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Hi.  I spoke to my GI and my Primary Care about my anxiety and how I feel it plays a MAJOR role in my flare ups.  We discussed trying medication when I felt necessary.  Any thoughts and/or advice is greatly appreciated.  Currently I am only on a small dose of Entocort.  Humira and Cimzia gave me MS symptoms (numbness, weakness in my limbs) and Lialda, Colozal, and 6mp gave me horrible GI issues (diarhea,etc.) 

Thanks,

ngc

Reply posted for ngc249.

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 Reply posted for ngc249.

I strongly believe I need some sort of anti-anxiety/stress meds. I know for certain that anxiety & stress have been the triggers of my last several UC flares.  I was at work hysterical last Wed, crying all the way home, and by Thursday felt like crap (even gave up pro football pre-season tix for that night cause I needed to stay home & rest).  I've been off work since then, experiencing all the classic UC flare symptoms and then some.  To make matters worse, my primary care dr is treating me with Ambien CR due insomnia (due to stress, of course), and my GI guy has me on Imuran, Lialda, and predinosne.  I feel like I'm in this vicious cycle, and neither doctor is getting the big picture...that job-related stress is really what's causing my flares and my insomnia.  Neither dr has suggested any anti-anxiety/stress drugs, but I think that might help things...at least for a while. 

 Reply posted for ngc249.

I am also so glad i found this website,it has helped me so much. Good luck with the first day of school. My kids start school tomorrow one will be a freshman and the other 2nd grade.  

 Reply posted for AJSG.

Thank you so much.  If I'm repeating myself I'm so sorry but there are definitely some things that I know will cause me to become more stressed and not sleep.  For example, the night before the first day of school, if there is an incident at school that keeps me up at night.  I teach first grade and everything from an upset student to a disgruntled parent keeps me up.  Thanks and I'll let you know how I'm doing and please keep me posted.  Thank God for this Web Site!!!

ngc

 Reply posted for ngc249.

Hi agian. My gi dr told me to take the xanax at night because it will make you very sleepy. I dont sleep very well as it is but the xanax helped. My dr told me to only take it if i am feeling very anxious and she also said it is good to take since stress will cause your stomach to act up and hurt. I have only taken one but I can say I have not felt that relaxed in such a long time. I just didnt worry about anything before i went to sleep and when i did wake up in the middle of the night. I usually wake up and worry about everything. I would say give it a try. Let me know how it works for you. I hope it helps you.

 Reply posted for AJSG.

Hi there, I hope you read tonight....my gi put me on xanax, too.  I haven't taken it because I don't know how it's going to affect me.  Should I take it at night?  I'm a horrible sleeper.  Or should I be taking it when I know something is coming up that might cause me to become a little more anxious than usual? I did read that many people who have crohns and uc are using this.  Have a great night.  Any advice will help!

ngc

 Reply posted for ngc249.

I was reading your post the other day and I had never thought about asking my gi dr for anxiety medication.I went to see my gi dr yesterday and asked her about it and she told me that it would probably help alot. She gave xanax for anxiety and I tried one last night and it helped me sleep and I did not seem to worry about anything at all. I worry alot about stuff.I just wanted to tell you it seems to help me alot and I am a worrier. I hope this helps you.

 Reply posted for SemiColon.

Thank you so much for your very helpful words.  I am a huge worrier.  We're going on vacation, 4 days which is fine with me, with two other families.  I'm doing this for my children and my husband.  I am fine staying home but this is something that should be fun for the kids.  I'm going to talk to my doctor today and see if he can prescribe something to help with my anxiety.  Thanks again!

ngc

 Reply posted for ngc249.

I think I was in denial about anxiety and depression being a part of my flare ups for a long time.

I'm just now realizing how much they go hand-in-hand.  I've read a lot about depression and anxiety from posters on this forum and even in the educational brochures on the CCFA website.

To answer your question:  I take Klonopin at night to help me get to sleep and stay asleep.  I would find myself getting up around 2am to go to the bathroom.  This disrupted my sleep and I wasn't getting the rest I needed.

I recently started taking Buspar to help relieve some of the panic and anxiety that I deal with on a daily basis.  In addition, I started Wellburtin to help with depression.

I would find myself staying home or only going to the homes of close friends and family.  By nature I'm a worrier, but the stress of having to go to the bathroom or finding a bathroom only added to the worry.

Even my wife (who's very supportive) told me I needed to relax...I just didn't exactly know how.

These are not magic pills.  In other words, I have to be proactive in making them work and changing my lifestyle. 

I went along thinking I could eat or drink whatever I wanted.  Clearly, that's not the case. 

Concentrating on rest, exercise and a good diet are the first steps toward managing this disease for me.

Long answer but, I think when I respond to a question in this forum, I not try to help the original poster...I reaffirm to myself what needs to be done in order to be well.

Cheers,

SC