Understanding people's non understanding

[Cheesecake17]

Realised that part of the problem is understanding people's NON understanding about IBS. I can empathise as I have numerous friends with depression and have thankfully never faced it but yesterday I went to the docs to get some relief for a fingernail infection and told them I couldn't take oral ones as it messed me up since May in terms of IBS-D and the woman immediately said "umm.. What's IBS-D? Not heard of that" and felt humiliated explaining my gross issues to both her and the student nurse. I'd used antibiotic cream in the past with success but she shot me down and said "no. It MUST be oral". Then queue a pointless hour discussion with my super gut friendly parents who told me "probably candida. Do candida diet" but I told them I've been very good since taking imodium once every two weeks and that some weeks I could eat Mexican, fast food then the next couldn't even stomach bread without issues. I'm aware my anxiety does NOTHING to help but that's half my problem until I'm chilled.. Normal and boom - spasms and gas. Sigh..... How do you guys explain it?

[jbrking]

Hiya. It’s extremely hard to explain to someone what you’re going through if they’ve never experienced it or live with it. I have bile acid malabsorption which causes, amongst other things, diarrhoea so I take binder meds and loperamide (anti diarrhoea). So my colleagues think I just suffer with loose bowel movements. My partner on the other hand knows I can spend an hour on the toilet most nights and sometimes in the middle of the night. Or after a meal in a restaurant which is highly embarrassing. Also because Of malabsorption I’m deficient in lots of vitamins. Unfortunately being undiagnosed for years has taken its toll on my body. Also because I’m fed up of trying to explain how draining it all is, not a lot of my friends and family are aware - only those that are closest to me. Find a forum like this or on social media and have a good moan to people who understand. You may also find out things that will help you understand your condition and help that way.

[ChazzleBerry]

I don't think even my other half understands tbh. I just say "it messes with my tummy" but noone really knows what that means other than me. The other thing is most people think IBS is just a tummy thing, but its the other syptoms like feeling drained and fatigued, and the fact that stress can cause flareups, and sounding like a douche when you ask for foods to be cooked different at family get togethers. If you had an allergy, or were a vegetarian, people go out their way to make sure you have food, but ask for your mash potato without milk and butter in it and your being weird and ungrateful....