Constipation Books

This book contained a tremendous amount of useful information for me. I enjoyed reading each part of it and did not put it down until I finished it. I have a very good GI doctor that I trust. But, I could never imagine, I could have got that much accurate and scientific information in a very simple format even in 10 or more visit to my doctor's office. Thanks a lot for putting together this helpful guide.

This book didn't teach me anything I didn't already know. My doctor told me everything that was in this book the first day I saw him. I would not recommend this book.

I have been struggling with digestive issues for about six years now. I've been to a number of different doctors as well as tried many different treatments. I believe that this book has an excellent analysis of IBS, using a much broader spectrum to encompass many different digestive disorders. It is written very well, sticking to the facts and making medical jargon understandable. I think that anyone trying to deal with digestive issues would benefit from reading this book. It gave me a whole new way to look at my problems and lots of new avenues to pursue with regard to maintaining a healthy, happy stomach.

I highly recommend this book to anyone with IBS. Its Q & A format along with all of the visual tables and flow charts make it very easy for patients, and those closest to them, to understand this very irritating illness.

This is the book that patients need to comprehend this complex disease. Put in a question & answer format will really make it much easier to break down all entanglements of physical, emotional, neurological, and psychological aspects of this relatively hard to treat disease. It is like a stream of valuable info flowing in the brain without turbulence. Thank you Dr. Farhadi for such a great contribution.

I finally understand after reading this how all the organs in my digestive system work. And it's not as gross as you might think. It's interesting to read how different foods and drugs you ingest each affect each organ differently, as well as potentially causing pain to those who are sensitive, or who have different conditions. A must read for those with persistent IBS, heartburn, gas, or other digestive issues.

This book has it all; concise explanations of the etiology of each gastroenterologic problem and simple practical solutions. Generally, the doctor proposes a high fiber, low fat diet but each patient has to tailor their diet to their own specific needs as clearly there are certain foods that are fine for some, an irritant for others. I would note that contrary to one reviewer, I have made a number of the recipes. They are fairly simple, mostly typical ingredients and have been delicious.
The one problem I have with the book is the contradictory advice with respect to some specific food items. For example, if you suspect that your LES valve muscle is the culprit, the recipes in the 2 week plan contain a good deal of ingredients (citrus fruits, cocoa) which may irritate that condition. The doctor has not provided alternatives to substitute for these ingredients. Generally though, I think the implied message is you have got to get to know your body well as you lower the fat and increase the fiber in your diet.

If you could purchase one book on GI issues, this should be it. My copy is filled with notes and highights and I have recommended it to many of my friends. I found the technical jargon to be quite easy to comprehend (yes, I know I am also a Dr., but trust me -- we appreciate the simplified lanauge as well). The author also integrates a nutritional aspect, although some of the info can be quite contradictory (check out the cooking section...). Overall, I LOVE this book and I have brought it on many a Dr's visit. Its quite impressive.

I suffered for a year before this book came to my rescue. Once I started having stabbing pains after I ate, a friend let me borrow her copy to seek some relief. After an endoscopy and a trip to the emergency room with excrutiating pain, I finally consulted the book and learned that my problem may go further than acid reflux. At my second trip to the ER I insisted on having my gallbladder tested. The ER doctor was not interested in going that direction, but he placated me and let me have an ultrasound. That revealed that I had an enlarged gallbladder and gallstones. I had surgery the next day to remove the gallbladder. Had I not read the book and become informed, there is no telling how much longer I would have had to suffer (the ER docs were content with medicating me and sending me home and not trying to figure out what was wrong). It helps to educate yourself when you know something is not right with your body, because doctors do not know everything. I had seen two doctors previously, and neither had an inkling that my gallbladder might have been my problem. I highly recommend this book to anyone that has digestive problems.

