The diet definitely helps... but it is a catch 22 as well because I used to eat an amazingly healthy diet, and because my tummy is sooo sensitive, I am forced to go heavy on the sugar and white flour. So, I gained 12 pounnds in a year since finding the boards(i'm 5 foot 4). It's particularly emotionally painful for me b/c I was a chubby kid and got teased a lot... I worked very hard in my adult life to stay healhty and get in shape- which I did- but thought I was DYING because my IBS-C, and bloat were so debilitating. It just feels like anything that helps also hurts. I work in a call center right now... and i don't mean to demean them, but the one I work in is particularly trashy and low class. I have a masters degree in English & used to teach at a few colleges... I picked up and moved to a warmer state 6 years ago because I couldn't bear having layers of clothes on my body during Chicago winters b/c my bloat was sooo severe. Once I moved I just couldn't take on any jobs that demanded anything of me & I couldn't get a job at the colleges that paid enough to live- honestly. Then my IBS just spiraled out of control and I've been stuck ever since. I'm finally moving back home to Chi... just scary trying to figure out how to negotiate my life and care for IBS. I try to explain to people that it is sort of like having a screaming baby that you can NEVER put down. EVERY decision I make is predicated on my gut. Does anyone else feel like that?