This study was undertaken by sending a questionnaire to 148 people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The respondents all were members of the IBS Network, a national independent organization formed to help alleviate the suffering and distress of people diagnosed as having irritable bowel. They were asked about their symptoms, the medical tests they had undergone, how they felt about the treatment they received, and how IBS affected their lives. The study found that IBS affected all aspects of their lives: work, leisure, travel and relationships. Sufferers indicated that they felt they would have coped better if they had been provided with more information about IBS, its possible causes and treatment, and greater sensitivity from members of the medical profession in dealing with them.