Welcome to ibs tales

IBS Tales is a site for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) sufferers to tell their stories and read about the experiences of others. Symptoms of IBS include diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain, bloating, nausea and intestinal spasms. For more information about irritable bowel syndrome itself read the Introduction to IBS.

On this site you will find:

• articles about IBS, its diagnosis, symptoms and treatment, in the About IBS section
• stories from hundreds of IBS sufferers, including Sad tales, Happy tales, and Embarrassing tales
• products, fiber supplements and books recommended by sufferers in the IBS store
• a messageboard to swap stories and tips on all aspect of IBS - the IBS Forum
• my own IBS blog, containing the latest news on IBS and the views of Sophie the webmaster.

To share your own IBS story just visit the Contact me page. You can read the story of Sophie the webmaster on this page: My IBS story.

Here's an example of the stories you can find on IBS Tales:

"I am 27 years old and have suffered with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) for seven years now. I am amazed at what the human body, mind, and spirit can endure without dying. My IBS is predominantly constipation, although years ago when I first began having attacks, it was always diarrhea associated with large quantity, high-fat meals.

For the last few years, my IBS symptoms have changed from explosive, unpredictable diarrhea to having constipation at all times. I have experienced both, and honestly one is not any worse than the other for me.

With diarrhea, I would always get the relief from having the bowel movement, but the number of movements in one sitting could vary from one to dozens, painful cramps coming in waves before each loose stool. I already had two babies before my first episode, and for me, the pain of abdominal cramps during an episode is so similar to transition labor. It is that intense.

Now, experiencing cramps with constipation is totally different. The pain is identical, however I may or may not pass the bowel movement, which sometimes can be absolutely terrifying. Some episodes, while horribly painful, are so common to me that I know I will be okay. I have had about a dozen IBS episodes however where I was sitting on the toilet, cramping horribly, and totally unable to get anything out.

Non-sufferers can never understand the FEAR involved when you feel your first cramp (or whatever the symptom that tells you 'here we go again' happens to be). They don't understand the fear of finding a toilet, and FAST. The total urgency. For me, the urgency isn't even a matter of having an accident. I haven't yet, and doubt I will while in constipation mode.

However, the pain just makes you need to be alone in a locked stall, so you can just sit there and suffer quietly without people looking at you hold your gut and walk doubled over. I know the best bathrooms in every single mall, restaurant, plaza, and gas station in the entire city. "

A good place to start reading is page one of the women suffering diarrhea tales - there are 15 pages of stories!
 

Recommended IBS products and reading

	Heather's tummy fiber works for both diarrhea and constipation and was developed by a long-term IBS sufferer. Click here for more info.		Imodium is one of the most popular medication for IBS with diarrhea.
	Listen To Your Gut is a book that can help learn more about IBS and its origins and start to take control of your life.		The IBD Remission Diet can help inflammatory bowel disease sufferers get their lives back.

Link partners

Regimint
Regimint is an herbal supplement that contains a fixed combination of peppermint and caraway oil in an enteric-coated capsule for relieving spasms associated with IBS. Take the IBS Challenge: receive a free one-month supply of Regimint and two self-evaluating questionnaires. Details are on the manufacturers' website.

Your link here?

Would you like to see your site on this page? If you have a health-related website, and can link to IBS Tales from a page with Google pagerank of four or higher, then send your link suggestions to sophie@ibstales.com or fill in the exchange links form.