Hello, all. My name is Tom, I'm a 20 year-old college student who has been living with IBS with D since age 14.
I've been reading this message board on and off for a few years now. You guys wouldn't believe how much of a relief it is to see other people dealing with the same issues I deal with alone in my everyday life. You're all a great inspiration to me. With Lexapro and an IBS-friendly diet, I've been able to keep my symptoms relatively under control for about a year and a half now, though the occassional sense of urgency and occassional symptom are still pretty strong.
For the last several months, I've been haunted by my IBS in regards to the way it shapes and affects my personality and my progress as a human being. Because I have IBS with D, I'm constantly fearful of any kind of travelling or doing anything that would involve being in an "unkown" place. I am always turning down social invitations, chances to be with friends and family away from home or school and recently, I've been having to turn down invitations to seminars relating to my major throughout the state because I would have to travel to them in a van full of six other people.
What I'm getting at is, I'm fearful that my anxiety related to IBS with D is preventing me from doing things that ultimately affect my ability to grow and develop as a person.
I have so many questions for you guys, and so much to learn.
I'm really curious to know if anyone else here feels that they too have had difficulties developing as a person due to their IBS.
There's a couple of other issues that have been bothering me in regards to my future.
What kind of careers are out of the questions because of IBS? I'm pursuing a career in print journalism as a writer, but I feel that being a reporter is pretty much out of the question because of the amount of travelling a reporter must do. Do I sacrifice my dream for the sake of being realistic and realizing that I wouldn't be able to perform as a reporter?
Thanks guys.
-Tom
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Long-term consequences of IBS on life
