I have been living with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) for over 20 years. I always had a sensitive stomach, but while in college I began to experience an enormous amount of stomach pain. I went to the doctor, who put me through a battery of tests, the worst being drinking a bucket of barium. He decided it was an ulcer and put me on medication that did nothing for me, since it really wasn't an ulcer.

After my daughter was born in 1994, I again had a flare up of the pain and again went seeking medical help. This time I was sent to an Internist, who after 10 minutes of questions properly diagnosed me as having IBS. I was put on the anti-depressant Nortriptyline to take daily and Dicyclomine to take as needed for the pain. This combination really helped reign in my symptoms and help me function again.

Over the years I have found several ways to keep IBS under control in addition to the medication. I have cut out many foods that cause me problems anything fried, greasy, or rich. I don't eat pork or beef, either. I eat salads, soy milk, and fresh fruit and vegetables. I also exercise almost every morning; this helps reduce stress and is worth doing even when I don't feel like it. I try to eat smaller meals and I drink plenty of water. I absolutely have to get enough sleep on a regular basis to feel well. These are common sense things I should be doing for my health, anyway, so I find I am better off for having learned to deal with my IBS.

My symptoms are pretty well under control at home; traveling is very difficult for me, however. Last June I went on a trip to Guatemala and I did not fare very well. Though I enjoyed the trip, the combination of heat, unusual foods, the stress of flying, and lack of sleep caught up with me. The standard IBS symptoms of diarrhea as well as vomiting took over and by the end of the trip I was barely well enough to fly back. A doctor that was a part of our group told me that people with IBS are more susceptible to traveler's diarrhea. I am scared to travel again, but hopefully next time I can beat the odds.

What works for me may not work for everyone with IBS. Through a long process of trial and error, people with IBS can discover what foods to avoid, what methods work to relieve stress, and what lifestyle changes to make to cope with this condition.

Learn more about this author, Tricia Osterholm.
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