Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

I don't think it's on their website, but it was in the Wednesday, January 21 edition of Letters to the Editor, page 14A. The letter was in response to the paper's review of the movie Along Came Polly in the previous Friday's edition.

The headline was "Help for Disorder". The letter read:

Thank you for noting that in the movie "Along Came Polly" Ben Stiller's character has Irritable Bowel Syndrome. It was a nice change of pace to see this chronic health disorder, long stigmatized and ignored, given mainstream recognition and even treated sympathetically by Jennifer Aniston's character. I do realize that IBS has its humorous aspects and this was treated fairly within the context of the film. To be sure, if you can't laugh at IBS you will never survive it.

However, it was quite unfortunate that the movie perpetuated some serious misconceptions about the disorder. Though IBS is still incurable it is now well-researched, and there are a multitude of ways to successfully control the symptoms. Having lived with IBS since age 9, I'm well-aware of the tremendous difference that proper diet, stress management, gut-directed therapies, and supplements can make.

It was a shame to see this movie continue the falsehood that IBS must only be endured. The happy truth is that IBS can - and should - be proactively addressed and its symptoms alleviated.

Heather Van Vorous
President, HelpForIBS.com
Seattle

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Heather is the Administrator of the IBS Message Boards. She is the author of Eating for IBS and The First Year: IBS, and the CEO of Heather's Tummy Care. Join her IBS Newsletter. Meet Heather on Facebook!

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