I now have a website that focuses on Inflammatory Bowel Disease and the psychological effects associated with it. Check it out!!
www.ccddsupportnetwork.com
Monday, August 15, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
NSAIDS and IBD
While it is said that there is no “cause” of IBD, it is known that there are triggers that will exacerbate symptoms. Though I will never know for sure, I am convinced that my genetics and my long-term use of NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) were the trigger to my ulcerative colitis.
When I was 18-months old, I was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. For most of my life, except for a few years while I was in remission, I was taking NSAIDS daily, twice per day. While at the time I didn’t think there was anything wrong with that, I now want to know what the heck my doctors were thinking keeping me on NSAIDS for so long!! I mean, it says right on the bottle that NSAID use can cause gastrointestinal effects, gastrointestinal bleeding and ulcers! I could kick myself for not paying more attention to those warnings but when you’re young you think you are invincible and that nothing bad could ever happen to you. I understand the whole risks versus benefits thing, but you would think that risks like that would be paid a little more attention.
Another reason I think NSAIDS were a trigger for my IBD is because now that I have a J-pouch I am told to stay away from NSAIDS…for obvious reasons…because they can cause gastrointestinal problems! So, why was is okay for me to take NSAIDS for so many years when I had a colon but now that I don’t have a colon I need to avoid them like the plague?
I get that there is no use in dwelling on these facts. My only wish is that doctors who have patients on long-term NSAID use would consider the fact that there are side effects that could affect their patients for the rest of their lives. And I am sure there are many doctors who do. My intention is not to bash doctors. I just want those of you who may be taking NSAIDS to be aware of the side effects, educate yourself about the medications you are on, and talk to your doctors about the possibility of an alternative.
When I was 18-months old, I was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. For most of my life, except for a few years while I was in remission, I was taking NSAIDS daily, twice per day. While at the time I didn’t think there was anything wrong with that, I now want to know what the heck my doctors were thinking keeping me on NSAIDS for so long!! I mean, it says right on the bottle that NSAID use can cause gastrointestinal effects, gastrointestinal bleeding and ulcers! I could kick myself for not paying more attention to those warnings but when you’re young you think you are invincible and that nothing bad could ever happen to you. I understand the whole risks versus benefits thing, but you would think that risks like that would be paid a little more attention.
Another reason I think NSAIDS were a trigger for my IBD is because now that I have a J-pouch I am told to stay away from NSAIDS…for obvious reasons…because they can cause gastrointestinal problems! So, why was is okay for me to take NSAIDS for so many years when I had a colon but now that I don’t have a colon I need to avoid them like the plague?
I get that there is no use in dwelling on these facts. My only wish is that doctors who have patients on long-term NSAID use would consider the fact that there are side effects that could affect their patients for the rest of their lives. And I am sure there are many doctors who do. My intention is not to bash doctors. I just want those of you who may be taking NSAIDS to be aware of the side effects, educate yourself about the medications you are on, and talk to your doctors about the possibility of an alternative.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Mourning After J-Pouch Surgery
I have been asked quite a few times "Dr. Martin, why is it that I feel so sad after my takedown surgery? Aren't I supposed to be happy? Is this normal?" My answer...Yes, it is completely normal. I wondered the same thing after my takedown. When I went in for my surgery, I felt so relieved. I thought "Finally I'm going to be done. I can get on with my life, be happy again, and not think about this anymore." About a month later, I started feeling sad and angry and I didn't know why. I finally realized that I was feeling this way because of all of the trauma I had been through in the last year. I mean, being incredibly ill, spending more time in the hospital than out, having three major surgeries, and losing an organ is a lot to deal with! I realized that I was in what I call my "mourning period" and that I just needed to give myself time to deal with everything that I had been through.
So for those of you who may be experiencing the same emotions after your surgeries...you are not alone. You are not crazy for feeling this way. It will get better. Give yourself time to deal with what you have been through. If you feel it would help to talk to someone about what you are going through, do so. Find a support group in your area or a therapist who gets what you are going through. Just remember that this is part of the process and that you will be happy and able to live life again. Sometimes it just takes a little longer than expected.
So for those of you who may be experiencing the same emotions after your surgeries...you are not alone. You are not crazy for feeling this way. It will get better. Give yourself time to deal with what you have been through. If you feel it would help to talk to someone about what you are going through, do so. Find a support group in your area or a therapist who gets what you are going through. Just remember that this is part of the process and that you will be happy and able to live life again. Sometimes it just takes a little longer than expected.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Anxiety and Inflammatory Bowel Disease: How to Cope
Anxiety...if you have Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) you probably know this word very well. It's the feeling of having to worry about whether the bathrooms will be accessible everywhere you go. It's the feeling of not wanting to leave the house for fear of having an accident in public. It's the feeling of urgency that comes right before you have to run to the bathroom. It's the feeling of wondering when the next flare is going to rear its ugly head. Feelings of anxiety are hard to get away from when you have IBD, especially during a flare. Here are a few tips to help reduce that anxiety...even if just a little bit.
