Were you too stressed or too busy when UC started?

Thanks for asking this, Marcell. I firmly believe that extreme stress brought on my UC ... I don't fit the age range according to the docs, and no hx of bowel issues for me or anyone in my family. I was experiencing crazy amounts of stress during mid-April through late June of 2017. When things finally starting to cool down in early-July is when the problems began. By mid-July I had been hospitalized for 5 days and left with a dx of UC. The doctor's said that "stress could bring it on" ... though that my my theory asking, not theirs offered. They could offer no reason why I would all of a sudden get UC at 46, with no prior hx of any bowel issues.

I'm still new at the UC, and still researching and trying to find my groove - so to speak. This post was SUPER helpful to know that 60% of the people who took the poll had stress when UC began.

I've had two flares since being diagnosed, both treated with steroids. They also started me on Colazal for maintenance. But, I'd really like to find a non-RX way to manage this, if possible. I eat healthy, and am not ready to accept that I'll need to take 9 pills a day for the rest of my life to manage this. I even took myself off it for a few months to experiment and my inflammatory markers decreased. Then the holidays hit, with additional stress on top of that - - and, bam, the second flare.

I've been working on managing my stress since last July, but am not sure I'm being 100% successful, so am continuing to think about more ways to do that and talking to my docs about it, as well. I do yoga and meditate regularly, get a monthly massage, and see a chiropractor who incorporates massage weekly. I'm also thinking of checking out an osteopath and a chi therapist.

Lastly, it was suggested to me that I try a FODMAP diet as my UC might be caused my a food allergy.

So, thanks again for the insightful posting and replies, everyone. And, if anyone has any experience with osteopath, chi therapy, or FODMAP for UC, I'd love to hear it. Or, any other ways they manage their stress.

Thanks!

marcell said...

Chiron said...

Andrina said...
I was bullied in school for years and I was enduring and enduring it. The summer I finished school I developed colitis. Right when I was able to rest. I believe that my body was fighting the entire time but when I was able to let my guard down I got sick.

This makes sense to me, 100%. I grieved intensely for 1-2 months, cried almost every day. This was when my partner left suddenly, due to infidelity. It was after I started to get over it that UC developed. It's like the crisis was over and my body collapsed. I also had a colonoscopy 2 weeks before my UC developed. I think there are connections to both these things.

Andrina said...
I was bullied in school for years and I was enduring and enduring it. The summer I finished school I developed colitis. Right when I was able to rest. I believe that my body was fighting the entire time but when I was able to let my guard down I got sick.

darn sad situations. Is there a whatsapp group here for people wanting some support?

Let's make one

Alexandra_Rose said...
Thanks for asking this, Marcell. I firmly believe that extreme stress brought on my UC ... I don't fit the age range according to the docs, and no hx of bowel issues for me or anyone in my family. I was experiencing crazy amounts of stress during mid-April through late June of 2017. When things finally starting to cool down in early-July is when the problems began. By mid-July I had been hospitalized for 5 days and left with a dx of UC. The doctor's said that "stress could bring it on" ... though that my my theory asking, not theirs offered. They could offer no reason why I would all of a sudden get UC at 46, with no prior hx of any bowel issues.

I'm still new at the UC, and still researching and trying to find my groove - so to speak. This post was SUPER helpful to know that 60% of the people who took the poll had stress when UC began.

I've had two flares since being diagnosed, both treated with steroids. They also started me on Colazal for maintenance. But, I'd really like to find a non-RX way to manage this, if possible. I eat healthy, and am not ready to accept that I'll need to take 9 pills a day for the rest of my life to manage this. I even took myself off it for a few months to experiment and my inflammatory markers decreased. Then the holidays hit, with additional stress on top of that - - and, bam, the second flare.

I've been working on managing my stress since last July, but am not sure I'm being 100% successful, so am continuing to think about more ways to do that and talking to my docs about it, as well. I do yoga and meditate regularly, get a monthly massage, and see a chiropractor who incorporates massage weekly. I'm also thinking of checking out an osteopath and a chi therapist.

Lastly, it was suggested to me that I try a FODMAP diet as my UC might be caused my a food allergy.

So, thanks again for the insightful posting and replies, everyone. And, if anyone has any experience with osteopath, chi therapy, or FODMAP for UC, I'd love to hear it. Or, any other ways they manage their stress.

Thanks!

My bowel never really worked perfectly, but all the symptons started after the most stressful moment of my life, after a surgery, along with work. So for me it's stress related. At least what triggered it was stress. I went to another doctor today. She says it's most stress that causes the disease. They don't have enough studies to say whether someone can be cured or not by removing high stress or anxiety. I researched but there's not a lot about it. Seems like they are not trying.

iPoop said...

marcell said...
I know everythig is risky. But we should consider that with those meds we attack what is there to defend us from many lethal attacks. So what can someone with HPV do? Have warts growing all around for the rest of theirs lives because the immune system can't cope up with virus activity? I see this an american forum. But let's consider other places around the world. People depend on buses and trains that are stuffed with people almost all the time. How will they deal with this? By getting sick repeatedly?

I don't know much about meds reactions. So what are you taking and did it shrink your defenses a lot?

We have posters on immuno-suppressing drugs who teach small children, others who are healthcare professionals, and posters who take these meds and use public transit. It's a common misconception to believe that these medications shut-off your immune system and you need to be constantly afraid of getting sick; not true. I've been on immunosuppressing meds since 2012 and I have not been any more sick than my normal amount. My wife has a cold right now and I have not got it, myself. I still have a functioning immune system, and I do not worry about germs and getting sick. Normal cuts and bruises are fine.

The only time you need to worry while on immunosuppressing drugs is if you contract the type of infection that requires antibiotics (sinus infections, uti, bronchitis, etc.) as you will need to seekout treatment sooner.

If you have a latent/dormant infection like tuberculosis and certain forms of hepatitis then they won't let you on these drugs, as that latent/dormant infection is likely to reawaken and become a problem again.

The reality is a lot less scary then you make it up to be. I encourage you to watch/read the links I sent before as they describe these things in great detail. You may not need these medications right now, but don't fear them as they work well for a great number of us, and give us our quality of life back. They could help you if your UC symptoms warrant taking these meds. Cheers!

I see. Thanks for the info. Still, fighting your immune system doesn't sound ideal. I know it's the only treatment now for those who are inba serious situation, but those meds have a potential to cause a great harm.i know people don't wanna be afraid, it's their right. But we should pursue something different, as commercial science doesn't seem to be caring about us.

In the here-and-now there is no understanding of what causes UC, nor what a cure would be. Although many posters have had UC for decades, regularly follow the latest scientific research into IBD, gut bacterium, and discoveries into immune process (canadamark, oldmike and others regularly talk about scientific papers and studies). We know UC responds to anti-inflammatories and immunosuppession and there's small risk. But there's risks from diets and supplements as well. Turmeric/curcumin acts as a blood thinner and cuts can take a lot longer to heal, various limited diets can lead to issues of not getting enough or the right nutrients (coming from nature doesn't guarantee harmless). Given all of the decades of research and minimal results, i can only guess the mechanism of action causing uc is complex with perhaps a genetic-deficiency and has many epigenetic triggers. Many of us who've had uc a long time are more hardened and skeptical. Not our first rodeo... when promise of a cure or perfect new treatment arise.

I truly wish having less stress and excercising more cured us. Call me skeptical. Can't hurt to try it for those who are so inclined. Search the forum, there's countless ideas floated around over the years on the forum. Great to have things to try or ponder. Cheers!

Post Edited (iPoop) : 3/20/2018 10:39:58 AM (GMT-6)