I'm From The Colitis Forum And Have Question

Hi Joe,

I usually post in the Crohn's Forum, and that's pretty much how I'd put my first sentence also. Hi, I'm Molly and I'm depressed, unfortunately. I feel like I have so much going for me, but at the same time nothing. I've been living with an ostomy for 8 months now, and there's talk of closing it but I'm afraid that'll just result in another surgery followed by another if you know what I mean. I've had Crohn's for 10 years and now they're being pressed to find any treatments that work, even steroids. So I know what that's like. As far as anti-depressants go I've been on a couple of different ones. I'm on wellbutrin now, but sadly I don't think it does anything. I also take klonopin for this chronic "anxiety" I have. I think it's more low self esteem, and ew I have an ostomy syndrome. I'm looking for a new psychiatrist to maybe try something different for a while to try and get me out of this slump. Sorry I couldn't be more encouraging, but I try to keep a positive attitude despite all these trials. If you ever want to chat I'm here...
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Hi Joe & Molly...I'm a 25+ Crohn's sufferer, amongst other health problems (see signature). I've been depressed on & off for several years, however, I recently found out that 'The Love of My Life' died 2 yrs. ago. I hadn't seen him in 20 yrs. & always planned to contact him, to discuss some unresolved issues from the relationship but felt unable to because of the Crohn's (can't be dealing w/ unrelenting diarrhea while facing 'The One'). This was the tip of the iceburg for me & now spend part of each day in tears (it's been 2 mos. since finding out). There's alot more to this but you get the gist. Anyway, I first wanted to tell Joe that I recently tried Celexa (15th anti-depressant which I've tried in the last 10 yrs.). Yes, it made me very tired, I didn't feel normal, just felt like my emotions were blocked. Like all anti-depressants, I'm unable to handle the side-effects. My former gastro told me that this is common w/ IBD patients (the inability to handle the effects as the drugs affect the nervous system (gut)). What I did want to share w/ the both of you is a great forum that I spend most of my time on. It's called www.C3Life & is a fairly new forum for Ostomates, those related, people considering the surgery, people considering a reversal, etc. It's a friendly & HONEST forum. People on said forum tell it like it is...in other words, the pro's & con's, not all sugar & spice. Please check it out...it's been invaluable to me & somewhat different than the few other forums which I've checked out. There's 10 pages of topics & a few which are unrelated to illness, just humorous or interesting. It's a casual forum & less restrictive than most others. Lastly, I'd like to bring people over who will talk about their depression. This is is one of the most VIEWED topics but it appears that many guests are reluctant to add their own feelings. I have no affiliation to the forum, just a well-known & very open postee. I urge you guys to check it out...fuzzy

Hi Karen, Thank you for the welcome. I was just getting on here to change that website that I posted as it is .org not .com I actually got it from this HealingWell.com website on a post under the Ulcerative Colitis tab. I am not offended in the least but I think any place we can go for support is a bonus.

 Fuzzy, I find it very interesting about your melanoma. First let me say I am so sorry to hear about that added to your Crohns. I didn't mention it in my first post but my daughter who has Crohns also had malignant melanoma last October. She had a big chunk of her face cut out (like she didn't have enough to deal with) she was cut from her eye to her chin. She is 39 years old.

Oh Karen that is good news re; other websites. No, I have no vested interest in it.......found it on this HealingWell website. It is www.wearecrohns.org I do hope it helps other people. It seems more for younger people, kinda like a myspace for Inflamatory bowel disease. I prefer this website but they are very nice there too.

citymouse...I'm sorry to hear about you & your daughter. First, please check out the fourm that I listed...UC IS curable by ostomy surgery (not an easy decision but you may want to read how others feel about having had the surgery). Secondly, the reason for my ileostomy, besides the fact that I was fairly bowel incontinent at that point, was because I had to stop the 6-MP & Remicade. The docs were concerned that these drugs (namely the Remicade) could be the cause of my cancer. I was VERY lucky as I noticed a small bubble next to my iris (for several yrs. prior to this I had a broken blood vessel in the same place...the eye docs dismissed this but I've since learned that this can be an early warning sign of cancer!). Also, I was sent to a renowned hospital in Boston & am still being treated by the clinical director (she's fantastic). Due to living in this area, I was fortunate as this hospital is one of the few, at that time, to use a topical chemo to treat the cancer, following removal of the tumor. I then had to have cryosurgery (ouch!) but my eye is intact. Next, I'm having a specialized lens fitted to prevent further surface damage (you must have a severely disabled to be eligible for this lens, invented by a former researcher/doc from this hospital). He set-up a foundation & it's the only one in the world (located in my hometown, to boot...was featured on Oprah a few yrs. ago). My doc was on the Today Show! Anyway, this lens will help my eye from further damage until they can transplant stem cells from my cheek into the 'bad' eye (it's risky to take these from the 'good' eye, especially as this type of cancer has a fairly high recurrance rate). They're pretty far along into the research so it could be as soon as 3 yrs., optimistically. I'm so sorry that your daughter didn't get as lucky as me (never thought I'd be saying that!) but thankfully, she's alive (this cancer was 80% fatal just 7 yrs. or so back). I know of a couple people who had unrealted eye cancers & they had the type of surgery that your daughter did...very traumatic, I'm sure. My heart goes out to her. Did she take either of the drugs that I mentioned? I feel that this was the cause but because this cancer is so rare, it's hard to determine the answer. If I had to do it again, I'd choose the Imuran as it contains human protein vs. Remicade which contains mouse protein. I hope that you're health improves & please, just check-out www.C3Life in the event that you're contemplating surgery. As I said before, you'll get HONEST feedback. Presonally, I don't care for forums which only focus on the positive...ex: I'm extremely depressed right now & don't need to hear someone telling me "chin-up, it'll get better". I want people who can truly relate to my feelings & talk openly about it. Make sense? Please feel free to e-mail me at any time (on my Profile). Wishing you & your daughter better days ahead...fuzzy

citymouse...a bit too coincidental if you ask me as only 1 to 2% of people are diagnosed w/ this particular eye cancer. There is NO warning about this for Remicade, only a warning about the possibility of developing Lymphoma. These are completely unrelated cancers. I would NOT have taken a drug if there was any possibility of losing my eyesight! Hope to hear from you on the other forum...trust me, you can't miss me!!!

P.S. I hope that you don't mind but under the Topic 'Depression' on C3Life, I mentioned your daughter & the fact that she developed this cancer. Of course, no names (including your username on this forum) or any info that could be related to you, personally, was written (not that I know alot about you). I do hope to learn more about your situation & some personal info, like your location. Hope to chat w/ you over there!

Thanks everybody for the responses. The doc switched me to "Lexapro", today. So far I'm a little tired , but no gut pain or headaches. Hey Molly, my ostomy was not that bad. I always said I could live this way. It beat the heck out of having UC. Now with the J-pouch its a little like UC, but I have better control. The doc said it will only get better. Again, I appreciate the responses everyone and good luck to all of you. If I can help in any way , just ask. Joe

Thanks, Kitt...I hope that you & your husband are doing well...fuzzy