This thread is priceless. Let me add my two cents:
I have a 36 degree curvature in my spine (scoliosis). When I was 10 years old and it started to curve and hurt like everything-I would lay awake at night and cry from the pain--my distraught parents were told by at least 4 doctors that it was "growing pains" and I would get over it. Well I got used to it. After I finished growing the pain stopped but the scoliosis is still there.
My GI told me to cure my IBS by not thinking about it so much!!! I could tell he had never had IBS.