Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Me, a 21 year old

I'm so upset about what appears to be true, that Irritable Bowel Syndrome is what I have now.
I have several questions about this disorder, the first of which is how the heck can I, a 21 year old male, have Irritable Bowel Syndrome, as most people who have this are middle age women?

A few weeks ago I found out I was lactose intolerant. The doctor asked me to go off dairy and wheat products for a week, and see what happened. I unfortunatley forgot beer was a wheat product. Anyway, when I did this I noticed my symptoms were done, but not gone. When I would eat egg saled or peanut butter, I would feel bloated.
The main symptoms I have are excessive bloating, so bad that for a 21 year old who is in shape I look extremely fat, and constipation or diarhaha.

I notice that when I have hamburgers, mayonaise, egg saled, seafood saled, omlets, deserts, especially cookies which give me diaraha in minutes, peanut butter, beer, roast beef, all make me bloated instantly.

I have several questions
1) Can I have lactose intolerance and Irritable Bowel Syndrome, how common is it to have both?

2) This is such a pain in the ass and it's hurting me and my life. I am 21 and in college, I want to be able to meet up with friends and eat out with them. I have tried this and when I do, I order a sandwich and the stomach is bloated. I can't live like this, I have to be able to eat something at sandwhich restaruants, I can't eat my meals at home, I am an active person. What the heck do I do here?

3) Alcohol. I am in college, and while drinking a lot is not the most healthy thing, I need to be able to drink sometimes. I can't sit there and be the only one not drinking, this is so boring, but I can't tolerate the bloating. Alcohol is one of the worst Irritable Bowel Syndrome triggers for me, but for God sakes, why does the lord have to curse with this bloating? It is unreasonable to ask me to give up alcohol and eating out, I am a college student trying to have a social life, I can't be saying "Sorry, I can't go out to eat because of my stomach", and have to eat by myself.

4) I'm trying to gain muscle, meaning I'm trying to gain weight, how do I do this and diet for Irritable Bowel Syndrome at the same time?

5) I live at school and now eat in the cafe, I also have to eat out a couple times a week. What can I eat that won't cause me to get bloated? I have to be able to eat out.

6) So is it true, I can no longer drink, go to bars, eat out, have pizza, enjoy life, I have to stay inside and shelter myself from fun because everywhere I look there is some trigger for this? How the heck can I live a normal life and not be bloated?

7) Will lactaid pills help at all, so far they have not done a lot.

8) Worth asking again, why is that I a 21 year old male likely have Irritable Bowel Syndrome, I am not a woman, this is awful news.

9) Could I get a sample diet to allieve Irritable Bowel Syndrome, what has worked?

10) Does this mean I can't eat meat anymore, I have to stick to rice and chicken as my food?

11) Hypnosis, the cure, is it?

Edited by Volatile (04/15/05 09:29 PM)

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