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Hey all, I'm a newbie here (though I think I've posted once or twice). Welcome!!

I'm 21, almost 22, male... would say where I was from but I've lived in Rochester, Richmond, Chicago, New Jersey, DC, and Montreal. Right now I'm in DC, looking to move up to Albany in January then back to Montreal in a year and a half or so (immigration process = fun).

I suspected I had IBS for a few months so I did the normal thing - completely ignored it. It became just plain too awful though and eventually I saw the doctor. Sure enough, that was it, and yes he did rule out the other possibilities.

I was on a med for a bit, Nulev I believe, but you couldn't exercise while taking it so I had to stop. My work is pure exercise, stocking shelves at Trader Joe's (which, by the way, is a very good grocery store for IBS folk). Oh cool...do you get a good discount on all your IBS safe foods?? Good place to be at lunch too...if you did not bring your own...LOL

I haven't had a normal trip to the bathroom in ten months now. I blame myself first and foremost - I've been absolutely terrible about sticking to the diet. But the Tummy Fiber arrived today and I'm making a strong commitment to following it. I wonder when I can expect a normal trip to the bathroom... just one would ensure me sticking to the diet. You have to stick to the diet.... I myself have not tried the Tummy Fiber yet, so I can't answer that... but I do take another SFS 3 times a day and would not give that up for the world!! I'm assuming your IBS-D?

I do have some questions. Tobacco is bad, but how about marijuana? I gradually gave up drinking over the summer but still smoke pot, and, to be truthful, quite often. I don't need to know if it's good for it (because if it's great then I'mma become a pothead ) but just whether or not it is bad for it, heh. I have found that it relaxes my digestive system but doesn't change the... "end result," should I say? So the pain is gone, but that's it. Sometimes, though, that's all I'd ask for. I'd say it's time to give that up....and speaking from experience.... those "munchies" CAN'T be good for you following the diet.... I don't think when you are in that frame of mind that IBS safe munchie foods exist! IF, your going to keep doing it....keep a "pot diary".... what what did you eat before smokin it, durring, what kind of munchies, and then after.... how did you feel...tummy, bathroom trips etc.

What convinced me to start following the diet? Stomach rumblings, extremely loud, every five minutes in class the other night. Talk about embarassing. It was absolutely awful. P.S. The class was almost three hours long. I totally understand where you coming from.....glad you were not a stuburn male for too long and went to the Dr.

Oh, and a bit about me. I'm finishing my B.A. in Literature at American University. My minor is Cinema Studies which is what I want to pursue in real life. I have a girlfriend who lives in Albany (thus me finishing school early and moving there) who is quite supportive of me and my IBS-ness. I'm a hockey nut. I >STUDY< hockey, not just live it. OK, hockey nut.... you stay in touch and let us know your progress..... My bookshelves are nearly all hockey books, literally. And, since I've lived in DC for a while, I'm politically-minded, extremely liberal and quite passionate about two issues, gay marriage (or civil unions for all, preferrably) and the right to choose.

So that's my long-winded intro. I work almost full-time and am a full-time student but will try to say hello to everybody whenever I can!

Edit: I just realized I might have posted this in the wrong forum. If it's a problem, can it be moved?

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