September 4, 2024

Dear Heather,

This is a thank you that's 20 years in the making.

In 2002, after having my 2nd daughter, I started to have some frequent bouts of urgency and diarrhea – I'd struggled with these occasionally in the past (related to hormone fluctuations) – but this seemed unusual.

I chalked it up to "maybe that chicken on my Caesar salad at lunch was bad" - or "that shot of espresso didn't agree with me". After a few months, I noticed these bouts were happening more often. But I had a 3 year old and a new baby and just learned to deal with it (having a basket of toys in the bathroom SHOULD have been a sign that things weren't normal, but…)

Soon, a year had gone by and I was struggling – usually in the late afternoons – to make it through daycare pick up without getting sick… or just barely making it home. Not to mention, I couldn't get dinner ready for my family, my husband would come home from work to a wife either vomiting from pain or so weak from being sick that I couldn't stand.

I finally went to my doctor – and the months of tests started. Results were always negative or inconclusive. I switched my job so I could work from home. My then almost 5 and 2 year olds had become masters at entertaining themselves while "mommy's tummy hurt".

Finally, my doctor (who was younger than me), suggested that with ruling out so many other things, I might have IBS. He gave me a medication to help with the pain and diarrhea after an episode started – but didn't know what I could do to prevent them from happening. He suggested I look on the internet.

In 2004, after almost 2 years of dealing with this I found a site run by someone with the same first name and located in the Pacific Northwest, where I lived. The site talked about a journey and lessons learned.

It offered hope that by changing my diet, I could reduce the amount of time I felt sick. It offered concrete advice in the form of a cookbook, a First Year book, tummy fiber supplements, and peppermint tea for people like me.

I didn't feel alone, I felt understood, and I felt hope that I could get my life back. I lived on your cereal snack mix for weeks while my gut started to calm down. I found the best times of day to take my fiber and slowly increased it while also taking time to figure out what foods I could tolerate and when.

Slowly, I had fewer days where I was sick and more days where I could read to my kids or play with them outside. I could sit and have a meal with my family without dashing to the bathroom halfway through. I was gaining my life back. While I definitely had set backs (and occasionally still do), I was starting to feel like myself again.

Now, 20 years later, I have raised two beautiful girls and am still married to my caring, supportive husband. I run my own successful business. Over the years, I was able to volunteer at my girls' schools, attend their sports, music, and drama events. I could enjoy date nights with my husband.

I was able to get together with friends and family (who have also been supportive and really tried to understand my limitations over the years)… all of these things and so many more because of you and the knowledge you've shared.

You gave me my life back. From the bottom of my heart – thank you.

Heather S.
Kent, WA

Thank you SO MUCH for sharing your story, Heather! I am so grateful you sent this wonderful letter.

And I have stacks of letters like this, going back to 1998, and I continue to get new ones every day. For years, people have told me "you should read these letters to everyone, they could really make a difference in people's lives." So, I've started sharing them.

I hope that these Letters to Heather resonate with you and make a difference in your life. I am so thankful to have received them.

You are not alone.

P.S. If you have any questions or comments I'd love to hear them - just reply to this email to reach me directly. I am overwhelmed with emails but I try to answer everyone. If you need immediate help please join my private IBS coaching.

If you're viewing Heather's IBS blog news on a website and would like it in your inbox, join for free and get a printable IBS diet cheat sheet!

To taming your tummy,
Heather


Heather Van Vorous
Over 40 years dealing with IBS
Get full help for IBS here

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