Anti-depressants?

[Emkat8]

I've always been the kind of person who never thought I would be depressed but I'm starting to feel as though I am...Everything that has happened over the past few months has just gotten to be too much.

I've been sick since December 2009 and still I am without a diagnosis. The GI I'm seeing now is pretty sure I have some form of IBD but can't confirm this as my biopsy results from colonoscopy were normal. So I have been taking Asacol HD 6 pills a day, but I'm still not much improved. I am still having between 5-8 BM's daily and its just getting so hard to deal. I am 22 years old and MISERABLE with sickness. I feel so hopeless at the thought that I might have to live the rest of my life with constant abdominal pain and endless BMs.

I'm already on my 4th doctor and really don't know what to do anymore. I try so hard to make them understand I need help but they don't get it. Its like they think its really not that big of a deal. Its getting harder and harder to do anything. Every single one of my co-workers now know about my bathroom issues because I'm constantly in there. Its so embarassing I just sit in the bathroom at work praying no one can hear my farts through the door...I'm sure they probably do

So I guess my question is, has anyone flat out asked for anti-depressants to deal with all this? I feel almost ashamed to ask for fear of looking like a druggie or something. I know too though that being so sad and upset all the time is not good for my body either and its not making it any easier on my stomach, but probably making it worse. Who can you ask about this? GI doctor, GP, etc???? Thanks for the help

Emily:depressed:

 

[Majikn]

Maaan that sucks. Don't know what to tell you.

My diagnosis was so long ago, I gotta tell you, if you're like me you'll get used to it. I had my fits and crap about having this disease because I was so young, but life carried on because it had to, and then it became such a small backdrop to my personality. I don't think about Crohn's Disease every day, which may be why I don't come here so often.

But... ask for things. Really. Whoever may be judging you for it isn't really worth the effort to please, so you need what you need. If you really feel down, ulcers are a possibility. And not to be scary, but depression can also lead to suicide, which is REALLY crappy for everyone you know. Regardless of that, though, it's definitely good to ask. Anything that might help you feel better, even temporarily, should be fine. It's just annoying when some anti-depressants cause diarrhea, and I'm personally against long-term medication except for where it would be necessary.

Therapists are expensive, too, so you work with what you have.

I've only recently come out of a deep, really bad depression... and you wouldn't believe it but it was the Crohn's the pulled me out. In 2009 I got sicker by the month until I spent Christmas in bed. I couldn't eat anything. I couldn't drink water more than sips at a time. I was depressed over different things entirely... but as I got more and more sick, I became more focused on the disease and how it had altered my life. I no longer enjoyed my work. I was ridiculously apathetic due to anemia. I would get terrible fevers. Sudden pain would drop me where I stood. Because the effect was so gradual I didn't realize how bad it was until I came back from it. It... changed my personality.

I share this, though, to show you that there is hope. Things work out in weird ways sometimes.

But to answer your question, you can ask any professional you're working with. They might immediately have knowledge for you at your disposal, and if not, they should refer you to someone who will, like a psychiatrist.

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

My experience is that certain doctors love to push anti-depressants on everyone. Awhile back, I was in the midst of a bad flare and both my GP and GI were booked up, so my GP's office said I could go in that day to have a consultation with a different GP in the same office. So I did that, and this new GP took one look at me and said I have IBS and that I "look depressed" and he then tried to prescribe several anti-depressants. I declined them because I wanted to treat the cause of my depresssion, this mystery illness (I'm undiagnosed too). But when I told him I haven't been sleeping well, he prescribed Trazodone, which I later found out is not only a sleep aid but an anti-depressant too. So you might want to look into something like that. In my experience, Trazodone is really mild and I haven't had any side effects except for some mild dizziness occasionally. Good luck, I really feel for you. I know it's tough being undiagnosed for so long (I've been ill since Oct 09). Hang in there and feel free to PM me if you need to vent.

 

[HeatherMN]

There's nothing wrong with asking for a little help-depression is a chemical imbalance, not a character flaw! (learned that from my therapist )
I take Wellbutrin XL, it's an extended release version. Wellbutrin has some of the least amount of side-effects and hasn't affected my tummy. Also, anxiety/worry about the Crohn's will make your symptoms worse. You can also try Xanax or a mild anti-anxiety drug like Buspar. The xanax can be taken just as needed, so you won't feel like you're on another pill for life... Don't worry about looking like a druggie, that's what these meds are made for, and your dr won't think anything less of you for asking. Asking for help is a good thing

 

[Silvermoon]

I agree with Cat. Something mild like Trazadone or amitryptaline will not only help you sleep, but acts as an anti-depressant as well. And sometimes I find just the fact of getting a good restful sleep makes the world look a bit brighter the next day.

I wouldn't be ashamed of being "depressed". Much research has shown that people who have chronic illnesses and/or pain often will become depressed, sometimes from just trying to "deal" with everything... but sometimes actually becasue our natural chemical "antidepressants" in the body become messed up due to malabsorption of the gut.

I am a believer in therapy as well. Sometimes just talking it out with an "outside" source gives validation for what you are feeling and what you are going through, so then you feel somewhat "normal" again, or at least fell less like a whiner.. lol.

At least those of us that "know" what we have can start to deal with it... it can be so much harder when you are not sure, and even when your medical professionals are "unsure"... these are the people we trust to help us when we are ill, so if they don't know, then we really feel at a loss.

