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IBS, who really wants to talk about it? You can laugh, I have heard many jokes and laughed along with them (which is actually a good tip to anyone out there with this condition). If your open about it, it becomes easier to live with. That fact is that something as easy and normal as using your bowels is, for us, a bit like learning to ride a bicycle. You know the basic principles, you know how it works, but when you put it into practice it takes a while to master. You may think talking about your bowels in such a way is a bit wrong but there are a great many people out there who suffer the same condition and like me, it may affect their everyday lives. It is an embarrassing subject to discuss and so I imagine many people suffer alone.

I was diagnosed with IBS in college when I was 16, which is actually fairly young as most people develop the condition with old age. (Don't think I didn't hear enough jokes about that!) For me, the main trigger is stress, whenever I feel the slightest bit stressed something jolts in my stomach, and I know I have to retreat to a safe place...namely the loo. One, because with IBS it is common to suffer diarrhoea or constipation, or both. Two, because if anyone is around (in the loo they are usually just nipping in and out) they ask you if you are alright. Don't get me wrong, I like to see that people care but when your doubled over in pain, you cannot reply with "I'm fine" so the only alternative seems to be explaining your highly embarrassing medical condition. I've tried this before, it results in a red face and a shy "So, erm... is...is there anything I can do?"

My current job had, as normal, a medical form to fill in. I filled it in, gave it in and received a phone call a short while later. The lady did not know what IBS was, so i had to explain it to her. Then came the awkward questions;
How often does it occur? whenever it feels like it..hence why it is also called 'spastic colon' Do you take medication? yes
Does it still happen? yes
How do you help it? let's see..how do I help my irritable bowels, I think it's a safe bet to say regular trips to the toilet don't you?

Personally, I have no problem with talking about it, I have lived with this for three years so I am fairly comfortable with it now. It is funny, especially in some situations like the ones above. It should be known however that it is a very painful condition, despite being treated in the past I am usually in some discomfort and often have terrible pain around my midfriff.

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