Hi Brett- I couldn't help but see myself 10 years ago in your story. I suffered with terrible IBS for about 15 years. I was so thin because I was afraid to eat anything. People thought I was dying of cancer. I was afraid to go to work, church, long car rides and vacations. In other words, anywhere! The good news is that I rarely have these attacks today. I attribute that to taking a heaping tablespoon of Metamucil every night before bed with a half of glass of water. (Taking it before bed helps eliminate the bloating during the day.) I also resort to Immodium if I am having a bad day. In addition I am taking 75 mgs. of effexor for anxiety. Some of my relief could be attributed to my age. I am 56 years old and the stresses that come with motherhood have disappeared. I hope that some of this information is helpful to you Brett. Feel free to contact me anytime.

I love all the feedback from every single one of you, your advice is much appreciated and I will consider every one of all your thoughts and feelings! God Bless you all! Thank you!

Brett

I have been dealing with IBS/bathroom anxiety for as long as I can remember. I have been through all the tests and physically everthing is fine. This bathroom anxiety has totally taken over my life and my wifes.I feel like I can't do anything!Thank you for giving out the medications you have been on and what you are taking now I am on medication for diarhea but the doctor tells me there is nothing for the anxiety. I am not going to settle for the phrase sorry there is nothing out there ,I am at the point in my life that this problem is running my life I have no control over it anymore it controls how we do everything and when and if i/we do anything this is not who i am this is who i have turned out to be. I thank God i came across this website and read your post brett I need great help and I think we can get through this and both have a normal life with our friends and family by the way I am self employed also and your right it does help but it doesn't take the problem away it just makes it conveniant one less thing for me to worry about. If anyone is out there and knows of medication that will help this please let me know

Hi everyone, I was reading this post and Brett and Raider, you guys are me, 100%, I swear I don't know why cause I was never like this till 4 years ago, I have good days when I don't feel a thing and go where ever, but if something is planned I just can't go, I went to my in-laws, which is an hour and and half drive and I ended up being so nervous I got the runs, HAHA, it was funny, but not at te time thankfully my inlaws and husband are sooooo understanding, but I deal with the same thing and it is so hard to overcome this, my job is great though and it is for "family" so it takes the edge off but it only makes it easier to deal with, it doesn' really help, but I was also on Buspar, like Brett and it helped me, but 2 months ago I got off of it, my husband and I want to try and have children, I am 28 and think it would never get better, and I would do the same have a couple of beers and then I would be realexed, but honestly I have been ok for a couple of months, cause I have stopped think about it, I still really won't go far away cause I get nervous and my stomach hurts real bad, but I have changed my life to make me comfortable, not anyone else and it has worked, I changed my diet and actually gained 5 lbs...yeah.....and I am better so I hope this helps, thanks guys and best of luck to all