Reviews by Doctors

Dr Ruth Dubin MD PhD FCFP is Chair of the Chronic Non-Cancer Pain Program Committee of the College of Family Physicians of Canada. She believes the patient-doctor relationship is about a partnership between those who are experts in a condition, and those who are experts in their condition. She writes:  

“My nose has been stuck in your book since I opened it, and I was sorry to close it on the last page.
 
Your humour, your spirit, and your wise advise to Crohn's sufferers suggests to me that this book should be required reading, not only for patients but also for all budding gastroenterologists, surgeons and family doctors. All MDs really. 

It also shows the importance of patients becoming active partners in their journey through a chronic illness, and how medics learn so much from an intimate understanding of what it is like to actually live day to day with a condition.”

Dr. Rob Dugdale served as an Air Force Medical Officer in the Royal Air Force then the Royal Australian Air Force holding a variety of posts including acting Director of Air Force Medicine.

“As a medico, now thankfully retired, it was fascinating to read about your battle with Crohn's and I have no doubt that the 101 tips will be of great value to fellow travellers. I loved the humorous style and the accompanying illustrations - an effective and entertaining way to present a most serious and, at times, harrowing topic. Your resilience and fighting spirit are truly admirable.”

Dr.Muiris Houston, health correspondent of The Irish Times and Honorary Fellow, Faculty of Medicine at National University of Ireland.

"Being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease is a life-changing moment. Like any chronic disease, you will have good settled periods and uncomfortable flare – ups. And just like many long-term illnesses, coming to terms with the disease involves taking ownership of your illness and its treatment.
 
Here he describes the day after his first operation to remove a severely diseased section of small bowel: 'First up was the physiotherapist, a jovial, stout girl who, on the face of it, was not the best advert for exercise I had ever seen. However, it turned out that she needed all her bulk for the heavy lifting that her job entailed. Since I professed myself completely incapable of wriggling up the bed to sit in a more upright position, she leant over, grasped me under both armpits and yanked me up in one easy for her but exquisitely painful moment for me. However, the pain was compensated for by my head being plunged into her matronly bosom, giving me a fleeting sample of Helen Keller’s life of being simultaneously rendered dumb, blind and deaf as I was enveloped in her décolletage.'
  
There’s plenty more in this vein. But underneath the humour is some sage advice about dealing with doctors and the health system. Here’s tip 14: 'Do not assume that you cannot contribute to the process of diagnosis. Ask the common-sense questions. Don’t be afraid to interrupt the flow or to ask them to explain in layman’s terms exactly what they are wittering on about.'
  
Bradley’s book may have been written for people with Crohn’s, but those suffering with any chronic disease will find it worth the read."

Dr. Fred Saibil, a gastroenterologist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, Canada, and a Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto, reviews The Foul Bowel. Dr. Saibil specializes in the diagnosis and management of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. His book, “Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis”, written for the public, is a world-wide best-seller.

"Many patients with chronic diseases feel compelled to write about their experiences with the disease, with their doctors, with their occupations, with their friends, and with their families. This book is filled with practical tips, which are clearly highlighted.
 
 The book chronicles Mr. Bradley’s personal journey with Crohn’s disease, mainly in the National Health Service, in the UK. Much of the book is focused on his experiences through the 1980s and 1990s, providing the reader with insight into how both diagnostic testing and treatment techniques have progressed over the years.
  
Written in a candid and entertaining style, this book gives the Crohn’s patient some comic relief, while at the same time providing practical advice."

Dr. Vernon Coleman, Britain's original Breakfast TV doctor and author of "How to Stop Your Doctor Killing You" reviews The Foul Bowel:

     "When I was a Family Doctor I firmly believed that patients with chronic diseases invariably knew more about their problem than any doctor. I also believed that patients are usually better at explaining their problem to new sufferers than either doctors or nurses. They know what to expect and how the system works.
   
John Bradley's wonderful book, The Foul Bowel, is a must for anyone diagnosed with Crohns Disease. It's also essential reading for relatives and health professionals. The illustrations are marvellous."

Dr. Martha Graham, a currently practising Family Physician, writes:

     “A wonderful book that will be instructive to any person whose life is touched by a chronic health issue, providing endless novel insights into the world of healthcare.
    
John Bradley's keen sense of humour allows the reader to experience laughter at each turn of the page, the light tone being juxtaposed with a poignant account of a young man's courageous struggle with Crohn's, an unpredictable and potentially deadly disease.”