Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

I think mine started from stress. I was married the first time in 1982 when I was only 21 and very naive. He turned out to be extremely controlling and verbally abusive, always yelling at me, making me cry and generally just so miserable that at times I actually did not want to live anymore. To top that off, his elderly parents lived with us and I took care of them as well.

He tried to alienate me from my family because he wanted all of my attention all the time. I went to work with him, ate lunch with him and went home with him. No freedom. I had a son and went back to work when he was 5 weeks old due to money trouble he had caused (he was a chronic spender).

By about 1986 I was so sick I went to a doctor because I had so much trouble eating and keeping it in. His diagnosis (wrong at the time!) was gallstones (and no, I do not have them and never did). He put me on the gallbladder diet and I lost 100 lbs and have kept it off ever since.

My husband at that time then lost his job, didn't try to get another one and was out of work for 3 years while I worked regular shift and overtime (16 hours a day) trying to make ends meet. By that time I was married for 11 1/2 years.

Needless to say, I finally left him (that was 11 years ago) but the damage was already done.

I am presently remarried to a wonderful man who is really easy going and very good to me. But I get nervous over almost everything even though I try not to. I try to keep my life as simple as possible but it does not always work out that way. Since my ex and I share a son, he still calls and upsets me with yelling and threats.

I have a good job but at times the stress is very high. Over the last year it's been nothing but stress, between both my ex-husband and my new husband's ex-wife and children and work. I finally had to go back to the doctor because I've hardly been able to tolerate most foods, but I'm working on it day by day.

If people would only remember to treat you like they would like to be treated the world would be much nicer.

Barbara

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