Many groups and organizations are now available to provide information, to answer questions, and to give support to people who have IBS. The list below is divided into four sections. All of the websites are free; they do not require a subscription of any kind. The fourth section provides a source or two on each of the medical conditions commonly associated with IBS. These lists are obviously not all-inclusive. At the time this book was written, these sources were accurate and up to date.
A general note about websites: like all other sources of information (books, magazines) there are reputable websites and not-so-reliable ones. It can be difficult to know which sites you can trust to provide honest, unbiased, up-to-date information. Some reasonable guidelines are as follows:
• Websites produced by medical institutions (for instance, the Mayo Clinic), government agencies (like NIH), and nonprofit organizations are generally very reliable. Keep in mind, however, that it is difficult to keep all areas of a website current at all times, so look to see when the website you are consulting was last updated.
• Websites should include references and reports of scientific studies that are current. Ideally, there will also be some interpretation of these studies on the website, so that you don’t have to review and interpret a complicated article by yourself.
• Avoid websites that advertise specific products or sell medications or supplements. The information on these sites is typically biased and is designed to persuade you to purchase their product.
• Be cautious when viewing websites with multiple links to other websites. Often, these sites are designed to steer you to webpages that sell their products.
1. The Merck Manual of Medical Information, Second Home Edition, is a very comprehensive source of medical information for laypeople. It is available in both book form and on the website www.merck.com. After you have accessed the website, click on “Merck Manuals” and then search the specific topic that you’re interested in.
2. The National Women’s Health Information Center website, www.womenshealth.gov, covers a large number of topics. It is informative and up to date, although some of the subjects are covered rather superficially. In addition, when searching for some topics, you may end up with an overwhelming number of links. That being said, this is a good place to start for answers to general women’s health questions.
3. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has a website that provides information on whether certain tests and diagnostic studies are recommended under specific conditions. So, if you are interested in whether you should have a colonoscopy, Pap smear, or prostate biopsy, go to www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/. The site also provides current recommendations regarding vaccinations.
4. The Drug Information Database at the American Academy of Family Physicians (www.familydoctor.org) is an excellent place to get information about how to safely take medications. Information is available for both prescription and over-the-counter medications.
5. For questions on herbs, dietary supplements, and alternative medications, check the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center website, www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/about-herbs-botanicals-other-products. This center has compiled a large database of information on the benefits and potential side effects of herbs and alternative medications.
6. A great source of general information for all medical conditions is www.mayoclinic.com.
7. Another general medical website that provides up-to-date information on a variety of medical problems, including IBS, is www.webmd.com/medical.
8. If you need information about the nutritional content of a specific food, search the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Information Center website, www.fnic.nal.usda.gov.
9. For consumer health information from the faculty at Harvard Medical School, see www.intelihealth.com.
10. The Cleveland Clinic produces www.clevelandclinicmeded.com, which provides information on many medical conditions and has a good tutorial on IBS.
1. The national IBS support group site provides information on IBS and offers chat rooms where people can discuss their symptoms with other people who have IBS. The address is www.ibsgroup.org.
2. Another website that carries general information on IBS is www.aboutibs.org.
3. At www.healingwell.com, you can find answers to frequently asked questions about IBS. Once you have accessed the site, enter “IBS” into their “search site” box.
4. The website at http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/180389-overview is routinely updated to provide new information on the treatment of IBS.
5. The American Gastroenterology Association is an organization consisting of researchers, scientists, physicians, and allied health personnel involved in diagnosing and treating people who have diseases of the GI tract. It is the largest such organization in the United States. Many of its members have an interest in functional GI disorders. The organization has created a website that is available to the public (www.gastro.org).
6. The National Library of Medicine has an online tutorial to help answer questions about IBS. It is an interactive site with easy-to-understand illustrations. The website can be found at www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorial.html.
8. At www.centerwatch.com/clinical-trials/listings/condition/90/irritable-bowel-syndrome-ibs you can find a listing of active research studies in the field of IBS.
9. The National Institutes of Health has dedicated a website to children who have IBS. Go to www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/ibschildren/.
10. The American College of Gastroenterology, the largest clinical gastroenterological organization in the United States, has a website that provides a nice introduction to IBS and answers common questions. Its address is http://patients.gi.org/topics/irritable-bowel-syndrome/.
11. The site at www.iffgd.org is run by the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders. This site offers up-to-date information for both patients and physicians on IBS and other functional GI disorders (dyspepsia, noncardiac chest pain, etc.). The foundation also has a toll-free phone number, 1-888-964-2001, which you may call to request information.
12. The website www.fmsfonline.org/hypnosis provides a wealth of information about hypnosis. It does not focus on IBS.
1. Eating for IBS: 175 Delicious, Nutritious, Low-Fat, Low-Residue Recipes to Stabilize the Touchiest Tummy, by Heather Van Vorous, was published in 2000. Many patients find this book’s dietary suggestions helpful, and the consensus is that the recipes are good.
2. Tell Me What to Eat If I Have Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Nutrition You Can Live With, by Elaine Magee, was published in 2000. Some patients greatly enjoyed this book, while others felt it did not provide as much useful information as they had hoped. It offers some common-sense advice regarding diet.
1. Fibromyalgia: The Arthritis Association has a website (www.arthritis.org) with information on fibromyalgia. Their toll-free telephone number is 1-800-282-7800.
2. Interstitial cystitis: www.cobfoundation.org/ is an English website. It is easy to use and up to date. The National Institutes of Health offers information at http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/interstitialcystitis/.
3. Chronic pelvic pain: At www.womenshealthmatters.ca/, if you click on the “site map,” it will direct you to the area that focuses on chronic pelvic pain. This site also contains information about interstitial cystitis and incontinence.
4. TMJ syndrome: www.tmj.org is maintained by a support group that provides medical information about this chronic problem.
5. Migraine headaches: www.webmd.com (click on the box labeled “condition centers”) and www.migrainepage.com are up-to-date sites providing information on migraines and other types of headaches.
6. Celiac disease: www.celiac.org and www.naspgn.org both provide current information on celiac disease. In addition, you can contact the Celiac Sprue Association directly, at 402-558-0600 or P.O. Box 31700, Omaha, Nebraska 68131-0700.