Hi, my name is Jill. I was diagnosed w/ a spastic colon- which is *sometimes* synonymous w/ IBS, but not always the same symptoms.
* I will NOT be offended if you prefer I don't join- that this isn't the right place for me- but I'm hoping to learn how to cope with
things that affect my ENTIRE LIFE when there's days my life comes to a complete HALT because I can't leave home without fear of humiliating myself *

To add to my struggles, I also have diverticulosis, and when it flares up, I am back on a low fiber, low residue diet for 10 weeks while everything heals.
Up until I found MFP, I always put on a LOT of weight since I followed the diet they described.

I hope I NEVER get another flare up, but if I do, you can bet it won't be puddings and mashed potatoes again

Hi, I am 23, full time Student and work full time for a Biotech company. I have had IBS all my life and as many of you already know, you are just told to deal with it.

Hello all! My name is Amy. I'm 27 & live in a small town in KY. I am a
stay at home mommy & wife with a very busy life. I have been
married 8 years & we have 4 awesome little boys ages 7, 6, 2, & 7
mos.
I've had IBS since I was 13. The doctors had no clue then what was
wrong with my horrid stomach pain & at 17 they had me on 6 pills
that I was to take 4x a day. They didn't help at all & I didn't stay on
them long. my worst time with IBS was when I was 17. There were
times when at work they'd find me in a corner doubled over sobbing
from pain. When I turned 22 the doctors finally figured out I had
IBS. For a couple years I took a medicine called Librax which for me
worked wonders. I just had to quit taking it while pregnant. I'm no
longer on it & my flare ups are mild & mostly stress induced as I've
learned most of the foods that cause my flare ups. I take it one
day at a time & remind myself that it will be ok & I can get through
the flare ups & past the wild scale numbers it can produce. I have
"gained" as much as 6lbs in one day from IBS.
Its nice to have others who know what I'm dealing with

Hi! My name is Ishbel, and I live in the UK. I graduated from University in July, and work in a supermarket at the moment which has definitely helped with my weight loss haha. I'm 21 and have been suffering from IBS since around the age of 13, although didn't realise what it was til I was around 18 which was very frustrating especially when my mum thought it was all in my head in my teens (and was somehow making myself ill!).

Glad to know what it is, in order to try learn as much as I can so I can try and help the situation. I am also lactose intolerant, and tomatoes, fruit juices and fried foods etc tend to make my IBS flare up, with stress playing a major role! Learning which foods make me ill has helped immensley, exercise can help sometimes overall but generally I'll get stressed then I'll be ill and I just have to deal with it.

Sorry for rambling on, just so glad to finally have a place to rant about this when it gets bad! Had my Christmas work party last night and have been worrying for a few days that I would get super bloated or ill! In the end I was ill but non-brand Immodium type pills sorted that out and thankfully didn't get too bloated

Hello all. I'm 67 and in fairly decent shape for someone my age. In fact, for someone of any age. But, like you, I suffer from IBS. I was first diagnosed with "spastic colon" when I was a child.

As you know, we have lots of issues and weight gain is one. We tend to bloat up and it's not really fat. Yet, we feel fat and may look fat (or think we do.) That's because we have lots of trapped gas and some water, etc. So, that's makes losing weight much harder than others might find it to be.

At any rate, I'm here to learn from you and offer what I know. I'm glad someone started this group and hope it becomes active.

Gaining weight and bloating is one of the bad things about IBS. My waist can go up one or two inches in a day. I always say I'm gaining weight when in reality it's not actually fat weight but IBS. I use ginger caps for the nausea and peppermint. I think I've tried everything.

Hi I am Shannon. Live in NY, am 38 yrs old and suffer from what they call Colonic inertia. I have been successful with weight watchers while on zelnorm but since going off I have gained 25lbs and my weight just seems to go up and not down. I lose 5-7lbs and then back up.. Sometimes all in the same week. I recently stated suffing from severe bloating of the abdomen, starts right under my breastbone and then my entire belly and hands swell up. I went to see a specialist in NH, I live in NY but am waiting to hear on some tests. Very frustrating for sure.

Hi - I'm Kathie. I've only recently been diagnosed with IBS, but I've suffered with the symptoms on/off for 20+ years. To make it more interesting, I also have lymphocytic colitis & a gluten sensitivity (not quite an allergy). For me, following an Atkins based diet, avoiding wheat/grains plus high fiber veggies, taking a probiotic (and lansoprazole) & committing to exercise has made a world of difference. I allow myself some freedom w/these restrictions about 1x week and I'm still able to avoid the brutal symptoms that used to plague me. I truly have found the delicate balance that work for me - I credit my gastro specialist for helping me get my life back. (As a bonus, my menstrual cycles have improved substantially.)

Hi everyone!

I'm Caryn, 28, and I've had IBS since my early teens, but was finally diagnosed at 21. Over the last five years I've really learned to control my cravings for trigger foods, and learned how to balance what I'm eating. Even with controlling what I eat, I still have flare ups due to stress.

For the last three years I've been taking Hyoscyamine (Levsin?) about 30 minutes before I eat a trigger food. I really only take this about 2-3 times per month, and when I do it's always when I'm at a restaurant or having a glass of wine. I hate taking this since it makes my throat and eyes extremely dry, but it does work. I also was prescribed an anti-anxiety that I use for big events- my own wedding, a 7+ hour plane ride, etc. This I only used about 6 total times last year. Following a low fat, high fiber diet and exercising 3+ times per week is what's really working for me. I love using MFP to monitor my nutrients, especially my fat intake.

I'm glad this group exists and I'm happy I found it!

Hi Im cherry 42 I have ibs d started in 1995 when I was pregnant after 8 years infertility treatment it lasted till 2000 when I had my scond child and went until 2004 when I was pregnant with my youngest and has stayed this time?
I have it very bad at imes I cant go too far without a toliet being near certain foods make it worse.I know stress and anxiety make it awful and the last 3 years have been awful.
When eat better it become 80% differnt symptons.
I feel this rules my life always having to dash to the loo in minutes without warning
x