yeah. they tell me it's not a 'bad' diagnosis cuz no permanent damage is being done to my insides. what 'bout the damage to my life? ya know?

I'm sorry to hear this. "" Ditto here. I know how frustrating it can be. Especially if you have nobody to talk to, we end up talking to the people that think by eating oatmeal or taking Miralax solves all the problems. What gets me is that when someone has the flu for 24 hours, the whole world is totally sympathetic to that person. But if I am stuck on the toilet 8-10 hours a day every day of my life from IBS, it's like, yea, so..go see the doctor/shut up, is if I hadn't....sorry you are frustrated...I know I get that way too.

I think even doctors don't get it unless they themselves have IBS. I love my GI doc, but he kind of pushes things aside if the diagnostic tests come out negative. Then we went to talk to my family doc, who I found out has IBS. She understands the symptoms and has other ideas of treatment that she herself uses. It was such a good visit and I'm so glad I decided to share my symptoms with her. No one can understand what we are going through unless they have been there themselves. I've had IBS for so many years and if I had a dime for everytime I heard "it's nothing serious" I would be rich.

YES!

Abslutely. If its not a visible ailment, with a treatment available to cure it, it's not real. Cancer most people seem to understand. Seems like anything else--i.e. ah, it won't kill you, what's your whining about? And it's just. Suuuuure you're sick. Uh-huh.

But truly, without ever having experienced it yourself, it's hard to fathom what someone with an invisible illness is going through. My friend has psioratic arthritis. I can't imagine what it's like for her. I honestly don't even know how to support her except to listen to her and encourage her. But then I guess that's all anyone can do for someone else.

A lot of doctors, unless they see it on a scan, or biopsy it in a lab, they don't see it as real. Fortunately, my GP has IBS so she's a great source of info for me. A lot of them too, do see it as real, but don't know enough about it to treat it. They feel that if the standard treatment they are aware of doesn't work, then you just have to live with it. They need to investigate it more, and they need to find a cure already.

People soooooo dont get it. Even those closest to you think "go to the bathroom, whats the big deal?" Yeah right. Let me tell you, I am 54 years old in May and have had this condition for nearly 30 years! It has been the worst thing to happen to my physical condition. My back gave out due to constant bending over, and my mental health went to pieces when I couldnt deal with no being able to work, having accidents, etc.

It is absolutely correct that because it is naked to the publics eye, it doesnt exist. I have an estranged son who hasnt seen me or spoken to me in nearly 5 years. One of his main problems is that I was sick his entire life growing up and it ruined his childhood. I had to run through stores looking for bathrooms dragging him behind me. Also made him go into the bathroom with me which of course was upsetting to him, but I couldnt leave a young kid standing alone.

So after that long answer, no, people dont get if they dont have it!

Im sorry.....they dont get it if they dont have it. sorry left part out,duh

I lose my insurance in May and talked with a insurance person to help me find insurance. I was all worried about my depression eliminating me from getting reasonable insurance. Turns out IBS is worse! If my doctor has declared my IBS as severe its automatic denial! (As is being bi-polar) This will force me into high risk insurance which is 7500 deductible and about 600 a month! Obamacare, you have to be without insurance for 6 months before getting accepted. Yeah, tell me again IBS is just a figment of my freaking imagination!

yes, Drs not understanding or sympathetic at all. Took months for them to finally find out I had IBS and they my GI Dr was like here take this pill and come back in 3 months. No help at all. I would work my 8 hr shifts at work without eating or drinking anything all day to avoid bathroom issues. Don't eat if I have to go anywhere or take a road trip. Friends and work colleagues all assume I have an eating disorder since I wont eat at all in public to avoid bathroom issues. So frustrating and hard to have a life!