Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

Maybe because of the fact I have other, life-threatening, diseases, the IBS isn't such a huge issue for me and I'm able to just go with the flow more(no pun intended!). Although my IBS can get severe at times, it just doesn't bother me like it does you and others I've read on these boards today (I'm a newbie).

I HAVE felt what you are feeling, the despair and loneliness, but not from IBS. I have felt with IBS that people just don't understand always. I still remember a trip I took with 2 women who were my best friends and I had an attack on the road, they stopped 3 or 4 times on a 2 hr trip and finally, about an hour away from home, my friend who was driving said "I am NOT stopping again, so this better be it!" When I was in the bathroom, I prayed God would keep it from happening until I got home and it worked...as soon as I walked in the door I broke off running and just made in the nick of time. My family is understanding about it. I also have an overactive bladder and they would always tease me about how often I used the bathroom when we went somewhere to eat (at least twice!) and it's extremely rare not to have to use the bathroom at LEAST once every 45 minutes or so. But even though they tease me, they don't cut me down for having the problems I do b/c there is nothing I can do about it. However, I have 1 major medical issue that, although it's not life threatening in the sense of cancer or heart disease, it's still life threatening and I've gotten so depressed over that that I contemplated suicide. Now I look back on it and even though I wish I didn't have it, I realized that I was stuck with it, for better or for worse, and needed to learn to accept it. I ended up turning to my writing talent and wrote a poem about it and now when I look back, I can see that it's really taught me things, shaped who I am, and if I could go back and make it so I didn't have it, I wouldn't change anything. If I didn't have all my medical problems, I wouldn't be who I am now and I know the person I am now would HATE who I would have been.

What I've learned with all my diseases and disorders is that even though I may be lonely, no boyfrined (too much medical baggage), I need to learn to depend on myself, but when I find those rare jewels of friends who are supportive, I keep them close and am a good friend to them in return. Maybe for now your support can come from these boards until you find a friend in person who is supportive. Believe me, they are out there, we just have to find them. Of course if someone told me that last year, I would have thought they were crazy!

2 things to keep in mind: 1st, laughter really IS the best medicine, so surround your self with laughter and humorous situations and learn to laugh at yourself or make jokes about yourself without cutting yourself down. An example, not only do I have IBS, I also have GERD and regurgitate stomache acid...so I always got it coming out of 1 end or the other

. 2nd, keep a postive attitude, don't think of yourself as being "afflicted" or some other negative word, think of yourself as a "survivor". I don't know if you are a Christian, but if so, a bit from the bible is that God does not give us more than we can bear. You are strong to deal with this. Think of all the people who don't have what you do, or even people who do have IBS, but not as severe as you may have it. Maybe God doesn't think they are strong enough to deal with it, but you are, otherwise God wouldn't allow it to happen to you. It's as simple as that.

Erin

--------------------
Erin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
IBS-D, GERD...
I got it comin' outta 1 end or the other!

Print Remind Me Notify Moderator