AN IBS PATIENT’S VIEW: ‘IT DOESN’T CONTROL MY LIFE’

When Stacy was diagnosed about seven years ago with irritable bowel syndrome, some frightening thoughts rst thought was, ‘Does it lead to Crohn’s disease or something worse?’ rst concern,” says Stacy, who lives in The Villages and prefers not

Her former doctor assured her that IBS doesn’t lead to any other disorders or diseases. He had recommended a colonoscopy, which found nothing else wrong with Stacy, and gave the verdict of irritable bowel syndrome—of course, her bowel was irritated, she thought, a

Though she can’t be sure, Stacy believes an antibiotic she was taking ignited her IBS symptoms, which she never had experienced before. Her symptoms, which strike most often in the morning, include frequent cramps,

She believes in a holistic approach and uses probiotics and digestive enzyme supplements, which she thinks works well against IBS. She also watches what she eats, avoiding spicy foods, though that doesn’t always help. She makes sure ve years.

“There’s nothing else I can do,” says Stacy, now a patient of Dr. Trini Vaidya

Stacy realizes other women have other people might have, but it’s enough of ostomy support groups—Leesburg and Ocala also host groups—and that IBS patient and allaying their concerns is one form of treatment.

“When people know that they’re not going to die from this, that they’re not going to get cancer or other things from this, that in itself brings a huge