Looking for help! IBS w/ Constipation

I am a 23 year old male. When I was 14, I started off with gas problems. I found myself often not being able to hold it like most others. This affected how I was in school, meetings, moods, as well as many others. As time progressed, problems got worse, it started to happen more often. By the age of 16, I dropped out of school because I could no longer endear the embarrasement it caused me. At the time, I was very insecure about this and hadn't discussed this with anyone. I was at this stage till right around 18 years old.

Then the next stage kicked in. I got to the point to where I could no longer take trips, go into meetings with people I didn't know, because I instantly had fears of having an accident. I thought it couldn't get any worse. Boy was I wrong. It was only the beginning.

I'll skip till where I am now. I am now 23, 9 years since I first noticed any problems. I will no longer leave my house unless it is within 5 minutes or to the hospital which I have been forced to go many times due to this. I have tried every diet. I have seen over 10 doctors (GI) and family practioners.   I have had many tests done, i.e. colonsopy, small bowel series, upper, lower gi, etc...  No one can find anything. I do not work because I get serverly sick.

I can handle the bathroom, gas problem, etc... What happens to me now is *_SEVERE SEVERE_* stomach cramps, pains, acid, etc... Sometimes I just want to fall over and die. The only minor relief I get is to sit in a hot bath tub to calm my stomach. Bentyl doesn't really work for me. The only med if at all that works for a few minutes is Mylanta, but I can't overdose on that. It only works for a few minutes.

My life is horrible now. I am always grouch with my family. I sleep 12-15 hours a day so I don't have to face these problems all day. I no longer see family or go to family gatherings because of this. Due to not having a job, I have no insurance. I can not step foot into a doctors office without having $100.00 to give them for the visit.

I have run out of answers. I am desperately looking for help as I can no longer live like this.

Anything you advise, *_please please_* help me out.

I thank you sooo much.

the one thing i can suggest is food, BM and pain diary. That way you will get to notice if certain foods are making it worse. After having my large colon removed i was still the same wasy as you until i seen a dietician and we done the diary. You can do that yourself without docs. If you start to notice a problem food banish it for a while. I noticed lots of things. It also seems that the very high fibre diet i have been on since childhood might not be what i needed at all. I know its probably a daft question but do you drink plenty of fluids. ??  I have also noticed that cerals with lots of milk before bed help me now. believe me when i say i was the exact same zs you, from birth. nothing seemed to work. The pain was unbearable, especially when it was on to 3 weeks of no bm. hope this is of help to you. amanda