Wow, I totally feel you on this. The big difference is that my symptoms are mild, but I still don't ever get invited out for dinner or any kind of social event because people just assume I can't eat anything and they know I don't drink due to my IBS. I am still a relitively young man and definitely feel like my "social life" so to speak, is slipping away.
For new people I don't say I have IBS, but I find everyone wants to know why I'm not drinking for example and if I don't say somethign they may assume I'm a recovering acoholic or something and I'd rather they know I have IBS than think that. For dairy I get away with just saying I'm intolerant to it without going into detail. So many people choose to not eat red meat that one isn't a problem.
Also, on the few times I am out with people who know about my IBS, all they can talk to me about is "Can you eat that?" "Is this ok for you?" "Wow, I just couldn't LIVE if I couldn't eat cheese" etc. etc. I don't bring it up but it's the favorite topic of conversation.
I often envy the folks who developed their IBS when they were older and already had a spouse, family, and friends, and so were already situated in life. I don't even want to consider dating...what a horrible nightmare that would be. Where I'm from the consensus if you don't go out drinking you're either boring, a big stick in the mud, or something wrong with you. Who would want to be with someone like that?
Especially worst are the people who egg me on by saying "I think you really can eat dairy. Have you tried it? Why don't you try it. Come on, it can't be that bad." God how frustrating that is.
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Re: Can anyone relate to keepin up a normal facade out in the world?
