Do you know anyone that has fully recovered from IBS??

Maybe not necessarilly "recovered" in the sense that their diets are now permanently altered. They don't have the titanium-lined gut we'd all like to have which would allow us to indulge in pizza for every meal or anything. But I do know of some people who have improved to the point that they consider it recovered.I got my IBS when I was 22 and I'm 29 now. Not much improvement to report here. I have picked-up "tricks" to deal with the problem, but I don't call that recovery. I'd call it recovery if I could honestly say that one of these tricks is 100% reliable---in other words, "If I do/don't do this or that (ie: take certain meds or avoid certain foods), I'll be feeling fine." Haven't reached that point.

I guess my fantasy of going to Six Flags eating Chilli Dogs, Cheese Fries and Pizza and drinking 10 40 oz. cokes without a care in the world won't ever be a possibility. Dare to dream

Really? I'm looking forward to strawberries covered in whip cream as desert after eating this Italian sub sandwich that even makes non-IBSers cramp-up.

I would say I have had stretches where my IBS has disappeared wherein I am symptom free. That is typical in IBS; it can go into hiatus, remission, whatever you want to call it and for whatever reason; usually good diet, well balance of stress, etc. but it usually will flare up at some point. Overall, I would have to say that my IBS is much better than it was in my 20s and early 30s.I know some people who have exaggerated symtpoms with the seasons changing. They seem to get adjusted and then any change even in the weather will flare them up again.

id like a nice hamburger w/ lots of mustard and french fried w/ cheese..and then chocolate cake for dessert..oh how do i wish...

I too have had stretches of several years in which my IBS symptoms practically disappeared. I started having symptoms before I was 7 years old, and I'm 53 now. Not much hope of being permanently cured, but I can go for fairly long periods without much suffering. Cheryl K.

ENTREErime Rib with horseradish orT-Bone orFilet withOne big fat buttered-up baked potato with fluffy yeasty rools on the sideHand-cranked vanilla ice cream with choclate sauce, whipped cream, crushed walnutsGiant Sized PepsiAny decent BrandyCapuccinoCigarette (2 Kools)Or ANY bowl of SEMOLINA pasta with MARINARA and great big sweet-hot Italian sausageMay there be a buffet in the "heavenly mansions...." We have earned it.

A toss up between apples and ice cream

I've gone up to five months with no IBS symptoms at all. I could eat pizza and dairy products and all! It was great! Just as quickly, my IBS returned. Who knows why?

The topic should have been what would you eat/drink if you didn't have to worry about IBS. Thinking of all these yummy foods is making me drool. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr(Homer Simpson)

My dream meal- Alfredo sauce w/ spinach canneloni and cheese garlic bread on the side, a nice chardonnay or zinfandel( I wont be picky!), and then either a chocolate layer cake with fudge frosting or a fudge brownie cheesecake with darjeeling tea. What a beautiful thought! Thanks. Oh and p.s.- I echo everyone else's comments- went for yrs w/o flareups and then everything worsened beyond belief 2 mos ago. But we can still dream, cant we? Oh and this dinner would have been preceded by an eggs florentine and croissants breakfast and pizza for lunch!

Yeap. I spoke to a nurse on another forum & she said she saw it permantaley disappear 6 years ago. Pepperoni Pizza anyone?

giggle giggle- hmmmm....order me up a starter of escargot drenched in butter and garlic; a Maine lobsta (only kind!)- bake & stuff it w/ritz crackers, butter, and crabmeat; baked stuffed potato w/sour cream, butter, bacon bits; caesar salad; sauteed mushrooms; really crusty french bread; a canoli and a hazlenut cappucino- that works!i have lost almost 30 lbs in the last few months because of my Effexor, and i just don't want to eat, even if i feel ok w/ my ibs (i tend to feel ok 4/7 days, unless i am a real mess)-really weird for me- i usually cannot handle:mushroomsiceberg & romaine lettucepizzabutterany fried foodany junk foodany hydrogenated oils- in tons of stuff! champagneheavy, rich, cream-based dishes rich seafood (most shellfish)processed foodsmexican/chinese/spicy foodsgarlicflavored coffeestime to pop a tums.... sigh....

I asked my Dr. this yesterday. I told him the hypnosis made me feel around 80% better, and I'm ready to be fully cured. Now! He said don't think about being cured. Like diabetes it is something you will always have. The good news is that he gave me ideas on how to manage the other 20%. I'm planning on managing my symptoms 100%, even though I may not cause it a cure.

Yes I know a lady who had suffered from IBS for over 20 years. She followed a mind-Gut book for 3 years and did not cheat at all. She even made her own ketchup, alot of yogurt based recipes no carbs. Today she is 100% IBS free. NO cramping, NO diarreah, and can eat anything at all. Pizza, greasy fast food and ice cream. So yes there is hope.