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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 7/14/2013 1:59 PM (GMT 0)
Does anyone else think or strongly believe their bodies response to stress, or how they handle stress, is the reason for their UC?

I hate thinking this way because it puts me into a spiral of self-blame that only makes the stress worse, and then the UC worse. I've flared again recently, and always work myself into a world of self-blame, guilt, and even anger.

I try to pinpoint areas of my life that have been stressful lately that may have caused the flare like: is it my sister? is it my mom? is it my job? ...but only get slightly depressed.

I know I'll pull out of this, I always do, but the mystery always remains. smhair

Male - 55 - Ulcerative Colitis on/off since 1980.
Delzicol 9X per day
Probiotic Complex - 6X per day
Posted 7/14/2013 2:02 PM (GMT 0)
No, I am positive stress did not cause my UC but stress does make UC symptoms happen because "gut reactions" are a normal response to stress, UC or not.

UC causes stress but "correlation does not = causation" as our scientific posters say. :-)
Posted 7/14/2013 2:10 PM (GMT 0)
Nope. I think bad shrimp was the cause of my UC.

I may make poor food choices when I'm stressed, which can make me uncomfortable though.
Posted 7/14/2013 2:42 PM (GMT 0)
I think it's what triggers my UC many times. For example when I'm flaring it always hits right when I'm walking out of the door of my house. Or it even started to get me when I was walking into a store. You wouldn't think that's stressful but apparently there's something about it that must cause anxiety. My sister suggested anti-anxiety meds but I haven't followed through with it. I'm exploring other options first.
Posted 7/14/2013 3:01 PM (GMT 0)
I think mine is AI or some kind of bacterial trigger. I don't think stress helps at all and I've noticed since I stopped letting things get me worked up, my UC has behaved much better but I don't think UC was a response to my stress levels.
Posted 7/14/2013 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
For me stress had zero to do with it. UC is in my family big time so I was already predisposed to it and I believe when I quit smoking that was my trigger. With IBD there are endless reasons.
Posted 7/14/2013 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
All I know when I first started college I was doing poorly. I was failing and burning the candle at both ends trying to keep up. As a child I had a lot of stomach aches. High school I always had to work hard and would wind up going to summer school which annoyed my mom because he had to drive me..It was my second term in collage I got UC. I believe I had the gene for UC and the stress allowed it to breakthrough. I also have no doubt UC would have surfaced at some point in my life. But once the monster is out the horse has left the barn. Sometimes you can put him back only to have him get out again., and again. Oh yeah another little thing going out was alittle thing called the vietnam war where you had to keep from failing out of college or you were drafted. Now I went to another college worked my but off and graduated dean list second in my class. Having on and of flares. I also smoked from 18 to 40, flaring all the time. Off course my GI back then didn't believe on keeping me on meds between flares. Stress never helps, can it bring on a flare yes, does it cause UC if you don't have the right genes, IMO NO..ROd
Posted 7/14/2013 5:50 PM (GMT 0)
My understanding is that stress does NOT cause UC but it is a trigger. You absolutely should not blame yourself for your illness - that's a big load to carry. Plenty of people with stress do not suffer from UC, we are just unfortunate enough to have this disease.
Posted 7/14/2013 5:57 PM (GMT 0)
I was under incredible work stress at the time I came down with UC while in the hospital getting treated with broad spectrum antibiotics. It could have been the one two punch which did me in. The fact is everyone has stress at times in their lives so I think it is a mistake to "blame" things on stress. It is kind of like depression. Everyone gets depressed at times in their lives. Stress and depression are just normal parts of the human condition. There is no one who never gets stressed and no one who never gets depressed. Obviously some handle these things better than others.
Posted 7/14/2013 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
I have many health issues, both nonautoimmune and autoimmune. My genetics are the sole reason, the triggers, however...who knows. We're exposed to sooooooooooo many things and have had many viruses/bacterial infections, medications, poisons in the environment...etc, it would be difficult to pinpoint just one thing as a culprit.

Stress as the cause for it? lol...nope. And while stress has a HUGE variation with different kinds of stress that can help or hinder our minds and bodies....it's impossible for anyone to control it in the belief that it'll prevent disease or cure it. But once the body is in a state of crisis, it sure doesn't help.

q
Posted 7/14/2013 6:18 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all the comments. Sometimes I think it's the coffee...or the sugar...or the cheese...or the frozen fruit bars....uh oh here I go again...!! LOL rolleyes

Male - 55 - Ulcerative Colitis on/off since 1980. Currently in semi-remission.
Delzicol 9X per day
Probiotic Complex - 6X per day
I try to eat preservative-free diet with occasional vegetables and fruits
Posted 7/14/2013 6:28 PM (GMT 0)
I'll suggest rectal meds as part of your med regimen. That might help you not believe so much that its the coffee, the sugar, the frozen fruit bars...etc.

Not to say that you won't feel good while having some of the above you've listed, but they won't be the cause of your flare...try not to confuse the two. Of course...that's my camp of thought...others will disagree.

My statement to that is...yes, you'll have food symptoms, but don't confuse it with your UC symptoms. Everyone has food symptoms when something doesn't agree. You'll drive yourself crazy believing that everything you put in your mouth is bad for you.

and yes....I've been there, done that bigtime.  But that was before diagnosis and a short time afterward.  There are probably many foods I don't eat, would never eat and do eat.  Some cause me severe discomfort, some a tad, some not at all. 

If you do have some UC symptoms or nice simmering inflammation, it's easy to ignore them since they are an improvement from more obvious symptoms.  But, eating/digestion can disagree or cause more extreme focus.  The belief becomes the food and not treating the inflammation.  If after treating the inflammation (and some symptoms improve) and after eating certain foods, one has discomfort...then don't eat the food.  But at least the inflammation is being dealt with.


q

Posted 7/14/2013 7:00 PM (GMT 0)
Yes quinc you're right. In fact because of you I just used a cortisone enema! LOL
I have quite a few of them from an old refilled prescription and just opened them up a week ago. They are still good till Sept. Nothing like an enema to start the day! LOL

I just hate the first 10 min. or so of retaining them. BLAH!!! Isn't life grand?!? LOL

I think health is 50% medical and 50% feelings (e.g. our lives). I have a tendency to ignore the medical...so thanks for waking me up!!

John
Posted 7/14/2013 7:27 PM (GMT 0)
I understand to not want to take the meds. There are some I'd never take...of course, that's a personal decision. But, if you ignore the inflammation part, then you're just ignoring and focussing on another reason as to why. It's much easier to control food (which for some can become a cognitive issue, not body).

I've never used enemas during the day, and yep...the first 10 minutes can sometimes be a knuckle clencher.
Maybe tonight, start using them before bedtime...??

Hope you have a feeling better week!
q
Posted 7/14/2013 8:44 PM (GMT 0)
I don't think stress is a cause, stress seems to have no effect on my UC. But I agree with what Tornado said, when I'm stressing I'll try to make myself feel better by making poor foods choices and that becomes a trigger.
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