Check out the rest of my article at...
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/8116483/anxiety_and_inflammatory_bowel_disease.html
Check out the rest of my article at...
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/8116483/anxiety_and_inflammatory_bowel_disease.html
Monday, May 2, 2011
Travel Tips for IBDer's
I recently went on a vacation to Mexico. It was only the second time I had travelled since my J-pouch surgeries and the first time out of the country since my surgeries and boy was I nervous! I've learned a lot about travelling with my new digestive system so I thought I'd share some tips:
Thursday, April 7, 2011
The Mind-Gut Connection and IBD
Do you ever wonder why you get “butterflies” in your stomach when you get nervous, or wonder where the term “my stomach is tied in knots” came from? It’s because we have a second brain! Yep, you read correctly, we have two physical brains. Everyone is familiar with the brain enclosed in our skulls but most people do not know that we have a second brain in our gut. In fact, over one half of our nerve cells are located in our gut. Our “gut brain” also contains neurons and neurotransmitters just like those found in our head.
Our two brains communicate with each other via a major nerve, called the vagus nerve, that extends down from the base of our brain all the way into our abdomen. Because of this, our two brains directly influence each other. This is why when we are nervous or stressed out about something we feel it in our stomach as well.
How is it that we have two brains?
During early fetal development, both our “gut”, which consists of our esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine (colon), and our primary brain start to develop from the same developing tissue. Once that piece of tissue divided, one piece grew into our central nervous system (our brain and cranial nerves) and the other piece grew into our enteric nervous system (the “gut”). During later stages of development, these two brains became joined via the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is the longest of all our cranial nerves and is responsible for carrying a wide assortment of signals from our brain to our gut.
Because of the direct connection between our brain and our gut, the condition in which our gut is in has a profound effect on our psychological state. If our gut doesn’t feel good, usually our mind doesn’t either.
Your emotions and your “gut brain”
Feeling stressed, anxious or depressed can have a significant effect on our “gut brain”. Everyone at some point has experienced the connection between our emotions and our gut. When we are stressed, our stomach “ties itself in knots”. When we are nervous or anxious we get “butterflies” in our stomach or our stomach gets “fluttery”. The connection between our emotions and our “gut brain” can also lead to stomach upset, including constipation and diarrhea, indigestion, ulcers or spasms.
How does the mind/gut connection affect your inflammatory bowel disease?
Some of the research related to the mind/gut connection has found that dysfunction along the pathways between the mind and the gut may contribute to some of the symptoms of IBD and IBS such as the abdominal pain and diarrhea. When nerves in the gut experience excessive sensitivity they can trigger changes in the brain. Thoughts and feelings as well as activation of the parts of the brain that have to do with anxiety or arousal can stimulate exaggerated gut responses.
So, how can you control your mind/gut connection to help improve the symptoms of your IBD?
Although it is known that Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are definitely physically based and not psychologically based, there are actions that can be taken that may have a direct impact on the communication between the brain and the gut. One of these is cognitive behavioral therapy, which concentrates on the relationship between our thoughts and feelings. Connected with cognitive behavioral therapy are relaxation techniques, which can help to turn off the stress response that contributes to our mind/gut connection. So read about the relaxation techniques in my last post and start putting those to good use!
Our two brains communicate with each other via a major nerve, called the vagus nerve, that extends down from the base of our brain all the way into our abdomen. Because of this, our two brains directly influence each other. This is why when we are nervous or stressed out about something we feel it in our stomach as well.
How is it that we have two brains?
During early fetal development, both our “gut”, which consists of our esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine (colon), and our primary brain start to develop from the same developing tissue. Once that piece of tissue divided, one piece grew into our central nervous system (our brain and cranial nerves) and the other piece grew into our enteric nervous system (the “gut”). During later stages of development, these two brains became joined via the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is the longest of all our cranial nerves and is responsible for carrying a wide assortment of signals from our brain to our gut.
Because of the direct connection between our brain and our gut, the condition in which our gut is in has a profound effect on our psychological state. If our gut doesn’t feel good, usually our mind doesn’t either.
Your emotions and your “gut brain”
Feeling stressed, anxious or depressed can have a significant effect on our “gut brain”. Everyone at some point has experienced the connection between our emotions and our gut. When we are stressed, our stomach “ties itself in knots”. When we are nervous or anxious we get “butterflies” in our stomach or our stomach gets “fluttery”. The connection between our emotions and our “gut brain” can also lead to stomach upset, including constipation and diarrhea, indigestion, ulcers or spasms.
How does the mind/gut connection affect your inflammatory bowel disease?
