I just found out that my reoccuring stomach issues, that started during pregnancy and have worsened since, are caused by IBS. I live with my boyfriend and our 8 month old son now. He definitely doesn't understand what I go through, and I can tell that he thinks I'm being a drama queen a lot. But I know he can't even relate; he has a stomach of steel- nothing upsets it or bothers it ever! He can eat whatever he wants w/out ever having any sort of gas, bloat, pain, or discomfort. And his mom is a very stubborn woman (with a lot of control over him) and she often tells him and I that I overexaggerate my condition because her friend has IBS and she gets along just fine. Her attitude really frustrates me. She doesn't understand that maybe my case of IBS is different from her friends. She doesn't understand the stress I'm under being a full time college student and mother to an 8 month old. She doesn't understand how little sleep I get since my baby doesn't sleep through the night yet. She thinks she undertands IBS but how can she? She has never experienced it. Not only that, but She hates that I can't eat the greasy, fatty food that everyone prepares at her house/holiday parties and rolls her eyes when I apologize for my food sensitivites. I'd say that his mom's attitude towards my IBS hurts our relationship more than my boyfriends! Sometimes though I wish he'd be more understanding when it comes to my lack of sleep and consequent IBS symptoms. When our son wakes up 6 times a night for a few days my stomach gets pretty bad because I'm so exhausted and he just can't relate or grasp that lack of sleep influences my gut- thus, he thinks I'm a drama queen. Seeing as I was just recently diagnosed and I've just now started changing my lifestyle/diet I guess I'll have to hope, see, and pray that my relationship can stand up to my IBS (and his mother!!).