Community Forum

   I was moved by people on this Message Board commenting on how bad it is to have Crohn's and that Stress and Anxiety just create this cycle of unhappiness. Only people that have this disease know how bad it really is. Got tired of my family and Gastro Doctor playing the tough it out card. I am tired and stress is making my symptoms kick into overdrive all the time. There is no good answer as I know of no other medical problem that can make you more miserable than Crohn's. I finally let out my frustration and told my Doctor I wanted something to help me with the stress and pain. It went as far as I told my doctor of over 20 years I was looking for a new Gastro Doctor. The result was I was given Ativan for the Stress and Pain Pills which I agreed would be taken when needed. I feel better just getting beyond this nagging problem of not saying I am tired of being stressed and having pain I want something for it and do not give me the story that stress has nothing to do with Crohn's symptoms. Kind of told the family to kiss off to. Feel better but it is still a terrible disease to have and it takes everything I have to keep going.

 Reply posted for jrlinihan.

are we talking xanax or ativan or what?   I have to work full time and am my disabled husband's caregiver......talk about stress and panic....yes it happens quite frequently...and worry........

can you take some of this and still drive, work, be alert and functional?   I have to be on the go and "trying" to think clearly (which I haven't been doing lately)........

 Reply posted for beenz815.

I completely understand what everyone is saying! I have always been one to stress easy and as much as everyone stays stop stressing, easier said then done! 2010 was also a bad year for me, In Nov I had a flare and then got an infection called C-diff... With the combination of being upset that I couldn't work for about a week because I was highly contagious, my boss harrassing me every day and I think with the antibiotics (flagyl, 2000mg a day) I wasn't feeling myself and I got so stressed out that it kicked me into my first big panic attack!

I went to see my gastro dr and my primary. He gave me some xanex to take when I'm feeling nervous, anxious or stressed. Def not something to take on an everyday basis, but it does help and it helps knowing that I have the option to take it if I needed it.

It sounds funny, but I would have mini panic attacks in public. Because I went from a flare, to an infection to another flare, I was going to the bathroom on average 14-22 times a day, depending if I was having a "good day" I was also having accidents, I was about to put my TV in the bathroom so I wouldn't have to leave! But when I was in public my mother would tell me that I would turn pale and start acting funny, my heart would start to race and I would get really nervous, at that point I was looking for the closest bathroom in fear that the stomach pain would come and that mean I only had a few seconds to react or that would mean another accident, in the middle of shop rite no less....

It doesn't hurt to try them, its not for everybody, not something that should be taken everyday, but it helps relax you when you need it the most!

 Reply posted for vonachens.

I had my first and bad bought of UC in the Summer of 09 and was hospitalized for a week. Was put on Mercaptopurine (6MP) and took medical leave for three months. The new meds did the trick. But I am also on blood thinners for a clot I developed in the early days of my UC, which now looks liek was caused by Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Then had a panic attack just this past November. Since then, my anxiety level has been very high. It's crippling. The past week I have been visiting the bathroom a little more frequently. Today my stomach is constantly squeaking and gurgling on my lower left side. I think a flare may be coming. The point is, I have more anxiety now that I am dealing with health issues, it is tough to be stress-free. I am scheduled to see a therapist for the anxiety. I hope it helps. In the meantime I think I need to talk to my GI to nip this in the bud if it's a flare.

 Reply posted for vonachens.

It's funny. If you read up on Colitis, it says there is no cause for it. But when I was hospitalized 08/09 for the first time, the doctor told me stress is a big cause. And since then, it's like I seem more stressed out. I spoke to my general doctor about it since his brother has UC, and in his words about stress 'get rid of it'. Like it's that easy.

2010 was a horrible year for me, so I'm hoping 2011 will be way better.

Good luck and good job venting!

 Reply posted for vonachens.

If you need it, take it. And take one for me while you're at it.

 I've been dealing with the same stuff for over 40 years, pain, tired, surgeries and enough meds to kill a herd of buffalo.

Oh, and be sure to vent whenever you get the urge.

 If anybody has a better idea, let's hear it!