Depression normal?

Sorry to see you aren't doing well Shannon. I'm sure the prednisone will kick in and you'll be feeling better soon. I'm actually have Crohn's but I'm on 75mg of 6MP as well.

I was on it for a few years and it really helped me, so I'm sure it will help you too. I stopped taking it b/c my wife and I were thinking about having a baby but things have just blown up on me so I'm back on it, plus 20mg of prednisone as well. I called in sick to work today, and I'm feeling depressed as well, so you're not alone. I have also cried today, first time for that in years.

I don't want to deal with this either, I am going to try gluten free or SCD diet once I get things in order.

Well, take it easy. You'll feel better soon, I'm sure!

Mike

Thanks to both of you! Im sorry that u both are stuck where i am right now to!!! I know things will be better, so im just not sure why it hit me like this...thanks for sharing, it's good to know that others understand how im feeling.

ps, mike, i think it might be different for men (maybe lowering sperm count)??, but i took 6mp though most of my pregnancy including the trying to concieve stage. Im not sure how it works w/ a man taking it, but if u guys have not, u should consult a perinatologist (high risk pg doc) who will know much more about how 6mp would affect an embryo comming from the man's side...good luck!

comedydork, im sorry u had an accident last night! i hope that things settle down for all of us soon! hugs, shannon

I am often depressed because of my UC and other related problems. I quit working a few years ago to try and deal with a UC flare I was having. That alone was hard because at the time I was 24 years old with a great career lined up. I was a Project Manager for a pretty big company, responsible for many multi-million dollar projects, had a company vehicle with a company gas card (that would be great right about now), had a salary position, and best yet they worked with me when it came to my health. They knew about my disease and worked stuff out to where if I was feeling especially sick I could just work from home (before leaving work each day I'd upload all my work to a private website that I could access from home). In the last year I was there I probably worked from home a good 75 days that year. I honestly wasn't sure how they felt about that (they always said they were perfectly fine about it) until the day I told them I would be quitting. about an hour later I got a call from the corporate headquarters in California. It was the owner of the company on the phone. He asked me what was up and I told him. We talked for a bit and then he said he'd get back to me in a few hours. A few hours later he called back and offered me a deal. The deal was that I'd come work out of the corporate office on a 20 hour a week schedule (could mostly be all done from home). I told him there was no way I could afford to live down there while working part time and he told me that wouldn't be a problem because he'd rent me a place with full utilities paid. I gave that a lot of thought but about a week later (was having a really bad time with my health) I told him I'd have to pass. He kept in touch with me for almost 2 years after that just to see how I was doing and would always let me know that once my health was better he'd have a position waiting for me.

Deciding to leave really sucked.

Not being able to work since then has really sucked. I loved working and I miss it.

Living life extremely broke while constantly being sick really sucks.

Spending the last 3+ years in basically a constant "flare" (I've had periods of time when I felt good....usually while on prednisone) has really sucked.

All of those things have had me depressed off and on. Knowing I'll most likely be sick until the day I die gets me really depressed. A lot of small things even make me depressed basically because it just seems like you're stuck in a rut and can't get out.

Being depressed most likely is something all of us feel. How depressed we feel most likely largely depends on how sick we are and how good of a support structure we have around us.

(Sorry about my work situation ramble. When I'm depressed, which I have been lately, I find that just "talking" to people helps. Even if it's about something stupid. Oh, the owner of my old work didn't stop contacting me because he forgot about me or anything. He actually had a tragic accident and passed away a year or so ago. Great guy. Wish the world had more people that cared like he did.)

I went off meds after having UC for years too, like you said, I was tired of being sick, tired of meds! I think it's normal. Add in the exhaustion of having a baby, flare-ups, and life in general, and it can be tough. The first thing to do is forget about the mistakes you made, and move on. I have occasional depressing days, but not long periods of feeling depressed. (Last time on Pred I was a basket-case so it may be that, when did you start it?) If you feel like you can't get away from the depression then you should talk to a doctor about it. Hope you are feeling better. :)

Seek help. If you feel overwhelmed or depressed, there is no shame in that. After all, you have a chronic illness that affects every aspect of your life! To imagine you could deal with that on your own is making it really so much harder than it has to be.

I've struggled with depression for over 20 years, and I take medication daily that helps me so very much. I fortunately don't have nearly the level of colitis that so many of you poor folks are dealing with. The medications I take for that really, really help.

I fought going on antidepressants for a long time, but I finally was convinced, and it was such a blessing. I knew I was a strong person, but I could not fight my brain chemistry.

Again, there's no shame in seeking help. The shame is continuing to suffer when you don't have to. Treating depression is among the most successfully treated ailments. Why should you suffer if you don't have to?

I feel just awful for all of you suffering because I know how much of life I lost, how truly horrible my existence was when I was in the throes of depression. Don't let another day go by without seeking help for your depression. You are worth it!

Mitz

wow, u guys were busy while i was gone! LOL

Im actually feeling a little better today (day two on pred), however, i did not sleep more than 4 hrs last night (even after taking ambien cr). I am totally wired, at least my house will get clean!

Im so thankful for all of u to share ur stories. I hope that u all can seek some comfort w/ me in knowing that alot of us suffer w/ depression.

I did seek counceling after my dx 5 yrs ago, but have not since. Im not sure if i was just having a bad day in general or what.

Vegasguy, im sorry to hear all that this danm disease has taken from you! It's ashame that your boss was lost to a accident, as he sure sounded like a great perosn!

Anyways, i am glad to report that today i am feeling better, physically and emotionally. I hope it keeps up that way!
and like many of u, i like to "talk" to when things are bad, so if u all want to keep the thread going, i don't mind chatting.

hugs, shannon

Shannon, I'm sure that by now you know this is a great place to vent about UC. We all understand and have our days when we are so fed up with this disease. I'm in remission now and still on occasion get so darn depressed over the fact that I have to take these 11 pills a day (between my meds and supplements) and Rowasa enemas twice a week. Sometimes I just don't want to take them anymore. But, then I tell myself to just "suck it up". I stopped taking my meds before and enjoyed a very long remission, but it came back to bite me in the Butt. So, I probably will not stop taking them again, but I am SICK of taking them. And I feel kind of guilty saying that because there are so many people who can't get into remission and here I am complaining about all the darn pills, but I am lucky enough to be in remission. We all have our days, eventually we get over it, what other choice do we have, right? It's just something we will have to live with the rest of our lives unless some EINSTEIN comes up with a cure, other than colectomy....When I do start to get down about it, I just remind myself that there are alot of people out there that are worse off, and not just those with UC.............
Try to take your pred early in the day if possible. If you take any at night, it will definitely interrupt your sleep. Glad you're feeling a little better, keep thinking positive. Good Luck

Thanks again everyone! Today is day 3 on the pred. Yesterday i was feeling better physically, but today having a rumbling stomach, pain, ect. I slept about 4 hrs last night (thanks to the pred), but im eating everything in site (thanks to the pred, lol)

I do find that my mood is better tho, so i assume i was just having a hard day that day, maybe when i was confronted by my doc as to why i had not been on my meds for so long!!!

I have been keeping a food journal and hope to see a nutritionist next week!

Anyways, im so happy i found HW, and that all of you have been so welcoming! pb and i go back about 4-5 yrs from another board that recently shut down and i hope to be making some other friends here to!

hope you all have a good day and are feeling well!!!!! shannon