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Hey Mags- Haven't spoken to you since I met you at the fall sprawl. I'm going through a tough time right now. I just started dating a new girl and I'm really holding back from talking about my situation. It's been so stressful that I almost have attacks when I'm out on the dates because I don't want to really get into the full details right away. Not something you want to bring up when someone is trying to get to know you better. It's been really rough and I just can't seem to gauge when it's going to be the right time. I just hope I don't have a major incident when we are out together. I just can't forget watching her eat a grill cheese w/bacon and a cup of coffee! Right then and there I knew it would take a bit of explaining down the road.

Anyway....we'll see how it goes. How are you by the way?

I'm going to Vegas again for a convention in January. Hopefully it won't be too cold. Anyway, look forward to seeing everyone again the near future.

Rob (not the shoe guy)

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Hey Rob not-the-shoe-guy! LOL

I haven't had much experience in dating since I've had IBS. But, if you remember from the Fall Sprawl, my BF Mike told everyone that I told him from the beginning, and that's exactly what I did. I told him I wanted to get it out of the way right up front, and if he couldn't handle it, then that was fine. But, he's been 150% supportive since the beginning. Of course, it took him awhile to actually understand. It does for us IBS-ers and it's happening to us, so imagine how hard it is for a non-IBS-er. One thing that I did do for him was give him the IBS explained for people who don't have IBS. I just gave it to him and told him to read it later when he had a chance. After he read it, he actually thanked me for it, because he said it helped him a lot. He's actually the only person I've ever given this brochure to.

If you can, just casually bring it up sometime and say something like you have tummy troubles sometimes, you're healthy but you have a sensitive stomach. And explain how it's like senstive skin - there's nothing physically wrong, but certain things irritate it. And, then just tell her you wanted to tell her ahead of time in case you got sick one time while you 2 were together, so she'd know what was going on and not to worry. That would probably take a lot of stress off of you and you could enjoy yourself more! Or, does that seem like too much?

But honestly, if she's going to get all freaked out over it, you'd rather know now. If this is someone you plan on being with long term, she'll find out eventually. And, if she doesn't want to stick around because of it, why would you want to be with someone like that?

Have fun in Vegas! I'm looking forward to the next sprawl too!

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