Hello I am Jennifer, but most people call me Jenn. I have been diagnosed with IBS when i was 16. I have been made fun of all my high school life. I am starting a job, and I was wondering if anyone has any ideas to how to control bowel movements. I have to run to the bathroom, like all the time. Thanks Jenn

Hi Guys,

My name is Sarah, in 30. I live in Cambridge (UK) and work full time as a QA Games Testers, I have been professionally diagnosed by my doctor as having IBS. (IBSC and IBSD depending on the day)

At the time I was diagnosed, It was not bad I was half way through losing weight (the first time round) and close to goal. After being diagnosed and working out my triggers and cutting them out I didn't suffer or need pills unless I found a new trigger, I was very lucky!

A year on I had hit my goal weight, IBS still under control. I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue again by my doctor, at the time I was fine all week while exercising in the morning but come the weekend (my rest days) I was crashing and sleeping for two days, my doctor gave me information told me to go "try and live with it" and come back in two weeks.

Two weeks later, I went back for a check up and my doctor was off, but left another doctor instructions. Needless to say this doctor was not as good and told me to stop exercising for two weeks, he claimed that was the cause of the fatigue. Rather than listen to my body I hopped the doctor knew what he was taking about.

Long story short I was ill for 6 months, my IBS went mad, I couldn't eat anything without it triggering, exercising was out due to pain, and the fatigue got worse too. It took 6 months to get the IBS under control with pills and food (no exercise). the fatigue is still bad, and still half my problem. I ended up putting all the weight back on due to not moving/exercising and eating anything that didn't trigger my IBS.

I am now after a year in a place I feel I can start over, though I will not lie my IBS is currently living happily on processed food more than fresh food, fruit and veg is down to a minimum as it still triggers (never did before)

I guess I am here looking for people who understand, more than anything. Work is sportive and gives me time when I need it but they really don't understand it, I have even been told "wow that's the best excuse for gaining weight yet!" which really hurt.

I know if I can get going and build up my exercise again to a regular thing I can get my IBS and Fatigue on track again, but it feels like an up hill struggle. :ohwell:

Its odd I know there are people out there with it far worse than me, I am lucky it was as easy as it was, but I find now I am not sure what to do.. I feel kind of lost. :frown: and have since been told by my doctor I have depression as well.

Thanks
Sarah

PS: sorry that's a little long, didn't mean to go on so much...

Hi! My name is Michelle, I'm an Administrative assistant and I was diagnosed with IBS in February of 2012. But the pain and symptoms started July of 2011. I'm a mom of two and had my tubes tied in July so I could stop taking my birth control because the hormones in it was making my IBS flare up. Since the surgery I have been able to control it thorough diet and have not had to take the meds. I still have a hard time somedays because I don't know anyone else with IBS and when you try to tell someone you can't something they get mad and insist it's only because I don't like it not because it will put me in pain!

Hi
I have been a IBS sufferer for over 20 years. I believe part of the reason I have IBS-C is because I also have PMDD and stress doesn't help IBS at all. Trying to find different ways to keep it under control EVERY day instead of just on good days. I recently went off medication for PMDD and think it has something to do with my IBS-C acting up again. It seems my medical issues are all fighting for dominance.

Hello my names Sami and I'm 20 , nursery nurse and been suffering from ibs for at least 5 years though it didn't have a name for it to begin with. When I was younger monthly I would be sick on such a regular occasion I would get up for school be sick and carry on because it was normal to me because of how bad my ibs is. Every day of my life I feel bloated and that I'm carrying a huge heavy uncomfortable weight around, and every few days I get heart burn headaches, and feel sick as stuff is poising my system. I have joined my fitness pal in hope that more exercise and eating may help these symptoms die down mainly me being bloated. It's not nice at 20 looking at myself everyday and feeling crap cause of how huge and bloated my tummy feels and looks and it's also affecting things in my relationship. And advice on what exercises to do or food to eat would be very helpful as I've tried so much and nothing works.

Hi, I am Ayumi from Brazil and I am trying to get fat.

I am 166cm and 40kg, because almost everything that I eat I have diarrhea.
I have lactose intolerance and I cant absorb much fat.

Is there anyone trying to get fat also?
I would like to know some people trying to gain weight also so that I get more motivation.

Hi everyone!

My name is Jen and I was diagnosed with IBS 3 years ago, though I've been suffering from it for much longer. It started when I was 14-15 and I am now 26. I spent 10 years suffering because I was too embarrassed to tell anyone or talked to my doctor. My mom was actually the one who introduced me to the idea that I might have IBS after watching a medical news story and told me repeatedly that I should talk to my doctor, but I was too embarrassed to tell anyoned chronic diarrhea and could barely eat anything.

