I am 23 years old and have had IBS for about 8 years now. It began during a very stressful time in my life and progressed slowly in the beginning, starting with discomfort, constipation, and the feeling of incompletion. As I began college, it became worse. I had to map out the closest bathrooms to my classes, always sat as close to the door as possible, and many times had to stop on the way to school or just turn around and go back home. Home is the safest place for those of us with IBS. One time, on an hour long ride with my boyfriend, his brother, and one of our other friends, after stuggling with the urge for 45 minutes, I couldn't take it any longer and found myself asking them to pull over because I had to throw up, only it wasn't throwing up that I had to do. After that awful experience, I have lived with the continuous fear of the unplanned attacks that come from living with IBS. It has restricted me from making long and short trips with family and friends and nearly ruined my social life.

I have tried many treatments, beginning with zelnorm, which I believe made me much worse. I also have taken many anti-depressants, anti-spasmodics, and OTC treatments such as pepto-bismal which I used to take every time I left the house just in case, probiotics, digestive advantage, lactaid . . . the list continues. I am currently taking Bentyl, which I do find to help with the spasms, and I drink Heather's Tummy Fiber twice a day. I recently tried the antibiotic rifaxamin which made me much worse so I just quit taking it two days ago. I am still dealing with its effects. But before I began taking it, I followed a strict bathroom and eating schedule that seemed to work pretty well at reducing my IBS symptoms and limitations. I follow the eating guidelines in "Eating for IBS" by Heather Van Vorous and spend around 2-3 hours in the bathroom a day. I have found that an hour in the morning and evening is what I need to stabilize my symptoms. While this takes up time and often makes me late to certain things, it is what I need to make sure I will not have to go at other times throughout the day. It is also inconveinent and difficult to explain to those you live with or stay with. I am known to all my friends as the one who will never stay the night. Ever. It is simply too risky since I find myself in such pain in the mornings until I can eat breakfast and go to the bathroom immediately after. I also don't go out to breakfast. Ever. But going out to lunch or dinner is always pretty scary as well. Eating with others with IBS restrictions is too frustrating anyway. I do try to venture out to eat every now and then. If I am already following my eating, bathroom, and moderate excercise schedule I should be fine. But I also have a big problem with the gas and bloating that has put me in so much pain before I have thought I needed to go to the hospital. The only way to relieve it is by laying down or going in the bathroom.

IBS is such a huge part of my life I could go on forever writing about it, but I think I should stop now. I really am glad I found this website though because it has shown me that I am not alone, which is such a normal feeling for me, and that there is hope. I often become so depressed about life with IBS, but I think it is important to stay positive, especially to make that brain-gut connection I have been learning about function right! So thanks to everyone out there and good luck!

By: G.G.