Posted 8/20/2019 12:26 PM (GMT 0)
Before I had any typical symptoms I started feeling very anxious. Most notably, I became claustrophobic, which I had never experienced. This was for a couple of months leading to my first flare. I haven't had any major flares since the first, only minor ones that last a couple of days but I always experience either extreme fatigue or anxiety days before.
My primary care doctor stated many mood regulating neurochemicals are produced in the gut. Our gut microbes also react to these chemicals and "communicate" with our brains so I believe there is some connection there. Perhaps a change in gut microbes signals "trouble" to my brain or my nervous system is just reacting to low level inflammation. I don't have a good understanding of it to be honest. I was never anxious prior to UC but often experience periods of general anxiety now. Bit of a "chicken or egg" situation where I don't know if the UC causes the anxiety or the anxiety causes the UC.