I was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome in my early 20s. I am now 32. I had a colonoscopy performed, and my doctor told me to use Benefiber (a powder in my drinks), get plenty of exercise, and drink lots of water. Since then, I have gone to the emergency room because I looked very pregnant some evenings. I was just extremely constipated. I learned to deal with my instant pregnancies right before I started getting major pain in the right side of my stomach some evenings. I thought I had an erupting appendix! Back at the hospital, I learned to deal with that and the constant changes from diarrhea to constipation. Published: October 27 ::

I was diagnosed with IBS as a college student, 35 years ago. A barium enema test was used to rule out non-functional disease. The triggers back then remain the triggers today stress and alcohol. Bouts may last only a few days or go on for months. Yet there have been years where I have had no symptoms. The symptoms are mixed. Constipation always occurs with bloating. Diarrhea may be loose stools or very frequent stools. Pain is concentrated on the left side and lower back. Relief after a bowel movement is very brief. The pain returns very quickly and is then even more intense. I liken it to a hot poker up the rectum. I had a colonoscopy 4 years ago that was negative. Now I am about to get another as the doctor suspects diverticulosis. Published: October 13 ::

I was diagnosed with IBS when I was 17; I am now 32. I have also always suffered with anxiety, which I have found definitely has an effect on my IBS symptoms. It comes and goes, and I have been able to recognize certain triggers, for example, when my period is due, I have diarrhea and cramps. If I drink tea or coffee, I immediately have to use the bathroom, etc. My symptoms cycle through constipation and diarrhea alternately, and the pain is usually in my back or on one or other side of my abdomen, sometimes dull and nauseating, sometimes sharp. Heat pads help. At first I was given Colofac, but I don't use them now. I occasionally take peppermint oil capsules, but to be honest, I don't find anything does the job very well. I prefer to avoid known triggers if possible and deal with the symptoms. Exercise helps too; I walk a lot these days. IBS is very unpleasant but can be coped with. The longer you have it, the better you get to know yourself and your own symptoms and triggers, because everyone is different. Published: September 09 ::

I was diagnosed about 15 years ago. I have had problems going to the bathroom since my early 20's. I am now 39. I have taken Lithium for 20 yrs, due to my body does not produce enough as well as I am considered bi-polar. I had tests after tests and still nothing showed up. Yet I could be cramped over in the bathroom half a night wanting to die it hurt so bad. Just this last month I went 13 days in a row with no bowel movement. I have increased my fiber, and a take a stool softener every night. I am as frustrated as everyone else out there. It’s definitely a way of life for me, but the older I get I am working harder to find ways to lessen the every day burden for me. I am going to doctor on Monday mainly because I have not gained weight (# wise) but I look like I am 5 months pregnant in the belly. Now that is bothersome. Published: July 25 ::

I am a 38-year-old mother of one and grandmother of two. I miss out on a lot of things going on in their lives as my life has been taken over by irritable bowel syndrome. I can barely eat breakfast or lunch and only a saucer-sized meal for dinner. My stomach swells up as if I'm four months pregnant. Whenever I swallow food, I get severe pain. If I eat gluten-free food and gluten-free drinks, I'm 100% fine. If I have any regular food, the pain is unreal. Published: March 31 ::

Last week, I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with IBS. I’ve always had discomfort in with bowl movements. It seemed as if anything I ate or drank triggered a hard bowel movement that would have me bent over the toilet, hurting. For a while, I just thought that was normal. I would eat, and then by the end of that day or the next morning, I would have a bad bowl movement. So, I started only eating once a day to try to solve this. I didn’t have health insurance, so I couldn’t afford to have this checked out. So now, six years later, I finally have health insurance and a doctor. He put me on a medication called Amitiza. It made me nauseous, gave me stomach pains, and it made me have to urinate a lot. I didn’t have as many bowl movements, but when I did, they still hurt a lot. Instead of the bowl movements being hard as a rock, they were runnier, softer. But they still hurt. So I had a follow-up exam. My doctor says he wants me to take Bentyl for now, which is a form of muscle relaxer. It’s supposed to help with the cramping you get from IBS. He also wants me to take fiber, such as Metamucil. I don’t see how the fiber will help. That will just cause me to have more bowl movements, which hurt. And the Bentyl isn’t a long-term drug. So, now I’m not sure what to do. Published: November 25 ::