The First Year: IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)--An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed

"This was the first book that I bought when I was first diagnosed with IBS seven years ago. First the good points: 1.) Soluble Fiber vs. Insoluble Fiber. Heather talks about eating Soluble Fiber before eating Insoluble Fiber and this works well for me for the most part. I tend to mix Soluble Fiber(bread) with meat and don't have much of a problem. Everyone is different. It also talks about giving up dairy which I completely agree with. Another good point of the book is Hypnotherapy which I'm a big believer in. I have a hypnosis tape at home and swear by it.

The Bad Points of the Book in my opinion are: Much research has been done since the writing of this book on the theory that IBS is really bad bugs(Candida, Bacterial Overgrowth, Parasites, etc...)in your gut. There are numerous books on this subject(Mark Pimintel's book, Countless Yeast/Fungus books, etc...) You won't find anything on Candida or Bacterial Overgrowth in this book though. Fruit will feed the Yeast and there isn't any discussion on how too much fruit is bad for the person with IBS. Fruit and Sugar feeds the bad bugs in our guts.

All in all it's a pretty good book but it's pretty outdated. I would like to see an update of this book with a Candida/Yeast Chapter included. "
~ Written on 2008-04-28

"I've been suffering for years from IBS/D and this book has it all, it's easy to read and gives you great information. I would highly recommend this book. It gives you all you need to know to live a healthy life once more. I do recommend the cookbook from Heather also, some of the recipes have things in them I can't find around here but for the most part it does have other ideas and recipes that you can use. Both books are great and I give them both five stars."
~ Written on 2008-04-19

"this book is sensational it is the only book u will need 2 have for ibs period it saved my life must have!"
~ Written on 2008-03-20

"I have not yet been diagnosed with IBS, as I am going through testing. However, regardless of what I have (symptoms are consistent with IBS except for typical age on onset), following this author's suggestions for controlling IBS has made a huge difference in how I feel. For months, I have had all kinds of GI issues, some of which were beginning to interfere with work and all of which made me worry on a daily basis that I might get "caught out" somewhere. After beginning the dietary advice in this book, I feel very close to absolutely normal again. The core of my diet is based on soluble fiber, low-fat, non-dairy foods. I am also taking a probiotic supplement and am using Citrucel. This has made all the difference to me! My thoughts are no longer constantly running to what kind of trouble my GI tract is in. With very few days as exceptions, my thoughts are now back on life in general, although I have a new awareness of the importance of what I put in my mouth. How liberating! Highly recommended to anyone who has symptoms consistent with IBS, although as the author responsibly urges, don't accept a diagnosis of IBS without ruling other things out. And, I might add, don't accept a self-diagnosis, either. This book is extremely helpful, but make certain you do obtain a diagnosis of exclusion from the medical profession just to make certain you are not overlooking something critical. "
~ Written on 2007-07-24

"I've been suffering for over 15 years with abdominal pain and wretching which lasted for days and days at a time. After having numerous bouts of emergency room visits, gastroenterologists, upper GI series, which are among some of the tests I've taken over the years, since my first attack that awoke me out of a sound sleep in 1991 (all with normal results), it wasn't until last February 2006 my doctor was finally able to put a "label" to these attacks, which was Irritable Bowel Syndrome. I purchased the book by Ms. Van Vorous along with her companion book on how to eat. Both books have helped me enormously! I am truly, truly grateful and thank Ms. Van Vorous for sharing her plight in a book to assist us all. It has been like a "new lease on living"."
~ Written on 2007-02-23