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 The Original Life in a Bathroom post that started it all!

Weird. I’m writing my first ever blog about irritable bowel syndrome while sitting on the throne. Ok, I’m not actually typing on a laptop while on the toilet! That would just be gross!!! For the record I never thought I would be writing a blog. I always felt blogging was a little self absorbed. Why would I assume anyone would take interest in my boring life? All they would have to do is watch an episode of “The Office” and throw in some reruns from “Friends” and that sums it up right there. So, why am I blogging at all, much less about IBS, you ask? Keep reading.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional disorder of the GI tract. Simplified, it means you either have chronic constipation, chronic diarrhea or a combination of both possibly being accompanied by pain, gas, bloating, or cramps. In other words, it’s a pain in the ass!!!! (For a more detailed definition of IBS and its symptoms, go here.) What it actually means to me, and many others with this condition, is probably as much the same as it is different for each of us.

As far as me, I’m lucky enough to have the combo. “Uhm, Yeah, I’ll have the spastic colon with a side of flatulence, please.” What it boils down to is either having a ticking time bomb go off that sends you sprinting to the nearest bathroom OR being doubled over in pain like a bloated whale. Fun, huh?

The real fun comes when you are trying to explain to people why you sometimes don’t do certain things “normal” people take for granted due to your unpredictable bathroom habits. For example:

• ROAD TRIP- Next rest stop 500 miles??? Are you kidding me?!?!?
• FLYING- When’s the last time YOU tried to hold gas in for 5 hours from LA to NY? Not to mention climbing over 3 people to get the bathroom just to get back to your seat and find out you weren’t exactly done yet. “Oh, crap!” is an understatement!!!
• DATING- Guy: “So, what’s your sign??” Me: “Restroom.”

All these and more precarious situations make living with IBS funny to those of us with a sense of humor but it’s also extremely difficult, frustrating and SCARY!!! In society today you’re not supposed to admit to having digestive issues, talk about them in public, blog about them without an alias, or discuss them in any manner that could make someone uncomfortable. You would think everyone is crapping out potpourri!!!!

So, that brings me to the reason for this blog. I’m coming out of the “water closet” to tell the world that I have IBS whether you want to hear it or not!!! 1 out of 5 people has IBS so you might as well get used to it. Chances are you or someone you know has it and it’s time we started talking about it! There is no known cause or cure for IBS. That could very well be due to the fact that no one talks about it and consequently no one is paying attention.

Keeping quiet about this not only causes it to go ignored by the general population and some parts of the medical community, it also stops those who have it from living productive and satisfying lives. Bringing IBS out into the open and raising awareness would be a huge step not only towards finding a cure to this disruptive ailment, but improving the quality of life for those afflicted and the people closest to them.

Silent sufferers could begin telling their doctors, friends and family without risking humiliation. I mean, let’s face it, life is difficult enough without throwing irritable interiors in the mix!! Let’s use our guts and get gutsy!!! Be bold for bowels!!! Pass gas in public!!!!! (Okay, that’s taking it too far.) You get my point. There is a change brewing. There is something in the wind. And for once it’s not me!!!!

Stay tuned for more to come and please share your comments, suggestions, and ideas!!