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Thank you all for your support and helpful hints. It means a lot to me to have support to get me through this "mourning period" and also the rest of my life with IBS. My meds seem to be working pretty well (still a little gassy at times, and i'm ALWAYS ready to fall asleep..not good in college) so I'm becoming more optimistic
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"I'd rather a half hour of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special"
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I felt the same way when diagnosed, and then when nothing ever worked and my life was controlled by diarrhea (and all those embarrassing and trying ramifications) my depression got worse. My doctor put me on an anti-anxiety/anti-depressant (Effexor-XR), which also helped to lesson IBS symptoms for me. That worked great for a while, but most of those haven't been tested for long-term use and can only be used for about 6 months safely. After two and a half years on it the medication started to effect me badly (loss of short-term memory, hyper energy, wild laughter--signs of manic depression) and I had to get off the drug and my body had to return to "normal". Things were really bad when I got off, not only dealing with stabilizing emotions, but also returning diarrhea. Panic attacks were back, despair and hopelessness filled my heart.
Then two great things happened. 1) I found Heather's book and this website, which has been a tremendous help in managing my IBS so that diarrhea doesn't control my life anymore, and this forum has given me friends and co-survivors who understand the worries, fears, problems, and questions that come with dealing with IBS. The moral support of this forum has been fantastic, and 2) I discovered that I needed to go deeper with my Christian faith. I had to learn to trust Christ in ways that I hadn't considered before. It ended up being a blessing in my life spiritually.
Most of us on here have felt just like you feel right now. An IBS diagnoses means a lifetime of having to eat carefully and be constantly aware of your emotions and how you're dealing with stress. However, as have been mentioned already, this ends up being a good thing for us health-wise, we end up feeling better, losing weight, etc. The initial mourning over the loss of the care-free lifestyle we had hoped would return some day is tough, though. We're all rooting for you since we've all been there and know just how you feel. This has the potential to make you a much stronger person than you ever dreamed possible. Hang in tere!
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I know how you feel-I've probably had IBS all my life-but was just diagnosed 4 weeks ago. Of course I have to have a colonscopy before it is "official" I was upset also today thinkng about giving up coffee, chocolate, pop and most meats. I am working out what I can eat-i'm trying soy milk because I love dairy (was raised in WI!!!) But I had rice and shrimp for dinner and feel better-i can hardly wait until I can buy Heather's books 
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Welcome Browneyes,
I also am a newbie as of about three weeks. I had a severe attack on sept. 4 that earned me a trip to the ER. All this while on the other side of the country.
I can't speak for all but yes this can be quite depressing. It is uncurable but apparently managable. Heather's books and advice seem to be helping for me.
I too was extremely depressed when I realized that I couldn't eat the way I usually do. This is extremely difficult for me. I had to laugh when I got to the chapter in "IBS the first year" when Heather talked about slowly getting out again, traveling, eating out, and how these are the most difficult things for ibsers to get through. You see, I am an airline pilot. I work 7 on 7 off, the 7 on I am away from home, all over the country, flying a small jet the size of a ford 15 passenger van with an emergency toilet. All i do is travel, eat at restaurants, and spend hours at a time away from a bathroom, not good when you're IBS D.
I say all of this not to make my situation look worse(we all have it bad) but to encourage you to know that we are all facing difficult circumstances and to hopefully encourage you in the struggles you are facing.
How depressed can you get? Only you can determine that. I am not a licensed counselor yet but have several courses completed toward a master's in counseling.
