I understand your feelings KMiyagi. It's just that through all I've been through and seen, I'm very insecure about trusting a doctor's diagnosis when it comes to this matter. Since my colon is removed though now, I just have to hope I really did have UC. With all my j-pouch has put me through so far, I really wonder if I was misdiagnosed?

Rmb, i had cbc and metabolic panel last year. Is vit. D level included or is it a separate test? I live in Maine and always felt lousy from mid-winter through early spring. I never considered the lack of sunlight and vit. D factor.

Buck , don't quote me on this but it may be part of some metabolic panels but not always.

I went googling (several reputable sources) and learned that vit. D is a separate test unless it's included in an expensive special metabolic panel. The test is 25(OH). It's expensive and not recommended for all. I'm trying 1000 I.U. of D3.

When I first learned I had a deficiency, my doc had me on mega dosages of vitamin d for three months, after which my levels went up in normal range. Then he said take 2000 IUs a day for maintenance. Most people I know take between a 1000 - 2000 a day. Won't hurt you and it's cheap.

Thanks rmb, maybe I'll take 2 for awhile while increasing my sun exposure (not excessively) .

rmb, do you take a multivitamin as well?

I take a multivitamin, 500mg of krill oil, a vitamin b complex, and 200mg of magnesium.

I don't take a multi vitamin; I just supplement based on what I know is an issue for me either due to UC or something else, so I take vitamin d, calcium, folic acid (GI doc recommended that) and fish oil. Like a lot of people, I'm on a few different meds so I try to just keep it as simple as possible so I don't feel like I'm constantly putting a pill in my mouth.

I really should get a vitamin panel done to see what I'm good/not good with in regard to vitamin levels. I also take Lialda and Prozac, but that's it. It is a pain to be taking pills all day.

Yeah, I take some sort of medication in the morning and then at night, and sometimes, when I'm not in a great place, taking it just seems to serve to remind me there's something wrong with me. Hate that, but what can you do. I've got meds that keep me in remission and I've got meds that actually keep me alive so who am I to complain about anything, really.

I find Vit D is very helpful. I take my omegas every day too, and that seems to help everything too. I imagine stress is a huge component of your life, dealing with both UC and T1D. meal planning alone must be really frustrating. Have you been tested for Celiac disease? it is very commonly found in patients with UC and in patients with T1D, so i am guessing your doc tests you regularly anyway.

My little girl has T1D, and I have UC and Celiac Disease so i am a little obsessed with watching her for signs of Gluten intolerance. my mood improved significantly with the celiac dx and starting on gluten free diet. I also take Celexa and Welbutrin for anxiety and depression. it adds up to a lot of meds but certainly helps my quality of life, and well managed anxiety and depression helps to have well managed UC.

I hope you feel better soon. hang in there!

Aw, terrifico, that's tough that your child has type 1 diabetes. I mean, sure everyone gets used to it and all that comes with it but it always bothers me when kids have chronic health issues to deal with.

she's a trooper. And we are "lucky" if you can call it that, that she was diagnosed young. kids that are diagnosed really young (she's 6) adapt really well, compared with teenagers or adults.

meal planning is a bit of a nightmare in our house though. my daughter has to count carbs, and eat high protein/fat foods but is a vegetarian (her choice, not mine, sadly). I need meals to be gluten free, and am also pork free. My husband is lactose intolerant and won't eat fish.

So you guys are on that water and air diet then, ha!

It's tough with so many varying diets. It's just me and my husband, and while I don't have too many food issues with my UC, there are certain foods that just have never agreed with me. I don't eat a lot of meat, especially pork or beef. My husband is very low carb because of type 1 diabetes. So he does eat a lot of meat, but very LOW carb (no potatoes, pasta, bread, etc) and he's picky with vegetables. So I usually cook 2 variations of a meal. But I mean, how can you not if you love someone and want them to be well. My husband's parents weren't entirely sensitive to his dietary needs when he was first diagnosed as a kid and I think his dad kind of resented him for having "special needs" (what can say; he was raised by wolves). So there wasn't a whole lot of "why don't we change as a family" approach to food when he was growing up, even though it would have been easy since he was an only child. So it wasn't until he was out of college that he got serious about his diet, switched to an Atkins based diet which really helps him regulate things and keep his weight in check. He's really super healthy and hasn't had any health complications from his diabetes yet, knock on wood and he's 47. So I hope that trend continues.

I think it's good your daughter makes a stand with being a vegetarian. It's kind of a way for her to have a say in her diet and then not feel so controlled by her disease.

The GUT regulates Serotonin (the happy chemical in our brains) I had a theory that having CD/UC can affect you psychologically through serotionin disruption.

Also the effect of having a ongoing chronic illness is very depressing along with the pain, embrassment etc

I feel for you and have the same problem. Recently am trying Zoloft and so far I cant tell...

I saw this post today online, right up your alley:
http://depressiontribe.e-healthsource.com/index.php?p=news&id=687440