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Depression & UC?

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Posted 10/23/2010 7:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hey everybody,

I was first diagnosed with UC in January 2009. I've been taking Lialda since I was diagnosed (4 pills a day) and I took Canasa for a few mos after being diagnosed. I also was on Iron pills for the first 8 mos or so after being diagnosed. I've been fortunate enough to not have a flare up until now. It's only a moderate flare up, pretty manageable so far (knock on wood). The question i have is has anyone else experienced depression with flare ups? These past couple of weeks I've been exhausted (sure sign of a flare up, I should've known) and this week, when the bleeding started, I've just been constantly down. I can't get out of this funk, which is making me more upset. I guess I'm just sort of rambling (sorry) but nobody else understands I guess....

Is depression a problem for you when you have flare ups after being in remission for awhile?

Thanks...

Posted 10/23/2010 8:27 PM (GMT 0)
I was in remission for 23 years,yes since i've been flaring there are days were i feel like crap and i can get very depressed[no depression in my family].This disease can do a number on us both mentally and physically.Keep pushing foward[not always easy],when the flare is really bad[alot of blood] i need to do something[DR. OR E.R] -GOOD LUCK
Posted 10/24/2010 12:00 AM (GMT 0)
Gosh, it seems to me that depression is completely understandable! UC comes out of the blue, we do what we can to put it into remission, we're sailing along....... maybe ignore some extra gas or whatever and then - BAM! one morning here's blood on the TP... and it all starts again! Even after 27 years all told from UP to now, that first morning after a good spell, when I see that first bit of blood, it does a head trip on me.
Years ago I would become angry and depressed in a big way. Now it's just a short-term "being bummed out" - maybe a day or so - and I start to put together a strategy to take care of the flare ASAP.
I find that feeling proactive, whether it's diet, activities, meds, makes me feel more in control and raises my mood, and I remind myself that this is the nature of UC - it's not "something I've done" that has brought on the flare.
I've also learned, only in the past few years from good folks here, that upping the meds (and probiotics, for me) can help head off a flare before it becomes really bad - so I try to put positive energy into that.
But... it's so easy to become depressed about UC, I certainly understand!
Posted 10/24/2010 2:24 AM (GMT 0)
Depression and even anxiety is very common for IBDers...regular daily exercise does wonders all around (mentally and physically) for IBDers. If you're just starting to feel depressed, try exercise (even mild/moderate) before you try RX for depression, if you don't find exercising regularly helping or things are getting worse in the depression area, ask you doc for a mild anti-depressant but do still continue with some regular exercise regime.
Posted 10/24/2010 6:16 AM (GMT 0)
Hi. I am under antidepressive treatment for about 3 months now.
I found it verry helpfull, somehow including my flares.
Posted 10/24/2010 9:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi kbarb
i know exactly what you feel now because i had this now for 3 days. The thing that makes me very angry is when i loose a lot of blood i looks very pale and looks like dead people that thing makes me stay at home. I don't want every body to ask me ( why are you look so sick , are you OK , are you sad pf something, you want to sleep? , you didn't like the place). i think i cant really explain every thing to all people because i found this silly and they will not understand what my condition is .

Prednisolone and insomnia causes and waking up 4 times at night all this makes me feel like twisted mind person

Other thing that makes me very anxious is when i have a lot of bleeding i cant focus in any thing like my study or in any other thing and always thinking in nothing; just like crazy people

Now for me i can live with ulcerative colitis symptoms that we all know because i have this condition long time ago but i can't live with something makes me feel crazy
Posted 11/4/2010 4:23 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for your responses. I appreciate it. I've been busy with classes and haven't really had the time to log in until now...

It's nice to see others who can relate to what I'm feeling, and who let me know I'm not crazy for having these feelings. I'm happy to say I'm doing better now. Other than the usual fatigue, everything seems to be settling down (just in time for a cold! yay!)

I guess I realize it's normal to have ups and downs with such an unpredictable and time consuming thing such as UC. It's just nice to actually see people who relate. As a 20 year old in college, it's rarely something people talk about, and even rarer to find people who understand. Thank you for that, I really appreciate it...
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