I experience the same thing with anxiety and depression. When I was in the hospital 3 times in 2 months it got to the point where I didn't care whether I lived or died. It's very easy to fall into gloom and doom, but it's harder to pull yourself out. So really try to keep your spirits up!! Remember that you aren't alone! Reaching out for support is a good indication that you are a fighter and that you can be victorious.

Good luck with your new treatment. I'm sorry that I can't comment on any biologic drug, as I haven't had any yet. I expect that my next flare will force me to go on Remicade, as I have run out of treatments. I'm currently just on Lialda.

Best wishes.
:-)

After 1 1/2 steady years of prednisone without remission, my GI doc planned surgery for me. I tried Remicade instead and did well for a year but developed a reaction to the drug. I'm now on Humira and doing much better. I'm the closest I've been to remission for 6 months. I'm taking a combination of meds; Asacol, Uceris, MTX, Humira. My advice would be to keep talking to people, do your research, and make an informed decision that is best for you. I chose not to have surgery and have not regretted my decision. Others here have had surgery and and have found the relief they needed. I'm happy to answer any questions you might have about my experience. I hope you feel better soon. Joe

Right now I am on Lialda and therHumira shots and doing pretty good so far, have seen much improvement but have only been on the shots for a few months now. I also suffer from anxiety and depression, it's hard not to when you are so sick, there were times that i didn't care if I lived or died but it's getting better. Do you take anything for the depression and anxiety? I am taking zanax and they do seem to help with the anxiety and also calm my stomach down. I hope your new doc can find something that works well for you and can help put you into remission.
I wish you the best of luck!!! I hope you start to feel better soon!

I was very nervous before I started Humira 6 years ago but I have had no problems with the drug and it has been the only drug to stop my Crohns from coming back and I have had Crohns for 40 years with many operations. If Humira was around in the 70's and 80's maybe it could had saved me from some resection operations.

One other note if it comes down to surgery and it is your last option, make sure you get a second opinion. In my case I had to have surgery three times but I had no choice and it did give me a better quality of life. I did get second opinions. Is just came down to the point that I was having to much pain and many hospital visits. I wish you the best with everything.

Thanks folks.
I am still in the waiting game. Bart, when you talk second opinion what do you mean? Where I live there's a local hospital or two who do this ileoctomy or colevtomy sometimes and also a mayo clinic with three colorectal surgeons but one does this one more and is preferred by the gi clinic. Any suggestions for second opinion questions? I rather not use the local hospitals but is more leaning towards mayo which if course will be more expensive but what can one do....

Hi, I'm sorry you are going through this. I think the anxiety and depression are a problem for many of us. It is for me.

I took Humira for about a year, until my body built Antibodies to it. I was REALLY frightened to take it, but I did not notice any bad side effects from it. I did have to have a resection, including the TI removed, but that was because my crohns had gone too far before I got on Humira.

I'm currently getting ready to start Cimzia to see how that does. They did start me on Methotextrate about 12 days ago. I had a very bad reaction to that and can't take it again.

The Humira REALLY seemed to help me while my body was accepting it.

Best of luck and big hugs!! xo Rach

Levi, I am in so much depression and especially anxiety... most ever in my life... I have never been like this. I feel like I am away from everyone else and will NEVER be normal. Dalton uc thanks for your info. Especially on anti tnf.
Jean, I am also on xanax. My psychiatrist gave me .25 three times a day and told me I will not become addicted to this is I use it correctly. I am carefully not to overdo. It does help me sleep. I want to live for my kids but afraid I will die from the crohn, from the stress that I am in, from the prednisone, the biologic, or the surgery. I have never been like that by I cannot see a positive outcome.

Rachel. Just saw your answer. So you had surgery and how did that go? Was it emergency? Have you recovered a bit? How are you feeling now?

The TNF therapies are supposed to be good. But I haven't used them . I just have a good place for answers as I just watched their webcast tonite. IBD help Centre Open Mon. to Fri. EST 1888-694-8872 or, Emai info.@ccfa.org Their website is: ccfa.org It is an American organization but anyone can join for free online anthey send you info. by email once you join plus, they have a peer mentoring programe www.ccfacommunity.orgpeermentors They have lists of good Gi docs & support groups in your area if you live in USA, too. Plus lots more!