Finally I decided to talk to my doctor because it was too much to handle and he sent me to a gastroenterologist who then sent me to a nutritionist. I tried eating her way for two months, but with all the special products she was asking me to buy, it was becoming too expensive (not to mention boring) to eat the same thing every day.

Needless to say after going off her diet I began to experience symptoms again and it hasn't been until the last two weeks (since reading the book "Eating For IBS") that I've begun to take my diet seriously again. But learning exactly what to eat and what to stay away from and how to eat it has been a little confusing.

I've never known anyone else with IBS before and it's good to know I'm not alone

Hi I'm Alana, I'm 22 and living in Wales, UK. I was diagnosed last summer by my doctor as I was complaining of stomach pains and only emptying my bowels every 5 days - was sent packing to the docs by my partner and his mum! Last september I was diagnosed with a B12 defiency so after a load of blood tests I was put on injections every 8-10 weeks.

At first, thought my triggers were milk (dairy generally) but put milk back in to my diet but not having it solely but have had lactose milk too. Last few months have been hell, on and off with IBS-C and D, recently had to quit my job with stress I had from having constant pain in work and with being in my final year of university. Seeing my doctor within the next week to see if she can put me on some sort of diet to help with weight loss because I am at a loss.. Seem to be just gaining and gaining (probably with self indulging because I'm slowly giving up).. So thats me..

Hi! My name is Tara. I live in the metro-Phoenix area. I'm a returning student attending ASU. I was a financial analyst for many years, and have gone back to school to follow my passion for sustainability. I'm on the board of a student sustainability consulting group, I'm a part-time professional photographer, and in my spare time (lol), I'm launching a startup website.

I've been living with IBS for 2 years. While in the hospital for a burn, I was infected with C-Diff, which made me sicker than I've ever been in my life. After winning the battle with that infection over several months, I was left with IBS. The docs didn't know what it was at first... I gained over 20 pounds in 2 weeks and felt horrible. I went on the HCG diet and lost 30 lbs.

My stomach didn't give me any issues until about 6 months later, when I gained 30 lbs in one month, while vigilantly watching my diet and not exceeding 1,000/cal per day. The GI doc finally figured out it was IBS. I went on the HCG diet again, 500/cal/day for 4 months and lost absolutely nothing. I think this is probably because the HCG doc gave me a modified diet where I was allowed to have yogurt, and I've since found out dairy is my worst trigger. I also think my GI tract was in bad shape by this point.

Since then I've identified many food triggers, which made up most of what my regular diet used to be; dairy (Greek yogurt), whole grains (insoluble fiber), broccoli, apples, artificial sweeteners. I haven't used the FODMAPS diet to determine all of my triggers. I'm not confident that I could stick to a diet that is so strict with my crazy, busy schedule.

I struggle with eating out. Even with ordering a salad, I am frequently triggered by salad dressings. There are so many hidden ingredients at restaurants, how is it even possible? I'm miserable... daily stomach pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhea. I can't for the life of me lose any weight. Seriously, I ate 500 calories a day for 4 months and lost absolutely nothing.

I'm hoping to learn from this group and hoping to find help to alleviate the suffering and lose the weight so I can fit into my clothes again!

I am right there with ya! It took me a long time to finally start losing weight, a long time to finally figure out what my body needs as far as routine and diet in order to function properly. Everyone is so different, especially functioning with IBS. Our needs can change from day to day. And even when we are doing what has always worked in the past we can still have daily stomach pain. Super awesome, huh?

Afternoon all. I'm in my late 20s, living in the UK, and currently under going tests for IBS / Crohns. GPs here are a little lax in coughing up information that would be *really* helpful so I'm hunting the internet for advise. I've already found the FODMAP which I am going to incorporate into my diet to see if that makes a difference. The GP did have me on an elimination diet but from everything I've read that included all sorts of vegetables that are known to trigger IBS so its not a surprise that I was still flaring by week three.

I also over think things. A lot. This does nothing for helping stress levels!

Hello I am Lucy I am

Apparently I have always had tummy issues as a baby my mum said she was advised to give me soya milk. My issues flare up violently and I am pleased to find this group for help as at the minute I feel I am going mad! Mr drs have no ideas any more. I was properly diagnosed at 22 after investigations due to bowel bleeding turned up nothing serious (thank goodness) so here I am nearly a decade later still struggling.

I have other health issues too and when they play up so does the ibs.

Sorry that we have to know each other through this but hoping to make understanding friends x

Hi, I am Kati. I am 34 and from Iowa. I was recently officially diagnosed with IBS but I have suffered symptoms for a few years. I have been doing the FODMAP for 2 months and it has helped greatly. Milk and gluten are big triggers for me.

Greetings!
I am recently diagnosed IBS-D. Learning my way through the FODMAP diet. In elimination phase right now, one week in. Doing great actually! There are so many choices of ways to eat rice these days, LOL!
I live in the US, Maryland, outside Washington DC.
Cynthia