I have been MIA all over the internet for the past several months or more. I had been on a depression medication, Celexa, which was giving me nightmares (ones I didn’t much enjoy), trouble sleeping and so, rather than speaking to my family doctor about it and getting something different, I just quit taking it. One thing is for sure.. my doctor told me right up front at the beginning of all this.. It’s not unusual at all to feel depressed when you have Crohn’s Disease.
Not a good idea.
After several months of progressively getting worse, I finally talked to doc about it. He put me on something different (Effexor, which doesn’t have very many supporters if you search about it). After about two weeks, he bumped up the amount I take.. I feel better now, but wouldn’t mind feeling a little bit better than I do. I need to go see him soon and will talk to him about it then. Depression is no fun.
I notice a pattern with how I deal with things, and always see the pattern in hindsight, but when dealing with it at the time, I just can’t deal with it. I knew last summer and fall I was depressed, but I kept thinking it would be better tomorrow and I’d call the doctor, but then didn’t feel better and wouldn’t. There was always some reason for me to put it off. Not healthy, but at the time, I don’t know how to work around it. Ah well, knowing the problem is half the battle, right?
As for my Crohn’s Disease, I started Humira and am feeling so much better. I still get pain in a few different locations, and still use prescribed pain med to manage it – both my family doctor and my Digestive Specialist doc are fine with it. What would I do without them (both of my doctors.. and yeah, the pain med too.. but my doctors are awesome)? I just don’t know. Humira, used for both crohn’s and ulcerative colisit, is easy to do – self injection every other week with the pen (pen is called a self-injection pen or an auto injector – they are disposable, and Humira will provide a container for them for free). As long as I put ice on the injection location both before to numb it and after to calm it, I do alright. Sometimes it swells a bit, sometimes it bruises badly, sometimes it bleeds more than other times and sometimes it itches like crazy. GI doc gave me a cream to use for the itching, very helpful.
While everything is going well with me, my sister was just recently diagnosed with colitis. … sigh …
Edited to include:
I forget what search I did to come across this couple and their story about Ulcerative Colitis and surgery.. I got caught up in reading about Mark and Megan – while Mark is the one diagnosed with UC, it is very much a part of Megan’s life too.
They tell their story about Mark’s battle with UC, their choosing surgery and, the best part, they share pictures of things along the way. Their story is amazing, their relationship true (honest, open), they deal with things in such a positive direct manner.. If nothing else, at least skim through the few different links of their journey, skim the story and see the pics – nothing off-putting. (Since my dad had to have an ostomy this past summer – reversed in fall – it was nice to see such a direct and open story about Megan and Mark. And to Megan and Mark.. if you happen upon this link, know I through kudos to you both!) UC Story w pics.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
that’s great Judi that the Humira is working for you!! (it worked for me too and much easier than having to go sit for Remicade) I used to like to get the Humira needles cause then I could watch the needle going in and I could do it myself. The pens I used to make my bf shoot me up cause i was too chicken to do it.
Depression goes along with any chronic illness and it’s great you have treated yours as well as it sounds you have. It’s all about what meds and treatment work for you. There are SOOO many antidepressants on the market right now and their safety has much improved from years ago.
Crohn’s straight up sucks. I was diagnosed @ 16, been thru every med available, had a bowel ressection, it came back, and have been ok for 2 years but am now in the midsts of a flare. I am 28, a registered nurse,just started a new job, in a stable relationship of 5 years and just don’t want to deal with this right now. But things will get better. Keep that as your mantra and you cannot go wrong. Good luck
Please take a minute to read my story on this website. http://www.riseandconquer.org
Thank you for sharing all the information about Crohns and Colitis. We all know that we need to be aware of these diseases. I did not even know what UC was until my first flare up!
It’s been a long time since I visited…
How have you been feeling?
I just got on Humira about 4 weeks ago and my life has improved a lot.
I was basically bedridden for 4 months 50% of the time…. now I am functional! Thinking of you…..
Hi Joanna – good to hear from you (even if I’m really late replying to this!). I started humira last spring and it’s made a world of difference. The winter was hard on me, I’m chalking it up to depression and maybe just the grey winter months. Once spring got here, I started feeling better.. more energy, more interest. I also increased my antidepressant about the same time, so could be related to that too. Regardless, I feel sort of human again!
Good to hear from you!
Hope you are feeling better these days! Your comment “just don’t want to deal with this right now”.. I swear it matters not what is going on in my life.. I never want to deal with this disease.. ugh.. miserable. And yes, good mantra – my sister is very similar to you, your views and your way of managing. Kudos!