ANONYMOUS’S PERSONAL STORY

I’m 24 years old and I’ve been suffering with IBS since I was 12. This illness has ruined my life. I had to drop out of high school because of this. I had plans to be an on-campus student and that didn’t happen either. This is my first year in college due to my IBS symptoms and I will be attending it online. Alone and away from any and all social interactions.
I don’t even know what I want or can go for anymore. My original plan was to be a nurse. I don’t see that happening right now.
What sort of job will ever hire someone who needs to run to the bathroom five times an hour? What sort of employer is going to put up with someone calling in all the time because the pain is so intense that they can barley get out of bed. How do you even explain this to an employer? My boss, by now, is irritated because having ‘stomach aches’ isn’t a good excuse not to come in.
It isn’t just a stomach ache. It’s so much more and no one other then other IBS sufferers seems to get that.
This illness is horrific and it blows my mind that something this terrible can’t be cured. There’s not even any decent medicines out there for it.Change your eating habits, more fiber, no grains, prunes, apple juice, miralax, ect…ect…ect.. I’ve been through all these things and nothing has worked.
The pain of IBS is bad. But the effect it has on your life and how people perceive you is even worse. I’m not lazy, I’m not looking for an excuse not to work and I’m not being a baby about things. This pain is severe and it’s real. And it would be nice if someone researched IBS before judging me about it.
Here’s to the hope that we all feel better soon.
-Becka
Comment
I feel you girl! I am 23 and have had a very similar experience. College was rough and now working in a school is even rougher but I guess just reading these stories really helps me and trying to find people to live with who respect your needs and moodswings is all I can do as of yet.