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Depression and Crohns

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 12/31/2013 11:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hi I am new here and hope I can find help and share some thoughts with the members.
My adult son has had CD since age 14. He is 37 and was just hospitalized with a pulmonary embolism. Doctors told him that CD patients have 30% greater chance to develop a PE compared to general population. He is so depressed and I don't think the Zoloft nor his psychiatrist are working. The mood swings, episodic anger and anxiety are his chief symptoms. We live in the Chicago area and I was wondering if anyone knows doctors from here who understand what CD does to a patient. And at the same time a psychiatrist who can help. The doctor he related well to moved down South in June. His local GI doctor is average. Any one have any comments or suggestions for us?
I appreciate and help. Happy New Healthy Year to All!
Posted 1/1/2014 3:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hi and welcome to the forum. University of Chicago Hospital has a great reputation for treating Crohn's and it might be worth taking him there for a second opinion. As far as the depression, I think your son might benefit from psychotherapy from someone who is familiar with chronic illness, and not just a psychiatrist, who primarily gives medications. Medications also can be useful and maybe he need to try something other than Zoloft. You can contact your family doctor, or ccfa.org to possibly get some names of who to try seeing. I can't imagine NOT feeling depressed after a hospitalization at age 37 with a pulmonary embolism and Crohn's. I hope your son can find the help he needs
Posted 1/1/2014 3:16 PM (GMT 0)
I can't really add anything to gumby's post.

I have depression too, but I wasn't diagnosed until 25 and in my case the depression predates the Crohn's. However, there is certainly enough about this disease to be depressing.

Best of luck to your son. Sorry I don't have anything more useful to say.
Posted 1/1/2014 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
To. Gumby and NiceCupofTea thank you for your input. He had been at Northwestern but that dr moved. We are also looking for a local GI dr West of Chicago for follow up care after second opinion..anyone have any thoughts?

What is so frustrating about comorbidities both mental and medical is trying to keep all under control. You can see what is wrong but don't know what to do about it...what was that movie called. It's Complicated. That's why a forum like this can talk about personal experience. What worked and other remedies. Psychotherapy is interesting option. Thank you.
Posted 1/1/2014 11:13 PM (GMT 0)
You might have more help talking to other patients there or getting a rec from a doctor at Northwestern. Posters here are from all over the world, so location-specific suggestions are not very helpful.
Posted 1/5/2014 2:55 AM (GMT 0)
I'm right around your son's age and also from the Chicago area. I completely understand the mental toll this disease takes on you. I was going to Midwest Digestive Disease Specialists out of Oak Brook Terrace. I liked them a lot. I'm in the process of switching over to University of Chicago as I seem to be a difficult case and University of Chicago seems to have access to different treatments that the average gastro doesn't have. I was went to DuPage Medical previously. They were rather average in my opinion and part of the reason I switched. I hope this helps.
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