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Thank you to all those who were kind enough to offer feedback of the IBS Audio Program 100 ~ Thanks too for those who telephoned ~ Regards Michael

■ May 6, 2002 From Zayaka in Puerto Rico

I cannot remember how or why but my IBS got better and I stopped the librax completely. So my high school days were normal. The only day I can remember I felt really sick was the day before taking the test for university admission; I ended up in the hospital with classic IBS.

When it was time for college I started feeling the pressure but I was excited and happy as well. The first year was ok, looking back now I'd said my IBS did not bother me that much as I never missed a party.  Then I left the dorm and started traveling. I got several tickets for leaving the care where I shouldn't and finding a parking space became a very stressful situation. I missed a lot of classes and I understood the whole mind-body connection because as soon as I would drive back home frustrated and fearful of having an attack my bowels just stopped giving me trouble. I even did experiments trying to go back again but had to return once again. The last two years my boyfriend started traveling with me and we arranged class hours to avoid the rush hour and I got better. Then I graduated and it exploded.

I think it had a lot to do with the fact that I was entering adulthood and that I chose a very stressful profession: teaching. My first professional job was about 20 minutes from home and every morning I would get there walking really fast to get to the bathroom. On my second job I had a great boss and I was happy to be there but the first day of meeting the kids I did not make it on time. I felt so irresponsible and miserable. At that point my self steem was diminishing down to the floor. I changed schools in the middle of the year and it meant I had to go through a huge traffic jam. Luky me my bf's house was in the middle and I stopped there every morning; even the cats demanded their breakfast from me as they got so used to see me there. I was getting desperate; I knew what I had but could not control it. Different thoughts entered my mind and I started thinking maybe something else was wrong (like cancer or something). Without noticing, my social life had changed: no more concerts, no road trips, no riding in cars with other people, not even visiting my family as in the past. I went from being a shy person to just not wanting anybody on the street to recognize me or acknowledge my existence. Anonymity was very useful as I would have to often make stop or interrupt what I was doing to find a bathroom.

As one morning I was driving to work I ended trapped (my biggest fear)in traffic for some 20 minutes. That day I was going to administer an important controlled test and I could not be late. As soon as I stopped the car my bowels started acting crazy and some minutes later I was inside my car crying like a baby (I don't cry that much) because I had an accident. In fact, like a baby I felt. To me I was the only one living like this and I felt so guilty all the time... not to mention embarrassed and humiliated. That was when I decided I needed help. Went to a gastro again, did test, etc. I was lucky again to find an excellent doc who told me that if everything was ok on the tests he was going to put me on a miracle drug which was very effective on female patients; the following visit he gave me the news the lotronex had been pulled out of the market. Needless to say I gave up all hope and thought my life was going to be like this forever. So I stayed with the librax and the Imodium but the anxiety was still affecting me.

A year passed and I found this BB. What a difference to see how many others were going through the same! I read about Mike's tapes and CBT but I did not think this could help me because I am very stubborn and even though I have never doubted the power of the mind over the body for some reason I thought I was not an ideal candidate. I had no money either so that was a concern. Ok, so I went to a psychiatrist and he gave me a prescription for Paxil, exactly what I did not want, so after seeing that the doc was not an option I decided to do the tapes. At that time I had nothing left to try.

It took me more than a 100 days to complete the program but it has been worth it... every single day. During the first 20-30 days I noticed a difference in my attitude: I was happier. Then my body started changing, the anxiety getting better and my trips to the pharmacy for Imodium and librax were less frequent. Best of all, during that period I had diarrhea about 3-4 times only.

Now, after a couple of months of finishing I feel I did a 360 degrees turn. I went on vacation and jumped on not one, but two boats without having somebody to push or slap me to do it. I've gone on long rides without thoughts of where the next bathroom is and have gotten on cars with other people driving. Dining out is fun again and I cannot wait to see what else I "dare" to do.

To say my IBS is a thing of the past would be untrue as I believe this is something that is part of me. But I feel so much better and to say my IBS is not an excuse anymore is just amazing. My biggest improvement has been in attitude, I do not feel I have to hide behind anonymity as much as I used to and my mind has finally understood that my biggest triggers are my own fears. As a result, my diarrhea is gone and the butterflies in my stomach are not ever present anymore. What a relief! 