This book is very useful for a wide constituency of physicians
and patients . It is helpful for gastrointestinal, neurologic
and rhematological problems. The author treats the nutritional
dimension of our health. For instance, milk may harm ulcers
and exacerbate other problems in the GI tract. Spicy foods may
aggravate inflammations. The author explains that the small
intestine digests proteins and splits amino acids and enzymes.
The digestive system interacts with the circulatory system.
Nutrients travel to the liver which secretes bile and removes
toxins from injested foods. With the exception of fats, all
nutrients enter the bloodstream via the liver. Undigested
fiber evacuates. White bread, chocolate and pastas clog the
digestive system. Spasms aggravate existing digestive disorders.
These spasms may take the form of abdomenal discomfort,
IBS, Crohns Disease and diverticulosis. Pancreatitis is a
steady increase in abdomenal discomfort aggravated by alcohol.

Sandostatin treats pancreatitis. Certain foods contain gluten.
The gluten can aggravate existing gastrointestinal conditions.
Eliminating wheat, rye and sweets helps to alleviate symptoms.
Stress is an aggravating factor with regard to the GI tract.
An increase in fiber helps the tract operate better. In addition,
the GI tract needs micronutrients and vitamins to aid in
the digestive process. This book is excellent as a health
maintenance tool.

Well, yes it was kind of an advertisement for me. I was searching for doctors to diagnose what the hell was wrong with me. I was suffering from depression, IBS, arthritis, CFS, headaches, and muscle pain. My rheumatologist told me I was nuts. My gastroenterologist said I had IBS and to live with it.

The book read well, and I thought... Hmmm... One of the causes of all this is in the book. I think it may be an infestation of yeast. I should go fly to see Wangen.

He ran a bunch of tests and found out it was all true and plus I found out that I was also having allergic reactions to sugar cane and yeast.

The book, his clinic and his prescriptions has stopped my depression, my muscle pain, my head aches, and my chronic fatigue syndrome. Thank you Dr. Wangen.

And could I say that he is a pretty humble guy. Even his secretary was very nice, professional and things were in order. They even took a photo of me while at the office. The secretary said, "wangen wants to identify all his patients faces when he reviews their files and talks to them on the phone." He is pretty unassuming. He comes across like a curious kid who thinks you might have an important insight, not some guru-jerk like the other doctors that don't have a reputation. I was surprised.

It must been like $3,000, but money that I could afford to spend.

Wangen saved me years of torment. Wangen you rock.

I get gas more than most, but guess what?

NO MORE IBS! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Stay away from this book. Waste of time and money. Other reviewers have said correctly - it's ad for his IBS Treatment Center.

Some of science behind his IBS treatments is sound. It focuses on having the correct kind of bactiera, etc. in the gut, testing for that and testing the bad bugs for antibiotic susceptibility which most places don't do.

Then there is the controversial food allergy testing. He blames food allergy for anything and everything. The idea of minor food allergies is controversial and the testing the labs do may not be valid or reliable no matter what he says. Even some of Dr. Wangen's peers at the Bastyr University argue against food allergy testing, saying it is too unscientific- the way the testing is done is not right. Although she also says it is not likely to do harm, just cost money. Some people seem to get relief, however, from eliminating foods from their diet.

Studies should be done to quantify and ascertain the real success rate of his treatments, because he actually has REAL causes for a condition and is not just doing the stupid song and dance doctors love to do of blaming the patient and telling them it is all in their head. They do this especially if the patient is female. The testing needs to be validated and symptoms correlated to positive results. No such test/ study exists as of today.

IBS is a real disease that needs to be taken seriously and treated. It does not surprise me that not many general doctors are even trying to find a solution, mainly because doctors don't care about their patients. In fact, this would hurt buisness and they don't like that- they are basically all about money. But why aren't other naturopathic doctors doing what he is doing? Why is he the only one?? Is he REALLY the only one? And if what he does is so great, why doesn't he train people and open other centers in large cities?
Two things about this book irritated me. First off, much of the information on the science is on his website. I payed too much for the book to tell me only a litte more about that. Next, much of the book talks about his former patients supposedly and how great they are doing now thanks to his treatments. It is a huge plug for his center.

