The gastrointestinal sourcebook

395 Pages·1997·0.88 MB·English

by  M. Sara Rosenthal

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Page i
The Gastrointestinal Sourcebook
Page ii
Other books by M. Sara Rosenthal
The Thyroid Sourcebook 2d ed.
The Gynecological Sourcebook 2d ed.
The Pregnancy Sourcebook 2d ed.
The Fertility Sourcebook
The Breastfeeding Sourcebook
The Breast Sourcebook
Page iii
The Gastrointestinal Sourcebook
by M. Sara Rosenthal
Medical Adviser: Gary May, M.D., F.R.C.P.
Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine,
Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology,
University of Calgary
LOWELL HOUSE
LOS ANGELES
CONTEMPORARY BOOKS
CHICAGO
Page iv
Although every effort has been made to ensure that the information
provided here is accurate and up to date at the time of publication, this
book is in no way intended to replace the advice of qualified health
care professionals.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Rosenthal, M. Sara.
The gastrointestinal sourcebook / by Sara M. Rosenthal
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-56565-854-X
1. Gastrointestinal system-Diseases-Popular works. I. Title.
RC806.ZR67 1997
616.3'3-dc21 97-42116
CIP
Copyright © 1997 by M. Sara Rosenthal. All rights reserved. No part
of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or
recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, except as
may be expressly permitted by the 1976 Copyright Act or in writing
by the Publisher.
Requests for such permissions should be addressed to:
Lowell House
2020 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 300
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Lowell House books can be purchased at special discounts when
ordered in bulk for premiums and special sales.
Publisher: Jack Artenstein
Associate Publisher, Lowell House Adult: Bud Sperry
Director of Publishing Services: Rena Copperman
Managing Editor: Maria Magallanes
Text design: Carolyn Wendt
Illustration on page 3 by Elizabeth Weadon Massari
Author photo by David Leyes
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Page v
To my husband . . . who says I give him heartburn.
Page vii
Contents
Introduction: Why GI? xi
Chapter 1: How Readers Digest 1
An Unremarkable Meal 2
Having a Breakdown 8
When the Breakdown Breaks Down 12
Chapter 2: When You Have That Gut Feeling 17
When You're Burning and Bitter 18
When You Have Pain 21
When You Have Cramps 23
Symptoms That Might Indicate "Alarm" 27
What to Tell the Doctor 28
Diagnostic Tests 34
What's the Treatment? 36
Chapter 3: "I've Got an Ulcer" 39
Ulcers 101 41
Ulcer Folklore 45
When Your Doctor Suspects an Ulcer 48
The New Infectious Disease 50
Chapter 4: When the Issue Is NUD and GERD 59
When It Isn't an Ulcer but It Feels Like One 60
Moving Right Along 64
How to Keep GERD from Coming Back 67
Chapter 5: About Those Stomach Medicines 73
Dropping Antacids 73
Drugs for Motility Problems 78
The "Nuclear Weapons" 83
Drugs That Are Hard to Digest 85
Page viii
Chapter 6: Bowels of the Earth 91
Signs of Intelligent Life 92
Irritable Bowels? 98
Inflammatory Remarks 105
Diverticulosis 115
Screening for Colon Cancer 116
Chapter 7: The Trouble with Abs 119
West Side Story 119
The Lower East Side 127
His and Hernias 129
Chapter 8: People in Special Circumstances 133
When You Have an Eating Disorder 133
"GI Jane" 139
If You Have Diabetes 144
If You Have Thyroid Disease 145
If You're Over Sixty-Five 146
When You're HIV-Positive 147
Chapter 9: Eating Well, Feeling Well 153
What History Teaches Us 154
The Meaning of Low-Fat 156
Fiberspace 162