which I appreciate. The recipes do not call for the dried curd cottage cheese which is impossible to obtain in Northern California--so I am appreciating that. There is a website mentioned in the book which I have checked out--it is just getting going it seems.
Oh, there are also beautiful pictures in this book. This book is really worth the price--I highly recommend it.

I bought several books on Crohn's disease from Amazon and I found this to be the most useful.

It will outline a decent diet with supplements for you to take for 3 months (or more.) It greatly lessened my pain.

If you have the money to buy the supplements for this diet, I would recommend it. If you are not going to follow the diet and buy the supplements, this book would not be for you.

The author knows what he is talking about. I have been on this regime for a little over three months and feel 90% better. It will be interesting to see what happens when I add more food items to my diet, which I plan to do next month.

The above reviewer says that the supplements would cost over $800, maybe I did not buy them all but I would say it is over $200 a month with the expensive probiotics.

When I originally went to my gastroenterologist, I told him that it felt as if I had swallowed a cactus, now my intestines just feel a bit tired. I will settle for that.

I hope you feel better. I know how bad this can be.

This is a great book! For any IBS sufferers out there this program works! I've only been on the protocol for about two weeks, but I've had a significant improvement in my IBS. Much better than just getting pills from a traditional doctor and "covering up" symptoms.

This book offers a different viewpoint from conventional thinking about IBS - encouraging to know that IBS can be cured. However, the treatment plans outlined need to be followed up by clinical studies.

This book made lots of sense for the problems that we have. It is well written and very easy to read and understand.

I believe David Dahlman has a genuine interest in helping individuals who suffer from digestive illnesses. Dahlman's own clinic and his popular website are frequented by those looking for solutions to their illnesses. Those that he has helped are very supportive of his techniques. His book is a culmination of the material that he shares with his patients. I found his book to be well written and a pretty easy read. Although Dahlman is a chiropractor physician, rather than a medical doctor, he writes about many traditional suggestions in his important Step-by-Step Thought Process chapter which you may in fact also learn from a good traditional physician who cares like Dahlman does. Many of his steps center on diet and intolerances that sufferers may not be aware of and also of bacteria levels in your gut that become out of whack. Bacteria levels are a popular mainstream target of investigation right now. He has good pointers for identifying and avoiding intolerances. One major area that he stays away from, in the traditional sense, is the prescribing of medicines and his apparent negative view of the pharmaceutical industry. He believes that the pharmaceutical industry is guessing at ways to mask the symptoms of IBS, without getting to the cause. A true statement, since right now nobody has identified the cause of IBS; however, the pharmaceutical industry in my opinion is just as interested in helping individuals who suffer from digestive illnesses just like Dahlman. Dahlman writes two very useful chapters, Alternative Medicine Techniques to Avoid and Laboratory Tests, both chapters which many IBS sufferers should read so that they may understand the reasons that these techniques and tests may not have provided the results that they were looking for. In summary, I recommend this book and hope that it provides some relief for your symptoms.

Samantha Lucier, a mom of a daughter with Crohn's
July 14th 2006
Just What The Doctor Ordered (Or Should)!
Cliff Kalibjian's book, 'Straight from the Gut: Living with Crohn's Disease & Ulcerative Colitis' was just what the doctor ordered (or should)! It is an invaluable tool for people living with Crohn's disease or Ulcerative Colitis. Dozens of people share their personal stories about coping from day to day with these devastating illnesses, and I found these stories to be moving, sometimes even funny, and always helpful and insightful. Cliff has touched on every aspect of living with IBD, from caring for an ostomy, to dealing with insurance companies. The book is written in lay terms and is clear and concise. I would highly recommend this book, not only to families like my own, who have been personally touched by one of these diseases, but to gastroenterologists, nurses and others who care for patients with Crohn's or Colitis. It is truly an educational read for all.
Also recommended: 'Ask Audrey' by Audrey Kron

This book was the best one I have read on the subject of UC & Crohn's Disease. I have done lots of research, on the Internet, the Library, talking to Doctors, and this one book answered all my questions. Whether you are looking for advice about drugs, surgery, food, working, insurance, or much more, this book has it all!!! I would strongly recommend adding it to your library.

When you're diagnosed with IBD, you have no idea what's ahead. You've been having problems and now you finally have a cause... but no cure. It's a sobering moment.

