Crohn's in winter

[xX_LittleMissValentine_Xx]

I was just wondering if other people feel their symptoms get worse during winter?
Last year I started a flair just before Christmas and this year I have stared to feel worse the last couple of weeks.
Two out of the last four Xmas's I have been bad with Crohn's. I have started to associate Christmas with feeling bad now!
Is this because of the cold or is it more like my natural cycle? Like I came of steroids in March, have about 6 months of remission and then feel bad again?
What do other people think?

 

[robbo87]

I have the exact same thing, Every october/november things start to set in, then for 2 years in a row i was hospitalised for a week before christmas, then over summer things would be fine, then once winter comes around again, the whole cycle would seem to start again.

 

[Denise]

I am not offically diagnosed but I have more symptoms in the winter too.

 

[littlemissh]

Me too. The last 2 christmases have been bad for me and I was looking forward to eating a normal christmas dinner this year...but no...back on liquid diet etc etc. September seems the time I start.
I have learnt a lesson from last year though and have made no plans to see family etc...just told them we will just ring and ask 'are you around today?' - so as not to be letting people down again.
I still plan on a good time though , I love Christmas and my girls are still quite young , so we are planning a non planned, non food orientated and home based Christmas. Even bought some ridiculously silly glasses and even sillier hat to wear!:ylol:

 

[robbo87]

Something i forgot to mention, but something someone mentioned to me in a similar thread i started a few weeks ago. Do you find that your mood gets lower around this time aswell? I can't help but think that as the dark nights and cold weather sets in i do tend to get a bit depressive and stressed, and this can to some extent be linked to flaring crohns disease.

 

[xX_LittleMissValentine_Xx]

Thanks for the input everyone.
I did think it would be similar for other people too, and I was going to ask why people thought this was.
And yeah I do get a little bit depressive. Kind of lack of motivation, which I suppose could be linked.
I also wondered if it had something to do with the physical cold. And the kinda tensing up you do when your cold?

 

[shamrock15]

I had a discussion about this with my first GI. He did agree that it is common for Crohn's patients to experience this - very similar to Seasonal Affective Disorder. Given that many of us have problems with absorption, and lack of sunlight causes SAD, you may very well be running low on your Vit. D. I have started taking large amounts (2000 IU), and I do believe that it is helping fight this off - may be worth looking into.

 

[tiloah]

Do you get stressed out during the holiday season? Stress is a major factor.

I feel WAY, WAAAAAY better in the winter. Not just with Crohn's but my overall physical and mental well being. I think I have reverse SAD.

 

[Regular Joe]

Ditto with me. I seem to get them in mid November. I'm having one right now.

 

[Awbrey]

Me 2 happy that im not alone it starts in sept-jan

 

[tishbite]

My joint pain gets so much worst in winter. I have to wear gloves even indoors because my hands lock up completely. As for crohn's symptoms, yeah I do notice a difference. It could be because I eat more in the Winter but I don't know.

 

[xX_LittleMissValentine_Xx]

Its interesting that other people feel like this too!
I hadn't thought about it being because of eating more, I suppose it could be, but then when I feel unwell I eat a lot less!
I'm about to be tested for a load of deficiencies so it will be interesting if vitamin D shows up. I don't know if they are testing for it though.