answer:I sympathize, @tan253. For a while I thought IBS was going to bring about an ignominious end to my career. Once during an hour-long presentation that I was giving to the managers, I had to leave the room four times. I suffered symptoms for three long years, white-knuckling it every time I left the house or went anywhere more than a few feet from reliable plumbing. I turned down trips and outings. Going out to an event such as a theatre performance was torture. I tried dietary changes and various other things. Nothing my doctor suggested made any difference. What made it worse is that it’s not really a socially acceptable disorder. People are kind if you have, say, a foot injury or pneumonia; but no one wants to hear about your bowels. Then one day I read about the side effects of one of the meds I was taking. I spoke to my doctor and asked if that could be the cause. “Oh, yeah,” he said, ”[name of medication] can do that sometimes.” He changed the med. My symptoms disappeared like magic. I didn’t have IBS after all. I have to add that my confidence in my doctor was negatively affected. I see somebody else now. Once in a while I have a difficult day or two, usually when there’s a lot of stress; but no one actually thinks I have the condition any more. This may be of no help to you, but I offer it just in case.