I went to the major websites and found a book at the library (Jill Skylar's First Year book -- a great starter). I was beginning to learn what life with this disease was going to mean, but I still felt lost. I saw this book online and ordered it. I honestly wasn't expecting much as I've spent the last year reading books on Crohn's that were either total medicalese or the basics I already knew. Cliff's book turned out to be the book I was looking for... it's beyond the basics (What is this strange disease?) and yet suitable for the layman. Additionally, it lets you hear the voices of many other sufferers. With this disease, it's easy to feel like no one understands especially because many of us don't "look sick". Cliff covers all the major topics and does so with humor, compassion and hope. Read it if you're newly diagnosed, have been suffering or want to understand someone that has been -- I consider it the most valuable book in my Crohn's library.

Thank you, Cliff.

First, I wish nobody to need the information about IBD. But, for one who needs it, the current book is not a best place to look for.
Obviously, the author's attempts to explain little bit of everything worked, and almost every reader would find in the book something related to his or her case. The problem is that it is so little of information in each topic, that almost nobody would find it really helpful.
The author did a pretty good job by collecting people's letters, which could help ones who need to know that they are not alone. Still, news groups, which could be easily found in the web would work much better.
And the last, most important: the author is a typical example of conventional medicine approach. If you trust in convention medicine and your doctor, you don't need any book at all - your case is going to make to your doctor so much money, that he or she would be happy to provide you the details (unless of course you'll ask for the cure of the disease). And, if you want to try alternative ways, you would not find any help here, just a couple of standard words, which every conventional doctor would say to you in case you would ask.

This is a great overview of the current management and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. It covers medication, surgery, diet, insurance, and more. All in all, a great starting point for the newly diagnosed and their friends and family. I've bought a number of books on Crohn's disease, and this is by far the best general overview I've found.

My son has suffered with IBS all of his life. This was the first book or doctor who was able to help with his condition. Imagine my suprise to find that not only does Dr. Gibbons have a book but also a web site where you can send Dr. Gibbons questions. What a big help that has been in my sons life...

I had been to 3 separate doctors, had numerous tests, and tried a lengthy list of medications. I found out about this book in a chat room and the reviews were so glowing that I thought it must be a marketing scheme. I bought it anyway because I had nothing to lose at that point in my life. As I read the book, I felt vindicated and thought he was describing my life. This book changed my life. For anyone that has ever suffered from fructose intolerance this will make sense to you....my husband and I can now go out to dinner and a movie instead of a movie and then dinner (so that we can race home after for me to be sick!)

For over half of my life (20+ years) I suffered from IBS. I had become almost completely homebound because of this. My life changed overnight when I bought this book. I started following the diet and I noticed a huge difference the first day. With in a few weeks I was a different person. I know this sounds corny but it's true. Dr. Gibbons saved my life. I have been pretty much symptom free now for several years. IBS no longer controls my life and IBS never even crosses my mind unless I'm bragging to someone about this book which I do every time the opportunity arises. This book will change your life. It did mine. I wish every person who suffers from IBS could know about this book. I thought there was no hope for me but I was wrong. I also lost about 120lbs. buy doing nothing more than taking calcium like Dr. Gibbons suggests. The calcium blocks 14 grams of fat per dose from being absorbed by your body. The information in this book is nothing like what the doctors have told you in the past, it's probably the opposite but this will help you. Thanks Dr. Gibbons.

When I first browsed this book I said "Yes I know that", "Yes I know that","Yes I know that". I put the book back on the self. After a couple of weeks I decided maybe their was something in the book I didn't know. I went back and bought it. It was nice to find comformation of what I had found over the years to be helpful. My Doctor always looked at me like I was crazy when I told him these things. This book is a must read for anyone with bowel problems.

Dr. Gibbons lays out the causes and effects of I.B.S. He gives his own medical history that has effected him and how it lead him to find answer on how to best help himself. I have read the book and now follow his diet that he has explained what one needs to do to get immediate relief. I feel so much better now I can not believe the difference. Anyone who suffers with crohn's disease, celiac sprue, colitis, diverticulosis, galactosemia, infant colic, post-colostomy colitis, ulcerative colitis will benefit from this book. There are so many area's that are symptoms of I.B.S that I never even realized. My doctor was unsure at first when I started this diet, but he has seen the results and now believes, but more importantly, I feel great.

