No One Understands

by Katie
(Arkansas)

I have been dealing with IBS for my whole life practically. For as long as I can remember I have always been stressed and anxious and worrying about every little thing. Now at 16 years old I just feel like I can't go on anymore. No one really understands what it's like to suffer with IBS. The only person I have met with it is my mother and even she doesn't have it that bad so I feel weird trying to talk to her about it. I don't know what to do because I'm starting high school in the fall and I'm just very nervous about what is going to happen. What if I have to go during class? Will the teacher let me? What if someone hears me in the bathroom? Will they make jokes about me? Will I lose friends? Will I even be able to go out to something as simple as the store or a dentist appointment without having to go to the bathroom? It honestly sucks so badly because no one can help me deal with this. And I have no support from anyone (maybe because I have only told a select amount of people) but even then they can't help me and I don't blame them because they just don't get it unless they suffer to. It is a horrible condition and it makes me even more hurt that it is incurable. I've taken a lot of medicine but nothing seems to work. I don't want to keep switching my body on and off of pills so I'll have to rely on them. Nothing helps unless I'm at my house relaxing but I can't stay in my bed forever. I miss out on exciting things and ruin a lot of experiences for me and other people because of this. My anticipatory anxiety makes my IBS act up even more because I'm always wondering "what if?". I just can't seem to stop thinking about it and I can't seem to find anyone who cares to listen to me talk about it. I don't know what to do anymore I just want it to go away. Now. I think it would be great to talk to some people who suffer also but I can't seem to find any...so here I am.

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No One Understands

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Mar 12, 2013
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Mar 12, 2013
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Nov 17, 2012
 I live one day at a time. I know your pain.
by: Anonymous

I perfectly understand what you are going through. I have to be 2 minutes near to a bathroom all the time or I panic. I have to plan every move outside my house in detail so that am always near a bathroom. I have my 'getaway vehicle' nearby in case I have to rush for It. I have to take my daughter to school in the morning and it is agony. I dont want her to worry about her daddy at this age but sometimes she asks me why I an so silent and grim. The simplest expedition outside my house involves so much hassles that I generally dont go anywhere. I work for a reputed firm and I have been sidelined because my inability to go on tours. I dont have many friends for obvious reasons. I would gladly trade this decease for cancer. But I have to live for my family. I have great capacity to take the pain and I will keep on moving one day at a time.
Oct 21, 2012
 I can sympathise!
by: ak0827

Katie, your symptoms match mine to a T. Im 17, from England, and i have suffered with this so bad over the past year, i left college after only 1 year because i was taking that much time off, it was pointless me being there! It has had such a drastic effect on my social life as, just like you, i dread going anywhere for a prolonged amount of time incase of 'needing to go' Its so hard to find people who understand why you never want to do anything and in my case, why im hesitant about looking for a job! Nobody wants to employ someone who constantly rings in sick, or is running for the bathroom every half an hour! and again, like you, my anxiety makes my IBS twice as bad! I worry about everything and also have the constant 'what if's' .. I long to start a relationship, and get a job, but im afraid right now its just not happening :( ... Not to mention how rubbish the doctors are at helping with this condition! I hope one day we can be helped properly, but until then, know that you are not alone...x
Jul 03, 2012
 I know how you feel
by: Michele

Hello Katie! My heart goes out to you at such a young age to be at your wits end with it all. Yes IBS is a nasty distressing illness. My story is that I have had it for 32 years but please don't let that news frighten you. I am a Christian and I can tell you truthfully that only my faith in God has got me through it all these years because i have tried everything the doctors have to offer but nothing has helped. HOWEVER, 16 days ago i decided to seperate the eating of starch and protein at meal times. The simplest way is to not eat potatoes, pasta or rice a with your meat/fish. Milk and yoghurt, cream and those tubs of soft cream cheese are considered as neutral substances so you can make nice creamy meat/ fish dinners but not have the starch things with it. You can also still eat cereal with milk at breakfast! It takes about 2 or 3 days for the bowel to adjust to the changes in eating and you may feel a bit light headed and occasionally 'hungry'in those first few days but that is just the body's symptoms of adjustment. I have just had 2 weeks symptom free other than a slight bit of bloating on the odd occasion! Two days ago i decided to eat starch and protein together (boiled egg and toast) just to see what happened...Result??...IBS for 2 days. .I am sending you this message still in discomfort...Grrr! So in my own case, it is clear that i need to keep starch and protein seperate to keep IBS in check. Try it and see if it helps you. I will pray for you too...

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