My UC flares are triggered by stress
Strongly Agree - 42.9% - 6 votes
Agree - 0.0% - 0 votes
Sometimes - 35.7% - 5 votes
Rarely - 7.1% - 1 votes
Disagree - 14.3% - 2 votes
Strongly Disagree - 0.0% - 0 votes
Jane974
Regular Member
Joined : Feb 2017
Posts : 418
Posted 1/16/2021 9:53 PM (GMT -7)
Hey all,
This year I had the most acute stress i ever had due to a new medical diagnosis (not UC), covid and all the uncertainty that comes with a new disease. I had a UC flare up after the new acute medical issue and am still struggling with both issues.
Just very curious how stress plays a role for you in your UC flares?
geezernow
Regular Member
Joined : Nov 2017
Posts : 226
Posted 1/17/2021 6:21 AM (GMT -7)
In my case, it plays a BIG part. I have IBD as well as UC and if I'm under stress, it lets me know. I was having a terrible flare a while back and nothing was helping. The more I worried about 'accidents' away from home, the more I stayed home, and the more I worried. My GI doc told me he wanted me to try Clonazepam at .o5mg. Within three days, my flare was almost gone. He did tell me it was a short term solution due to DEA rules and the concern of addiction....but it certainly gave me a way out of my worry/flare cycle. So, YES...stress and anxiety play a large part in my UC in particular.
Posted 1/17/2021 8:33 AM (GMT -7)
I do believe stress played a part in my first flare which led to my diagnosis of UC. It was not the only component but was one of the factors. Since then, not... but a couple of months ago my anxiety flared up to a higher degree than I have ever experienced. I am having some GI discomfort as a result, but not actual UC symptoms. (More of what I used to call "job interview stomach" or "exam stomach"). Who knows what a colonoscopy would find or a fecal calprotectin test. I am due for one in about a month. (Test, not scope). Interestingly, the main symptom I am experiencing is a horrid skin rash. I know that skin conditions can be a result of both UC and high anxiety.
FlowersGal
Veteran Member
Joined : Feb 2017
Posts : 912
Posted 1/17/2021 11:09 AM (GMT -7)
Stress was a huge part of my disease. My mothers had severe dementia 4 yrs and her death process was the worst I have ever seen and never want to see it again. The last 2 years of her life I was in constant acute stress. 3 weeks after her funeral I woke up bleeding. Had never seen blood before — not even when I was having near-constant diverticulitis episodes. So obviously my colon has disliked me for a long time but I’d say the stress pushed it into UC.
3timechamp
Veteran Member
Joined : Oct 2009
Posts : 1657
Posted 1/20/2021 11:01 PM (GMT -7)
I definetly got UC from stress. No doubt. Marriage had just ended. I held all pain in. Not good. Even though I prob had the gene since my Dad had it slightly
poopydoop
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2018
Posts : 921
Posted 1/21/2021 12:58 AM (GMT -7)
I think our bodies do not have the resources to heal inflammation if we put our energy into stress. For me that means stress can trigger flares or make them worse, but I've also had flares at times when I was feeling good and had no stress. So i voted "sometimes".
Michelejc
Forum Moderator
Joined : Jan 2011
Posts : 2584
Posted 1/21/2021 5:50 AM (GMT -7)
Yes, absolutely for me stress was the culprit.