What to do next
You may think that once a diagnosis has been made, your troubles are over. But actually, the party’s just begun. IBS is a complicated disorder, and requires a similarly complex response.

To find the solution that works for you, you’ll need to do your own research. Your doctor can provide some insight into helpful drug therapies, but total therapy will require that you to take the initiative. “You need to get your own information,” advises Van Vorous. “Nobody will manage your IBS for you.”

Van Vorous should know. After nearly a decade of IBS, she began exploring changes in diet and lifestyle to help manage her condition. The result is Help For IBS, a website of advice on how to deal with IBS. She’s also published several books, including Eating for IBS and The First Year: IBS, and teaches courses on IBS management.