Well... IBS is a medical condition, and as such, you are fully entitled to your privacy. That is to say, just like with any other illness, it is perfectly acceptable to keep things on a need-to-know basis... I mean, your health is your business and yours alone until it affects (or has the potential to affect) someone else. There's this misconception (and unfortunately it is shared by A LOT of people) that if there is absolutely anything about you that you or someone else might find undesirable, that you gotta do the whole "take it or leave it" thing right from the get-go. In my experience, this is almost always going to be a mistake.The thing is, first dates are all about getting to know one another, right? So if your first impression includes having to explain all the ways that you are limited in your everyday life, that is going to give the false impression that you are too sick to date or too sick to have fun and enjoy yourself or that you're just plain sick all the time, which you and I both know isn't true!In my opinion, living with IBS is all about taking charge of your life, and THAT is the kind of impression you want to make on someone, whether it be in your personal life or your professional life.Like, simply put: why lead with your bad foot, so to speak. You know what I mean?When planning dates, be assertive! If your date suggests something that you feel apprehensive about, suggest something else. And, if Heaven forbid you were to get sick on a date, if you really think you might have to spend up to an hour in the bathroom it might be best to politely explain that you aren't feeling well and need to go home before you feel worse. On a first date it can be hard to do this without making the other person feel like you're just making excuses to leave, so MAKE SURE you get contact information so that if you really DO like the person and you are really disappointed about the date being cut short, you can tell them so, and then the door is wide open for rescheduling and picking up where you left off. I won't say I know what you're going through or that I know how you feel, but I do understand how hard dating can be and how much more complicated it becomes when you're dealing with a chronic illness... But trust me, when the time comes to let someone in on that private part of your life, you're going to want to do it in a safe, supportive, comforting environment with someone you trust and who cares about you... Not on a first date with someone you barely know. Good luck, and stay positive even though I know it's hard! <3