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Do you recall experiencing abdominal pain during your childhood?
I am 19 years old and I am a freshman in college. I have been struggling with IBS for about a year now. I don't know what triggered it and I just wish it would stop. I can not enjoy my life like a normal college student. I live in New York City now, which has always been my dream but its not like that any more. I am afraid to go out with my friends into the city in case I have an attack and I can't find a bathroom. I am afraid to tell any of my new college friends because I am afraid they won't understand. My attacks are really random and I am still in the process of trying to figure out what foods trigger it. The stress from being away from home also does not help. I just want to be a normal college student and go out and have fun with new friends and have amazing experiences but IBS is holding me back. If anyone understands please let me know.
By: donewiththis
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Hi there, I posted this
02/03/2010 - 05:14Hi there, I posted this response to another member earlier today, My name is John and like you I am an IBS sufferer. I have had IBS since I was 18 years old and I am now 48. That's 30 years of discomfort, pretty much day in and day out. Like most sufferers in the early years of this affliction I tried just about everything I could think of, but quite frankly none of it bloody worked (I'm a New Zealander ...we say bloody quite alot). I have spent mega dollars over the years trying different remedies, backwards and forwards to the doctors, specialists, but to no avail...well not until 3 or 4 weeks ago when I stumbled on a book in my local book shop. I had a quick read in the shop but I have to say over the years I have become quite skeptical and so I don't part with my hard earned money too easily these days. I was interested enough though in what I was reading to loan a copy of the book from my local library to continue the read.
The book is called "The IBS Low-Starch Diet" and is written by another IBS sufferer called Carol Sinclair. If you really mean what you say about being ready to try anything to manage this problem, get this book and have a read. I have been on this diet for approximately 3 weeks and this is the first time in 30 years that I am feeling really well, and each day is better than the last. Carol has also posted a 10-15 minute video clip on youtube, take a look.
The ISBN for the book is 0-9582529-0-4 if you want to loan it from the library.
The diet really works, although I have seen some blogs where people say it didn't for them. I suspect that this is because they didn't do the diet properly and were not prepared to make the necessary change. The diet is easy and not that hard.
If my own experience is anything to go by (and yes I know it's only been three weeks) I think it is bloody criminal for anyone not to at least try it out. No pills, no medication, just delicious ordinary everyday food.
Good luck mate.
I know where you're coming from!!
01/31/2010 - 14:23Hey, I'm 25 years old and I have had IBS since I was 17 years old. I know *exactly* how you feel. Once the "flare ups", or whatever you want to call them, started I was always so paranoid about going out. It basically ruined my social life and I haven't been the same. I am so paranoid and I'm so afraid that I will be out and can't find a bathroom. There has been many MANY times where I'm on my way to work and my stomach hurts all of a sudden and I have to go to the bathroom so bad so I end up having to turn around to go back home because I wont make it to work and I end up, not making it home either. It's terrible and I cry because I feel like I should wear Depends most of the time!! Anyway, I am JUST NOW (8 years later) coming to realize that I am not the only one with this problem and I will survive and be ok. My life is different than most people but think about it, 1 out of 3 people have IBS. I guarantee if you tell one or two of your new friends you know "hey i just wanted to let you know that i have stomach issues a lot and i get paranoid about going out because I'm not sure which foods exactly trigger these symptoms but I just need to get some support from my friends because it's really frustrating" and I GUARANTEE that they will understand and be there for you. My best friend has IBS and we joke about it all the time because it makes us feel better. I have a couple of friends at work that I talk to regularly and they know what's going on with me. It took me a couple of months to tell them but I eased into it and now it's out in the open and when they get lunch they say "oh hey, how's this gonna be on your stomach? you wanna do something else for lunch?" The longer you deal with it you will find out how to cope with it and you will get your support system. Actually, one of the girls at work came to me and told me she has the same problem and she told me that because I told her first! I just wanted to write you and let you know that I'm here for you tho if you need to talk! I know exactly where you're coming from. Good luck :)
Thank you so much!! It means
02/01/2010 - 18:40Thank you so much!! It means so much to me to know that other people understand. I have been dealing with it on my own for a while and I have never been sure what to do. The only people that know about it are my family and my best friend. I am so happy I found this site. I have even told my doctor about my stomach problems and he has done nothing to try and help or even give me real advice. He just said "its just because you are stressed out, so just calm down" He has not even suggested any type of diet and I am still learning about things that trigger it. How have you dealt with it? Do you take any vitamins or eat certain foods? Does anything help you? Because I am willing to give anything a try! I need to get my life back on track.