Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

Ugh, I am so sorry to hear that your co-workers are so insensitive and rude. It's rude enough of them to not respect your food/eating values. People who eat Kosher, Vegan, Vegetarian,, etc., should not be ostracized or teased for their preferences, imho. Seriously, it makes me angry to hear that you are being treated this way.

If I were you, since mentioning IBS may be too much for their petty minds to handle (sorry I don't mean to insult your co-workers, but it's truly petty behavior), tell them you have a few severe food allergies or intolerances that affect you greatly. You are not abstaining from donuts because you are a snob, you are trying to save yourself from being in serious pain. And even if you were abastaining from donuts for another reason other than IBS, you probably don't need to go into too much detail. Imho, they don't deserve a long explanation.

Well, it stinks though, because it's not fun adding tension to the workplace by being uncomfortable around your co-workers. I really wish you a lot of luck, it's a tricky situation. Just try not to sink to their level, You're a better person.

Btw, the last time I had to deal with co-workers grumblinga bout my food choices was when I first started the IBS diet and I was so fickle about it that they hardly noticed I was eating differently than they did, so I don't have any tried-and-true advice. Sorry about that.

I can usually get by with telling people I have IBS, which is Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and is a digestive disorder or disease (whichever word I decide to use) which affects how and what I can eat. Most people go "OH...that sucks." I think the worst I've gotten is pity and dirty looks because why am I trying to eat healthy when I'm already skinny?

Take care, sweetie, hope you can get past this, and concentrate on more important things. You certainly don't need the stress they are causing you.

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XOXO from lil' ol' me.

(IBS-C, mood disorders, etc., etc.)

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