1、When my doctor informed me that I had IBS, I thought all my problems were over.At last! There was an actual reason why I was experiencing all those miserablesymptoms. Symptoms that ranged from inconveniencing to incapacitating.Symptoms that didnt follow any rules and could pop up at any time of day
2、tothrow a monkey wrench in a plan, or ruin a social event. Well, all those ickymedical tests were worth it because the mystery was over. Let the curing begin!Then I asked my doctor what IBS was. He told me it stood for Irritable BowelSyndrome., I said.He said, “IBS is a functional bowel disorder of
3、the gastrointestinal (GI) tract,A diagnosis of IBS has been reported by 10 to 20% of adults and symptoms of IBSare responsible for over 3 million yearly visits to physicians. Researchsuggests that IBS is one of the most common functional GI disorders.IBS exhibits a predominance in women, representin
4、g over 70% of IBS sufferersIrritable Bowel Syndrome is the catch-all diagnosis that is given to people who areexperiencing symptoms, usually chronic, with their gastro-intestinal system thatare not being caused by a known GI condition or disease. A large percentage ofpeople who suffer from IBS have
5、found that they cant cure it, or make it go away.The best they can do is make changes, through trial and error, in their diets andlifestyle to tone down the symptoms as much as possible.“How exciting” “And what is that exactly?”characterized by abdominal pain and alterations in diarrhea and/or const
6、ipation.“What isIrritable Bowel Syndrome?An easy-to-read pamphlet for people who do not have IBSwritten by Molly, and designed by e-fiona, members of the IBS Self-Help Group Web Sitewww.ibsgroup.orgPeople with IBS dont talk about it very much.People with IBS are not obsessed with their bowels.IBS is
7、 not contagious.IBS is not “all in our heads”There are many IBS symptoms.Dont take my condition personally.I cant always help being late.I cant control how often I get sick.Sometimes the only thing that helps is space.Its not funny when you have to live with it every day.There is nothing a person wi
8、th IBS wouldlove more than to only have to explain their health condition, and their healthneeds, once and only once. Unfortunately, most people dont get it the first time.Or they think its just a temporary problem that will go away by next time. And soIBS sufferers find themselves having to bring u
9、p the subject the next time. andthe next time.Have you ever heard of an asthmasufferer who was trying to explain their condition being called? And youd never hear of someone describing their heart condition beingcalled, . But because our GI systems are such a taboosubject, people who try to explain
10、their GI problems are labeled,and sometimes by their own doctors!Im not going to make you sick. And if Im in a relationship withyou I still need you to hug me and love me.Its true that stress can compound the symptoms, but the“all in my head“ routine makes us feel like were being called crazy. Belie
11、ve us,were not crazy, were just not feeling well.Some not even related to sitting on the toilet. And formany people with IBS, the symptoms are frequently changing.Just because I dont want to go out doesnt mean Idont want to spend time with you. I cant always go places where there are nobathrooms, bu
12、t maybe we could go someplace that does.If Im late, its not because I didnt plan or didnt care, Ijust cant help it. If Im not where I said Id be when I was supposed to, I might bearound the corner in the bathroom, but trying to get there.And if I wasnt putting in a constant effort to keepmy symptoms
13、 toned down, I would be getting sick even more often. Please dontmake me feel worse than I already do by accusing me of .If I dont feel like being with anybody, thatmeans , not just you.You know, everyone should be ableto laugh at themselves, but there is a limit. To quote someone from the IBSBullet
14、in Board,Sometimes the best way to show a little compassion, is to show a little tact.“respiratoryobsessed”“cardiovascularly obsessed”“bowel obsessed”,“always being sick”anybody“If I hear another spastic colon joke I may totally lose it!”.16.7.8.9.10.11.12.13.14.15.Thanks for your understandingThank
15、s for taking the time to read this brochure and forunderstanding what its like to live with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.Whether you are a family member, friend, or co-worker of someonewith IBS, your understanding is very important to them.When a person develops IBS, their body becomes a very difficultp
16、lace to live in. By taking the time to understand IBS, you havehelped to make their environment an easier place to live in.IBS Self Help and Support Groupe-mail: ibsibsgroup.org Web: www.ibsgroup.org Copyright 2005. All rights reserved.YOU DONT HAVE TO COPE ALONEJoin us on-line at www.ibsgroup.orgDo
