Stress and IBD

By Ali Tuesday, November 04, 2008

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My doctor (and many others) have told me multiple times that stress will make my UC symptoms worse... I wouldn't say I didn't believe them before, but I never really could tell first-hand. For the past year and a half, I have been battling a flare that really seemed to come out of the blue; I responded very well to Prednisone, but after leaving me on it for what she said was too long, my doctor finally weened me off this summer. I started taking 6-MP in the meantime, and she said I was responding well to it. And I have to admit, I was getting much better. I am not well, but I am definitely better than I was for the first half of 2008.

Anyway, back to stress. In the past 2 months, I bought a house, moved into it, and got married (we moved 1 week before the wedding!). Talk about stressful!! During that time I definitely noticed that I wasn't feeling that great, and there were several days that made me remember what it is like to be in the middle of a flare. I talked to my doctor about it, and she repeatedly told me to try to de-stress. But even on days that I didn't FEEL stressed, I still felt crappy. I was especially freaking out the week before my wedding because I had a couple days where I was back and forth to the bathroom all day, so my doctor finally said I could use Immodium if I really needed it - and thank god, because it was absolutely necessary on my wedding day!

I was really worried that I would going to have to think about another option for treatment - I have actually been entertaining the idea of just having my colon removed, because I really don't want to try something like Humira - until I went on my honeymoon. I felt SO MUCH better for the 10 days that I was in Belize, hiking in the rainforest and relaxing on the beach. It was truly amazing. There was one day that I was a little sick, but I think that was more the water, and I took a preventative Immodium a couple days when we were going out on some adventure far from a bathroom all day, but overall there was a 100000% improvement on how I was feeling before we left.

From now on I will definitely try to do some kind of stress relief on a regular basis - both when I feel myself getting overwhelmed, and even when I think that I'm not stressed! So, now I am yet another person encouraging you to de-stress to help get your IBD under control

Comments (8) | Add comment

Gena

11/ 6/08 4:45pm

I am so thankful for what I just read, I'd been wondering if stress was a true factor to flares and so forth. It's just seems that I stress so easily that it's out of my control but I am working on some things to do and getting myself involved in new activities that will help me to keep more relaxed. I feel like that story was a confirmation for me so once again thanks.

Ali

11/ 7/08 9:59am

I'm glad you could relate! Good luck with everything - if you find something that really makes you feel good and de-stressed, please share! :)

Laura, Editor

11/ 6/08 5:37pm

Hi Ali,

Congrats on the wedding! You're dress is gorgeous!!

Glad you've been feeling better

sally

11/ 6/08 10:23pm

my son graduated from high school and I had a big bash planned for him. I had tables set up around my pool (which never looked better that early in June - I was busy) and other tables in separate locations. His father and I divorced years ago and the separate families would be coming together. The wind blew 25 mph and it was 99 degrees, which meant no

one went outside (I live on a hill in the country). I had to come up with plan b and thank god it was my house and I have a bathroom upstairs. This was my first and last flare until

the dr. diagnosed my uc, but now i live with the asacol and wonder if pills are the only way. I am so glad to read about someone else who shares UC and I can not imagine what getting married with this would be like. I worry about everything and am high strung any way. I am trying to destress my life also. Can it be done?? Did you make any dietary changes? You are a lovely bride and I guarantee stress has something to do with flares.

Ali

11/ 7/08 9:57am

I'm glad some people heard my story and can relate! I hope you can de-stress your lives too and get/keep your UC under control. I completely agree, I would love to be able to find another way off of medicine, but I don't know if that will work for me... I think first I have to really get my flare completely under control, and then hopefully we can lower some of my doses.

As far as diet, I'm really bad about that. I have tried to eat a "Mediterrean" diet, which my doctor recommended - light food, lots of grilled or baked chicken and fish - and avoid dairy, but I LOVE chocolate and cheese. I have also read about the Specific Carbohydrate Diet and kind of attempted to try that once, but it's so restrictive that I really didn't stick with it. But I'm sure that if I were to really commit to eating better and staying away from problem foods, then I would be much better off!

For stress relief, I have tried yoga and really enjoy it. I got a book that is supposed to be like a 6-week program and started going through day by day... it's very relaxing and only takes about 45 minutes. I love that I can feel my body stretching out and relaxing as the session goes on. Sometimes I think the meditation part at the end is cheesy, but if you can sit still for an extra 5 minutes, it can clear your head.

BunnyMomma

11/13/08 5:51am

"But even on days that I didn't FEEL stressed, I still felt crappy."

When you wrote that it was very comforting. Stress has such a lasting effect on our bodies it's amazing! Our bodies will identify what our minds may not acknowledge. I would bet money that my present flare has been caused by job stress and I received the "de-stress" chat from my doctor as well, which always makes me chuckle because I know this already. Sometimes I think having IBD helps to remind me what's really important and keep my priorities in check. It forces me to put myself first whereas I would never do that before.

Congrats on your wedding! Reading your story reminds me how I was flaring when I got married as well! Worried that my dress wouldn't fit because I was bloated and afraid it would show in the photos, (thank goodness I had a large bouquet, I took it with me everywhere Lol!) I flared pretty badly throughout our honeymoon too (Bermuda), but managed to make it through all our excursions and my new hubby was very supportive always rubbing my back or legs when needed and still does God Bless him!

Good Luck with your new home! Blessings and happiness!

Ali

11/13/08 2:37pm

Thank you so much!! I'm sorry to hear that you were flaring through your honeymoon too, but glad to hear that your husband is so understanding and helpful. Mine is too - we're lucky!

I hope you start feeling better from your current flare, and definitely listen to your body!! Work is not more important than your health, no matter what kind of deadline you have - just remember that

joyce

4/ 7/09 6:09am

Hi....my crohns started with marriage problems...I contribute my crohns from all the stress. it seems like my husb had an 7 yr affair, and i got so sick, and my social worker told me to leave him, which I didn't, and then came the crohns...I have crohns approx 3-4 yrs, I was diagnosed 2 yrs ago, before that I took a lot of bentyl..The primary dr didn't even have a clue as to why I had pains, just labled me as a hypocondric. Even the GI didn't know at first...I had to call up everyday his office, and tell them about the pain, and finally he did a colonosophy...anyway, I was feeling alot better with pentasa, now I feel sick again.....I take citrate magnesium to have a bowl movement and I think that is the problems....

help!

joyce123

Stress and IBD

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