If you want the testing done you can call them and they will tell you what labs they use. If you want to go to his so call miraculous center you have to go at least once and give him about $900 to $2000 (travel expenses and Seattlite attitude towards non-Northwestern persons not included). That is impossible for me. The book is almost useless if you can't go to Seattle. His attitude is kind of like he is the IBS god, and so what's a little world travel just to get his miracle cures? That maybe OK for some people, but not everyone. If you look at the 5 star reviews you will see many of these people live in Seattle or WA state.
Don't buy the book. Just go to his website and everything will be explained to you. Also do some research on food allergies- you will see he may not be all he's cracked up to be.

I am so thankful for this book-& my primary doctor. I cannot afford to travel to this clinic, unfortunately so I mentioned the food allergy test that I read about to my doctor & he agreed to try it. The Gastroenterologist I had been diagnosed at told me I'd have to live with the pain after giving me meds (that stopped working, or only worked for a short time). I now know that I am allergic to corn, soy, wheat, among other things. My doctor was amazed because he said that generally you know when you're allergic to a particular food. The problem is I was allergic to so many. This book saved my life. The pain was the worst & I finally had an answer. (I'd eaten most of these foods for years with no problem.) I had only suffered from IBS for a year so I had no idea it was food. I would love to go to this clinic & if it's half as helpful as this book I would highly recommend it. This book is wonderful & explains a lot. I am so thankful that it was written for those of us who are suffering unnecessarily.

The best book that I have read on IBS. It gives you a "solution" to the problem. Unbelievable, finally, something honest and to the point. I couldn't put it down!

This was an easy read, and brought about many chuckles.
I especially liked how the author is so up-front about
things some people may be embarrassed about.
There is also plenty of information on hemorrhoids
& constipation. I like that the author combines
traditional approaches/treatments with diet and
"natural" methods, too.

I received a suggestion from a friend to read this book. I told her I didn't have these problems! She made me read it because I had headaches, sleepless nights, anxiety and poor energy. I NO LONGER HAVE THESE SYMPTOMS!!! I followed the sugestions of Dr. Yasny and within 4 months lost all my symptoms - I am amazed!!!! Loved reading this book - it was like a good mystery and novel and comedy!

Thank you Doctor Yasny - but change the title! this is a total health book!!!!!!!!!!

What more can I say, the answers to all of my prayers have finally been delivered. The Holy Grail for constipated people. This is a must read for anyone who has been plugged up and left hanging high and dry, and I am not ashamed to say, that I am one of the many. Let's face it folks, it could happen to anyone.

Put your problems behind you, read the book.

I got this book after years of horror stories with my hemorrhoids. This was the first time I had ever learned what was really going on inside and why the way I was treating things wasnt really doing much. The book has a sense of humor about the subject which is fun, but it never forgets it's true mission of helping to relieve your suffering.

The section on types of 'roids is excellent for helping you id your particular type, thereby coming up with the most effective treatment. Please get this book if you suffer from the dreaded 'roids. You will not regret it and it will help you. I finally have my problem under control, and I didnt have to get that dreaded surgery!

When I first saw the tiltle, I thought it was a howl, so I flipped through it and found it easy to read. It seemed to provide compassion as well as humor on a subject usually too embarrassing to discuss... and the illustrations were great! I gave it to a loved one whom I was concerned about....it was a godsend! My loved one asked me to read the book, although I do not suffer from the problem. Now, we both follow the suggestions from the book and we both feel a whole lot better. This is the first review I've ever done...but I was impressed with this book!!

This little book is short and simple. The main problem is that it is clearly aimed at children who may not even be old enough to read it for themselves. Not that there's anything wrong with a grown-up reading to them, but encopresis affects many children that are over the first-grade reading level. (The little boy in the book appears to be approximately first or second grade.)

Unfortunately, there is very little out there in the way of useful, informative literature that addresses the medical and psychological aspects of these problems. Dr. Galvin is to be commended and congratulated for his efforts and insights on how to comfort, encourage, and challenge children (and parents) who deal with encopresis. Believe it or not, with patience and perseverance, this problem does end, and there is life after it.

