I jumped in and started posting, but I thought I'd say a quick hello anyway. 
I'm 29, and I've had IBS and similar issues since I was about 12. It started with nausea pretty much all the time, and gradually worked up to D. For a short while in my early 20s, it swung to C, and then I developed gallstones. Since then, the IBS has been somewhat cyclical - I'll go a couple years with very few problems, and then I'll spend a couple years in near-constant agony.
I live with my boyfriend, who also has IBS, although a much milder case of it than I have (he never gets the nausea, and rarely gets cramping or pain). I would never wish this on anyone, much less someone I love, but I have to admit that it's helpful to live with someone who's 100% sympathetic, supportive, and understanding.
I have yet to be formally diagnosed. I've seen some doctors for this in the past, and have always gotten the dismissive "it's all in your head" bit. I don't currently have insurance, am unable to work, and can't afford a doctor, so it's been a few years. The one sliding-scale clinic in town that I've found (I'm somewhat new here) is more along the lines of a Planned Parenthood, not general medicine. Even so, I've assumed for years that I have IBS; it responds pretty well to the IBS diet, which I've followed on and off for years without even knowing it (it's very similar to eating for gallbladder problems... and during that time, I had NO IBS symptoms).
I'm about to start in on the IBS diet again... well, I'm eating the diet, but I have to wait till the weekend to get my hands on some soluble fiber supplement of some sort... here's hoping it does the trick, I'm rather tired of being housebound and nauseated all the time. 
Anyway, that's probably enough babble out of me... I'm sorry we all have these problems in common, but after poking around through other boards and livejournal groups, I'm SO GLAD to have found all of you. I think this is easily the best group of people I've ever seen on a message board.
Thank you, all of you!
Casey
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Is there room for another newbie intro?
