How do I manage athletics, academics, depression, ADHD and UC?

swimgirl, for starters, please see my private message (PM) to you.

Hope

Hi swimgirl,

You are a busy woman. And it's hard to understand in a world that moves 24/7 that sometimes illness is a way for your body to tell you that it needs you to slow down. You've asked for advice so I'll give it, but I also think you need to discuss these issues with your various doctors for the GI issues, the depression, and the ADHD.

An IBD flare alone is enough for you to need to slow down. I was a competitive swimmer through high school and after a year in college had to give it up. It was just too much for my body to handle, but I also just wasn't able to do everything - academics, swimming, and social life - well. Something had to give. For me, the decision to give up swimming was a very good one. Hard, but good in the long run. I'm 41 now and swim recreationally. I can exercise and work out when I'm not in a flare. However, when I am flaring the exertion is simply too much and takes far too much energy out of me. Malaise is a symptom of an IBD flare and pushing the body too hard can just serve to make the flare worse.

With IBD activities like athletics and the intense training that goes along with it can simply make things worse while flaring. Udo, another member of the site, wrote a week or so ago saying that his flare worsened after running a marathon. He's now cut way back on his running and replaced most of his exercise with walking and is beginning to feel better. Like I said, intense exercise while in an IBD flare usually only makes things worse.

Your team many need you but you need to start to learn to listen to your body and hear what it is telling you. It may be telling you that something needs to give in your life, that you need to cut back and take of yourself for the long run. Also, you can't train while you aren't able to eat properly this will only serve to run you down and potentially make your symptoms worse.

You also may need to be looking at your diet and how foods may be aggravating your symptoms - but this will take time and patience so you need to figure out how you're going to fit that into your life and your schedule. You can read my past shareposts about food journals and elimination diets.

It's a hard thing to say, because I know it will hurt, but you may need to drop the swimming for the moment while you get your health back on track. This doesn't mean you'll necessarily have to give it up for good, but your body needs time to heal and pushing it to its limits is not going to get you to a healthier you.

For the moment it's your choice.     

For your specific concerns about depression & IBD, the Crohn's & Coliitis Foundation of America (www.CCFA.org) has excellent resources on

IBD & emotions:

http://www.ccfa.org/frameviewer/?url=/media/pdf/emotional.pdf&LMI=1.1

IBD & depression:

http://www.ccfa.org/living/depression/?LMI=1.3

Hope

You certainly have a lot on your plate!  I'm on the same wavelength as Elizabeth... as hard as it may be, it's probably a good idea to cut back on swimming.  That might even help more than expected, because on top of the benefit of easing extra physical exertion out of your daily schedule, it could also help remove some stress - if you feel like your team really needs you all the time, I'm sure that can be really stressful!!

I hope you start recovering and feeling much better soon

I was just diagnosed with UC about a month ago. I also have ADHD (or ADD I guess) and am a full time student in a clinical program. Though I'm not actively participating in sports right now I did for my entire life until about 2 years ago. Swimming is a great form of exercise to help you deal with all the stress that comes with ADHD and UC. However, if you feel absolutely awful & exhaused I would guess that you might want to cut back some since your colon is in a stage of inflammation. I'm sorry I can't really answer your questions because I'm just now learning about how to deal with all of this too. I'm here if you want to talk about it because I understand a lot of what you're dealing with. Also, have you modified your diet or thought about keeping a food diary to record your symptoms?

Hi,

I have had UC and depression for twenty years now, and I have gone through all the medications, diets, staying home, etc.  In my experience, it does not help to just stop and stay home.  I feel better when I exercise, and more depressed when I can't do the things that I want to.  When I get fatigued, or can't eat, I drink 'Pedialite' - it's a drink for babies that are dehydrating, and it puts electrolites back into your body without pumping you full of sugar (like sports drinks would).  That helps with the fatigue.  I hope that you can find a way to deal with this, and still live your life and be happy. 

You should relax and change your lifestyle instead of pounding the drugs. I have ADHD and used to overwelm myself, get depressed and all that. Just take it easy. Its not worth destroying your health and ruining your quality of life. You seem to be trapped with academic/athletic commitments, maybe give up varsity swimming, people will understand if they know how exhausted you are.