Hello to the IBS network

[PaulWilliamBowman]

Finally got here after years of doing it alone !

[Meleber]

Hi and welcome. We're all here to share our personal experiences with having chronic bowel problems, support anyone who's dealing with ongoing gut problems and of course also post the occasional lamentation 💩 because of our bowel problems. We're not physicians but do have the wisdom of the crowd 🙂

[IBSNetwork Partner IBS Network]

As I’m sure you understand IBS is a very individual condition that affects people in different ways. There is no specific cause as to why it develops and therefore no single effective treatment, but by understanding how it affects you personally and what contexts make your symptoms worse and also those that relive them, you can learn to control and manage it.

We understand how difficult and embarrassing it can be to talk about your symptoms.

We know how your symptoms can impact on your life and we can offer you support advice and information to help you to understand and manage your condition.

If you have already looked on our website, but would like more specific advice about your symptoms, why not consider becoming a member of our community?

As a member you will have access to:

• our Helpline, staffed by nurses trained in the symptoms of IBS

• our ‘Ask the Experts’ facility, personal one to one contact through our website with our healthcare professionals (including gastroenterologists and dietitians)

• our Self Care Programme and Symptom Tracker which will help you to manage your condition. Similar to a diary, the Symptom Tracker allows you to keep a record of your symptoms which can help you to see if there is a pattern over time and can help you to understand your condition better

• our recipes updated monthly, specifically designed to be suitable for the sensitive gut

• our magazine filled with new research, recipes and articles written by our medical professionals

• a ‘Can’t Wait’ card and travel version translated into 12 languages (£5 value)

• a range of detailed factsheets, such as ‘Medications’, ‘Stress and Trauma’, ‘Diarrhoea’ and ‘Constipation’

By joining, your membership is a way of donating, so your fee helps us to continue our work in supporting yourself and others living with this life changing condition.

At present we ask for a donation of £24 (£2 per month) for a year’s support. theibsnetwork.org/become-a-...