Product Description

It has become acceptable to talk about heart disease, ulcers and even cancer, but inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)which includes two chronic conditions known as Crohns disease and ulcerative colitishas remained for too long the secret illness that no one wants to discuss. Now Dr. Fred Saibil, a renowned expert on IBD, provides concise, up-to-date information on these common conditions.Topics include: Signs and symptoms Procedures and instruments Effects of diet Available drugs and how they work Various surgical options Effects on sexual activity and child-bearingBIO:FRED SAIBIL, MD, FRCPC, became interested in Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis during his training at New Yorks Mount Sinai School of Medicine, a world center for IBD treatment and research. He has been a medical Adviser to the Crohns and Colitis Foundation of Canada since its inception in 1974. His straightforward, easy to understand style has made him a popular public lecturer on the subject of IBD. Dr. Saibil lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #30246 in Books
• Published on: 2003-08-13
• Binding: Paperback
• 232 pages

About the Author
FRED SAIBIL, MD, FRCPC, became interested in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis during his training at New York’s Mount Sinai School of Medicine, a world center for IBD treatment and research. He has been a medical Adviser to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada since its inception in 1974. His straightforward, easy to understand style has made him a popular public lecturer on the subject of IBD. Dr. Saibil lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Customer Reviews

Bryan Glover, Toronto, ON

I knew very little about Crohn's disease before Dr. Saibil visited me in my Sunnybrook hospital room in August 2007 and took me on as a patient. His book, Crohn's Disease & Ulcerative Colitis, has answered my multitude of questions about the disease, including: symptoms, diagnosis, diet, drugs, surgery, complications,living with it and going forward.
In my particular case, I had a blockage of the small intestines, which required a surgical procedure to correct. Recently I learned from a "shillings test" (described in the book) that I have sufficient ileum remaining to absorb the required amount of the essential vitamin B12 so that I will not require monthly vitamin B12 injections for life.
Although I would prefer not to take any medication, I have recently decided to take the prescribed 5-ASA as a preventative "fly swatter" type of drug (also detailed in the book) since any future recurrence of the disease often occurs at the previous location (also described in the book) and I do not wish to jeopardize losing that short, valuable section of my ileum.
My only hope now is that a cure is soon found for Crohn's Disease and documented in a revised edition of Dr. Saibil's book! This reality may be closer than we think now that skin cells can now be reprogrammed into embryonic stem cells, thus allowing the study of disease processes in greater detail (as reported by Dr Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University on November 20, 2007).
In summary, I found this book extremely valuble and strongly recommend it to anyone who may be or is suffering from a type of "inflammatory bowel disease" (IBD).

Finally - I understand!
This book has really helped me to learn about my condition and the decisions my doctors have been making to help me. The language used made it really easy to understand...even in the chapter about the different therapies! The book answered a lot of questions that I have been embarrassed to ask my doctor - especially in the "Living with IBD" section. It feels great to finally understand, I definitely recommend this book if you are living with IBD!

Important Reading: Crohn's Disease & Ulcerative Colitis
The 2003 edition of Crohn's Disease & Ulcerative Colitis by Fred Saibil is an outstanding reference guide. The book provides a comprehensive review of symptoms, treatment and complications of IBD. An excellent chapter offering practical suggestions for those living with IBD is also included. Dr. Saibil masterfully anticipates every question that a person may ask regarding IBD and answers it here in a simple and straightforward manner. I strongly recommend this book to everyone who is suffering from IBD or who is interested in gaining an understanding of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.