Sophie's Story: My 20-Year Battle with Irritable Bowel Syndrome Paperback – January 15, 2011

Dear Sophie.I am just now reading Your new book, and I have to say that it simply is THE best book about IBS that I have ever read...And why is it that now?Well I myself have been IBS-sufferer for 21 years now, and it has been a nightmare...But for the first time in these 21 years I have finally read a book from someone who actually KNOW how it feels to have IBS. As I read Your book I think all the time that it could have been my IBS-tale Your are telling. Your experiences are exact the same as mine - down to every single thouhgt... and it is very frightening to read "my ovn" story written by a totally strange person. I know there are lots of IBS-sufferes around the world who have similar experiences and thoughts as You describe in the book, but for the first time in 21 years I feel that at least ONE person in the world understands exactly what I have been going through alle these years, and I finnaly realise that Im not insane, and a sissy wimp, who is not capable of enduring a "little pain".I am so glad I found Your book, and I have to admit that I am often crying as I read on - beacuse I can recall all this wasted time in agony and all those broken dreams and missed moments with the loved ones.I am not finished with the book yet, and I don't know if I will find any new ideas for cures in it, but I now finnaly know that I am not alone, and that it was worth it to fight against this monster all the time - and hopfully I will have the strenght to keep on just for one more day... and day... and day!Thank You very much for sharing Your thoughts with all us fellow-sufferes!This book is fantastic because it could have been my story - no it IS my story.And to all other IBS-sufferes - and relaitves to sufferes!!!: if you only read ONE book about IBS in your entire life - then read this book!Jens Ole

I just finished "Sophie's Story" and will be getting more copies for friends and family. So much of what she said is what I went through and am still going through after almost 30 years of Hell (with a few breaks in between that seem to come out of no where with little to explain it). The frustration, depression, anger, feeling of loneliness, and fear are all there, but there is also the determination to keep looking for a way out no matter what direction this may take. Sophie has written a "no holds barred" description of what she has been living with since she was very young. Overcoming the belief that because so many Doctors think this is a stress disorder and somehow caused by the person themselves takes real strength and courage and that is what Sophie has shown by writing this book and revealing things that many would rather not talk about.For anyone who is suffering with IBS or cares about someone with IBS or even knows someone with IBS please get this book. It will change your perspective.If you are a Doctor who believes in the real physical torture of IBS and isn't one of those who pass it off as "stress" get this book for your Patients. If you are a Doctor who does believe it's all stress related I will ask this question: "Why is it that so many IBS sufferers can point to a health crisis (flu, food poisoning, infection treated with antibiotics, etc.) as the exact time that they went from feeling "normal" to being miserable and staying miserable from that point on ?For a long time Ulcers were regarded as being caused by stress, but now we know that bacteria is the main culprit. I hope (and pray) that the attention paid to this "hellish" disorder will increase due to efforts like Sophie's so that millions of people will finally get to enjoy life again.Thank you Sophie.

I chose this book because I needed a self help book to help me cope with IBS that struck me 7 months ago. I was getting nowhere with doctors who pooh poohed it as a nervous disorder, told me to relax while I was trying not to go to the bathroom in my pants as my colon was out of control and so was my life. I liked the book from the cover to the end. It was wonderful to read a book that was written by a woman who live with this horrible IBS syndrome for 20 years where I was really affected by it for 7 months and didn't know how I was going to cope with this. I would recommend this to anyone who wants help with this syndrome to read it and get answers from someone who has the answer how to cope and live a life without fear or understanding what is happening to you and your way of life. Also, she has a website where you can get more personal life stories and can vent what is going on in your life in a way doctors don't do when you ask them for the help you need. Highly recommended for all IBS sufferers. Thank you Sophie.

ive just got sophie book.reading this booki cound not put it down. me i had ibs since i was 26 years old now 51 to ill to work on meds 365 days a year.sophie tell it like it is this is one of the best ibs books ive ever read.sophie runs her own web site to help others with ibs.when i found sophie site it was a life saver. there know cure as yet how sophie works as a writer.i dont know this book will take you in to the dreadfull painfull world of sophie she trys to tell how hard it is to like with this dreadfull illness doctors dont know any thing about ibs or how to cure it. sophie was told its all in your head.a doctor said to me your have to live with it. easy to say when you feel like death running to the tolet day and niht feeling sick pain so bad good on you sophie this is a must book for any one or there loved ones who have ibs martin harrison.

I read this with great interest as a fellow IBS sufferer. I found it very reassuring to read Sophie's symptoms and recognise so much of my own problems in her story. I think anyone with IBS, and there are a lot of us, would take comfort from her experiences and it was really good to laugh with her at some of the predicaments she has endured. I didn't finish the book feeling that she had discovered a cure, but I did admire her bravery in admitting to problems which most of us still find too embarrassing to discuss and that was a comfort in itself.

I had been waiting a while for this book to be available on Amazon UK, well it was worth the wait. The book covers Sophie Lee's IBS story from childhood through to the present, her journey covers medical tests, diets and a lot more. She is intelligent and this comes across in the wording off her book and she explains the long and somewhat painful, embarrassing and invasive condition that IBS is very well. I purchased the book as I am a fellow sufferer, however the book is informative and a good insight into the conditons for friends or family who know someone who suffers from this condition. I have read the book twice, but will keep the book so that I can go back to it when I am having a hard time with my IBS, as it makes you aware that there is someone and many more people out there that are struggling with this condition and you are not alone in all the horrible thoughts that can go through your mind when IBS starts to invade your personal, working everyday life.

I have read Sophie's Story and found it extremely helpful not only do you find someone who can 'connect' with you and your IBS problem it is also a wealth of imformation. Sophie was very young when IBS first reared it's ugly head and her struggle and suffering was a long journey, but with her strength of character and determination she found how to keep her IBS under control and give her back a life. I found IBS Tales after reading her book and l am so grateful to have done so. Her dedication to fellow IBS sufferer's is to be much admired. I myself do not know what l should have done if l had not found her book and website.

For anyone who has suffered the dreadful, life changing condition of IBS, this is a must read, it won't cure your problem, but it does make you realise that you are not alone, there are lots of people sharing your grief and dispair.

Reading this book is like reading part of my life. It's funny, to the point and a very honest account of what it is to have IBS and why it isn't just a minor thing to have.I wish all my friends and family would read this so they could empathise with my condition and understand it is a nightmare.Everyone who has IBS should read this book! It will make you feel like you have kindred spirits in this world, and you know what? That makes you feel that much more better.