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

~ (Author), David B. Posner (Foreword) "WELL, FIRST of all, take a deep breath and try to relax..." (more)
Key Phrases: soluble fiber base, safe staples, hypnotherapy tapes, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Self Help Group, Michael Mahoney (more...)

Editorial Reviews

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.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 242 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press; 2005 edition (October 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1569245479
• ISBN-13: 978-1569245477
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #28,618 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This is item 7 in The First Year Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

94 of 97 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars critics should read this and her other work (including website) more carefully, July 18, 2005

By	leftoverpasta - See all my reviews

This book (and Van Vorous' other work) has helped me tremendously. My symptoms were debilitating. When I was diagnosed, I asked my gastrenterologist if there were any diets in particular that might have an impact. He said "It's different for everyone." And while that is true to some extent, he didn't even mention that caffeine and alcohol were triggers, let alone fats and insoluble fibers. When I discovered this book and started following the guidelines, my condition improved dramatically.

Before I discovered this book, I could not have gone near a half-cooked, let alone raw, vegetable without getting sick. Whole grain cereal, oatmeal, or pasta would have caused excruciating pain. But after first following the guidelines to the letter, I was eventually able to incorporate more of these foods--in the right amounts, combinations, and at the right time of day--into my diet. For those who have critiqued this diet because it tells you to eliminate insoluble fibers, you need to reread the title. This is titled "The First Year." You don't have to eat like this forever, just until your gut is is under enough control to tolerate such foods.

And the fact is that you're never going to be able to go on Atkins diet, but you don't have to eliminate insoluble fibers completely. You do, however, have to limit your portions, eat your insoluble fibers after you've consumed a good soluble fiber base, and recognize that certain times of day are worse when it comes to eating insoluble fiber. For me, the morning is the worst time, so I don't have salads or raw vegetables for dinner. That simple.

Another critic claimed that this diet is not good for the constipation form of IBS. Apparently they have not read Van Vorous' medically accurate description of why constipation occurs in IBS sufferers. The trigger foods cause the gut to seize up. By following the diet and eliminating the trigger foods for a time, drinking lots of water (even more than you're thirsty for), and engaging in mild exercise, constipation sufferers can benefit. Obviously, if you're a constipation sufferer and you don't have the nausea associated with the diarrhea form of IBS, then no, you wouldn't need to snack on a piece of sourdough bread.

The other critical point that Van Voroous makes in this, her other books and her website is that the severity of the reaction to certain trigger foods depends on the person. This is where the reader/IBS sufferer actually has to determine what he or she can or can't tolerate based on his or her own experience with food. For example, I can now tolerate--after a good soluble fiber base--small amounts of artichoke. I cannot, under any circumstances, have even the smallest amount of spinach (not even cooked) no matter how much bread, oatmeal, or anything else I've had before hand.

Another critic claimed that she stopped reading the book because it didn't include detailed and accurate information about fats. I'm sure that the fats she recommended could help some IBS sufferers eventually, but if you're just trying to get your IBS under control for the first time, then fats of any kind may not be tolerated and should be avoided until such time as you are able to tolerate them again. Remmeber, this book is titled "The First Year" not "The Rest of Your Life."

As with anything, we each have to take the advice given in such books and apply them to our unique situations. That is the purpose of a guide or a set of guidelines. For example, Van Vorous recommends giving up dairy; however, I can now easily tolerate fat-free cow's milk and other fat-free dairy products. But I was only able to do so after I got my symptoms under control, and I only got them under control by following the guidelines in this book.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The First Year of IBS, November 24, 2003

By	"nwrasor" (Garland, Texas United States) - See all my reviews

This book actually has a section called "What to eat when you can't eat anything" - for someone without IBS that sounds stupid - for someone with IBS it can bring tears to your eyes because you can be there everyday. You are hungry, you don't feel good, all you want to do is eat something - anything - and not get diarrhea and stomach cramps. The list provided in this book is only the start of a fantastic new journey toward being able to eat. It's so fantastic. Almost like being able to walk again!! And, that is just the beginning. The book is very easy to understand, very sensitive to your situation (unlike any doctor you've seen, humm!) and it gives you knowledge that WILL make your days more normal - identifies the triggers (foods) that activate the ibs and helps you work around them. Forget the doctors and the tests and the medicines - this book is all you need (well, along with EATING FOR IBS). I've had it for four weeks and for four weeks I've been able to figure out what to eat at a restaurant and be able to get on the back of a motorcycle and go on a long trip without fear! Try that with ibs! Thank God for Heather and the fact she has found an answer and shared it with so many of us. If the book cost a thousand dollars, it would be worth it! Get it, read it, your life WILL change. You CANNOT eat like everyone else, this books shows you how to eat for you......

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Informative Work, November 23, 2004

By	warmdusk (Pacific NW, USA) - See all my reviews

I truly benefited from this book. I have been having problems digesting since high school probably due in part to the stress of a hard childhood and now young adulthood. Anyway, I bookmarked the pages listing safe foods (soluble fibers) versus the unsafe foods (INsoluble fibers, red/dark meats, fats, dairy, etc). This book has changed my life. I have the knowledge to be able to choose my meals wisely. Amazingly, my acne breakouts have come to a screeching halt with the start of the IBS diet. It turns out those unsafe foods were actually causing my adult acne! I highly recommend this book.