• Welcome to Crohn's Forum, a support group for people with all forms of IBD. While this community is not a substitute for doctor's advice and we cannot treat or diagnose, we find being able to communicate with others who have IBD is invaluable as we navigate our struggles and celebrate our successes. We invite you to join us.

Increase in Depression

G

Gutless

Hey everyone,

I am a 25 year old male and was diagnosed with Crohn's back in 2000. The symptoms were managed all throughout college while I was on Humira. Then after graduating in 2014, things took a turn for the worse, and I ended up having about four and a half feet of small bowel removed as well as a foot of large bowel. I had an ileostomy for a couple of months which was then reversed.

Since the reversal back in 2014, I've been hospitalized at least once a month due to Crohn's complications. The doctor's put me on Cimzia which did not manage my symptoms whatsoever. He then put me back on Humira alongised Methotrexate which seemed to help a little. I guess I don't know where to go from here and have honestly been contemplating suicide. You name the med, and I've probably been on it before. The only med I haven't tried is Entyvio. Unfortunately, I don't have high hopes for it.

I'm in pain most days and rely on opiates (don't worry they are prescribed) to get through the day. However, I'm sure that I have become somewhat dependent upon them given how long I've been using them. I honestly don't know where to go from here. I'm just tired and really need all of this to stop. I've been drinking more lately as a means to cope with all of this, but that is a slippery path I don't want to go down.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. I really just needed to get all of this off of my chest.

- Gutless
 
ronroush7

ronroush7

Welcome. Everyone in this forum is here for you. Feel free to come here anytime for support. Let us know how you are.
 
K

kittyp

I'm undiagnosed but have had seriously bad abdo pain for over 2 years and never understood chronic pain and what it does to you mentally until this all started. Pain is horrific to live with and with diarrhoea on top of that with serious exhaustion it's so hard. You are amazing for coping with it all.

You aren't alone and there will be people here whenever you need them to help you through the darkest days. Is there any family or friends you can talk to? Or a psychotherapist or counsellor?
 
L

Lizzie

Location
East Midlands
Hello and welcome to the forum. It sounds like life is really hard right now and any advice will seem useless, but taking it one day at a time is sometimes the only way to get by. I understand the temptation to drink, but I fear that it may well make Crohns symptoms even worse, and so is best avoided. Depression is so hard to deal with - I've suffered all my life and getting Crohns has certainly not helped.
 
liscol

liscol

I also think you need to talk to a Dr about how you are feeling. Do You have a GP you can go to?
I have suffered from depression for most of my life
I have been on medication for about six years now and it helps. There is a lot of negativity and a lack of understanding about being medicated but its not about what other people think. People don't think any less of diabetics for taking insulin because there body cant produce it, it is the same for people with depression our body don't make serotonin. Most of our serotonin is produced in the gastrointestinal tract so it is not surprising that people with Crohn's and IBD have a high rate of depression.
I find Crohn's is hard to live with but when I was depressed it is overwhelming and you feel like there is no hope and no point to life.

There is hope and help if you ask.

Good luck & kind regards.
 
DougUte

DougUte

Hi Gutless, Welcome to the Forum.

Liscol is correct. Those of us with depression have a shortage of serotonin. I would talk to your GP and get put on an anti-depressant. I have taken Paxil and Abilify to help with my depression. I actually have been on them longer than I have any Crohn's medicines.

There is all sorts of help available for the depression, please take advantage of it. There is a lot of support here on the forum as well.
 
G

Gutless

Thanks for the replies everyone. I am already on a psych med: 80mg of fluoxetine every morning. That's for my second gift from God, OCD. I've undergone therapy for that and know all the basic CBT techniques thanks to my schooling as a therapist. I will talk to my PCP and see what he recommends. The Prozac does wonders for my OCD, so I am reluctant to change it.

I just got done with another hospital stay. My GI doc referred me to another specialist. After speaking with him for ten minutes, we already have a plan which is more than my previous doc has done these last two years. Unfortunately, it will most likely be surgery again.

But, surgery is like potato chips, right? You can't just have one.
 
K

kittyp

So glad to hear that you've got a plan for moving forward and hopefully improving your quality of life but so sorry to hear it's been made because of a hospital stay and will most likely be surgery.
Thank you for updating, it's been a dark place for me recently too and I was worried about you x
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top