Books That Have Helped Me Understand My Ulcerative Colitis

I've found that looking for books on ulcerative colitis and Crohn's Disease can be difficult. It seems that there isn't a lot of literature available that is useful to someone who doesn't fully understand science or doesn't have the medical knowledge necessary to comprehend inflammatory bowel disease. Some of the books I found helpful discuss the details of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's Disease but focus more on diet, exercise, and what you can do to control your symptoms or prolonging your periods of remission (phase of time when your disease is not active).

The First Year: Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed
Author: Jill Sklar

This is a good book for anyone who is new to inflammatory bowel disease. It will benefit both the patient and anyone who will be dealing with or supporting someone who has ulcerative colitis or Crohn's Disease. The book touches on subjects including new medical research, medications, changes in diet and lifestyle, and alternative therapies.

Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis: Everything You Need to Know
Author: Dr. Fred Saibil, MD

This was one of the first books I came across after I was newly diagnosed. This book will teach you about the gastrointestinal system, the signs and symptoms of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's Disease, how the diseases are diagnosed, treatment with medications, how to live with the disease, and surgical options. It is a more scientific based book and has a limited amount of information on how to cope with your disease. It does discuss how to live with inflammatory bowel disease but may not be as useful as other books if you're looking to learn about diet or lifestyle changes to control your ulcerative colitis or Crohn's Disease.

Patient Heal Thyself: A Remarkable Health Program Combining Ancient Wisdom With Groundbreaking Clinical Research
Author: Jordan Rubin

This book was given to me by a close friend when I became depressed about my disease. It is authored by someone who suffered from Crohn's Disease. Jordan talks about changes in daily habits, diet, exercise, supplements that are natural and synthetic that are helpful in alleviating symptoms, and the power of meditation and relieving stress. Reading this book and seeing that I wasn't the only one who had suffered the extreme perils of inflammatory bowel disease gave me hope and strength. This is one of the first books I would recommend to anyone who is looking to learn about ulcerative colitis and Crohn's Disease and how they can manage it.