I am a 23 year old female with IBS-C. I have had it since I was around 13, throughout my teens it would only be really bad around my time of the month, once I got to my late teens it was horrendus. I was constantly ill at work (as a beauty/massage therapist) and would constantly have to rush off to the toilet, the pain was always so bad that I would vomit.

I visited the doctors on many occasions and have been given various fibre supplements and anti-spasmodics but with no luck.

In December 2007 my husband and I had our daughter- my mum had said that maybe having a child would make my IBS better. It did not. Having gone through a long, painful labour, I can now confirm that the pain from my IBS is worse. I'm sure if you're a sufferer reading this you will understand!

I finally have managed to keep the pain at bay and tend to just get the pain once a week now, this was after a real low point while at home with my daughter. She was about 8 months old when I was at home with her alone when I started getting those gut wrenching pains...this was not the first time but it was one of the worst, my daughter was crying for me (which was making me worse), I was crippled up in pain and vomiting- did I really want my daughter to see me like this? I went back to my docter who gave me more meds and some inforamtion- list of things known to trigger IBS- I know, it's simple- why didn't I look into this before?- because when I had initially asked about foods to avoid years ago to another doctor at the surgery she laughed and said 'it's IBS, it could be anything, how should I know?'. Helpful wasn't she?

Anyway, I now have cut out red meat and found that it's made a huge difference, I also cannot eat high fat or high sugar foods (which I'm gutted about as I have a massive sweet tooth!). I also have a fibre drink calles Lepicol to take daily......its foul but it's either that or the pain. I know which I'd rather!

Sometimes I feel frustrated, I just wish I was normal- I can't commit to anything or make plans, or look forward to anything for fear of being ill. I feel like 'why me?' but unfortunatley you cannot just get rid of IBS, maybe you will be able to one day. But for the moment, you just have to try and survive, in as little pain as possible. Thats why I'm so glad I have found this site, I'm not alone, and hopefully we can learn from each other and get through life with a little less pain. x

By: maria123