Does your energy and mood lower when you get sicker?

I was wondering if people experience less enthusiasm, not quite a depression (well sometimes), but a definite mood change as they slide into a period of feeling sicker. My UC is very temperamental, maybe everyone's is. I have a busy mind, and stress myself out easily. This leads to poorer sleep. With poor sleep and stress my colon starts to act up... as in more frequent stools, and sporadically going from solid to a mucus type diarrhea.

As that happens, I go from energetic and enthused to withdrawn and semi-depressed. Is that normal? I always wonder if I have depression that needs to be treated, but it's only when I'm feeling poorly in regards to my UC that it seems to happen. Plus... I've been to a therapist twice, both times when I was on prednisone which completely changes my mind. She always smiled at me and told me I was not in fact nuts... as in my mental health checks out okay.

I have had the disease for 6 years, and compared to many I am not a severe case. Possibly thanks to the pentasa and 6mp. Yet, the disease really seems to completely change who I am when I experience the symptoms. I can be okay with it I think, if I know how to handle these times when I get sicker. Is accepting the disease and withdrawing to regain energy a good option? How do other people deal with UC's effects on their mental state and social life as they try to heal?

Anyone have any great ways to deal with stress without internalizing it all? I am always thinking about the business I own, or how I'm handling my dating life, or how I could improve my life to bring me more joy. I know all the thinking leads me to poorer health. I can't seem to stop it though.

Zach

     I agree with both of you totally.   My poor husband has been so understanding.  It can't be easy for him when I get in my "moods".    Not only is the disease bad enough to cope with but the prednisone, Cort enemas, 6MP, Colazal and Canasa...all those meds! 

     It has got to be hard on you young people.  I didn't get ulcerative proctitis until I was 52 yrs old, now I am 63.  Up until I was 52 I never took more than a vitamin. 

     I used to enjoy spending time with my grandkids.....now they get on my nerves!

     Guess it is best to TRY to stay positive...but it isn't easy.

I've been recently diagnosed with UC and found myself somewhat depressed at times. Not major depression, but just a little down compared to my pre-diagnosis state of mind. I decided to try Saint Johns Wort which is a herbal supplement and can be purchased almost anywhere. It seems to do the trick. St Johns Wort is sometimes recommended for UC sufferers anyhow due to it's anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal effects.

When I was at my worst I didn't feel much of anything. I just kept pushing through with life and going to school and cooking food and feeding myself... I would get in the bathtub, sit back, then suddenly "come to" an hour later sitting in cold water, feeling like my eyes had never shut. I think I just pushed myself to exhaustion and didn't care or think about any of it.

Now I'm not half so bad but when little things happen they affect my mood a lot more. I turn to my boyfriend if I can; if he's not around I turn to my cat. They're both very understanding. I think it's because now that I have someone to open up to it all gets to me a lot easier.

     Yep, it is best to TRY to keep a positive attitude, although not always easy.  At my age, there is ALWAYS someone a LOT worse off.  We have belonged to a camping club for the past 23 yrs.  A couple who we have been friends with for all those years have really bad health issues and they really aren't that old.  She is 63 battling diabetes and breast cancer and he is 66 with advanced Parkinson's Disease.  So whenever I start to feel down about my long bouts with ulcerative proctitis, I think to myself..."shame on you, at least you will eventually reach remission.  Things could always be worse."

     HoldingHope.....I find that Tylenol PM can help you sleep better.  I have insomnia and was taking Ambien CR, but find it makes me feel more like a zombie.  First time I slept for nine hours in months last night.  Drank a cup of chamomile tea and took a Tylenol PM....slept like a baby and feel sooooo much better.

Yeah, it doesn't take much to change my mood if having a rough morning.

I've found that when I'm in remission - or even if my gut is just "fairly quiet" I can live without thinking about UC very much and my state of mind is good. But then when it flares, and when I'm having a hard time finding the right meds/foods/whatever to help me feel better, it takes over my life and I'm pretty blue. I think when dealing with it, two things (at least!) are going on:our self-image is altered and we are reminded that we have to live with this illness - and that is tough for anyone with any condition. Also, because of what's going on inside, we focus inward and lose our general perspective. One nasty poop and I'm thinking ahead to "what if I go 10 times like this, what if I go like this 10 times a day for the whole week, the whole month...." !!
So - I think some swings of mood are normal, and understandable. Now that my son also has UC, I keep in mind that I need to set a good example in my attitude, and that has helped to keep me from focusing inward too much.

I know exactly how you feel as my depressed feelings come and go with my flares.

Case in point. I went to bed last night after a week of no issues or flares and my mind starts to think, maybe I can go back to work, maybe I can start hitting the gym etc. I awoke this morning to a bad flare and out with the D. goes my hopes, dreams and self-esteem...

Hope is killing me!

Having to be fixated on our excrement makes us glum. It is demoralizing and humiliating. Having sh!t keep you trapped is bound to bring depression.