rumbling noises

thanks guys for your responses Does anyone have any advice on how to reduce the rumbling while I'm in school? I guess some sort of quick relief or whatever. Because I know from experience how embarassing they are to have when the classroom is silent and I would like to know if I could prevent that in any way...?

DontMissAThing,I know what a frustrating problem that can be! Although I have IBS-D, not IBS-C like you, I hope I can offer a couple tips that might help you a bit. First of all, I make sure I have eaten a small snack about an hour before I go to class, which helps with the rumblings and churnings of a painfully empty stomach. For a while, I was too afraid to eat before going out in public, so I'd only eat a popsicle or jello -- this actually made my pain worse and triggered more gas production. Sometimes, though, eating too much or the wrong kind of food will worsen the problem. I avoid certain trigger foods like chocolate, beans, or raw veggies that produce a lot of gas before I go to class or another quiet place. I remember in high school, when I felt the rumbling about to start, I would cough or take a drink of water -- I don't know if it just temporarily took my mind off it or it actually helped relax my abdominal muscles, but it works sometimes in a pinch. Something as simple as leaving the room and taking a brief stroll, doing a few stretches, and taking a few deep breaths will do the trick sometimes, too. I got really into yoga when I started college and I'll use some of those techniques I learned when my nervous stomach acts up. Also, remember that even people without IBS have rumbly stomachs sometimes! It's so easy to get anxious about IBS symptoms making themselves present when you're in public, but think about it this way -- do you notice other people's rumbly stomachs as much as your own? They might not be able to even hear the noise that sounds so loud to your own ears!Good luck! I hope you find a solution to your problem and start feeling better!