Living

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...

A busy and hectic life is almost a badge of honor in today’s world, with so many things going on in your life that you have little time to spare...

The first thing I thought when I titled this article was ‘ooh, a vacation from IBS!' Well, no, unfortunately that’s not what this is about. Perhaps another article? No, today...

I remember the first few years of living with IBS being extremely hard. I felt so alone because hardly anyone in my life, at that time, understood what I was...

Talking to anyone about your IBS can be confronting, because bowel habits are still a taboo subject. And while it may seem like it should be easier when talking to...

Apples, as in the fruit, are high in FODMAPs, which can wreak havoc on the IBS sufferer’s gut. For example, whenever I drink a pre-made juice and forget to read...

How often are you feeling embarrassed about having IBS? IBS is, I think, one of the more ‘embarrassing’ afflictions out there, due to the nature of the thing. While being...

No matter how well your IBS is usually managed, there will be days when it overwhelms you. Sometimes that overwhelm is to the point where the ability to function normally...

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...

This is the third part in a series of articles describing the ‘Stages of Change’ model of behavior modification. In the previous two articles, we discussed the ‘Pre-Contemplation’ and ‘Contemplation’...

Before I go into this article, I want to apologize to anyone that I might offend. These are simply my opinions and I don’t intend to discourage anyone from their...

I don’t mind sharing my struggles with IBS. I think we all need to know that others struggle to ‘do the right thing.’ I just can’t help feeling as though...

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...

Hey IBS community! Let’s have a positive, light-hearted conversation about IBS. Turn that frown upside down! Although I’m suffering from tremendous pain right now–my back hurts, my bottom hurts, and...

Once every summer for the past few years, my wife, in-laws, and I decide to throw a huge backyard party just to gather all of our friends and family together...

Resilience is a word that is tossed around a lot when recovery from an illness is discussed. Resilience is a wonderful quality to have and depending on what your life...

“How are you, Hess?” “How ya doin’, Hess?” “How was your weekend, Hess?” Have you ever been asked these questions by co-workers, friends, relatives, or maybe even by a random...

The fear of failure is one of the most common obstacles to success. I think the idea of ‘fear of failure’ is most easily summarized by saying that someone wants...

The hardest part of a chronic condition is that it never goes away. You certainly can manage IBS, but you can never fully control it or cure it. It’s here...

Oh boy, SUMMER’S HERE! And what does that mean? Lot’s of BBQ’s, picnics, holidays, swim parties… Why is it that I get the feeling that people with IBS don’t feel...