I read the story to my 4 1/2 year old son, after months of fruitless efforts to help him. He immediately identified with the boy in the story. I took him into the bathroom, intending to start with the first step suggested, however, my son proceeded through all the steps right then and there, and has not had an accident since! I couldn't believe it! I recommend this book to anyone with a child who has this problem.

We have read through this book and find that it can be useful as an aid to opening discussions with your child about encopresis. Having said that, we feel that it is aimed at a very low age group, who may have difficulties with reading in the first instance. The one problem we have is that our encopretic children are above the elementary reading level and therefore got bored and distracted very easily.

One situation that arises with encopresis is that children tend to feel very alone and afraid, because of the amount of pressure heaped on to them at an important stage in their development. This book goes some way to addressing those feelings, but if you are considering it for a child over 5-6 years of age (which is of course the very age where encopresis is causing its biggest headaches) then maybe have the book on a side stand somewhere, and try to talk to your child on a more personal level.

We were sent this book by our pediatrician and it was very helpful to our 8-year-old. The reading level was easier than she is used to but she was able to identify with Andrew. The book normalized her issues (hiding panties, accidents at school) since she feels like she's the only one, no matter how much we tell her she isn't. There's a book about it!

My son really enjoyed this book. It helped him see that he was not alone. It also seems to have helped with the soiling.

Although I am still on my search for a cure -- not just treating the symptoms, this book reminded me that I'm not alone. It also re-enforces the need to get to the heart and cause of this curse. Twenty percent of the total population is entirely too many souls to ignore.

Lots of information and real life stories - nothing you wouldn't get from the www.ibsgroup.org website. The website is easier to navigate for specific issues.

During one of my recent visits to the IBS Self-Help & Support Group, I noticed a promotional ad for IBS Chat. Beneath the image of the book cover, the tagline read, "Your essential guide to IBS Relief." A bold statement, if ever there was one - especially when you consider that there are literally dozens of IBS self-treatment books in print that claim to have "the" cure for IBS. However, having read this book from cover to cover, I can honestly say that Jeff Roberts and Barbara Bradley-Bolen have definitely created a top-notch, unparalleled (and, yes, essential) resource that every IBS sufferer should read.

In my opinion, one of this book's greatest strength (and what sets it apart from so many other IBS self-help books) is that the authors recognize and emphatically acknowledge that IBS is not a one-size-fits-all condition, but rather a complex disorder that so often affects different people in very different and individualized ways. And not surprisingly, there is still no single treatment or cure that works for all sufferers or all symptoms. So it is only fitting that the book gives readers insight into a broad range of treatment options to consider or discuss with their doctors. As anybody with IBS can tell you, getting an official medical diagnosis is rarely the end of your journey. To the contrary, it is often only the beginning of a long, frustrating quest to find which specific treatments will work best for your particular set of symptoms and triggers - a process of elimination, if you will.

And that brings me to what really makes IBS Chat so unique and helpful. While it may have the look, feel, organizational structure, and (at over 500 pages) weight of a volume of the Encyclopedia Britannica, the beauty of this book is that its advice comes from actual, real-life IBS sufferers who have chosen to share their personal stories so that other people can benefit from their experiences. Take it from somebody who made the mistake of battling IBS all by myself for far too long - we need all the help and support we can get! And thankfully, that's exactly what IBS Chat delivers.

- Tim Phelan, Author of Romance, Riches, and Restrooms: A Cautionary Tale of Ambitious Dreams and Irritable Bowels

This is truly a wonderful book! Being relatively new to both IBS and to the IBS Bulletin Board, I have found it to be an extremely valuable source of information and comfort.

At first glance one may wonder why one needs to read this book when the Bulletin Board (ibsgroup.org) is already right there. However -- as soon as I read into the first chapter, I immediately realized that it can be an indispensable companion to navigating the enormous repertoire of collective knowledge and wisdom accumulated throughout the years on this site.

Like many newcomers I was timid about posting my questions at first. And when I did post, I often found later on that there were already a number of previous posts asking the same question -- even now, it is still a little difficult for me to find the most relevant information on this huge website where so many members are posting multiple messages on a daily basis. This book has organized the selected postings in a very thoughtful way and answered so many of my questions and concerns.

