Hi, Chelsea. I was 19 when I started seeing my current bf and we've been together now for nine years. I was first diagnosed with IBS-D when I was 17 or 18--my senior year of high school--so I understand how it can be embarrassing or difficult to explain to someone your age what IBS is. I was really embarrassed too, and I also said I was "trying vegetarianism" or said "I have the stomach flu," but in the long run by not being honest about my IBS I just felt isolated and more stressed!
Although I never discussed it with friends and family until a few years ago (and I'm so glad I did because they've been very supportive and helpful), I did tell my bf early on in the relationship because it seemed important that he know. We moved in together about two years after going out. You don't have to go into details, but I think since you're living with him and it sounds like you're in a serious relationship that "honesty is the best policy." I don't remember the details but I just explained to my bf that IBS is a functional bowel disorder that causes severe pain and makes me have to go to the bathroom a lot (I couldn't bring myself to say "I get bad diarrhea"); I also told him what I could and couldn't eat. Obviously, with IBS-D, it wasn't really something I could hide (running to the bathroom in the morning, after meals, buying Imodium on a regular basis, etc.).
Now that I've found Heather's website and started the diet, I've shown him the cheat sheet and he's been extremely helpful about coming up with recipe ideas and he even double-checks labels for me when he does the grocery-buying! A lot of times we don't eat the same food at meal time, but we do eat together and that's what counts. Plus, he likes a lot of the recipes I try from the site! Your bf sounds very caring and supportive--not questioning your "vegan" diet and enjoying having dinner with you. It's good to have someone like that to be there for you when you have a chronic condition. I think if you accept you have IBS, a condition that won't just go away, you'll have to get past the embarrassment in order to take care of yourself the best way you can. I know it's stressful to make excuses for your diet, and I can't imagine not having a BM at home for 11 months!
I hope you find a way to discuss it with him. Let me know how it goes!
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