Hi!

Great idea. I've had IBS (D) for about two years now but 'stomach problems' all my life. I'm in second year (which I guess is 'junior' in the states, right?) at the University of Western Ontario (in London, Ontario Canada) studying English literature and cultural studies.

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* Do you think your IBS is caused by stress? Yes, definitey! (well, not intially 'caused', but if you mean attacks, pain, cramps etc, then yes!)

* Do your symptoms get worse around the time of midterms or finals? Yes, when I'm really busy my stomach goes haywire. Usually finals aren't too bad, as I think someone said, because you get all this time off to relax and just study (without having to worry about anything else). But anytime I'm really busy it's usually worse.

* What kinds of foods can you make/eat at school? (Super easy, cheap recipes that can be made in the dorm would be a plus!) I also live off campus (and always have) but when I take food to eat at school it's usually bagels, melba toast, rice cakes and rice crackers, mini applesauce cups, bannas and stuff like that for snacks, or soup in a thermos, a sandwich, leftover rice... etc....

* Have you explained your condition to roommates and friends? My roommate is also my boyfriend and he knows ALL about it. Most of my friends know about but they don't know any of the details, just 'stomach problems' which means that there are lots of things I can't eat. The guy I tutor actually also has IBS (D) so we can talk pretty openly about those sorts of things.

* Do you ever drink alcohol or caffeine? (two popular college substances) Nope. Alcohol's a tough one to give up in college because it's such an aspect of the social culture. I can't tell you how many times people I don't or barely know have asked me "why aren't you drinking?!" at parties. Sometimes I have fun coming up with elaborate and silly stories though. Drunk people believe anything, lol. I also really, really miss caffeine in pulling all-nighters (like last night! lol). I really can't do them like I could before (with caffeine)!

* How has IBS affected your social life at school? Very much so. Although I'm not a terribly social person to begin with, I'm much more reluctant to go out and actually HAVE a social life, and often I just opt to stay in. Anxiety about having an attack or cramps etc. at a party is a major deterrent (not to mention USING a bathroom at a house party or bar! eek!) Even just going out with friends, if someone mentions 'let's go get some food afterwards' or 'come over I'll make dinner' I usually make up some excuse and cancel. Sad but true.

* How has IBS affected your school work/GPA? No not really. Even lying in bed with a hot pack and getting up every five minutes to go to the bathroom I can still study, lol. Certainly more difficult sometimes though - especially balancing lots of different stuff and assignments without going insane and getting absolutely sick, but I manage.

* Have you explained your IBS to your professors? Just to one prof whose class (which is only held once a week in the evenings at the end of a particulary long day re: class-hours) I had missed quite a bit. Since I had missed so many classes I emailed her and explained (not in person!) and she was really understanding. I've never had to get a doctor's note happily, but I'm sure I could do that easily. I can only remember one class where I've had to run out (a few times, ugh that was a bad day), but the prof never said anything about it, thankfully.

* Have you ever considered (or have) droppped out of school due to IBS? No.

* Have you used any college resources to help you with your IBS?(Student Health, Counseling Center, Disability Support Services, Yoga classes at the school gym, etc.) I use Student Health but only because it's my primary doctor while I'm at school. I do yoga but not at school.

* Any other anecdotes relating to college and IBS. I think that eating at regular times, getting lots of sleep and lots of exercise, and taking supplmements religously really help my IBS - well I know, as that's how I am usually stable in the summers. All those things are really hard to fit in during the school year though. My schedule is never constant, I'm often running out of the house without bringing food (which means I either starve or buy sometime semi-safe), I'm stressed and busy lots of the time, I have little time for exercise or adequate sleep... it all adds up usually to just getting by while having pretty regular attacks, and kind of just accepting that that's the way it is. I use Immodium when I absolutely *cannot* have an attack (like a three hour exam!!) though. Not surprisingly then I guess I'm much more social in the summers, because I'm usually feeling better most of the time.

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