A good resource for the newly diagnosed but if you are an old hat at this stuff, read something else. It is nice to have on hand though when OTHER people start having problems and they come to you for info. because they know you have problems. You can hand them this to borrow.

As a Crohn's Disease patient, I used this book as a source for a research project. Although, currently there are more up-to-date sources, this book provided me with a vast amount of background information regarding the disease.

This is a very good general introduction to the Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis, for the family, friends, or patient that has been recently diagnosed with one of these diseases. It covers the details of the disease and also current treatment IBD (circa 1983). However, please understand that this book has not been updated since 1983. There have been many, many developments in the treatment of these diseases and the prognosis is much better than when this book was written. (They essentially only had Prednisone and Sulfasalizine for treatment at the time). They now have Remicade and other drugs used to treat IBD that are not addressed.

Overall not a bad book, but you can probably find all of this information, plus information on newer developments, in some of the other books on IBD. Needless to say, if you buy this book, don't make it your only book on IBD.

It used to be that this was the only 'laypersons' book out there for people suffering from IBD. Newly diagnosed with ulcerative colitis 10 years ago, I found this book to be enlightening and informative. It helped me to get a handle on things when I felt my life spiraling out of control due to a disease I had never even heard of before. Today those suffering from ulcerative colitis and Chrohn's Disease have more reading material at their disposal, but this book remains as the staple for any person suffering from IBD. It can also serve as an invaluable resource to friends and family of IBD survivors who also feel confused and helpless. Anyone who has ever taken prednisone for IBD knows the symptoms and treatments for these diseases can make articulate and unemotional explanations almost impossible to formulate. Handing over a copy of this to your siblings, parents, spouse, or even your roommate is the best thing you can do for them, and for yourself.

Six months ago I was faced with the reality that I had Crohn's Disease. At that point I wanted to get my hands on as much reading material as I could on the subject (because when you are sick about all you can do is sit and read anyway). Out of all the books I have read on the subject I can honestly say that this book is one of the best overall books on the subject.

This book is devided in three major sections. The first part is about The Nature of the disease. In this section the book discusses basic definitions, who gets the diseases, what causes them, how it is diagnosed, and systemic manifestations.

The next section is about Treating the Diseases. This section covers medications and their side effects, nutritional complications, surgery, and the threat of cancer.

The last section covers Living with the Diseases. This talks about diseases in children, pregnancy, older people, emotions, hospitalization, life insurance and medical insurance, what to do if you become disabled.

I recommend this book for anyone who suffers with either of these diseases. This book is a fantastic handbook/reference book for people who are sick with these illnesses. It has helped me unterstand my Crohn's disease better then I ever thought possible. I wish you all the best!!

I have a friend with this disease and found this book. I am healthy but wanted to help my young friend. I read it first and found it helped ME! I was rejuvenated and regained emotions that were dead inside me and not felt for years. It is NOT a depressing recount of illness. It is a funny, graphic, scary, instructive, uplifting, and LOVE story book! It changed me and definately helped my friend. I hope I find a man like Ken!

The author truly put her heart and soul into sharing her personal experience with IBD. Not only is it a story of hope in the midst of excruciating pain and fear, but it is also a beautiful love story. It opened my eyes to the pain the author and others like her with IBD go through, as well as how comforting and necessary a loving, commited spouse is during this tremendous ordeal. I cried through it as it really tugged on my heart strings. Thank you, Kathy, for sharing your story.

A humorous, touching autobiographical account of one woman's ordeal with IBD, from initial procedures and eventual diagnosis to surgery and gradual recovery. This is a story of courage, grit and determination with which many people with IBD can probably relate and it will pull your heartstrings.

I began reading this book in the early evening and ended staying up all night! I could not put it down. It's not only a detailed account of dealing with IBD, hospitals, procedures, etc, it's also a touching love story. It's emotional, humourous, entertaining, instructive and it's valuable. I will read it again and again.

Between hope and despair is a thin line. That line was discovered by the author of this book. Determined to remain hopeful, this author tells her story of dealing with a chronic disease while in the prime of her life. This could happen to you someday, and reading it will make you feel lucky to be alive.