Start with your general practitioner. Tell him/her what you are feeling and experiencing, and see if they can help. I am not sure about the States, but in Canada, mental health therapist visits are mostly free, and don't need a referral... check into it (usually you can Google your "health region" and see what services they offer...).

I wish I could be more help... but I am here if you need to vent.

Sending warm thoughts....

 

[Jennifer]

Couldn't have said it better Silver.

You can consult you GP about it but remember that they aren't professionals in that area hence the term "general" in their title. Best thing to do is work with a therapist and if they think that its needed they may send you to a psychiatrist who can administer and monitor your meds if they feel they are needed. If they aren't needed then the therapist can definitely help you with stress management and genuinely be there for you as a form of support. There's a difference between being clinically depressed and situational depression like "my dog died and now I'm sad." One is a chemical imbalance and the other is normal sadness. If you feel that you've fallen out of the norm, then meds may help you. There are a lot of meds out there and the trial and error of finding the right one and dosage for you can take a long time and can be very frustrating. Going the therapy route with a counselor or psychologist would be the best place for you to start and if you need a referral for that, then you can do that through your GP.

Good luck!

 

[ameslouise]

Feeling depressed over your disease or lack of diagnosis is totally normal and pretty common if you read thru the boards. You shouldn't be ashamed to talk to your doc to recommend a therapist that can help you talk thru some things and maybe prescribe something if you both agree on it.

Good luck - hope you are feeling better soon! - Amy

 

[Astra]

Just to concur with everyone else
I've been seriously depressed in the past, I can recognise the symptoms now, don't let this escalate Emily, there are so many new anti depressants on the market, they're not like they used to be.
There's no longer the stigma about mental health and Frank Bruno the boxer is lobbying about it.
I'm on Amitryptiline, whilst a low dose, it's keeping me calm, helping my neuralgia and most importantly, knocking me out at bedtime.
go and see your GP. tell him how it's affecting your daily life, there's no shame in reaching out, in fact it's a good sign, you know there's a problem.
good luck
Joan xxx

 

[merrywidow]

anti depressants take about 3 weeks to "kick in" though, so dont expect to feel better straight away

 

[jamilea]

Awww Em, I'm so sorry you are going through this. It's been my knowledge from research that a doctor needs to biopsy a place that they see in the procedure that doesn't look normal. They can't just biopsy a healthy tissue and expect to find something but I could be wrong.

Also, there are other procedures that check the small intestines, etc that the colonoscopy can not go up that far. Your GI tract goes from your mouth to your anus so you see there are a lot more tests to figure this out.

Tell the doctors exactly what you tell us, about work, etc. Tell them you are begging them to help you and need them to stop treating you as if it's no big deal. Have a close friend or family member go with you to advocate on your behalf if you find yourself not being assertive.

And as far as the anti-depressants go, they aren't a narcotic so nobody will think of you as a druggy. And even if it were a narcotic, what you are going through is very real and very painful so tell them they can kiss your behind!

Do not be afraid. You are not alone. Nobody wants to be depressed, let alone be on an anti-depressant but being on one doesn't mean you are weak, don't have enough faith or anything of the sort. I'm grateful that I took the advice of my family and doctor to take one. I didn't even know I was depressed. Either that or I was in denial but I'm so glad that I'm not irritable all the time anymore and I can cope a WHOLE LOT better with my symptoms than I could before. I don't really care if I have to take it for the rest of my life. I don't ever want to feel the way I did beforehand ever again.

We are here for you and I do hope things get better for you soon. And remember, it's okay to have a friend come along side you and help you out. There are all kinds of resources to find someone to do that for you. You need help and that's okay. I needed help and was too afraid to admit that for so long. I was trying to keep it together on the outside when on the inside, I am going through pure emotional and psychological turmoil. And I was too afraid to say exactly how I am feeling for fear that someone would label me a whacko! That was so far from the truth once I let it all out.

My primary care was a D.O. which means they take into account every aspect of a patient's health, not just the physical. She was the one who suggested an anti-depressant that will also help anxiety.

Also, depression is not always a chemical imbalance. There are 2 types of depression and one of them is that you are going through a situation that anyone would be depressed because of, it's normal. You can't always be Polly Perky. Anyways, here is the link that explains it http://www.depression-helper.com/typeofdepression.htm

:hang:

:depressed: and I really don't give a crap what anyone has to say about it either!

 

[Swirl]

Stay away from anti-depressants. They're crap.

Just get friendly bacteria in you. Like from a product call Miso. I take it its like $6 a bag online but must keep refrigerated so the bacteria stays alive. Helped to stop the bleeding I had completely too.

 

[Rebecca85]

Just because anti depressants didn't work for one person doesn't make them crap.

If you are feeling depressed, you need to speak to your doctor about treatment. This may involve anti depressants, therapy, or both. But you need to speak to your doctor about what is right for you

 

[Emkat8]

Thank you everyone for your kind words and support I am happy to say that this week I am feeling after my GI appointment last friday. He prescribed Entocort for me in addition to the Asacol and I feel a lot better already. I find that just not being in the crapper 10X a day makes me feel so much less depressed. When I feel ok I can see the good in things rather than the bad and actually enjoy my life because I have the freedom to be away from the toilet! Hopefully I will continue to feel good!!!

 

[jamilea]

That's awesome Kat! I hope this feel good continues.

Try not to get too down on your bad days. With all autoimmune/chronic conditions, you'll have your good and your bad. That's just the way of it.

Glad you feel better