Lisa Pearl McIntosh

Does it ever feel like your fibromyalgia and IBS are at war with each other, constantly bickering, disagreeing, and disrupting your life? Well, I'm here to tell you that you're...

Not everyone can afford a trip to the spa. This, and the fact that not everyone suffering from IBS will find themselves comfortable in such a public setting, can make...

Staying active isn't easy. This is especially true when you're dealing with ailments such as IBS, mental health, and fibromyalgia. The battle can seem endless; however, I'm here to tell...

When those of us with IBS think about swimming, some negative images come to mind: cramping, bowel flare-ups, bathing suit blunders... Ultimately, many of our associations with the pool are...

Have you ever noticed that the invisible illnesses we live with often make us actually seem or feel invisible? We disappear behind our illnesses, using them to define ourselves while...

As some of you may or may not know, I create cartoons for IrritableBowelSyndrome.net called IBSgirl that portray funny, awkward and annoying encounters I've had living with IBS. These doodles...

I recently had the opportunity to pose for a photographer. This particular photographer specializes in beautiful nude portraits; however, this was not what initially brought us together. She recently made...

When you decide to dress up because your IBS symptoms have finally subsided. As members of the IBS crew, we often find ourselves in awkward social encounters. When my symptoms...

There have been many times that I ask myself, 'why me?' Why do I have IBS? Why do I have to endure the constant, annoying, painful symptoms? Why do I...

It's my birthday and my partner is treating me to a lovely brunch. Our meals were amazing and we are longingly gazing into each other's eyes. Suddenly, it hits: a...

It's happened to many of us: you've just finished getting dressed, you're packed to go, and you're excited for the day ahead. And then, it hits. You feel the grumble...

It’s 3:00 in the afternoon. It’s a beautiful day, the sun is shining, a cool breeze flows through my hair. I’m sitting at a small, wrought iron bistro set just...

We all want to give up sometimes. Give up on dietary restrictions. Give up on staying sober. Give up on life. And sometimes we need a little help to get...

One of the strangely entertaining aspects of IBS is that those of us who suffer through it tend to come out of our misadventures with highly entertaining stories. Though some...

Nothing says life-long-friend like passing toilet paper under the stall. Listen, having IBS sucks, but attempting to deal with it all alone can be unbearable. In this first installment of IBS...

Roughly five years ago I decided to eliminate gluten from my life 100%. I could no longer suffer through the constant migraines, gastrointestinal cramping, and body aches, so, one night...

In high school, I did not have the luxury of knowing why I was always incredibly uncomfortable. I didn’t know that the cramping, bloating, gas, and nausea had a reason...