Hi Stinks...
Heck yes a flare will give you anxiety and depression. It's part of the disease. Two specialists that I see regularly for other conditions told me so. Apparently, migraines are also common for many of us. That's directly from my Neurologist who specilizes in headache pain. Over half of his patients have Crohn's Disease. When I told him about my recent diagnosis, he just looked and said "I'll be dam. Another one!"
This guy is the "genius" with medication that I sometimes mention. So on my last visit, I asked him what to do about the anxiety and depression that onsets when my flare gets aggravated. That sucker looked at my medications, AND supplements, and came up with a 4-point plan in minutes. "Oh this looks pretty easy with what you're taking already. There are 4 things we can try."
1. I take Lyrica as a migraine prophylactic. 150mg before bed. Genius says Lyrica has anti-anxiety properties (side effects) even though it isn't prescribed for such. Since I take Lyrica at bedtime, I only get the migraine prevention benefit. He said it has a half-life of 12 hours, so start taking it in the morning, and I will get the anti-anxiety side effect while I'm awake.
2. Genius says my dosage of Lyrica is very low, so there is room for a higher dose. If taking the 150mg in the morning doesn't help enough, or it wears off before bedtime, go ahead and increase the dose to 150mg twice daily, and he'll up the prescription to 300mg.
3. If at 300mg, the anxiety and depression doesn't taper away, increase the dosage I take of Nadolol which is a beta blocker. My PCP prescribed that first to prevent migraines. It didn't work, but the side effects of lower heart rate and blood pressure PLUS cleared sinus and breathing were worth taking the pill for the side effects. It didn't stop the migraines but it made me safer cardio wise. I have room to increase the Nadolol. Nadolol also has the side-effect of tapering anxiety and depression. He said with the increase in Lyrica, the Nadolol will be synergistic. The combination should most likely get rid of the anxiety and depression.
4. If worse comes to worse, Genius will prescribe Cymbalta, which is a new anti-depressant that is more specifically targeted than SSRI's like Celexa. It's not an SSRI but a SNRI which is a Seratonin-Norepinepherine Reuptake Inhibitor. So it improves mental condition by enhancing 2 neurotransmitters instead of only Seratonin.
I just thought "Damn! Does this guy know his sh_it or what!" He also knows his individual patients and takes extensive case notes. He is so cool because he's an eccentric old bear of a guy with a perpetually gruff unshaven graybeard look with thick glasses. It's almost like entertainment when I visit with him. But he has 27 years in his field, and lord have mercy, does he ever know medicine and side-effects.
I'm at "number 2" above, and it sure enough works. The anxiety is all but gone, and the depression is much more manageable. I feel comfortable with the level of control I now have over my moods and emotions. But that's something I always have been pro-active with. Once again, I know God gave me this 4-pound mass of squiglly brain tissue so I could use it.
What I learned several years ago was a method of meditating from Catholic monks called "Contemplative Prayer" which is essentially making your mind become empty and hold to the "nothingness". That was key in helping me overcome rash or irritable reactions. I haven't "snapped out" or lost my temper in years.
But don't think for a minute the feelings and emotions aren't there, especially with a CD flareup. The increased dose of Lyrica helped loads! I'm grateful to have a physician on my team that thinks outside the box.
I hope you can find a doctor that knows meds and side-effects, too. Maybe you can get a combination of what you're already taking to improve the moodiness and anxiety or depression.
Dustin...let me be frank for a minute (OK, Frank?)
It's clear you feel guilty when you snap-out at your wife. I would too. It's just not cool, like you said. It's not that you don't deserve her; its she doesn't deserve to be treated that way, and you know it. You're not a bad person, you have Crohn's Disease and this is a chronic symptom.
However, it looks to you like you're letting pride get in the way. But it looks like to me, you know there is a problem, and there are potential solutions, but you're not willing to try something different. God gave you a 4-pound mass of gooey brain tissue for you to use. Instead of letting it sit there doing nothing but feeling guilty, allow yourself to use your brain and become inventive.
You said you can "never make it up to her". Sounds like a closed door to me. I bet you can make it up to her. The best gift you could give to your beloved is a mind that can control it's feelings and emotions. If you take a chance and become inventive, I believe you can overcome this Crohn's symptom AND make progress at "making it up" to your wife by potentially not allowing the same thing to happen over and over.
I'm sorry if it's not my business, but I'm trying to be empathetic towards you and your wife. Neither of you needs to feel bad about this disease if it can be avoided.
