Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

I am new to this site, but it is the best resource I have found online that explains what is likely going on with my body. Due to a lack of medical insurance and available resources, I haven't technically been diagnosed with IBS.

When my symptoms suddenly showed up a little over a year ago, I shrugged it off to stress (both work related and life in general) and never bothered to see my doctor. In the 7 months that followed, my symptoms, in general, didn't get any worse, but they didn't get better either. Then when some things changed at work, and my stress level sky-rocketed, they started to get a bit worse...more frequent...yet I still didn't see the doctor. [I don't have much faith in the doctor's in my area (mid-western New Hampshire) as I have had issues with having other problems shrugged off as "all in my head"...they never really listen.] Anyway, my thoughts were that it was still stress related. After an additional 3.5 months of work hell, (I was very unhappy with my job anyway), I resigned...deciding to try and find something that I would really enjoy going to work to do. However, despite the significantly decreased stress level, my symptoms have not gone away or have they gotten any better.

Finally, last week (after a 3 month "vacation"), I realized that it's not just stress and made an appointment with a doctor. She has had me do stool samples (still waiting for results) and wants me to have a $2000 test done. My problem is that I have no insurance, don't dare get a job right now, and can't afford to have that test done... I know that it's important to rule out other causes of chronic diarrhea, but *sigh*

After my doctor's visit last week, during which she mentioned that IBS was a very likely possibility based on my symptoms, I did some more checking online...and finally found HelpForIBS.com. Over the weekend, I made a few dietary adjustments following the guidelines stated on this site. And while, my symptoms aren't entirely gone...my BMs are much closer to "normal" (before last year) and there isn't as much urgency to them as before, so I feel like I have more freedom already.

I apologize for the length of this post (as well as if I put it in the wrong category), but I wanted to say thank you for this very informative and straight forward site as well as putting my story out there for any suggestions, tips, comments...

Thanks.

Print Remind Me Notify Moderator