Some Light Summer Reading for Crohn's Patients and Their Families

There are a lot of books available these days about Crohn's disease and for Crohn's patients. Some of them are worth the money, and others aren't, which is what you'd expect in any category of books. Following is a list of books that are among my favorite books for Crohn's patients.

"The Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis Fact Book" written by the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) and edited by Peter Banks, Daniel H. Present, and Penny Steiner, published in 1983 by Wiley.

This is a must-read for anyone dealing with an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) including Crohn's, of course. This should probably be the first book on Crohn's you buy, if you don't already have it. It explains in clear language what IBDs are and how they can be managed and treated, and gives you a greater insight into your illness. I not only read this book myself, I also gave copies of it to my family practice doctor and my counselor to help them better understand Crohn's disease and what I'm going through. My family practice doctor now recommends it to his patients who are diagnosed with Crohn's or ulcerative colitis, which should tell you how good it is. It doesn't read like a novel, but it's a resource I find myself turning to over and over.

"Learning Sickness: A Year with Crohn's Disease" by Jim Lang, published in 2004 by Capitol books.

Jim Lang is an English teacher, but his book is not written in the style of a textbook. His battle with Crohn's started out much like my own; like me, he ate what he chose and had only mild symptoms that resolved quickly with medication. When he turned 33, things changed for him. His disease became so serious that he had to give up most of what he considered "his life." How he struggled not only with Crohn's disease, but also with some of the bigger questions of life like faith, family, and responsibility, makes compelling reading for anyone trying to cope with Crohn's disease. His life is an inspiration to me to look past being a "sick person" and get on with living my own life.

"Postive Options for Crohn's Disease: Self-Help and Treatment" by Joan Gomez, published in 2000 by Hunter House.

This book focuses on what a Crohn's patient can do to help herself be better, and have more remission than relapsing time. She focuses heavily on diet and lifestyle changes. The only down-side to this book is that her tone is occasionally superior or patronizing. At times it sounds like she is telling Crohn's patients that if they just eat what she says they'll be fine - and it sounds a little like she's telling us that our illness is our own fault and completely under our control, which tends to make most of us feel worse about ourselves that we already did. If you can get past that tone and look at her "commands" as suggestions, you may feel able to have a little more control over your Crohn's disease.

"The Angry Gut: Coping with Colitis and Crohn's Disease" by W. Grant Thompson, M.D.

I have to admit that I bought this book just because of the first part of the title. Anyone trying to cope with Crohn's disease knows that it often feels like you're fighting with a very angry "gut" indeed. There's a lot in this book about medical treatments and options, but the one thing that stands out for me is his discussion of what Crohn's and colitis patients have to go through emotionally, psychologically, and in terms of the sometimes radical changes to our daily lives. I wouldn't recommend this as the first or the only Crohn's book you buy or read; Dr. Thompson sometimes writes like the doctor he is, and if you don't already know something about Crohn's it can be hard to follow. That said, this is still a great book, and an emotional support, for anyone dealing with Crohn's disease.

"What to Eat with IBD: A Comprehensive Nutrition and Recipe Guide for Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis" by Tracie M. Dalessandro, MS, RD, CDN, published in 2006 by CMG Publishing.

This book is as close as I've come to finding that elusive "Crohn's Cookbook." The author has Crohn's, so she understand personally what Crohn's patients deal with daily. She's also a registered dietician, so she knows more nutrition than most Crohn's patients. The book came out of her struggle with Crohn's; instead of letting it control her, she wanted to control it, and she found her way to do it with food. and nutrition. Some of the sections are "Foods that heal and foods that hurt," "Menu planning, including healthy meals and snacks," and "What to eat when traveling and dining out." She provides over 50 recipes tailored to the nutritional needs of Crohn's patients and others with IBDs. This book has helped me to eat better, not just in terms of Crohn's disease, but in terms of overall nutrition and health. It may not cure Crohn's, but it really helps Crohn's patients feel better more than they feel worse.

All of these books have helped me in understanding and dealing with Crohn's disease, and in living my daily life. I hope that at least some of them can be of help to you or someone close to you who has Crohn's disease.