1. Obviously, diet does matter. Like Heather says in Eating for IBS, telling a person with IBS that diet has no effect is like telling someone with asthma that smoking has no effect. From what I've seen, Heather's diet is the best diet out there for IBS - D or C or A. Naturally, you will need to adjust it slightly to your own needs, as only you can know what is right for your body and what you can handle and what you can't. But starting Heather's diet - lots of soluble fiber, low fat, careful with insoluble fiber, no diary or red meat, no alcohol or caffeine etc. - is the best place to start. If you're having a really tough time of it, take a few days on only soluble fiber (see the 'what to eat when you can't eat anything' page), then slowly reintroduce insoluble fiber. And no cheating! I know this is the most difficult part - for me, the results of cheating are not worth it, and that deters me. I may slip a little now and then, but especially when you're getting started, stick to the diet. You're doing it for YOU. And you deserve to feel better.
2. Start taking a soluble fiber supplement (SFS). Many people here including myself have had great results with Acacia, but there are many other options as well.
3. Find a way to manage stress. Yoga, meditation, tai chi, hypnotherapy, counseling, just spending 20 minutes a day with yourself relaxing, herbal remedies like ginseng... whatever.
4. Look into antispasmodics. These can really help. The first one to try is peppermint oil - this may be all you need. You can get peppermint oil in capsules (best, most potent way - it's also in Altoids though these are not entric coated), and you can drink peppermint tea (though if you have problems with acid reflux peppermint tea may irritate that). Peppermint oil really helps with cramps and spasms that can cause D and C, plus it's all natural and you don't have to worry about side effects or interactions. If after a few months of using this and all the other tips here you still feel like you need some more help, ask your doc about a prescription antispasmodic. There are two types (besides peppermint oil): anticholinergics (i.e. Bentyl, Donnatal, Levbid, Librax etc.) and direct smooth muscle relaxants (*I don't believe these are available in the US!* i.e. Modulon and Dicetel, which I personally have just started taking). The latter has virtually no side effects, the former has side effects similar to antihistamines (drowsiness, dry mouth, dizziness, blurred vision, these mostly go away after a few days or a week of using the drug). Prescription drugs should be a last resort. There is no pill to cure or manage IBS: you must do that with diet, stress management etc. But antispasmodics can definitely lend a much needed helping hand, and many of us do need that helping hand at some point in our lives with IBS. So, the moral is - drugs should be a last resort, but you shouldn't feel like you've failed or anything like that if you decide that you need one.
***There are other prescription drug options that your doctor might offer as well. These include low dosage anti-depressants and special IBS drugs like Lortonex and Zelnorm. If you are considering any of these, there are lots of people on these boards that can offer you advice.
5. Start taking a probiotic to replenish the good bacteria in your gut, like acidophilus and FOS - remember that these take time to start noticing results, as long as a month to 6 weeks in some. But stick with it. You may also consider digestive enzymes before meals to give your digestive system a helping hand, especially with meals you know you will have some trouble with, like meals that are a little higher fat than you usually eat.
6. Use herbal remedies to handle other symptoms - like fennel for bloating, chamomile for anxiety and relaxation, ginger for nausea etc. For women, if (like many of us) your IBS always flares up around the time of your period (usually right before), consider taking a herbal PMS combination or evening primrose oil during the rest of the month to help balance the hormones that send your IBS going wonky. If gas is a problem, consider an OTC gas product like Gas-X.
7. Capitalize on the benefits of heat. A heat pack can be a life saver for literally stopping painful cramps and for subsiding D, as it really helps to relax the stomach muscles.
8. Start a regular exercise program. A healthy body is much better able to handle anything, including IBS. When I started exercising more I was amazed at the results. Whether this is simple like walking 30 minutes a day (or 15 minutes twice a day) or chasing the kids at the park, or more intense like regular spurts on the treadmill and weight training, do something that will keep your body regularly active. Also find a multivitamin that works for you.
9. If you're IBS-D or if you get D, keep some Immodium on hand. You can use it at the first 'rumble' to help prevent an attack, or if you must to stop an attack, and they are especially crucial when you simply cannot be rushing to the bathroom when you need to, like going out for the night etc. Don't overuse it though: it has a tendency to stop working as effectively (you'll just have to keep taking more). That's not true with everyone, but if you can get yourself working properly on diet and other options that's much better. That said, some people do chose to take it daily (i.e. take one every morning) to help get them stabilized, and that can really help.
10. Find a community where you can talk with openly and honestly with other people with IBS and where you can ask questions of people who've been there. Wait! You've already done that because your reading this message board! Good for you! Really, this board has been so helpful to me; the support one gets here is so comforting and encouraging and can really help you get through rough times, help you make important decisions about your health, and help you meet some great people going through a lot of the same things you are and who don't mind hearing you talk about embarrassing things like poo and farts! LOL
Well that's my spewing of advice, aka what I wish someone had told me when I was diagnosed.  Really the best advice is to read this site page by page by page. There's so much great info here that I could not live without!
Now my question for everyone else: what do YOU wish your doctor (or anyone else) had told you when you were first diagnosed?
Laurel.
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10 things I wish my doctor told me when I was diagnosed with IBS
