Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: You hit the nail on the head!

Angela,

You're right! I think it's terribly hard for others to understand the debilitating effect and the amount of pain that IBS can cause. I even get people saying "are you better now"? as if it's something that will just go away.

On one hand it's annoying because you think that if they really cared they'd make an effort to understand, but on the other hand when I think back to my pre-IBS days I realise that I never really gave good digestion a second thought and would have found it difficult to imagine the daily struggle that is IBS.

Having said that though, I do believe that if someone really cares for you they should make the extra effort to try to understand. I think the fact that both your parents are going with you is a good thing and shows that they do care. It looks like it may take a lot of time and persistence but I'm hoping that eventually they'll come around for you.

One thing that helped my husband to really understand was the companion CD that comes with the IBS Audio Program. I think you can buy it separately as well. It is designed specifically for family and friends to listen to, to help them understand what you're going through.

One thing I've realised too is that this IBS is hard on my husband and son as well as being hard on me. I know my husband feels frustrated that he can't fix it for me or find a way to "cure" me. And although he has never complained once he has had a dramatic change in his life too, different food, cancelled plans, not eating out as much, etc, etc.

I gues I'm lucky that he has accepted it all and supported me so much and I'm sure that in time you parents will come around too.

I'm really thinking of you Angela,

Kerrie

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What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

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