I think without a doubt that an IBS diagnosis can be depressing but if you are consumed by depression all of the time and it begins to control your life please seek professional help. IBS definitely changes your life but depression can destroy it. I have to admit that when I'm home I rarely think about it. When I am on the road however I think about it all the time, especially when i am in a cab for an hour, on the hotel van to the airport or when i crawl into that tiny cockpit knowing a bathroom will be sometimes as long as 3 hours away. I think these things are natural. If you have IBS D especially (somtimes for me I only have 10-20 minutes that i can hold it at best) it's almost impossible to not think about the whatifs. When you start to retreat from life that's when it begins to consume you. Don't forget that according to Heather it can be manageable. I just got home from a week of traveling without a problem. I have found some of my triggers already like eating lettuce on an empty stomach, going long periods without eating then eating a huge meal at the end of the day, getting proper rest. These are just some and only found in the first couple of weeks.
Hope my novel has been an encouragement to you. The folks on this site can probably give you better advice than I can as many are veterans and I am just a newbie. It is a great site for getting info and just encouragment knowing you're not alone.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel.
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Luke
<><
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And I got to try soymilk. I never would have done that if not for ibs. i love it!! better than milk although a bit more expensive. i tried heather's pick, vitasoy vanilla. it's great with cereal. a bit too sweet and strong on the vanilla for me so i just add a bit of water. it's heavenly in fact i'm heading for the honeycombs right now.
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Luke
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Hi,
I completely agree with how you feel, when I was first diagnosed I was ok for about the first few weeks, but then I got bored of the few dishes I knew how to prepare and didn't know how to make anything else.
It's almost as thought I went through a mourning for my foods that I missed so badly.
It will get easier and you will become brave enough to prepare the new foods and learn to restock your cupboards and it will become just a way of life.
Good luck and keep your chin up - it will get better.
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Lana_Marie
Proud Mommy to Bentley Taylor
Born May 12, 2004 9lbs, 3oz
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I definitely know how you feel. I hate some of the foods I have to eat some times like all the breads. I go back and forth with what I should eat. Mine started in college and it just got worse through grad school. So I can relate. I can remember sitting through 4 hour classes so uncomfortable. I couldn't do it again. That's great that your meds are working. Be happy if something works, that's my advice. I know easier said than done because like I said I still get frusturated with the breads. Good Luck.
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Hey there,
I know exactly what you are going through! I was diagnosed my sophomore year of college (now I'm a senior..yay)but it changed things dramatically! I actually was going through a depression when I was diagnosed. I am still unclear as to whether the depression started first or if my IBS flarred so badly that it caused a depression (cuz I was hardly eating anything and your mind needs food to function properly). Anyway, I lost a ton of weight, looked immaciated, and I was just so unhappy. Then to be told that I could never have ice cream, store-bought cookies and cakes, etc. just pushed me over the edge!
I have such a sweet tooth and I was so sad that I could never eat my favorite foods again. Then, thank GOD, I found Heather's books and then later this message board! Seriously, you are heading down a much happier road since you found this board! Everyone is going through similar experiences and we all understand your depression over the new food barriers.
Luckily, there are so many recipies on this board and in Heather's books, that you can pretty much make any alternative to your favorite trigger foods. For instance, I was SOOO excited the other night when I made the fat free hot fudge brownies...yes I said BOWNIES!!! I thought I could never have them again  But these where soooo good and even my 7 other roommates were raving about them.
So you see, it is just taking it in strides. At first it seems like you can not eat a thing in the world, but as time goes on, you'll find foods that you can eat or alterations to foods.
The best thing to do is to fight off depression, honestly! It is such a horrible disease and you do not need it on top of your IBS, trust me, I know from experience. Seek help EARLY and don't let it get control of you. That is my best advice. And experiment with foods, you may be surprised!
I hope everything gets better for you! 
Kristen
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I'm glad to hear you are doing better. The Honeycombs and soy milk should help your tummy better than the M & M's you were eating!
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skywalker,
i'm not trying to be mean but, i had to chuckle when i got the mental image of you flying a passenger van with a porta-potty in it...(if you could only see what my warped brain came up with)
i feel for you...and all of us.
for me laughter is what keeps me from going crazy or drowning in the depths of despair. that and a few bites of sushi...
take care and happy travels.
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