Product Description

Like the other titles in the "First Year" series, The First YearIBS offers two distinct advantages. First, it is written by a patient-expert, Heather Van Vorous, who has managed her IBS for more than fifteen years and knows firsthand what's required to manage her condition. Second, it guides readers through their first seven days following diagnosis, then the next three weeks of the first month, and finally the next eleven months of their first year, offering answers and advice to guide those with IBS into their new lifestyle. Starting with the day of diagnosis, Van Vorous provides detailed information about trigger foods, safe foods, soluble versus insoluble fiber, tips for eating and cooking, traveling, eating out, exercise, and much more. The First YearIBS will inspire and educate those with IBS as no other guide does.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1836 in Books
• Published on: 2001-10-16
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 242 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Statistics show that Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is the second leading cause of worker absenteeism in the U.S., according to Van Vorous (Eating for IBS), who has lived with the condition since she was nine, but because her severe abdominal pain was dismissed by her pediatrician, was not diagnosed until seven years later. And although IBS studies are currently underway, sufferers in the past found themselves either ignored or stigmatized. Because she had to work out her own strategy for dealing with IBS, Van Vorous is a "patient-expert" in other words, she's well qualified to write this informative and reassuring guide. She advises those suffering from IBS symptoms abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhea, for example to first obtain an accurate diagnosis. Once other illnesses are ruled out and the syndrome has been properly diagnosed, a patient with IBS can lead a normal life by maintaining proper eating habits, learning to manage stress, using prescription medication and dietary supplements when necessary, and even utilizing alternative therapies such as acupuncture. Van Vorous draws on medical research, her own experience with IBS, and other patient anecdotes to support her suggestions. Accessible and clearly written, with recipes for colon-kind foods and advice for parents who have children with IBS, this is an excellent resource for people learning how to live with the syndrome.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
The second installment of the publisher's new "The First Year" series, this text on Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) walks the reader through the first year of diagnosis. As with the authors of other titles in the series, Van Vorous is a "patient-expert"; she is also the author of Eating for IBS and founder of eatingforibs.com. In a conversational style, she explains how to manage symptoms by breaking the year into manageable steps. She includes diet guidelines that feature some appetizing recipes and suggestions for eating out. She also discusses relaxation techniques and some alternative therapies. Personal stories from other IBS sufferers are sprinkled throughout, as are tips for children with IBS. An especially useful chart on medications is also provided. This book differs from William Salt's Irritable Bowel Syndrome and the Mind-Body Brain-Gut Connection (LJ 10/15/97) and other guides to IBS by prescribing a first-year-only timetable of steps, focused mainly on diet. Salt's book focuses more on lifestyle and stress management issues. Recommended for any health collection. KellyJo Houtz Griffin, Eatonville, WA
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Book Info
(Marlowe & Company) Consumer text covers key strategies for symptom prevention; guidelines, tips, and recipes for understanding and modifying the diet; stress management and exercise; medical research; alternative therapies; and more. Author has had IBS for more than ten years. Softcover.

Customer Reviews

Need more facts....not sugar pill remedies
This book does a good job of putting us all at ease that by letting us know we are not alone and that IBS can be controlled with diet. The advice about changing diet is good but too extreme. Most people will not need to go to the extreme diet elimination that the author suggests. Unfortuntately, the advice on medications and dietary supplements is based for the most part on annectodal experience rather than scientific evidence. While the author has her IBS under control...most people will be able to get their IBS under control with a less drastic measures ie. elminating alcohol, soft drinks, high fat foods and dairy. It is unlikely that most people will need to follow the authors footsteps and take peppermint tea 4 times a day, high dose calcium three times a day, and metamucil 3 times a day to become regular. In fact many of these unproven nutritional supplemnts can have adverse long term health effects and should only be tried with medical supervision

Take 6 Fibercon and send me a check in the morning instead!
If IBS causes you SEVERE pain and diarrhea, perhaps this book's radical diet (basically: refined starch and pureed vegetables) may work. But if you have the constipation-variant of IBS, your condition is merely an afterthought in the book. Upping the dosage and regularity of Fibercon consumption helped, but the notion that sufferers would avoid all high fiber foods seems absurd.

Great Book!
This book will certainly help you deal with IBS. There are a few safe foods that aren't safe for me though. You will have to use trial and error to learn exactly which foods bother you at first. I am drinking peppermint tea now and will be taking Heather's fiber supplement when I receive it in the mail as well.

Good Luck with your IBS!