Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: Survey! When IBS Began

Hmmm, if I think back, I've had tummy trouble for a LONG time!! My grandma tells me stories of when I was 5 and 6 with tummy aches all the time, so that could have been IBS back then.

I really got sick when I was 17. I was away on exchange in Italy for 3 months. I got sick there with a virus, and was eating a lot of unpasturized cheese, milk, etc. I came home and I couldn't eat anything. I got sicker and sicker. The drs did elimination diets - no milk, no meat, no wheat, etc. At one point all I could eat was rice products, veggies and fruit. I had all the tests - stool samples, barium tests, endoscopy, colonoscopy, biopsies for Celiac, lactose, etc.

Over two years of testing and finally just before graduation from grade 13 I got a diagnosis of IBS. The GI told me that I didn't drink enough water. If I drank more water I wouldn't have any more problems. He gave me a pamphlet and ta ta, sent me away. I didn't see him again for 12 years. I had to learn on my own what to eat, not to eat, until I found Heather's book, by accident! at Chapters about 6 years ago and it helped me out through a rough patch. Then I kinda went into remission - no problems at all - although I stick to the modified diet. Last Feb my world was falling apart - my dad wouldn't come to my wedding, my best friend and her hubby dropped out of our wedding party and out of our lives completely, my job is SUPER stressful and I can't seem to find another one... etc. So, that is when I found the board online and re-read Heather's book, got myself back ontrack and now I'm pretty stable again.

Thanks to Heather, Mike Mahoney's hypnonsis, some changes in my lifestyle and the love of a damn good husband. I'm also 45 lbs lighter! (A little too skinny) But I'm getting my health back, that is the main thing!

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Cassandra

Live like there's no tomorrow. Love like you've never loved before.

IBS A 20+ years, Chronic Migraines, Chiari Malformation (decompressed June 22, 2010), Brachial Neuritis, and ??? the list just keeps growing, but I'm still shiny side up!

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