Home→Forums→Tough Times→2020 & Mental Health
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September 10, 2020 at 7:26 pm #366529
Anonymous
GuestDear Sarah:
I am sorry for you losing your fur baby.
“I just wanted some advice .. on how to cope with the idea of starting a new medication”-
Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is a long term condition, an inflammatory bowel disease- and no surprise that it causes anxiety and depression. Any medication to treat the condition, and the anxiety that results from the condition, and/ or the anxiety that causes flareups- is a good idea. Take the medication/s as prescribed, be in regular contact with your doctor regarding the dosage, effectiveness and side effects.
I like the list you and your doctor came up with. If you would like more of my input, let me know, and feel free to add to your thread at any time, as a way to express yourself, to vent and to receive feedback and replies from members.
anita
September 11, 2020 at 5:45 pm #366589Anonymous
InactiveSarah, thank you for writing this post. I bet a lot of people can relate to your situation and will find they are not so alone in reading it. The things you and doctor listed out and agreed upon are so very helpful and wise. I do agree that if our UC and digestive system is unhappy or under distress then we will also be not having a good life at that time. I am sorry about the stress you have had this year. It’s been a hard year. Anita wrote wise advice about taking care of your health. You wrote about being afraid of new medication and I wanted to reassure you. If you never take it, you will never know if it helps. If you do take it, you can see how it goes and if there are side effects that you can’t stand, then you stop taking it. Your intestines need help also, and love. Think of this medication as self love and also using human wisdom. Stress totally screws up my GI tract, I don’t have UC though. My husband has something similar to UC and he ignored it for years. Was not good for him, so I encourage you to try whatever you need to try medication or diet wise and see how it goes. I used to be a person who was never going to take pharmaceutical drugs but here I am with several health issues and I find that not taking care of my health (including meds) is not self love. Quality of life is important. I wish you well.
September 12, 2020 at 11:33 am #366606Sarah
ParticipantHi Anita,
Thank you so much for your reply. I would love your input.
I took my first dose of my antidepressant last night, and things were okay. I psyched myself up and didn’t sleep, worried about insomnia. I know it’s the right step for myself, it’s just getting my head around it, you know? I am looking forward to feeling happier, and letting go of this little dark gloomy cloud hanging around me.
Sarah
September 12, 2020 at 12:10 pm #366607Sarah
ParticipantThank you so much Rose of Yellow. I love this community for all the kind hearted people, who genuinely care.
2020 has been so hard for so many people that I feel guilty even coming on here and complaining. I did take my first dose last night, and I am hoping that the terrible sadness I’ve been feeling subsides. I didn’t even realize how much stress can take a toll on our bodies. The sleeplessness, the anxiety, the colitis flare up, the sadness. I just didn’t even realize that it is all connected. I was so caught up in feeling sad that, I admit, I wasn’t taking the best care of myself at first. I am looking at the bright light ahead – I’m hoping for more energy to enjoy the things that I once enjoyed, to feel happy and content in the whirlwind of life.
Thank you for your advice – that these medications are a form of self love. I never ever thought of it that way. Self love sometimes get thrown out the window when you’re trying to manage so many things at once. Putting myself first and my health needs to be number one right now.
xo Sarah
September 12, 2020 at 12:34 pm #366608Anonymous
GuestDear Sarah:
You are welcome. I took one of the SSRI antidepressants, Zoloft (Sertraline) for a long time and it did help me feel better, it cut short my obsessive thinking and with less of that, my anxiety lessened significantly. Getting off Zoloft was not difficult, way less difficult that getting off some other psychiatric medications, such as benzodiazepines.
I assume that you are in regular contact with the doctor who prescribed the medication for you, checking on how it effective the current dosage and what are the side effects, if any. I hope to read further from you.
anita
September 12, 2020 at 1:37 pm #366619Sarah
ParticipantAnita;
That’s the medication my doctor has recommended, as well. I have a few friends who have been on the same medication who have had very pleasant experiences. My one concern was if/when I was to go off it, what that would look like. When I was first diagnosed with UC, I had been undiagnosed and very sick for a year, so my specialist quickly put me on prednisone to help with the inflammation, and when it was time to come off it (very slowly) it was one of the worst times in my life, so naturally I was concerned. I’m happy to hear that you had a good experience with Zoloft, that makes me feel better.
My doctor and I have a follow up in a few weeks once I’ve had time to take the medication and see how I feel on it. I have hope, that’s the biggest thing. I see a light at the end of the tunnel, and hope to be back to my regular self soon.
September 12, 2020 at 2:13 pm #366620Anonymous
InactiveSarah, everyone’s body is different. Some people need to taper slowly off antidepressants and I think this is the recommendation. But maybe it depends on how long one has been on the meds, how high a dose, etc. I tried one for 6 weeks when my mom was dying as per my doctor really pushing me to take it. And it helped me calm down and allowed my body to quit going into hives so I feel it was helpful at that time. Not sleeping and not taking care of our bodies is not good for us. But yes, sometimes we get so wrapped up in our sorrow or how we are thinking or whatever it is that we need a little guidance or even intervention in the form of medical help. Hope you can rest up this weekend.
September 12, 2020 at 6:25 pm #366651Anonymous
GuestDear Sarah:
SSRI antidepressants became a hit, so to speak, because they have fewer side effects and are easier to get off than the antidepressants before the SSRIs came about. Tapering off gradually is key, with the guidance of your doctor, every step of the way. I did so successfully without much difficulty.
On the other hand I had great difficulty coming off clonazepam, a benzodiazepine. Benzodiazepines are known to be notoriously addictive and terribly difficult to stop taking, that’s why they are supposed to be prescribed short term only.
anita
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