Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

Hi, I want to thank Heather for this web site. I have been suffering with IBS-C for as long as I can remember. As a child, around age ten, my mom brought me to a doctor because I constantly complained of stomach aches but he told us that there was nothing wrong with me and sent us home. Because of this I never saw another doctor in fear of it being "all in my head" and just dealt with it. At age sixteen I became a strict vegetarian, eliminating all meat and seafood from my diet, except for dairy and eggs, and began to rely upon laxatives. I always followed what I thought was a healthy diet of whole grains, bran, granola, low-fat dairy, and fruits and veggies (mostly raw). If only I knew before now that this has all been making me worse! I am now twenty-three years old and am married with a nine month old son. I have been under a lot of stress and have had so many changes in the past two years. I never knew of the condition Irritable Bowel Syndrome until recently, when things got so bad (the bloating and pain were unbearable), I went on MedMD.com and learned about it. I went to a doctor for help about a month ago and was diagnosed from my symptoms alone and prescribed the anti-spasmodic "Bentyl" and was advised to eat lots of BRAN and other insoloble fiber foods, even though I told him this has always been my diet, along with soluble fiber supplements. Well, this only made things MUCH worse for me. I saw the doctor again and this time he referred me to a GI specialist; I am currently waiting for him to make me an appointment with one. When I came home I began searching for help on the internet and this was the only site that actually gave me good information without pushing medications and, finally, some hope. I just started trying to get my system stabilized with a diet of soluble-fiber foods only and lots of peppermint tea two days ago and already I feel a small difference, as I'm not as bloated. I am lucky to have a very loving and supportive husband who is supporting me and trying to help me out with it, though it has been very frustrating for the both of us. Again, thank you so much!

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