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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/1/2021 1:55 AM (GMT -7)
Happy new year to everyone!

This is the 2nd time I post ...
I was diagnosed with mild ulcerative colitis last April while I was pregnant. The condition apart from running with examinations and doctors has not bothered me at all. But after I gave birth until today and while I still do not have symptoms to bother me I feel depressed. I have read that depression is common in people with IBD but when their quality of life is affected due to the symptoms. I am lucky that at the moment I do not have symptoms and difficulties but fear and anxiety about my future have led me to sadness . I have been going to a psychologist for 2 months but I do not see any improvement. Please tell me is it normal for me to feel that way? How did you feel when you were diagnosed?
Posted 1/1/2021 11:05 AM (GMT -7)
Martina, it's possible that you are having postpartum depression, this is common. Some people can become depressed with UC, however, that can happen with any illness. If you don't think your therapist is helping, look for a new one. I was very fortunate to have one that I saw for almost 2 years. Sometimes you have to see a couple of different ones to find the right fit.

Take care.
Posted 1/1/2021 12:19 PM (GMT -7)
I second the suggestion that this could be PPD and that you consider a new therapist if this one is not helping you. Don’t feel bad about looking for someone new, it can take time to find the right person.
Posted 1/1/2021 12:22 PM (GMT -7)
Hi...I agree with it being postpartum depression.
Therapy takes a long while, best thing I ever did.
What are your expectationsfor therapy? Has your husband been able to come with you on occasion just for a different input?

You could consider a LOW dose antidepressant. Effexor XR is good for me, but there are many available.

Remember there are so many things at play, especially this year. Write down your thoughts when you're feeling down, even just a short statement...those are things to talk about in therapy. Having UC flares can be depressing, but if you're concerned with that when not flaring, projecting issues onto that might be worth considering and discussing.

Do you have enough help at home to deal with daily stuff in general?

Is there an online postpartum therapy available?

Hang tough...connections are important and sorting through issues is very trying and exhausting.

hugs,
q
Posted 1/1/2021 2:17 PM (GMT -7)
quincy
My husband has never been with me to the psychologist but in his attempt to help me he asked me to go to a psychiatrist together. We went and the psychiatrist told me that I should take a mild antidepressant.
I am alone at home all day since my husband works and I have no help with childcare (I also have a 4 year old son besides the baby). I do not have any time for myself and there are times when I feel very alone. I am happy that I managed to make a beautiful family. But there are times when I feel that my future is uncertain due to the disease and that scares me. Of course, this fear comes from other events in my life ... I lost my mother at a very young age and in 2020 and while I was pregnant my father died suddenly and due to the pandemic I could not see him in the hospital. It was a difficult year in 2020 ...
I hope everything goes better in the future.
Thank you all
Posted 1/1/2021 4:50 PM (GMT -7)
Depression is common in UC, but typically is seen during periods of inflammation, pain and overall poor quality of life when sick. Yours sounds like PPD and also due to isolation, grief from the death of your father and the pandemic. Hang in there as it takes time to heal!
Posted 1/2/2021 10:16 AM (GMT -7)
Martina, you have my deepest condolences with the loss of your father. The loss of a parent is indescribable. I lost both of mine within 18 months of each other.

Now that you have shared a little more information, now would be a good time to rethink going on a low dose antidepressant. You have many different things going on, this is not limited to just UC. My arrangement with my pcp was he provided the medication with the understanding that I would get counseling. Like Quincy, I was on the low dose of Effexor ER was a tremendous help. There is no shame in needing all the help you can get for your depression. The best way I can describe the Effexor for me was it helped smooth out my rough edges. Believe me, I had nothing but rough edges in those days. I did not suffer any side effects with it. I have been on it more than one time too. My visits with my counselor was just me, this was my hour of me time.

One of the best sites around to learn about UC & medications to treat is ccfa.org. It's a user friendly site with accurate information. You will find a lot of bad information cruising the internet. The better educated a person is about the disease & meds to treat is a huge plus. My gi told me go to this website & read, you will learn more there than I can tell you in an appt, same with finding a good online support group. You are still new to things so don't be hard on yourself. However, at the same time try not to get on the path of "what if." That path will suck out precious time & energy that you don't want to expend.

Quincy's post above has some great ideas. Take care.
Posted 1/3/2021 8:01 AM (GMT -7)
Oh you have had quite a difficult year! My condolences.
Between the loss of your father, having a new baby while caring for another child, and having a spouse at work all day it makes sense that you are depressed. I would consider a low dose anti depressant for sure. When my father in law passed away my husband went on a very low dose antidepressant for a year and it helped him tremendously. If you can find any online post-partum support groups, those would be very helpful too. No one kids if your children are fussy or making noise in these groups as it is completely normal. Hugs
Posted 1/3/2021 8:10 AM (GMT -7)
I felt anxious and depressed after the diagnosis . It’s the unknown that causes the anxiety and in addition to everything else you’ve gone through,it’s a lot to deal with. I had to start Lexapro and it has helped me tremendously. My niece took it for PPD and weaned off after a year. It helped her as well. You may only need to take it for a year or so. It’s worth it!! It helps me during flares as well.
Posted 1/3/2021 11:01 AM (GMT -7)
Definitely don’t rule out PPD and the emotional toll 2020 has had on most of us. But the anxiety and sadness you may be feeling as part of your diagnosis is real too and is something that probably most of us deal with at varying degrees and times. There have been periods when I really struggled emotionally but the longer I have lived with this disease the better and more manageable it has become. I know more about it and about how the disease shows up in my body, what works, meds included, what helps me to feel better. This understanding is important. With having lived with this disease for more than a decade, I can say that it has not prevented me from doing most of things that I have wanted to do in life. My doctor reminds me that this disease is part of you, but one part, it does not define you. Get the support that you need, lean on your people. It can really help.
Posted 1/17/2021 6:43 PM (GMT -7)
Try meditation. Seriously try it. Watch a couple YouTube videos online, read a couple of articles for beginners, and even books. You might not notice anything the first time but really stick to it . Each time lengthen the time you mediate and get to know yourself , you’re body and just getting a break from everything. It will help and it will relax you . You may say you don’t have time but make time even for 15 minutes before bed.
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