Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | hey everyone, I�m a newbie here :)

Hey everyone,

This is my first post so I might try and introduce myself.In the first place, I�ve been suffering from IBS ( mainly gas and extreme pains) ever since I was about 7 years old - now being 23 that makes about 15 years
of suffering

I�ve spent so many days (and years) in school in stomach cramps that I felt like dying and it makes me cry everytime I think about it. I just never had a normal childhood/teenage/young adult experiences like everyone else.. I had to spend too much time dealing with my bowels..

Anyways, I just got my bachelor�s degree in business last year and I�m about to start a Master�s program this month... apart from IBS I�ve developed severe anxiety/insomnia/social anxiety in college. Last year was the worst, I had so many mental issues that I hardly passed all my exams and by now I�m not really sure how I made it to graduation.

I�m gonna be a part time student now and I found myself a part-time job in a small shop to help me cover some of my expenses. I�m not really sure how I�m gonna be able to handle that, especially my stomach.

I�ve already tried a few antidepressants but most of them have the same effects on me - constipation and urinary problems ( running to the bathroom all the time). I feel like I really need some antideps to help me get through this tough period of my life... to help me deal with school stress and all the stuff that comes with it.
Has anyone here had a good experience with IBS - friendly antidepressants that don�t cause constipation?

I�m at the point of my life where everyone around me is thinking about their future and talking about future jobs/careers... and I feel so lost. I can�t imagine having a 9-5 job, sitting somewhere in an office for hours in terrible pains, that�s just not acceptable for me, I�m not willing to spend the next 15 years of my life suffering in silence.
I was actually thinking about becoming a translator, so that I could work from home and adjust my schedule to my IBS ( that makes me so mad, having to plan everything around IBS

). But that would require next several years of education ... I like languages but I�m not really sure if I can make it, considering my mental and IBS problems.

What do you guys do for living? Did you consider IBS as an important factor when choosing your job?

Anyways, tomorrow is the first day in my new job ( it�s really just a small job but I�m already stressed out - the anxiety is creeping in already)

I think I need some advice and support from people who know how hard it is to be "normal" when you have IBS and want to find a job.

Thanks for reading and any advice will be appreciated.

Savannah

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