It covers a wide range of topics, from if it is indeed IBS, to how to treat and live with IBS, to how to deal with related health and social problems. It has chosen and presented the best of the best. The invaluable experiences of, coping strategies by, and advice from fellow sufferers have been such a wealth of resource and enlightenment.

My personal favorite is the chapter on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Hypnotherapy. I was especially touched by the conversations in the CBT section where irrational thoughts were confronted with numerous helpful thoughts. So many of those irrational ideas are mine, too. And I really appreciate those who posted alternative and better ways of thinking.

I am also truly appreciative of the great sense of emotional support that I found from reading this book. There are so many times when I feel such empathy with those who have shared their experiences and such strong connections to their real life stories. These heartfelt posts have given me so much courage and hope. They have also represented us as living, feeling, and thinking fellow human beings who are much more than merely the sum of the lists of our symptoms.

In addition, I also find the signatures at the end of the book irresistible -- they remind me of the honor of meeting with so many amazing people on this site from all over the world.

Thank you so, so much for putting this book together -- and --

Blessed is the influence of so many true, loving human souls on so many others...

I wish I had found this book 15 years ago. My husband has suffered
from IBS and it has had a very negative impact on our social life. He is
also the type who would never read a book to get help. IBS Chat has been a lifesaver! The chapters are broken up in such a way that I could
easily point to the sections that would be most helpful to him. The
easy-to-read style and the fact that these were real people offering advice made him open up to try new ways of dealing with his IBS. He and I have been struggling with this on our own for so long, it is great to feel that we can finally make some progress.

This is a short, simple pamphlet with a lot of
great information and ideas on how to prevent
and "treat" constipation.
I like that it addresses some natural ways of doing
so.

This is an important book for everybody to read for his own health, physically as well as mentally.

I have a colon probably once scarred by diverticulitis, which means I have chronic constipation, probably for life, yet for me, at 65, these recipes produce easily passed well formed stools. The recipes are inexpensive and relatively easy to prepare, and they taste *really* good. So far as I know about nutrition, I think they are also good for me in general.

This book is full of recipes that use everyday ingredients and are easy to prepare. There are foods that appeal to both children and adults. The sweet potato soup is a stand-out!

As any parent of a child with cerebral palsy can tell you, chronic constipation is one of many problems our children face. Costly drugs and expensive therapies are a part of the challenge in caring for our kids. This cookbook offered an inexpensive and easy way to solve a major problem. The recipes are simple, very tasty, and effective. The foods have become a regular part of my family's meals, and we all enjoy them.

I really had high hopes for this book. The forward information is good, very helpful. There is a high fiber version of the food pyramid that I take with me to the store. Unfortunately, out of the 5 or so recipes I have tried, not one is good enough to make again. Lest you think we are just fussy, Wonder bread type of eaters, we are not. I have a daughter with chronic constipation and I collect high fiber recipes and foods. I have found many foods that taste great and are helpful as well. But these foods all taste like cardboard. I can't recommend it as much as I would like to.

This book is an interesting book that is light on science/medicine to back up what it says. It is a good overview and can be a starting place if you want to know more. It's an easy fast read due to the author's pleasant writing style.

Easy to read book, packed with information - really set our minds at ease as to how to deal with our 2-year old's withholding.

The language of the book was a bit off-putting, (occasionally too simplistic) but otherwise an excellent resource. Thank you thank you.

This is pretty much the only book that doesn't 'blame' the parent for potty training. There is a whole different set of dynamics that come into play when your child is in the process of potty training and to put in bluntly, he/she gets stuck in this stage. For whatever the reason, sickness, eating too much cheese, a change in whatever might be going on in the child/families life, this book helps you to see if from the perspective of the child. No big psycho-babble big words, just plain, easy to read, down to earth explanations and understandings as to how and why this can become a huge issue. It's approach is very gentle and positive. I recommend this book before all others. It is written by a pediatrition as well. If you are having problems with potty training and potty fear, buy this book first.

Having a child suffering from encopresis, I was not helped at all by this book. The information seemed outdated.