I'm 21. And I have IBS-D and have had it for 2 years. ! of those years was undiagnosed. My story is not a great one, since my life has now been chaotic and destroyed.

I had just started University and everything in my life was great. It all started near the first exam time, December 2006. My stomach would not tolerate any garlic or anything spicey, I just took it as a sign I needed to change my diet. Nothing bad started until the Summer of 2007.

I worked at a day camp outside for the summer, where bathrooms were hard to find a lot of the time. I didn't really think anything of it as long as I stayed away from certain foods. Then one day, I got to work early and the washrooms were not open yet and something I ate disagreed with me. I tried running to the nearest washroom 5 minutes away, but didn't make it. Needless to say, having an accident when you are 19, is not flattering. I told my boyfriend and he talked to his sister who works at a pharmacy and suggested I see my doctor. My doctor didn't do anything. She said it was just a "phase".

Throughout 2007/2008 I had terrible spurts of diarrhea a couple times a month and would force me to sit out in sports, which I loved, and school even. Going to parks and walks with friends was out of the question. There we numerous days where my boyfriend had to get me from school to take me home cause I missed all my classes as I was in the bathroom all the time. He was the only person who knew about this, not even my family knew.

Then in September 2008, it got terrible. Everything I ate came right out. Even water. I couldn't go or do anything. I was bound to my house. Depression was definitely setting in and I couldn't take it. I was 20 and living my life at home, loosing friends and my boyfriend was so stressed because I was always sick. Also, I began to sleep 12 hours or more a day and gaining a lot of weight. I would catch every little cold/flu out there and it would stay with me for weeks and weeks.

My doctor finally diagnosed me with hypothyroidism and IBS-D in November 2008. She gave me a prescription for Dicetel and from Synthroid (for hypothyroidism) and set me off. Dicetel made me throw up and pass out. So that was a no-go. I finally found Immodium, I would take that 3-5 times a day, almost everytime i ate and I would be a little better. Diarrhea was not so bad anymore but my cramps and bloating shot threw the roof. This is when my severe bloating, gas, and cramps started.

It's now been almost a year since I have found out what I have and I am still suffering. I am now on Modulon, started it in August, and am going for a gallbladder ultrasound in a week.

I know they won't find anything, IBS is the "I don't know what you have so I will say you have this thing thats almost untreatable and will ruin your life" I still can't go anywhere without a washroom near by. I get insane cramps and spasms and terrible spurts of diarrhea at least 5 times a week. I know mine is somewhat psychological since when I am nervous I get it a lot worse. Since last year my thyroid is being managed pretty well, I did gain 35 pounds in the last year, which hit me hard as I have always been very athletic and thin. My doctor doesn't know why I am still sick all the time and why I am still gaining weight.

I would like to add my immune system is terrible for some reason now and I have had the flu/cold 3 times in the last 5 months. I also was just diagnosed with asthma which really hits me when I work out or get a cold. My life revolves around my IBS. Everything I do I have to think about my IBS first and if it will inhibit what I want to do.

I am loosing myself in this thing and my boyfriend is trying to hold onto the girl he loved but I know it's getting hard when all I do is complain and get sick.
My friends still don't know and always give me dirty looks when I say I can't come out with them. My family mostly knows cause they have to make sure there is stuff I can eat whenever I am with them.

I am getting more and more hopeless with this IBS and that it will completely ruin my life soon. I'm only 21 and I feel as old as my 89 year-old grandma who is in the hospital.

When will someone find out what is really going on with IBS and how to cure it?

I can't go on living like this.

As the title says, I'm the young and the hopeless.

By: caitylin16