17、nt worry,What this brochure isNow, youre probably thinking,Relax. Wewant to the details of our symptoms about as much as we want to hearyour mother describe going into labor with you. This brochure is not about IBSsymptoms, its about how living with these symptoms impacts a persons life.Besides, the
18、re isnt enough room in this brochure. Two people who have both beendiagnosed with IBS could be experiencing symptoms that are exactly the oppositefrom each other. One of them might only be able to eat certain types of foods that, ifthe other person ate them, would trigger a severe IBS attack. One of
19、 the frustrationsand dangers of having IBS is that whenever you get advice, theres a real chancethat it could be bad advice for you. IBS is not a true diagnosis, its a catch-all termthe medical community uses when theyve ruled out everything else. And it reallyshould stand for, “Im Basically Stumped
20、”.One thing that most IBS sufferers have in common is that itshard to communicate to the people in their life about whatits like to live with IBS. There are several reasons for this.First of all, talking about problems with your GI system issocially taboo. I mean, yuck! Its a topic youd associate wi
21、than infantile comedy routine, not with a conversationbetween two co-workers, or two people out on a first date.Second, like many chronic conditions, it changes how aperson gets through their day. It makes simple dailyroutines, like going to the bathroom, or ordering food,complicated and difficult.
22、And different. And when your dayis different from everyones around you, it can be veryisolating and hard to explain.Unfortunately, people with IBS often find that they have to explain over and overagain. In restaurants, in the office, on trips, and at home. Because even though 20%of the population s
23、uffer from some form of GI difficulty, the other 80% have amental block about believing that its really real. Or that its really as bad as peoplesay; that theres a genuine difference between having a bad stomach for a few daysand having a chronic condition that effects your whole life.“Ooooh, I want
24、 to hear thedetails of those symptoms about as much as I want to hearmy mother describe going into labor with me.”tell youIBS is a high maintenance condition.IBS is not temporary.Im not a picky eater.When Im having an attack, I need space.The rules are always changing.Im not using IBS as an excuse n
25、ot to do things.You cant simply take a pill and make it go away.And it takes a constant effort to keep it from getting worse. Things like questioninga waiter about the ingredients of of every dish or always checking to make surethere is a bathroom nearby may seem like an inconvenience. But theyre no
26、thingcompared to the inconvenience of triggering an IBS attack because you ate thewrong food, or not being able to get to a bathroom in time.Its not something you get over in a few days or even weeks. Youmay never get over it.I just dont want to get sick. Please dont push me to eat foods Ihave alrea
27、dy said “no thanks“ to. I know what my stomach can and cant handle.Please give me my space when Im in thebathroom. I appreciate your concern, but you cant help, and your hovering justcompounds my embarrassment.And so are the symptoms. Medicines, or herbs, or aspecial diet that was helping to keep a
28、persons IBS symptoms toned down maysuddenly stop working. New symptoms often appear out of nowhere. Foods thatdidnt bother a person with IBS for years could suddenly trigger a vicious attack.One of the reasons IBS is so difficult to explain is that it keeps changing.Making plans to go out can be rea
29、lly scarywhen the symptoms (and the rules) can change at anytime. Please respect thatthere are times when I cant go out, even if I want to. And please dont look at mefunny when I ask if the place were going to has a bathroom. Understand that thiscondition is completely unpredictable. If we go out to
30、gether, be prepared for me torun off at any moment to find a bathroom.1.2.3.4.5.6.The top 5 listThis brochure was put together with feedback from an IBSSelf Help Group website. A question was posted on the IBSBulletin Board,The following list hasmore than five items, but many people listed similar t
31、hingsand agreed with what other people posted.As you read this list, please keep in mind that whoever gave you this brochure didntdo it to accuse you of everything on this list. They gave you this brochure tocommunicate with you the day-to-day issues of living with IBS. Its an embarrassingcondition
32、to describe, and its a difficult lifestyle to explain. This brochure is a way ofhelping you to help whoever gave you this brochure find ways to live as normal anuncomplicated lifestyle as possible: To not let IBS run their life, or ruin it.“What are the top five things you wish peoplewho didnt have IBS could understand?”were sparing you the details!www.ibsgroup.orgwww.ibsgroup.org
