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Even though my IBS has often made me feel anything but macho and and masculine, I am in fact a man - anatomically speaking, at least.I hate asking for directions and insist on trying to fix things myself, so it's probably not surprising that I suffered from IBS-D symptoms for years before talking to a doctor about it. Because I kept my head buried in the sand, it was 12 years before I first heard the words "irritable," "bowel," and "syndrome" used sequentially in the same sentence. I wish I had gone for help sooner. So stupid! TP

 

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Healthwise, you make a good point. They're out there. Statistically they have to be, right? But like you said, not many men feel comfortable admitting to something like IBS. It's hardly unusual to hear guys talking frankly about crass topics like bodily functions. When men do discuss the size, smell, or color of their solid waste, they typically do it in the same way they brag about the size of the fish they caught (“You should have SEEN this thing. It was so ...”) But it is rare is to hear men talk openly about their dysfunction in this department. Not even guys who watch Oprah or Dr. Phil are likely to openly admit to what they perceive as weaknesses or inadequacies.On the other hand, three years ago I decided to start telling anybody and everybody who would listen that I have IBS (very liberating, by the way). What astounded me was that four of my closest guy friends turned around and admitted to me that they also had IBS (usually D with a side order of anxiety). I couldn't believe it. We all had the same secret but were too embarrassed to tell each other. Sadly, social taboo is a powerful force.TP

 

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Alien hybrid-blood. . . more intelligent beings. Yes, THAT'S IT! That's exactly what's going on here! I've often suspected something along those lines, but never could quite put my finger on it. On one hand, I feel so much better now that I know this to be true. On the other hand, I feel terrible that I have broken the code of silence and betrayed so many covert male sufferers. I just hope I haven't put anyone's life in danger. Funny stuff, Healthwise. I like it.Before I knew we weren't supposed to talk about it, I used to dream about an event that would raise awareness for people with IBS. The idea was to make everybody know exactly what it's like to live with our symptoms. My answer was a running race (maybe 1 mile, maybe as long as 3)down Market Street from Castro to the Ferry Building. Anyway, after the runners each drank 3 cups of coffee followed by a self-administered enema, somebody would fire the starting gun. The route would be lined with porta-potties, but only every quarter mile. Just to make it a little more challenging, some of them would be locked and not all of them would have toilet paper. The "winner" is whoever makes it to the finish line first. What would this race be called? "The Runs", of course. Maybe I should get back to work.

 

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Healthwise, Good luck and I hope you don't stay away too long. I always enjoy reading your lively, entertaining posts. My girlfriend (I'm straight) also gets tired of me spending so much time here at this website. Just curious - was it more difficult for you to come out of the closet about being gay or to come out of the water closet about having IBS?