Advice would be much appreciated :)

[Calmac]

I haven't posted on here since before Christmas although I have continued to use the website a lot for information on various aspects of the disease.

I felt now it was time to post again as I am now at an all time low after 8 and a half years with this disease. This on-going flare is really starting to bite hard in more ways than one! I am so confused as to where I am in life at the moment. Crohn's is no longer affecting me just physically but also mentally too. Mum really saw it for the first time on tuesday night when I completely broke down in front of her. She was really upset to see me in such a way. So the following day we had an appointment with the doc where we discussed the usual things first such as current symptoms and also my possible introduction to Infliximab/Remicade. Then we brought up my depression and how I have such a negative outlook on life. He told us that this comes hand in hand with such a debilitating chronic disease and that if I get my disease under control with Infliximab then I should get my life back. In his own words he said "Calum, the disease is currently controlling you. We want you to start controlling the disease". I couldn't have put it better myself. However, I really wonder whether even if the Infliximab did work wonders on me whether I would feel a lot better mentally as I feel a lot of the damage has been done already. For example, I now really struggle on a social level especially now with most of my friends moving on to bigger and better things just like what I should be doing after graduating form University in June - but in reality, i'm moving backwards

Crohn's disease, loneliness, lack of motivation, being scared of Infliximab, not progressing in life are all culminating in my general confused and depressed state.

Has anyone got ideas or advice for where I should go next? Is Infliximab/Remicade the answer? Tackle the Crohn's first and then the mental state or visea-versa?

Thank you everyone for taking time from your own hardships with this disease to read my post!

Calum

 

[kskitt]

Hi there Callum.

Do you use any instant messaging service? Or email? If so, let me know via pm, and we can chat on there.

 

[CiaraG]

Hi Callum

Sorry to hear your feeling so down, I went on infliximab about 4 years ago. And it was a life saver, I had almost instant relief from it. It was absolutely magnifient. After about 18 months they took me off it as I was doing so well. I lasted about 9 months drug free with little or no symptoms, but then I got a bad flare up, and when they put me back on the infliximab it didnt work second time round. Thats when I was put on Humira. It is controlling now 50% of the time. It is very hard not to get depressed about it sometime, but your doctor is right when he says "You need to control the diesase and not let it control you ". I would definately recommend the infliximab. Once you start feeling better you will have a brighter outlook on life.

Hope this helps
CiaraG

 

[Ari]

Hi Callum,

Personally, I would concentrate on your Crohn's as that's the cause of your worries and depression. If (when you've finally got it under control) you are still depressed then it will be so much easier to face it than it is atm. I've had Crohn's for nearly 9 years and am heading for my first surgery to have my strictures removed soon. It's been playing a lot of havoc in my head, but I know my reality is that I need the surgery...so no more running away from it. Hope remicade works for you.

 

[Calmac]

Thank you everyone for your quick responses.

Yes maybe Infliximab is the answer. It certainly seemed to work for you Ciara when you were on it the first time. With being housebound, underweight and not sleeping well during the night I would imagine this is chipping away at me mentally everyday. And if I subtract them out of the equation the solution could be a happier and more out going me!

I will admit I am frightened of any potential reactions to the drug but I am sure they will monitor me closely when I am on the drug. They also mentioned taking me off the Azathioprine when I start Infliximab. We shall see what happens. I would love to be healthy again and put on some much needed weight. Maybe Infliximab will do this for me - I hope!

 

[D Bergy]

You do not have to choose between helping your Crohn's and the depression. Often, with a chronic inflammatory disease, the depression is caused by the inflammation. I know because I had thirty years of on one again, off again depression.

I accidentally found out it was the low grade inflammation that caused my depression, when I self treated my Crohn's with anti inflammatory supplements. Since that time, I have had no depression problems.

I used Turmeric, Ginger capsules and Krill Oil to dampen my inflammation. The Omega three in the Krill Oil alone may have helped a lot. All I know is while it did not cure all of my Crohn's symptoms, it did resolve my depression symptoms. And it did it with no side effects or any other negative consequences.

Since I had no intention of resolving depression, at the time, and I have not had any reoccurance, it is highly unlikely to be any kind of placebo effect.

Dan

 

[Guest]

i often think i would've liked to have had a crystal ball right at the beginning when i was diagnosed with Crohn's, and been able to ask questions like "what about my social life?", "what about my self-image?", "what do i do when my life is nothing but thinking about symptoms & sadness?" etc...

unfortunately, we don't really get warned about this side of IBD.. we learn it as we go along - and like any other symptom, we have a right to ask for help when we feel like this.

i'm hoping that the meds will reduce the symptoms for you, and in turn your happy will come back, but there's nothing in the meantime to stop you asking for some emotional support... you could talk to your gp again (or a different one) and ask for a referral, or discuss it with your IBD nurse.. and always - you can come in here and unload.

good luck, Callum