Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is often dismissed as a trivial complaint blown out of proportion by neurotic hypochondriacs. The reality is very different. It is an extremely common and distressing problem affecting up to 20% of the population at any one time. The symptoms include bloating, wind, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and constipation, and the condition can vary in severity.
If you suffer from IBS , this book will answer the questions that you were too embarrassed to ask. Based on his long experience as a consultant gastroenterologist. Dr Shmueli provides detailed guidance on all aspects of the condition, answering over 430 questions from people with IBS.

IBS: Answers at your Fingertips gives you:

Comprehensive answers to all your questions about IBS: it's causes, symptoms and treatment
Self-help techniques that really work
Guidance on identifying other illnesses and disorders that could cause abdominal pain, plus a section explaining relevant medical tests and investigations
The latest reseach on food allergy and intolerance
Advice on complementary therapies, including herbal medicine, acupuncture and hypnotherapy

Questions include:
How common is IBS?
Is IBS predominantly a disease of Western developed countries?
Is IBS associated with indigestion?
Do probiotics help?
What increases the pain signal from the gut?
What do doctors need to know about the nature of the pain to make a diagnosis?
If the tests are normal will the doctor think I have wasted his time?
Where does all the gas in the bowel come from?
Is bloating real?
Which foods are most likely to make gas problems and bloating worse?
Is there any right number of times to open my bowels each day?
What causes constipation?
I’ve had diarrhoea for almost a month now. What could be causing it?
Who gets coeliac disease?
What is worse for long-term health – constipation or diarrhoea?
Why are doctors sceptical about dietary interventions for IBS?
Which foods are most commonly involved in food allergy?


"Very readable and comprehensive... also good at allaying reasonable fears that IBS sufferers may have. I would recommend it."
Sara Selmes, Development Officer, IBS Network

"A very informative book; a resource that can be frequently used to refer to for advice."
Mary Haslam SRN, Senior Nurse Manager, Medical Advisory Service

For further information about IBS, please visit www.ibsnetwork.org
About the Author
Dr Ehoud Shmueli (usually known as Udi) MD FRCP, is a Consultant Physician and Gastroenterologist at Northampton General Hospital. Table of Contents
Part 1 Introduction
Part 2 How the gut works - the normal effects of food
Part 3 Epidemiology - who gets IBS?
Part 4 What causes IBS?
Part 5 Pain in IBS
Part 6 Recognising abdominal pain that is not due to IBS
Part 7 Bloating and wind
Part 8 Constipation
Part 9 Diarrhoea and faecal incontinence
Part 10 Alternating diarrhoea and constipation
Part 11 Food allergy and intolerance
Part 12 Psychological aspects of IBS
Part 13 Complimentary medicine
Part 14 Medical tests and investigations: What they involve and what they mean
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