I am a member of the IBS club. The IBS-D branch to be out in the open about it. My dues are paid in full. How did I get this diagonsis? I didn’t want to be a member. I didn’t sign up somewhere, get an all expense paid trip to Hawaii – all you have to do is give up control of your bowels. Wait. What?
I didn’t want to be a member then, I don’t want to be a member now. It is not like time has passed and I am okay with being a part of this exclusive club. I really haven’t found any perks. Maybe if there was a perk. Yeah, probably not. And to be honest, I think this IBS thing is more like a gang than a club. Once you are in a gang you never get out. This is mine, we wear brown bandanas and carry rolls of toilet paper.
I have used the bathroom just about anywhere you can think of. Need to know where the bathroom is in every store? I have that information. Which stores will let you use the bathroom and which ones won’t (jerks)? Come see me on that too. Extra napkins from drive thrus for emergency side of the road situations, Ive got those.
A situation
I have shit my pants. I have pulled up to work, walked in the door, and with the bathroom in sight, shit. my. pants. Like real life, didn’t make it to the toilet. A quick “clean up,” like enough to get back out the door, exit the building I just entered, and return to the vehicle, I pass the boss in the parking lot. Shame. Make up a story real quick. Sister locked her keys in the car and I need to go help her. Back home, shower, refreshed, return to work. I have shit my pants before I have even left the house. Like how does that even happen, still at home? Twice this past week. Yeah. I know. There might be a problem here.
I haven’t always been like this. There was a time when I was a regular pooper. Once a day, sometimes twice. You could set your watch by me. My best friend called me a “power shitter” yes, a name I wore proudly. I got in there got the job done, then on to more serious business. I have never been one to dilly dally in a bathroom. Not then, not now, even though my numerous trips at this stage in the game probably add up to some serious bathroom time.
Genetics and IBS
Research has shown that the risk of developing IBS is twice as high(Trusted Source) if you have a biological relative with it. Well, I owe dad a thanks for that one. Guess he was the gift giver of my IBS club card. Mom would say that it is character building. What a peachy outlook that woman has. My dad has always had a bowel problem. Back then I didn’t realize he had anything wrong, just thought he had to go a lot. I didn’t have any problems so I didn’t give much thought to his.
Years ago dad came home one afternoon and told my mom about the super flusher toilet down at the store. I say “down at the store” because the store was only a mile from the house. It only occurred to me later that the way he knew about the super flusher at the store, only a mile from the house is because he got into a situation and needed to use the bathroom. A MILE from the house. He couldn’t make it home to the comforts of his own bathroom. He has a problem and the problem is also mine.
What are we going to do
As a card carrying IBS club member, grandfathered in, I’ve come to the realization I am in this for the long run. And from watching my dads struggles I don’t think we are going to be doing any gang busting. It is something one must own. The hope is to manage this situation and when it gets ugly to share it. Laugh about it. Because that is easier that crying. One way to get over the stigma, the shame and embarrassment of pooping is to talk about it. So, welcome to Gut Feelings. Follow along, lets get to know each other on a whole new level.
If you can laugh at yourself, you are going to be fine. If you allow others to laugh with you, you will be great. Martin Neimoller
