Thanks guys, especially chrisrolinski for the veggie-friendly tips!!!
Sxx

Thanks again for all of the very useful advice.
I actually post regularly on this bored under another username, but was so embarrassed that I didn't want to use it!
I'm definitely going to try some of the relaxation tips (yoga!) after I get my next studentship payment.
Thanks again xxxxx

Thank you everyone.
I'm going to book (another!) appointment at the Drs....
And yes it is food-aggravated too, but I'm vegetarian and given the number of foods that potentially aggravate it (anything with caffeine, fat, pulses, wheat products, alcohol) I end up with a ridiculously restricted diet :s.....
Anyway, thanks again!xxx

Sorry if this is tmi, but I don't know what to do. I have 'attacks' of IBS that are largely stress related and I've basically spent the last two weeks having to run to the loo (and not being able to go on a trip that's more than 20minutes away from a toilet.
It's making me really depressed and I'm often too uncomfortable to concentrate on work :(
It's so embarrassing, how on earth do I begin to tell people the reason for my absences/ slow work rate ?!

I had a successful meeting to discuss this yesterday (not with my sup) the end result of which is that another supervisor is going to be brought on board.
Thanks for all of the useful suggestions, I'm going to try and instill some formality!!

Well, note quite and I need to avoid specifics to prevent my identification.
I'm seven months in, five weeks away from my first year review and I have no methodology. Every time I mention this to my supervisor he tells me I'm getting too deep into things, but it seriously worries me because I'm supposed to be developing a new methodology and a number of things he's suggested I don't think will work.
Last supervision we agreed I would do some work on methodology and write it up for yesterday. I didn't because of a number of issues I was having that I needed to talk through. When I brought these up he suggested I was doing the wrong thing (despite me having emailed him ten days ago explaining what I was thinking, with no comment to those ends). He then told me I needed to do this work ASAP (I do have a clearer idea what it is now), I suggested Monday, he insisted this afternoon. This is impossible. He told me it was possible because he is very confused as to what I have and haven't done this year. He then asked me about my First Year Review presentation ('have you been thinking about it?'), to which I responded 'no, not yet'. He told me 'you really need to come up with a better answer than that'.
I left feeling humiliated and upset. He never remembers what we've discussed, has no paper trail, and doesn't really have a clue what I've been doing. He frequently makes comments which both I, my counsellor and my friends think are overly harsh.
Sorry to offload, I know supervisors are a thorny issue, I just can't see working with mine for another 2 1/2 years!

This sounds like a truly horrific situation. I hope that you manage to get things resolved in a timely manner.
Sorry I can't offer any more direct advice, but I'm sure we're all thinking of you and hoping for a positive outcome!
xx

I wonder if anyone else had been through the process of applying for Disabled Students Allowance?
If so -- how did you find it/ how long did it take/ do you think the equipment/services provided were useful to you?
To students not in receipt of DSA: in my University there seems to be a great deal of antipathy towards those getting 'free' computers/ other equipment. So I'd also be interested in your opinions (hopefully in a non-inflamatory way!).
thanks

Phew!
Managed to speak to very helpful disabilities coordinator in the library who has removed most of the fines from my account. Apparently they're going to charge me a nominal amount for not dealing with it sooner (which I can't be bothered arguing against) but first of all they'll take that off my account temporarily so I can get my grant cheque.
Thank goodness!

The disabilities office has a thoroughly documented account of the issues; I got them involved a couple of days ago, although I haven't heard anything yet and I'm told that any cheque for my studentship will take five working days (at least) to issue and then it has to clear and it's nearing the easter close-down....
I guess it's just immensely frustrating (and I'm going to start getting bank charges accruing for being overdrawn).

I currently have library fines on my account through no fault of my own (I was seriously ill so couldn't return the books) amounting to several hundred pounds.
My university are refusing to remove them from my account, and won't pay my studentship (which comes from an external funding body and amounts to c.4k) until I've paid them.
The thing is, I have no means of paying them (even if I wanted to) until they give me my studentship. So I really don't know what to do, I have rent and bills to pay and they'd seemingly prefer me to drop out than assist with this situation.
Any advice?