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[cyano]

I have collagenous colitis. This type of colitis doesn't cause bleeding so I generally don't end up with fatigue like you do with ulcerative colitis (except sometimes from malabsorption), but on the other hand noone really knows how to treat it because it's rare. I went on Asacol last summer and it really worked up until now. It's been flaring up since 3 weeks ago and I'm getting through teaching with plenty of imodium, but things are progressively getting worse and I'll probably have to give in and take evil prednisone again. Classes will be done soon.

[msparticularity]

I'll probably have to give in and take evil prednisone again. Classes will be done soon.

Different disease, but I am so identifying with you on this one! I had to go up in dosage, and now I'm tapering down again. (Don't know your age or sex, but my extra sympathies if you're female and still menstruating.)

[namazu]

I must be anomalous, in that I thought Prednisone was God's (/medicine's) gift to humankind, though I've not had to take it for months at a time.  On it, I regained the ability to breathe (intended effect), and (strangely) found myself able to concentrate markedly better than usual.  A family member with Crohn's had a much longer and less pleasant experience with Prednisone.  All of my family members with Crohn's (there are several) have had a lot of success with Remicade after the ASA treatments failed and/or caused intolerable side effects, but Remicade is incredibly expensive and has a lot of scary potential side effects, so it's not a free lunch.

Those of your with respiratory allergy symptoms: have you tried allergy shots and how long have the effects lasted?  After my experience this year, apparently having been (re-)sensitized to the allergens in my current geographic area after living in the dry West for a while, I'm thinking of trying shots for next year. 

[lenniel]

Hi Namazu,

I do have allergies and even went to an allergist for the whole shebang, who thought I should have the shots.  I didn't want the shots and, interestingly, my pulmonologist agreed.  He thought that if I could cope with periodic doses of over the counter stuff to get through the season, that was better; especially since I travel between regions a lot and the allergens change.  I took his advice, and though I am miserable sometimes in the spring and fall, I find my allergies have actually leveled out a bit and I can cope in different environments.  I do miss the desert, though...that was bliss.

How is everyone today?

[gourmetless]

No allergies here, though sibs have asthma.  My brother says our gene pool is the murky low end...

The weather is rainy here, which is good for my plants but bad for me.  HArd to get out of bed, once I started getting dressed I just had to lay down for a bit.... you know how that goes.  Strong armed myself up and now, hopefully, out the door.  I always wonder if I try to do too much.  There is a fine line between too much and too little.  Both leave you drained.

Be well, all reading the thread.  Take it easy, but not too easy.

[paddington_bear]

Memories of prednisone.....I have only taken it once, right when I was diagnosed. It worked great, and immediately! I don't remember many side effects, except that  while on prednisone, I was walking through the mall and could barely go 5 minutes without having to sit down, since my joints were hurting so much. I haven't needed to go on prednisone since, but I'm not sure - if my flare was bad enough - that I'd really object.

paddington

[abdspouse]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this thread.  I don't personally have a chronic illness, but I am the parent of a 10 month old who will be dealing with a disability her whole life.  Your thoughts about coping with the emotional side of illness have helped me very much.  Thank you

[tenured_feminist]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this thread.  I don't personally have a chronic illness, but I am the parent of a 10 month old who will be dealing with a disability her whole life.  Your thoughts about coping with the emotional side of illness have helped me very much.  Thank you

It's so tough to be in this situation, because so many people just do not understand how different it is to parent a child with a disability. A child's disability is often even more invisible to colleagues and supervisors than some of the illnesses we've been discussing here. I've watched a few friends coping with this challenge over the years, and I am in awe of their capacity to balance and prioritize.

[lincolns_ghost]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this thread.  I don't personally have a chronic illness, but I am the parent of a 10 month old who will be dealing with a disability her whole life.  Your thoughts about coping with the emotional side of illness have helped me very much.  Thank you

It is difficult. My son is disabled and the most important thing I learned while he's been growing up is to make sure you *do* cope with the emotional. That includes allowing yourself to grieve for what can never be even when people without the same burdens insist that you be forever upbeat and "saint-like" (as my husband aptly labeled it).  That may well be a very private side of life but denying that it exists or that you ---or your child---have a right and a need to express those feelings and frustrations can be terribly destructive in the long run.

 People outside of your family and even your extended family will help you develop the hard shell to let the casual remarks roll off and the insensitive instructions about what you should feel and do pass by,  but make sure that you have someone in your life who is utterly trustworthy emotionally.  That may be your spouse, your closest friend, parents or a sibling but someone who can understand that sometimes the frustration, the weariness, and even the guilt (real or imagined) that comes with having a disabled or ill child overwhelms you and you need to express that. It doesn't mean you quit, that the world is coming to an end or that you "wish away" your child. It only means you are human and tired. Allow yourself to be.

That's my two cents learned the hard way over 21 years.