One last thing: I have the responsibility to write a HUGE THANK YOU to Mike, (others too) for all the support and patience. This whole experience has been a second chance to have a better quality of life and that is what is all about. THANK YOU SO MUCH!  Thanks to Mike and his team. This is a great program.

June 12, 2002   From Anna - Scotland

I just finished Mike’s tapes a couple of weeks ago and I feel they've definitely made a positive difference. From reading other peoples posts I know my symptoms were never as bad as some others but now I'm almost symptom free! As long as I watch my diet and don't get too stressed I'm fine.

I've accepted that IBS is always going to be a part of my life but I now feel it doesn't have to have control over my life. Mikes tapes have helped me get my freedom back.

I'd recommend them to anyone! Thanks Mike

August 5, 2002   From Kate – Manchester England   Update

I was diagnosed with IBS-D in July last year, having been suffering with symptoms for about 6 months. It was almost all stress-related, and got to the stage that as soon as I knew I had to go out anywhere (even the 2 minute drive to the supermarket), the D started up, and I got in such a state that I couldn't leave the bathroom, let alone the house. I was taking Imodium most days just to try and get myself to work in the morning. After reading postings on this board I tried taking fibre supplements and calcium, both of which helped matters, but I still felt like I was treating symptoms, not the cause...

Anyway, back in November, after much persuading from Clair, Eric and Marilyn I got mikes tapes...and haven't looked back. I got off to a bit of a slow start with them when the only place I could listen was the lounge with headphones on(but where everyone else in the family was), but things improved dramatically when I got a personal CD player, so I could just listen in bed after we'd switched the lights out, without feeling like I was disturbing anyone, or they were disturbing me.

Until I did the CDs, I didn't really realise how badly I’d been sleeping. Within a couple of weeks, my sleep patterns had improved and I was feeling much better in myself, calmer, and finding it easier to cope with the stresses of my work. By two thirds of the way through, I realised I was having problems perhaps one day out of every 10-14 days (instead of 3 days out of 5), and after finishing the program back in march, I have rarely had any problems.

Now I go back and listen to my favourites sides when I feel like I’m getting a bit stressed, or if I notice I’m not sleeping so well. They have a huge calming effect on me.

I no longer use calcium or fibre supplements, and can't remember the last time I took immodium.

Sooo....I know I've said it before...but big thanks to Eric, Clair and Marilyn for all their support and for persuading me to try the CDs. It was by far the best £60 I’ve ever spent.

May 7, 2002 From Kate  
 
just wanted to tell you that I finished the tapes today

I reckon that when I first was diagnosed with IBS, and when it was worst, I was having
bad days probably 5 or 6 days out of 7. After that, I tried taking fibre supplements, then
also tried calcium. both of these improved things, but not to the extent that I could go back
to eating anything that I wanted.

Now (and for the past 6 weeks or so) I've had perhaps one bad day about every 3 weeks,
and even that day isn't as bad as I used to be! I’ve stopped with the calcium & fibre, am
pretty much eating and drinking what I want, and rarely have any real probs. The biggest
difference is that I no longer wake up thinking about dashing to the loo, and can now get
out of the house to work without having to rush back in 3 times, and stop en-route!

So....thanks for taking the time last year, in persuading me to get Mike's tapes. It's
changed everything!

■ August 19, 2002  From Carole

"I have completed your IBS Audio 100 about 3 weeks ago and it has changed my life. I will be forever grateful for your help in making me feel normal again. Since in doing your program, I have been able  to make several long car trips, fairly comfortably. In the past year and half I haven't traveled  more than 20 minutes from my house, so this is huge for me. As a mother of 4 , I had been feeling completely debilitated. Thanks  to you and your IBS audio program, I am 100% better. I still feel some symptoms , but I now feel able to control it. Usually just taking 3 deep  breaths, getting to a quiet place to relax is all I need. …Through the book, The First Year of IBS, I had learned of your program. Thank you again.”