I really feel for you. My depression and anxiety is by no means under control with my Elavil and Xanax. But it helps. I know if it wasn't for those drugs that my fragile remission would be gone, and that I would be hospitalized. I have to make a big conscious attempt to keep myself from falling into doom. I've noticed that my UC really acts up when I do get like that. Have you tried Elavil? It's a cheap antidepressant that also helps with sleep.

IBD sucks! You are always worried. You're worried when flaring and when you're in remission you're worried about the next flare. All of this nakes it worse. Mental health is just as important to keep under control as the UC or Crohn's disease. They seem to go hand on hand with a lot of people.

Hope this helps. I didn't want to come off as preaching.

Hi again.. Yes, the surgery REALLY helped me. The area was just destroyed when they got in there and I had an ostomy bag for awhile. I had multiple hospital stays back to back before they removed the area, so it was a huge relief for me. It was not done emergency, but should have been.

For ME, my Christian faith is my best support system. I know I could not do it alone. I also do a lot of yoga and meditation to try to keep more relaxed. It seems to help a lot. As well as self hypnosis.

Right now, I just found out I have C-Diff that did NOT clear with Vanco meds.. So, this is not fun at all! I will have to wait to start my Cimiza.

So glad the answers are helping you... Hugs.. Rach

Yeah some of this could be part stress from flaring and also anxiety from the pred. I do agree that keeping the stress and anxiety in check is really important because I find that prolonged stress can amp up my symptoms when I'm flaring or start triggering symptoms when I'm in remission. To help with the stress, I try to get some activity in daily. For me, hiking or riding my bike, generally stuff outdoors is what helps me. When Im really feeling unwell, I try to at least go for a walk if I can. Being outside helps me get me sort of regroup and get my thinking straight. I also do something called a body scan meditation which I find helps me relax. Heres a link about it:

http://www.healthforthewholeself.com/2010/11/my-favorite-relaxation-technique-the-body-scan-meditation/

As far as the meds, try not to over worry it at this point. All you can do is look at the options and research the risks/benefits so you can make an informed, educated decision, one not based on fear but based on facts, data and science. Theres a lot of hysterical information about these meds out there. Theres no doubt they are serious meds and come with some risks, and you have to be comfortable with what youre taking but I also think that sensible, good decisions are rarely made when based on fear and assumptions.

I used to get really emotional about having UC and it scared the hell out of me at times. Some of that was just getting down about things while flaring. Ive learned over time to just really try to approach it more like trying to solve a problem which I cant do when Im all anxious and worried. But when Im keeping my shit together, I tend to be able to see things clearer and make good, sensible decisions and feel ok about things.

Ive been talking with my GI about possible colon removal this past year because I have very pesky dysplasia that were monitoring every 6 months and that my GI is trying to keep in check but if there are changes, my colon has to come out due to the significant increased cancer risk. We are not there yet but I am preparing myself in that it may be what needs to occur at some point. So I understand what that is to have surgery hanging over your head. But while Im preparing myself for that possibility, I also know its not a certainty. And so I just put those thoughts on the back burner because to think about it all at once, the meds, flares, surgery etc, its overwhelming. I just chunk things down into smaller pieces, one issue at a time, the most pressing issue first. I mean, I have to break it down that way, or I will sink. Thats what I mean by trying to look at it like solving a problem.

So yes, please take care of your mental and emotional health. It will serve you well in dealing with the physical aspects of the disease and with figuring out what treatment approaches you need to take, for sure. You are stronger than you realize, so hang in there. Everyone on this thread has your back.

Karin if your are taking about the Mayo Clinic in MN than I trust them. They are in the top 5 best hospitals and doctors in the country for Crohns and UC. Many say they are number one. My doctors are at UCLA on the west coast. I did receive second opinions within the UCLA system with different GI's and surgeons. I always did research and checked on reviews of the surgeons who operated on me.

my anxiety is managed fairly well with celexa and wellbutrin. I find pred makes everything worse, particularly mood issues.

I think the insomnia that goes with pred makes everything worse too, no sleep = no healing, in my opinion.

have you tried going off grains? helped me tremendously.

I hope you get some positive medical news soon.