I’m posting a page today called simply “Please Help IBS Tales!” because that’s exactly what I need – your help. Running a website can be tough some times.
I’ve run the site since 2003, and I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that I love it. It’s certainly helped me through my own IBS trials, and I think it’s helped others too. I believe that it’s a genuinely good, honest site about IBS, and that’s why I want to see it doing well.
So – please do help if you can. That might be through promoting the site on Twitter or Facebook, linking to the site from your own website, making a donation, or any other help you can offer. A full list of ideas is on the please help page.
Thanks for reading.
Sophie: thank you for your website. I was distraught for a long time until I found it. My daughter was only 10 and what she had to go through was heartbreaking. Lots of docs had lots of procedures. Well-meaning people made useless suggestions about her diet. Internet searches were all one liners linked to some drug. When I found your website I was so relieved. I could read stories from people with the exact same problems, finally. And the suggestions were actually from real people who had been through it. There is NO OTHER site like this. And if anyone suffers from IBS, it is lonely and embarassing and sometimes humiliating and after having the door slammed in your face (or another colonoscopy offer) its downright depressing. I donated 25 dollars via my paypal and I sincerely hope you stay afloat. It would be a terrible loss. Best of luck Sophie.
Thanks Tommi, that means a lot to me. I’m so sorry to hear about your daughter – I was 12 when I started having symptoms, and it’s tough to struggle with IBS at such a young age, and it must be very tough on you too. I hope your daughter is doing much better now.
Thanks again for your very kind donation – I’m hopeful that IBS Tales can recover.
Madam, I am very much thankful to you for providing a lot of information regarding IBS – its symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, medicines etc. I find your monthly IBS Tales very very informative and useful. Madam, you are doing a very very best service to the entire world. IBS in India, is such a disease that most of the people don’t know about the disease. Even Doctors find it difficult to treat the symptoms. I think IBS patients should be given proper counselling and support along with medicines. Your IBS site is really commendable. Once again many many thanks Madam.
Hi,
TRACT SYNDROME…not IBS…shall we change the name so we can easily and openly talk about it? Or does someone have a better suggestion? My daughter has suffered since she was 10 ..she is 19 now. I just read “Sophie’s Story.” THANK YOU! I felt like my daughter could have written that book.
Sarah
Hi Sophie, I would just like to say that this is the best IBS website that l have come across. I have had IBS-D for nearly 4 years now and l have searched the internet repeatedly for anything l could find on IBS but l never came across your website until l bought your book from Amazon and found ibstales. I found more support and comfort from your website than any others and if there is anyone suffering from IBS who is associated with google they would surely put your website as first to view on their page. I am about half way through your book which tugs at my heart for the struggle you went through, l shall be leaving very positive reviews about it (l think you deserve a medal for soldiering through so many years with your ibs, and without any positive help). THANK YOU VERY MUCH for your website, l hope it continues.
Thanks Mohan, Sarah and Jay, I really appreciate your comments.
@Mohan – I do hear from quite a number of people in India with IBS, it does seem to be a big problem there, but I guess it’s a big problem everywhere unfortunately. Hope you are well today.
@Sarah – I really, really dislike the name “irritable bowel syndrome”. Firstly it’s just embarrassing, and then because it sounds like such a mild condition that couldn’t possibly cause more than a touch of discomfort. I’m very sorry to hear that your daughter is a fellow sufferer, and I hope that she is OK at the moment.
@Jay – thanks Jay, that’s very kind of you! And I’m really glad you liked the book – a review would be terrific! It really helps me to know that other people understand the reality of IBS and sympathize/empathize. I always wanted IBS Tales to be a place where people just simply told the truth about IBS – not all that stuff about it being in your head or only happening to uptight stressed people, but the real truth about who it affects and how it changes your life.
Hi Sophie, my name is Angie and I’m not sure if what I have is IBS but its getting to me! I have diarrea along with constipation, gas and bloating, and even some pain on my right side. I mentioned it to my Doc and he recommended Metamucil, so I just started taking it the last 2 days and see where it goes… Can you please advise me and maybe even help me with this? How do you get diagnose with IBS if it is this?
How can I know if I have IBS?
Hi Angie – have a look at this page: http://www.ibstales.com/diagnosis-ibs.htm which is all about the diagnosis of IBS. You’d need to have had symptoms for at least six months and the symptoms would need to match a particular pattern. There’s no medical test like a blood test for IBS so your doctor would also need to rule out any other conditions (s)he might be concerned about like celiac disease or lactose intolerance. Best of luck!
I just need to make sure you are real. Too many problems with my intestines since I was 12 years old. I am 39 now. As you can imagine, I have had my share of doctors, procedures, clinics, ER visits, medications, diets, etc. to no avail. Please help me!
Hi Ara – I’m definitely real, but I can’t offer medical advice I’m afraid. Have you been diagnosed with IBS? Have you looked in the treatment reviews section of this site for some ideas?
Hi have read through a few stories about ibs but has anyone tried the new FODMAPS diet from australia?
Apparently they are having brilliant success with it, it can be found on google .
No harm trying it I would grey anything if I suffered like so many people
I have been recommended by my GI a fodmap book from the Monash University in Melbourne and I have also ordered the food intolerance management plan by dr Sue Shepherd THey are in transit at the moment so am looking forward to reading and trying them out. Apparently they are having good success with IBS sufferer era. I can only hope so as since having my gall bladder my Ibs has got so much worse