question about IBS

Does your husband really only have IBS?  It sounds to me as though this is IBD, either Crohn's or Ulcerative Colitis.  In these diseases, constipation can occur when the inflammation is worse in the rectum and not in the rest of the colon.  Stool travels normally until reaching the rectum where it gets backed up.  The opposite would cause the diarrhea.  The whole colon may be inflamed then, causing watery stool instead of formed.  Has he had a colonoscopy recently to rule out IBD?  There are treatments that can keep him from having to run to the bathroom constantly.  During my last flare, I was in the bathroom at work 12 times in one day.  I was taking my medication, Colazal, but during my colonoscopy, they found that my rectum was severly inflamed.  The rest of my colon was normal.  I was given Casasa suppositories and within a week, was feeling like my old self.  When he has normal stools, does he have a lot of urgency?  Feeling like he won't make it to the toilet?  Perhaps when he gets there, despite the bad need to go, nothing will happen?  That is a sign of rectum inflammation.  Maybe you know this already...maybe you don't.  But, to answer your biggest question, unfortunetly, I haven't heard of anyone with IBD getting social security, never mind just having IBS. That doesn't mean it can't happen though I guess.  The only thing I do know is that both Crohn's disease and Ulcerative Colitis are covered under the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act. The law covers companies with 15 or more employees. To be classified as disabled, you would have to have a physical or mental condition that prevents you from or restricts you from one major life activity.  My book says it's not clear how this would affect people with IBD though.  It says that if your IBD is considered by a doctor as disabling, you would be covered under the ADA.  My personal opinion is that I would rather find treatments and work healthy than stay home sick.  If your husband hasn't been tested yet, he needs to.  What about allergy testing?  Has he been tested for milk, egg, wheat allergies?  Most likely he has but, food intake is an important part of maintaining a good stomach too. Hope I could help.   

I don't know about IBS, but I know the husband of a lady I worked with was denied SS disability, despite having terminal prostate cancer, a heart condition that required continous oxygen and strong medications, and he was on a narcotic pain killer AND confined to a scooter. 

They could have appealed the decision, especially after he got worse, but his company just gave him leave with full pay so they didn't have to bother with jumping through all the hoops again.  I guess SS thought he'd only be disabled once he was dead.

Moral of the story is you have to really be able to demonstrate that you can't work at all, in any capacity, at any job for which you have any training or qualifications and then you have to stay on them after they deny you.  It doesn't matter if you can't get a job working part time or from home; if they think you can do that, then you had better do it.  That, or you could delcare yourself an alcoholic like our ex-neighbor.  Apparently being a lazy alcoholic bum is a disability but heart conditions along with cancer is not.

Hi,  I am on ssi and I have IBS..  I got it on the first try..  If you want to email me feel free.  [email protected]...  I would be glad to answer any questions...

Thanks so much to everyone for your input. We are trying to make a decision about what to do. He has had IBS for years and it is getting much worse. He is under a Doctor's care and the Doctor feels he is not able to work. I too have heard horror stories about who does and does not qualify for benefits.
Again, Thanks for your input!! I am overwhelmed with how frinedly everyone has been.