[psychdiva]

Hi everyone,

I should've joined this thread sooner but better late than never. I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease 8 years ago and have had episodes of depression for the past 20 years. I'm pretty fortunate with the Crohn's <knocks on wood> as Asacol keeps the flares at bay as long as I'm really consistent about taking it. I don't remember what it's like to not be taking Asacol. In my household, we refer to it as Asscol. Oddly enough, for me, the depression is the bigger problem. I'm on antidepressants continuously - Cymbalta, for now - but I almost never feel like I'm out of the trough. My motivation, especially lately, is weak to non-existent. I've tried most other antidepressant medications out there, and have had really good therapy, but it's a struggle to stay out of bed.

Has anyone tried Omega-3 for a mood disorder?

[msparticularity]

Has anyone tried Omega-3 for a mood disorder?

I take mega-doses of fish oil for my RA, and I have noticed that it also seems to have helped with my depression. (Or, to put it more accurately, the lasting improvement in my depression coincided with my going on fish oil!) I read that fish oil can cause all kinds of anti-depressants to be more efficacious, and my experience leads me to believe this is true.

FWIW, I take St. John's Wort for depression - 1200 mg/day, and 6g per day of highly-refined fish oil (yielding 3.2 g of combined EPA/DHA). I was on and off of a variety of pharmaceutical antidepressants for years,  but they always either pushed me further into anxiety, or zonked me out completely. I did a LOT of reading about St. John's Wort and its use in Europe, then worked with my psychiatrist to try it instead. My depression generally falls into the "moderate" range, and in line with European study results, I have found the St. John's Wort at least as effective, with no real side effects.

That said, a flare in the RA and/or my asthma always seems to be accompanied by a dip in mood for me, so I identify with your sense of being "in the trough."

[psychdiva]

FWIW, I take St. John's Wort for depression - 1200 mg/day, and 6g per day of highly-refined fish oil (yielding 3.2 g of combined EPA/DHA).

I never thought about taking SJW. Wow. You get it as an OTC?

[msparticularity]

FWIW, I take St. John's Wort for depression - 1200 mg/day, and 6g per day of highly-refined fish oil (yielding 3.2 g of combined EPA/DHA).

I never thought about taking SJW. Wow. You get it as an OTC?

Yup. You can go a couple of ways. Costco carries the brand that's actually manufactured in Germany and certified by their government inspectors to contain .3% hypericin in the advertised amounts. It's the one you would be prescribed in Europe for mild to moderate depression. I buy from SourceNaturals, although I've also taken Trader Joe's on occasion. Both have been spot-tested by independent labs, but there's no regular inspection mechanism in the US since it's a "food supplement."

Some cautions - German research has established that 900 mg per day at .3% is the minimum effective dose, and a lot of US formulations only have 400 or so. (I'm a cynic - these are generally produced by US corporations that also have major pharmaceutical antidepressants. I think they actually WANT SJW to be ineffective.) Also, some people do have mild gastric irritation for a few days with SJW - which might be a much bigger deal for you. The SourceNaturals tablets have never caused me any trouble, which is why I prefer them. MrP also prefers them, and he has irritable bowel.

[psychdiva]

some people do have mild gastric irritation for a few days with SJW - which might be a much bigger deal for you. The SourceNaturals tablets have never caused me any trouble, which is why I prefer them. MrP also prefers them, and he has irritable bowel.

The gastric irritation thing is good to know - thanks. The next time I see my meds doc, I'm going to ask him about transitioning to SJW. I'm at that place where two-naps-per-day is blurring into not-getting-out-of-bed.

I might also try a light box.

[college_grad]

Well I wish I had found this thread last month, because I have some personal experience that could help OPs situation / outlook ....

Myself, I have celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder, which wreaked havoc on my health and made finishing my PhD, the market and my first jobs pretty hellish before it was diagnosed. My health has improved dramatically but I'm still learning to manage my health, deal with the fallout of the last year's health crises, and try to stumble along the tenure track.  As if being junior faculty wasn't enough ... Right now, I'm finding myself worrying if I'll ever be able to handle/balance the demands of academia (real and perceived) and my health, or if I should be looking for other kinds of positions.

For Celiac disease, the good news is that things will get better.  I was sick from age 12, but it never really messed with my grades until I started undergrad years at college.  By the time I graduated I was sleeping 16 hours a day and simply getting to class seemed like an impossible chore.  That was two years ago and I can't say my academic career has gone anywhere other than a huge detour into working with financial aid, but now I feel quite like I imagine a "normal" person must feel (as long as I completely control what I eat). 

The biggest problem of course is eating on the go... or travel... I still haven't figured these out very well.  But as far as how you feel and how much energy you have, this will likely continue to improve for you for many more months, possibly even years.

Also, to anyone else on this thread with chronic health problems, especially any ones related to sleep, digestion, immune disorders, and common allergies:  Please arrange a simple blood test for anti-gliadin antibodies.  Reports I've seen from UChicago estimates there are some 2+ million Americans with Celiac disease who are currently undiagnosed or misdiagnosed with something else.  This is a significant chunk of the people suffering chronic illness who have a simple, cheap path to real improvement...