What kind of support do you have or wish you had to help manage IBS?

I have a very understanding husband, and he has been unwavering in his support. He always does our grocery shopping, and he picks up my share of the household chores whenever I'm having a flare up. He's also the go-to guy for getting our kids to their sporting events which is really helpful because the soccer field isn't exactly IBS-friendly.

My doctors really try to help me manage my condition, but IBS-M is tricky. How do you treat simultaneous constipation and diarrhea? I think they just don't know for sure what to do. It's trial and error, and that gets frustrating. Especially after I get my hopes up, thinking, "This time, it's going to work." But it doesn't. Sometimes it actually makes things worse.

At work, I have a reasonable accommodations plan to help with this disability (coupled with incontinence). I also have intermittent FMLA leave to protect me from disciplinary action for taking more sick days than seems ordinary. That has been such a huge support, especially since I took a week off for pneumonia and sometimes have to take half days for doctor appointments.

I wish I could actually find the management plan that works for me. That would be a tremendous relief. This winter, I had six consecutive weeks without a flare. It was glorious. I hadn't done anything different. Not a thing. (And I journaled it to see if I could pinpoint the difference.) But I enjoyed the reprieve while it lasted. Now I am having three or flare ups per week. Not fun.