I am 20 years old and suffer IBS. I was reading the post under women only by the 42 year old lady whose husband has IBS and I would like to share my experience. I have suffered most of my life with it. When I was little it was mostly severe constipation, now it's mostly IBS D with cramps and gas. I often wish I could be a normal young lady, going out with friends and going to restaurants and all the fun stuff my condition makes me miss out on. My life literally revolves around toilet facilities. I hate going out like to the bank or to the park because there's no toilets. I hate going in the car, it's often hard to pull over to the nearest office building when there's bad traffic and the vibrating of the seats make the urge to go worse. They never have enough toilet paper and I have to bring packets of tissues or wipes with me in my handbag for cleaning myself up with. It nearly always ends up all over my hands. I've tried probiotics, fasting, lactose and gluten-free diets, a low-FODMAP diet, mintec capsules, etc but nothing has ever given me any relief. Obviously it's a rather gloomy existence for someone so young. Everyone else my age is hanging out with their friends and going to movies (that they can actually enjoy because they don't have to get up and take a shit every 15 minutes) and camping and I'm stuck at home near the toilet, which I have to share with 2 other people. I've had to shit in a bucket because dad thinks the toilet is his throne and forgets that he is not the only one who lives here. I've had to sit there and cop abuse for my bowel troubles because my dad does not believe me, does not believe IBS is a thing, that it's all some bullshit conspiracy to keep him miserable. Not everything is about you, you stupid c**t. How about some fucking sympathy for once rather than your usual whiny narcissistic bullying?? I always wonder how I will be expected to hold down a job someday, I know the Abbott government has their eye on disability pensions and would consider me "able-bodied" despite living with chronic health problems like fibromyalgia, Lupus SLE and arthritis. I am miserable but the antidepressants make it so I don't care enough to cry. All i want is a normal life with better health. I want to help sick children and the poor but I can't do much if I can't leave the home.