Hi there. I am so glad to have found this website. Here is my story. I am 26 y.o male living in SYDNEY Australia. About 6 years ago, I began suffering from at the time I thought to be a 24 hour virus. No vomiting, just running to the bathroom, dry reaching and diarrhea. This lasted a few days, then went away completely hence assuming was a virus. Then one week later my life changed dramatically. The symptoms of extreme stomach and lower abdominal pains, not eating right, fever, headaches, nausea, constipation, the feeling of needing to go to the bathroom etc were all so severe I tried to commit suicide. I could not manage it, I don't know where this all came from or what I done to deserve it. I was only 20 years old and wanted to enjoy my life. Over the first 4 year period, I under went many tests ranging from endoscopy/colonoscopy - CT Scan of my GUT, Barium Meal test which tests the processing time it takes for food to pass from the stomach to the intestines etc. They found things like blastocystis hominis which is a parasite that is in everyone, and told me this is the cause of my problem. I then went on a 10 day drug treatment coarse which I would NOT recommend to anyone. The medication made me at the time feel worse, although the next week after the treatment I felt great, then it all came back again. They then thought it could be Chron's but this was ruled out after the many tests I received for this. I had chronic gastritis and inflammatory duodenum which they did not know the cause of this. Over the 6 years, I have been on many types of medications ranging from Nexium, Anti-depressants, Flagyl, Mintec and the list just goes on and on and on. As I stand today, my symptoms are still current, everyday, not one day goes past and I don't feel any sign on relief, although they are far better than what they were when this all began. So my teenage years did not exist, I can not drink alcohol no more, nor can I smoke anymore, there are many foods I have had to eliminate over the years, I tried everything and nothing work. BUT today I receive my first lot of VSL #3. This is an extremely potent probiotic containing 450 BILLION strains of the god bacteria. I have heard and read mixed reviews of this, but thought stuff it, I am going to give this a go, so today I took my first sachet. At this stage its too early to let you know how this has helped or not helped me, but I would love to keep you all informed of my progression. This is a dreadful thing to have, especially when you know you can't control it and just want to fix it. I would love to hear some feedback or suggestion to my problem. Doctors just keep passing the buck, because there is nothing they can do about it.