Bowel-ed over by my search for a partner

2:59pm Thursday 12th July 2007

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A man from Shirley whose irritable bowel syndrome has made him unlucky in love has launched a dating website for people who suffer from embarrassing illnesses.

Craig Jex, 24, hopes his website - Irritated Being Single - will help people like him find love.

“A lot of people were asking why there wasn’t a dating service for people like us and I realised there was a market for it.”

Craig Jex

The website was set up especially for people with IBS, Crohn's Disease or any other bowel disorders who find it difficult to meet a potential partner because of their condition.

Craig, a customs officer who lives in West Way with his parents and sister, came up with the idea while trawling the internet in search of a treatment for his own condition.

He said: "I kept going on IBS message boards trying to find medication to alleviate symptoms and so many people were talking about how they have trouble meeting partners and forming relationships because of their condition.

"A lot of people were asking why there wasn't a dating service for people like us and I realised there was a market for it."

Craig initially set up the website from his parents' home last April. However, he lacked the experience and the expertise to market the site properly.

Now, after enlisting the help of a web designer, he has relaunched the site and hopes it will help people like him find love with an understanding partner.

He has 70 people registered on the website but hopes more will come forward when they hear of it.

Craig added: "My illness has definitely held me back and has really affected my confidence. I don't have a girlfriend but I have had them in the past. They have been very understanding but it can be a very embarrassing illness.

"It has always been my theory that my IBS wouldn't be as bad if I was dating a girl who had IBS too, as we would both understand."

Channel 4 is due to screen a documentary about Craig and the website at the end of August.

He said: "They sent me on a date with a girl from Southampton. It was nice but she lives too far away so I doubt it will progress. I'm hopeful I will meet someone though."

A man from Shirley whose irritable bowel syndrome has made him unlucky in love has launched a dating website for people who suffer from embarrassing illnesses.

Craig Jex, 24, hopes his website - Irritated Being Single - will help people like him find love.

The website was set up especially for people with IBS, Crohn's Disease or any other bowel disorders who find it difficult to meet a potential partner because of their condition.

Craig, a customs officer who lives in West Way with his parents and sister, came up with the idea while trawling the internet in search of a treatment for his own condition.

He said: "I kept going on IBS message boards trying to find medication to alleviate symptoms and so many people were talking about how they have trouble meeting partners and forming relationships because of their condition.

"A lot of people were asking why there wasn't a dating service for people like us and I realised there was a market for it."

Craig initially set up the website from his parents' home last April. However, he lacked the experience and the expertise to market the site properly.

Now, after enlisting the help of a web designer, he has relaunched the site and hopes it will help people like him find love with an understanding partner.

He has 70 people registered on the website but hopes more will come forward when they hear of it.

Craig added: "My illness has definitely held me back and has really affected my confidence. I don't have a girlfriend but I have had them in the past. They have been very understanding but it can be a very embarrassing illness.

"It has always been my theory that my IBS wouldn't be as bad if I was dating a girl who had IBS too, as we would both understand."

Channel 4 is due to screen a documentary about Craig and the website at the end of August.

He said: "They sent me on a date with a girl from Southampton. It was nice but she lives too far away so I doubt it will progress. I'm hopeful I will meet someone though."