h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

You are not wrong.

My poor wife suffers terribly from IBS. Doctors seemed very unsympathetic and kinda told her to sort it out for herself.

Yes it IS very stress related in her case and has given up work because of it: she's very good at hectic jobs but her tummy can't cope with the stress that goes with them. Eventually I had to put my foot down with a firm hand and order her to quit. She is now umm-ing and ahh-ing about what to do with the rest of her life now it is ruled by her stomach.

Stress aside, another major trigger is ALL gluten products (not just wheat products, other cereals include gluten), so no bread, pasta, pastry etc.

She has also discovered an intolerance to anything with yeast in it, and can't cope with too much sugar at any one time, or bananas - we think that's to do with fermentation in the stomach.

An unexpected plus is that we now eat a lot more healthily than we used to: you'd be suprised just how many foods have got wheat in them and so we cook everything from our choice of ingredients - no time-saving packet sauces or jars of slop any more.

It's time doctors really took notice of IBS and realised it's not just a question of changing your diet, it's a whole new way of life.

i have had ibs for 5 years now i understand what ur wife is going through, i bleed many times from my bowel ,constant diarrea i went to my doctors this week to ask if something can be done and she said nothing can be done, i had a examination in 2005 it wasnt cancer as i thought, but my life is ruined by pain and constantly running to loo

my wife is the same,i am suffering from thyroid cancer so i think thats where the stress comes into it for her .We cannot go anywhere but she is running to the toilet,and to be quite frank it puts a terrible strain on both of us.Doctor gave her tablets that basically dont work.She had a colonoscopy,and thankfully the lump they thought they found was nothing.

I took my wife to the Chinese alternative medicine doctor today,we have bought some of his potions and he recommends that my wife has acupuncture as the body needs to settle and be re-trained.We will think about this and keep you posted .

my wife has started the chinese medicine and she had to run to the toilet 3 times yesterday.so far today so good.She is going to persevere with this treatment for a few days ,watch this space .

mixed reaction to the Chinese medicine,some days it worked others it was just the same.Perhaps the alternative medicine had nothing to do with it,it could just be coincidence that it worked sometimes.She must have a phobia about going to the supermarket,because she never fails to go to the toilet 2 or 3 times every time we go shopping.Next attemp i think will be the slippery elm bark capsules she got from the health shop.She had bought slippery elm food before which you mixed with hot milk,i even tried it with her but i'm afraid it was disgusting,but the capsules should be ok to take.Lets hope this works.We are still considering the acupuncture treatment,which is £20 per session,although we don't know how many sessions it will take.If we go down that road,it will be cheap if it worked ,

We thought we had knocked it off this week ,what a week for my wife no running to the toilet,until this morning 3 trips in a row,so whatever it was she ate last night will be off of future menus.She has started taking the slippery elm bark capsules now .Watch this space.

My wife has been much better of late.She isn't taking any medication or alternatives,and by and large she has been much better.Think the trick has been to stop worrting so much about me,and try to relax a little more.Easier said than done,I know but much better now .