I keep forgetting to mention it, but one of my lovely IBS Tales volunteers is in this month's Cosmopolitan magazine, hurray. It's a fairly brief article because it's part of a larger feature on food and healthy diets in general, but it's still a good article (November issue, UK edition).
Probably the best thing about it is that they have used an almost full-page photo of the IBS sufferer (thanks Andrea!) and she's all dressed up to the nines and smiling, and looks very at home among all the glossy glamorous stuff.
This is very important because IBS does sometimes suffer from an image problem, both because people imagine that IBS sufferers are generally older people or those who have 'let themselves go', but also because IBS symptoms themselves are so unglamorous. But if a glammed-up woman can stand there and say "Yes I have IBS, what's your point?" then that can only be a damn good thing.
I just want to say how much reading your blog has cheered me up (and not in a thank god it's not me way).
I can't tell you how scary it is to be starting a PhD with IBS, how horrible it is to be married and your husband as understanding as he is, be frustrated with you (how sexy can a person feel when their bowels gang up on them on a daily basis).
Reading your blog has given me hope and has cheered me up no end (even though I'm in tears as I write this). I can see that I'm not alone and that while IBS is horrible and depressing and everything that has ever been mentioned, and that there are a fair few doctors and even more ordinary people out there that are idiots, there are people like you who can see the lighter side of the condition, that doesn't let it stop them too much and that I feel knows the daily fight it is to lead a 'normal' life.
This might be the wrong place to put this, and I hope I've not offended you. All I really want to say is thank you so much for making me feel I'm not alone.
Hi Liz - welcome to the site, and thanks very much for your kind comments. It's great to hear that I've cheered you up, even a little bit, because that really makes it all worthwhile.
Like you say, IBS can be a constant battle to live a "normal" life, and non-sufferers often don't appreciate that. But WE know what it's like, which is why it's so important that we support each other and stick together. You're definitely not alone!