Feeling Blue - Life Changes and UC

Feeling pretty sad today. I've been missing alot of work over the last 3 weeks. I was told I would need to go on Imuran - which I haven't started yet as I'm worried about the side effects. I have been through 2 iron infusions and it's kicking my ass. As soon as I feel better I get another one. Start to feel better then get another one. I still have 2 more to go. I've been spending the last month transitioning to an anti-inflammatory diet in the hope of mitigating my symptoms without having to go on anything stronger than Asacol. I've had really happy poops for about 2 months and was saddened to learn from my GI that I have pancolitis and my inflammation markers are not going down. So, I see him again on August 6th and I am going to ask him to monitor me for 6-12 months using supplementation and diet to try to improve my symptoms. Vegan Gluten free seems to be doing wonders for my digestion but the sadness of leaving behind my old food life and constantly feeling tired from my treatments are taking their toll on my psyche. Luckily I work for the government and can take time off for treatments, but I feel like a sickling. I pray that I will feel physically better and that my mental health follows. Sigh...

Yes, I'm trying much harder to live in the moment and enjoy the good days and try not to dwell on the bad. I had my infusions on wednesday, missed that day and yesterday. I went to work today and only lasted until 1. trying to stay positive.

I am sorry you're feeling so Down. I can relate. My uc has been kicking my butt lately and it seems like nothing helps. I dont even bother with diet anymore, I used to but had no luck even seeing slight improvement. I was torturing myself and seeing no benefit. It's great that you've had some luck! On the other hand, Imuran isn't the end of the world. It sounds a lot worse than it is. No one wants to be on these drugs and we all wish our condition would be treatable with diet and supplements but for many of us, it's not. It is a Downer but imuran can help to control things and the doses we take are low and don't cause many side effects for most people. I never had side effects from 6mp... It's safe and it's been around for a long time. There are worse thing, like being stuck at home worried about not making it to the toilet. Try to remember things will get better. We all have ups and downs in life...

The joy of living with this disease and others that the general public will never be blessed with (a good thing). Keep your chin up mate.

I'm so sorry you're going through this. It's a constant battle for me to keep from getting sucked under, as well. Sometimes the magnitude of having a second full-time job keeping myself alive really gets to me. I will tell you that I went on generic Welbutrin XL, which really, really helped me--especially the first six months. I was so dark I don't think I could have survived much longer. It really helped me pull out of the abyss.

Like Subzeromambo, funny movies and great books have helped me escape. Coming here helps. Joining a local support group helped. Writing about what you're going through can really help too. Oh, and more sleep, if you can get it.

It will get better. I promise.

Sorry to hear your feeling so low, if it helps your not alone, every month seems to bring some new ailment to me! I have managed to stay positive because even now I know there are people still worse off than me, and it kinda helps..a bit...not always though, because you have to work at it sometimes, find stuff that will lift your spirits.