Reged: 04/26/04
Posts: 1490
Loc: New York, New York
For me it means being able to plan and live my life as if I don't have IBS. It doesn't mean never feeling bloated or never having an attack. It means keeping things manageable through smart food and supplement choices, getting enough sleep, etc. It means not freaking out every time I have to take a car trip or eat at a restaurant. I know that I will get through it. When I do get an attack, I know that it will pass, I know how to control it, and I don't let it affect the rest of my week. I think some people forget that this is (so far) an incurable disease. Don't confuse "stable" with "symptom-free," because there is a huge difference, IMO.