Reply to an Answer

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.