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So glad your feeling so well and finding relief by letting others know what you are dealing with. I have a problem trying to explain this IBS too, not because I'm ashamed, but because I'm afraid others will react like it's no big deal. "just a little tummy ache". "I could have cancer after all"! People who don't have this will never understand the hold that it maintains over every aspect of your life.

So, Mags, besides following Heidi's IBS diet, what else are you or have you found useful: a certain probiotic, a certain SFS or dosage, digestive enzymes, cal/mag, fish oil? Any other things besides the diet? I'm struggling big time, but I'm a C right now, not a D like you. But perhaps you still may have something that helps.

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Hi Augie - I think the major things that helped my IBS is Heather's IBS diet, hypnotherapy, and exercise. I also take a calcium supp, but that wouldn't be good for your C. Believe it or not, exercise helps BIGTIME. I can tell a big difference when I start slacking off (which I do every few months because I'm naturally lazy! LOL). I take probiotics (Jarro EPS) at night and the peppermint caps too, but I don't know if they help or not. I also take Heather's acacia, and I don't even take a high dose. Only 1 1/2 tsp in the am, and again in the pm. I was taking Citrucel Clear Mix before that. The first time I tried acacia, it didn't work for me. This time it did. And I'm really happy about that, because I love supporting Heather and also it's MUCH cheaper!

And, honestly, I think one of my big triggers is the fear of having an attack when I'm out and when I'm with people that don't know, that makes me more likely to have an attack from the stress of it. So, telling people makes me feel LOADS better. Does that make sense?

I hope you get stable soon also. It took me awhile to figure out how to get stable. I have learned that one thing you have to have with IBS is patience!

HTH! Good luck!

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Hey Mags- Haven't spoken to you since I met you at the fall sprawl. I'm going through a tough time right now. I just started dating a new girl and I'm really holding back from talking about my situation. It's been so stressful that I almost have attacks when I'm out on the dates because I don't want to really get into the full details right away. Not something you want to bring up when someone is trying to get to know you better. It's been really rough and I just can't seem to gauge when it's going to be the right time. I just hope I don't have a major incident when we are out together. I just can't forget watching her eat a grill cheese w/bacon and a cup of coffee! Right then and there I knew it would take a bit of explaining down the road.

Anyway....we'll see how it goes. How are you by the way?

I'm going to Vegas again for a convention in January. Hopefully it won't be too cold. Anyway, look forward to seeing everyone again the near future.

Rob (not the shoe guy)

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Hey Rob not-the-shoe-guy! LOL

I haven't had much experience in dating since I've had IBS. But, if you remember from the Fall Sprawl, my BF Mike told everyone that I told him from the beginning, and that's exactly what I did. I told him I wanted to get it out of the way right up front, and if he couldn't handle it, then that was fine. But, he's been 150% supportive since the beginning. Of course, it took him awhile to actually understand. It does for us IBS-ers and it's happening to us, so imagine how hard it is for a non-IBS-er. One thing that I did do for him was give him the IBS explained for people who don't have IBS. I just gave it to him and told him to read it later when he had a chance. After he read it, he actually thanked me for it, because he said it helped him a lot. He's actually the only person I've ever given this brochure to.

If you can, just casually bring it up sometime and say something like you have tummy troubles sometimes, you're healthy but you have a sensitive stomach. And explain how it's like senstive skin - there's nothing physically wrong, but certain things irritate it. And, then just tell her you wanted to tell her ahead of time in case you got sick one time while you 2 were together, so she'd know what was going on and not to worry. That would probably take a lot of stress off of you and you could enjoy yourself more! Or, does that seem like too much?

But honestly, if she's going to get all freaked out over it, you'd rather know now. If this is someone you plan on being with long term, she'll find out eventually. And, if she doesn't want to stick around because of it, why would you want to be with someone like that?

Have fun in Vegas! I'm looking forward to the next sprawl too!

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If anyone remembers from a long time ago, I never told ANYONE about my IBS. Well, lately, I've been telling my family, friends, etc. Anyone except people at work (they are a bunch of immature jerks, but that's a WHOLE other story). Anyway, I just have to say it feels so good! OMG - I can't believe how much of a relief it is. It definitely takes away from the anxiety and awkwardness. I don't just go around blurting it out, BTW! (Hey everyone! Guess what I have? LOL) Usually, it comes up when food is involved and I say I don't eat dairy (why does EVERYTHING have dairy?), they ask if I'm lactose intolerant, and I say no I have IBS. And each and every time I survived, no one said anything mean or rude, they didn't try to fix me (telling me what I should be doing), lightning didn't come down and strike me, nothing, nada.

Well, I just had to share that! I really consider this another step in my progress. It has been exactly 2 years now since I discovered Heather, and my life is completely changed. I can't believe how different I feel from 2 years ago! Thanks Heather! And thanks to everyone here!

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Mags...that is wonderful.. I'm so glad you are able to open up to people about it... I know if made a world of difference when I did. Yeah for Mags!!

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hehe - Thanks Shell! It's amazing how big of a difference it makes!

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I know what you mean. The more people that I tell, the easier it gets and the more liberated I feel! I hate lying and people sometimes ask more and more questions depending on what I say I can't eat.

So at my BF's family's place last weekend I told them that I have IBS. They kept asking why I wasn't eating the cheese, then the salad, and then the desserts. It was so much easier saying that I have IBS and they have no idea what that means so they just let me eat what I knew was safe. YAY!

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LOL - Yeah, I've found that not too many people want to know further details! Why are people always worried about what everyone else is eating anyway? Before IBS, I didn't pay attention to what I ate, let alone what anyone else ate!

Glad you're feeling better coming out too!

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mag 2003 thats great you told everyone. i wish i could do the same thing to. i just told my realtives only. some realtives are very understanding like my wife is. jasper

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