"A patient-expert walks you through everything you need to learn and do" --Cover.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Day 1 -- Living: It's Not Your Fault 1 -- Learning: What is IBD? 6 -- Day 2 -- Living: Grieving: Are You Sure? 13 -- Learning: What the Tests Tell Us 19 -- Day 3 -- Living: Acceptance and Hope 27 -- Learning: The Workplace, the Law, and IBD 32 -- Day 4 -- Living: Finding Solace and Support 38 -- Learning: How the Diseases Work 45 -- Day 5 -- Living: Assembling Your Health Care Team 51 -- Learning: The Intestinal Complications of IBD 62 -- Day 6 -- Living: When to Call the Doctor 69 -- Learning: The Ailments That Accompany IBD 73 -- Day 7 -- Living: Coping with Pain 87 -- Learning: Genetics and Other Causative Factors of IBD 92 -- First-Week Milestone 103 -- Week 2 -- Learning: The Role of Medication in the Treatment of IBD 105 -- Living: Living with the Effects of Medication 119 -- Week 3 -- Learning: Drugs That Help, Drugs That Hurt 125 -- Living: Compliance 131 -- Week 4 -- Learning: Vitamins, Herbs and Other Essential Nutrients 137 -- Living: Seeking Alternative Therapy 145 -- First-Month Milestone 151 -- Month 2 -- Learning: The Role of Nutrition 153 -- Living: What Can I Eat? What Should I Avoid? 157 -- Month 3 -- Learning: Non-Ostomy Surgical Options 168 -- Living: Surviving Surgery and Other Hospital Stays 175 -- Month 4 -- Learning: The Ostomy 182 -- Living: Coping with the Ostomy 188 -- Months 5 -- Learning: Cancer and IBD 194 -- Living: Surviving the Colonoscopy Prep and Other Awful Tests 200 -- Month 6 -- Learning: Sex and Fertility 209 -- Living: Intimacy Issues 212 -- Half-Year Milestone 215 -- Month 7 -- Learning: Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Lactation 217 -- Living: Coping with Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Recovery with IBD 226 -- Month 8 -- Living: Living Daily Life 229 -- Learning: Remission: Life Beyond Disease 238 -- Month 9 -- Living: Travel and IBD 242 -- Learning: Insurance and IBD 248 -- Month 10 -- Living: Children and IBD 257 -- Learning: Treatments for Children with IBD 266 -- Month 11 -- Learning: Understanding Research 270 -- Living: Participating in Research 277 -- Month 12 -- Living: Moving On 283 -- Learning: Finding a Cure 287.