Its hard to sit here and try to describe what this has done to my daughter, if you can imagine being a teenager and being afraid to sleep over your friends house, go to school or school dances, play sports, have boyfriends, etc. afraid because of the noises your stomach makes or the diarrhea that can come on at any moment and having to try to explain all this to your friends why you don't feel up to doing the things there doing. This condition takes so much away from its victims. We have decided not to let Rachel be a victim but a survivor, so we are doing all we can to support and help her. She seems to do well on the Zoloft, it helps keep her calm during these periods and she doesn't get so depressed, a good diet helps but you can't bank on that. Herbal remedies are some relief for a while, it's just a guessing game and you have to keep experimenting, reading, and searching. This all has to be done by the individual, their families and friends, doctor's don't have the answers yet, so until they do were all they have. Best of luck to all of you out there with this problem.

March 2001-We decided to get Rachel in with a theropist to help her deal with the depression that was accompaning her condition, she only went a few times, she just needed some guidence on dealing with all the emotions she was feeling. Her theropist moved her Zoloph medication up to 75 mg., they may eventually go to 100 mg., this seems to be helping alot, she seems more like her old self, she is active again, going places with her friends, school, etc. Its great, they say that depression is a big down fall for those who have IBS and if untreated they can sink in to a severe depression. Rachels IBS symptons are under control and she credits that not only to her Zoloft but to a herbal supplement called BWL- Tone I.B.S. that we purchased at the health store, she says its been helping her a lot, The brand name is Crystal Star! I just wanted to bring anyone who is reading our page up-to-date on how Rachel was doing and what new things we've been trying. At this moment life is great for Rachel and for her family, she is back enjoying life and therefore so are we.

January 1, 2002-Its a new year and I thought it was time for me to update this page. As you know The doctor has Rachels Zoloft to 100 mgs., since this time she has been doing great mentaly, she still has her setbacks, and if she eats the wrong foods she has to pay for it, we haven't found any cure or even close but we have learned that her attitude and mental state have a great affect on how she feels and how her body respondes. Recently I have been reading some of the many web sites out there and the words fiber and soy come up alot, there is so much good info out there I just wish it wasn't such a guessing game, but we will keep experimenting and reading till we find our happy ending and I hope all of you out there with this condition do the same and maybe even find some happiness along the way.

December 29th, 2002: I have neglected updating this page for way to long, I suppose the reason is because I don't have anything really new to post. Rachel is doing well, she is in college and goes to work and has a life outside our home, she is doing all she can to have a normal life, so far its working, she is still taking the Zoloft and she still has bouts with her IBS. She seems to have accepted it and focuses on the things she can control and not the things she can't, and she seems to be happy.