Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Heather, do your books come in large print or audio format at all?

Hi everyone, and Heather.

Not too long ago, I received some correspondence from someone on Recipezaar. They've also posted here, on the IBS boards before. I won't name names unless this wonderful angel wants to be known, but said person and I talked back and forth through Recipezaar and this kind and thoughtful stranger offered to give me their copies of Heather's "IBS, The First Year" and "Eating for IBS Cookbook". They just asked if I'd trust a stranger with my real address. My intuition and my heart assured me it was okay. I have been scanning through these second-hand copies of the books and am overwhelmed. I am so pleased to have them as resources, but aside from the information and whatnot being overwhelming, the format is ovwrwhelming also. Heather, your website and the message boards and recipe index are all easier to read than these books are to some degree because I can affect the font (size, type, etc.), but in your books, it's hard for me to read them, so I'm doing my best glancing through and scanning info, but I just can't digest it all in the current format (that was an intentional pun btw). I think large print would be best for these types of books; audio format wouldn't be very practical for most of the books' content. Please don't get me wrong, you've obviously put tons and tons of work into these two books, but I was curious if you had ever considered having them made in a large-print version. I don't know how many legally blind IBS sufferers are out there, but I'm one of them. :P Thanks for writing your books, Heather; I do not doubt that even though I can't read them completely, I am finding a huge wealth of help (I am and will continue to be able to find help and info). And of course, thanks again to the wonderful, selfless, and charitable person who sent me their books.

In the meantime, I still use this website as my main source of info. I have a list of recipes I'm going to try from the recipe index and a couple of my own made-up recipes, too. I posted some of my recipes on the recipe exchange board. Please let me know if they are improper or need tweaking for IBS. I'm also going to try herbal tea again to see if it works better for me this time around, and try this chewing of fennel seeds, too. I'm also going to try Beano and GasX if I can.

I'm also still taking Zelnorm, probably will until the prescription runs out, because after that, it's not covered under state medicaid and I won't be able to afford it at all. I'm still using Citrucel clear mix (not everyday though because I literally feel like if I do, I have to run to the bathroom every 10mins even if nothing happens). I know I'm supposed to take it daily, but it kinda freaks me out having that urgency. *Sigh* I have enough problems as it is having developed a horrible bladder urgency in the past two years for which I can't get help with at all because the prescriptions affect my gut too harshly. So if it's not gas, bloating, constant pooping, constant "fake urgencies to poop", C, cramping, twisting, pain, heartburn, nausea, or having to pee every 20 mins or so, than it's usually something else... argh. As many have expressed it's hard to keep in the urge to scream and/or cry. Add in a nasty mood disorder and other problems and I can throw myself a good pity party! Ya know, by now, if my life would just allow me to, having had IBS now for at least six years, I should be stable and having the time of my life eating. It's just not that way yet. I'm like the "veteran newbie" of IBS or something.

Thanks everyone and Heather for listening/reading.

Take care everyone.

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XOXO from lil' ol' me.

(IBS-C, mood disorders, etc., etc.)

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