Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: A Hello and a request to college kids

Hi Shannon,

I don't know if you have all the info you need yet for your article or not, but I thought I'd send you my IBS comments as well. I am an 18 year-old freshman at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, and I am a vocal performance major and planning on getting a second degree in either Italian or Theater. I have had chronic abdominal pain originating from food poisoning for the past four and a half years. I've been diagnosed with endometriosis, fibromyalgia, IBS-C, and possible Celiac Disease. I've experienced severe weight loss due to my IBS symptoms and increased pain after eating anything, and I have visited over 100 doctors across the country, tried countless medications, and restricted my diet to try to control my IBS.
* Do you think your IBS is caused by stress?
-I think my IBS is aggrivated by stress, not caused by it. Stress makes my pain more intense and makes me feel crampy. I also get more sensitive in terms of nausea and how I tolerate foods during stressful times.

* Do your symptoms get worse around the time of midterms or finals?
-Last term during finals week I felt just awful. I had six finals and two funerals to go to, so I wasn't doing well emotionally or physically. My symptoms tend to get worse during tense periods of time, but this isn't consistent.
* What kinds of foods can you make/eat at school? (Super easy, cheap recipes that can be made in the dorm would be a plus!)
-I make Thai Kitchen Rice Noodles without the oil or flavoring packets and add plain salt and pepper. I have rice cakes with jam, muffins I make from home, plain turkey, chicken, fish...my diet is extremely restricted. I stick to plain meats (not red meat), veggies (except potatoes), fruits, and rice. I avoid dairy and use soy milk (I do eat eggs, though), refined sugar, wheat/gluten, most oils (I use canola oil and eat flaxseed for my main sources of fat as other sources make my reflux and IBS worse) and foods that I am allergic to (almonds, cherries, blueberries). This is very tough being a college student, and the dining services at school have tried to be accomodating, although they do screw things up once in a while. I get scared to eat at the dining hall sometimes because I never know how things were made. Since I live a few miles away from campus, I bring homemade foods to school and keep them in my fridge/freezer.
* Have you explained your condition to roommates and friends?
-I usually tell people of my condition as it is such a huge part of my life. I am in constant pain, so it's not something I can easily forget about. Most people are surprised when I tell them about my IBS, but they are concerned about it and always seem very empathetic.
* Do you ever drink alcohol or caffeine? (two popular college substances)
-Never alcohol, but I do drink diet soda occasionally.
* How has IBS affected your social life at school?
-Very much. I am always thinking about how things affect my health. I have to reserve time to do pilates and stretching to help with the bloating and muscle pain of my IBS and fibromyalgia. I have to get at least 8 hours of sleep, so I have to make sure I go to bed relatively early. I still go out and have meals with friends, but it's hard when so many social situations center around food since that's what triggers my IBS.
* How has IBS affected your school work/GPA?
-I have always maintained a high GPA and work ethic no matter how I'm feeling. If anything, IBS has caused me to work harder to forget the pain.
* Have you explained your IBS to your professors?
-Some of them. Most know about my IBS. They are very accomodating.
* Have you ever considered (or have) droppped out of school due to IBS?
-I have considered it, but I think it's important to not let IBS rule my life.
* Have you used any college resources to help you with your IBS?(Student Health, Counseling Center, Disability Support Services, Yoga classes at the school gym, etc.)
-I do my pilates in my room with a videotape, and since I live so close to home, my doctor is in town. It's so wonderful having my family here to help.
* Any other anecdotes relating to college and IBS
-There are times when my IBS gets so bad and it's hard to see others so happy and not having to worry about what they eat. Being able to eat anything you want is such a luxury. I wish I had more people on campus to whom I could relate in terms of IBS pain and the problems we IBS sufferers experience.

I hope this information helps you! Thank you for writing this article. It's so important for people with IBS to be aware of others who understand and are going through the same things!

-Alisa

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