Some of the research related to the mind/gut connection has found that dysfunction along the pathways between the mind and the gut may contribute to some of the symptoms of IBD and IBS such as the abdominal pain and diarrhea. When nerves in the gut experience excessive sensitivity they can trigger changes in the brain. Thoughts and feelings as well as activation of the parts of the brain that have to do with anxiety or arousal can stimulate exaggerated gut responses.
So, how can you control your mind/gut connection to help improve the symptoms of your IBD?
Although it is known that Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are definitely physically based and not psychologically based, there are actions that can be taken that may have a direct impact on the communication between the brain and the gut. One of these is cognitive behavioral therapy, which concentrates on the relationship between our thoughts and feelings. Connected with cognitive behavioral therapy are relaxation techniques, which can help to turn off the stress response that contributes to our mind/gut connection. So read about the relaxation techniques in my last post and start putting those to good use!
Monday, March 14, 2011
Tips for Caregivers
Being a caregiver to someone who has a chronic illness can be a difficult role. You want more than anything for your loved one to be healthy again but there is nothing you can do to make that happen. You may feel helpless and frustrated and unsure of what you can do to help your loved one. Here are a few “do’s” and “do not’s”:
1. DO listen – Sometimes your loved one just needs you to listen without offering advice or telling them what you think they should or should not be doing. Having a chronic illness can be frustrating and sometimes they will need to just vent. If there is something they are or are not doing that is concerning you, think about talking to their doctor about it to see what they think. If the doctor agrees with you, have the doctor talk to your loved one about it. As unfair as it may seem medical advice will mean more coming from their doctor than coming from you. They need you to act as their support system, not as their doctor.
2. DO NOT neglect your needs – Acting as a caregiver to someone who is chronically ill can be all consuming at times. Even if your loved one is feeling better at the moment, you may still be thinking about their illness. I can’t express how important it is for caregivers to take care of themselves. You cannot be helpful to your loved one if you are stressed out, tired, overwhelmed, or upset. Believe me, your loved one would rather you take a break in order to do what you need to do for yourself, whether it be going to the gym or spending an evening with friends, if it is going to help you to take better care of them.
3. DO ask what they need – Sometimes it’s hard to tell what other people need unless you ask. One day they may need something completely different than the next. It is best to talk with your loved one about what their needs are so you are not in the dark.
4. DO educate yourself about their illness – It is really important for you, as well as your loved one, to be educated about their illness. That way, if they are not feeling up to it you can be their advocate. Read books or articles about their illness, talk to others who suffer from the same illness or ask their doctor questions.
5. DO NOT constantly ask how they are doing – Every day is a reminder to your loved one that they are sick. People who have a chronic illness usually do whatever they can to make themselves feel more “normal”, whether it be doing as much as they can when they feel well or just trying not to think about it when they don’t feel so well. By constantly asking how they are doing, you are just giving them another reminder that they are sick. I know this can be difficult for a caregiver because all you want is to hear your loved one say they feel okay. One thing you can do is have a conversation with your loved one about how many times per day, per week, per month it is okay for you to ask them how they are doing. Everyone’s different. Some may not mind it so much. For me, I absolutely hated it when people were constantly asking me how I was doing.
Is there anything else you can think of that should be on the "do" and "do not" list?
1. DO listen – Sometimes your loved one just needs you to listen without offering advice or telling them what you think they should or should not be doing. Having a chronic illness can be frustrating and sometimes they will need to just vent. If there is something they are or are not doing that is concerning you, think about talking to their doctor about it to see what they think. If the doctor agrees with you, have the doctor talk to your loved one about it. As unfair as it may seem medical advice will mean more coming from their doctor than coming from you. They need you to act as their support system, not as their doctor.
2. DO NOT neglect your needs – Acting as a caregiver to someone who is chronically ill can be all consuming at times. Even if your loved one is feeling better at the moment, you may still be thinking about their illness. I can’t express how important it is for caregivers to take care of themselves. You cannot be helpful to your loved one if you are stressed out, tired, overwhelmed, or upset. Believe me, your loved one would rather you take a break in order to do what you need to do for yourself, whether it be going to the gym or spending an evening with friends, if it is going to help you to take better care of them.
3. DO ask what they need – Sometimes it’s hard to tell what other people need unless you ask. One day they may need something completely different than the next. It is best to talk with your loved one about what their needs are so you are not in the dark.
4. DO educate yourself about their illness – It is really important for you, as well as your loved one, to be educated about their illness. That way, if they are not feeling up to it you can be their advocate. Read books or articles about their illness, talk to others who suffer from the same illness or ask their doctor questions.
5. DO NOT constantly ask how they are doing – Every day is a reminder to your loved one that they are sick. People who have a chronic illness usually do whatever they can to make themselves feel more “normal”, whether it be doing as much as they can when they feel well or just trying not to think about it when they don’t feel so well. By constantly asking how they are doing, you are just giving them another reminder that they are sick. I know this can be difficult for a caregiver because all you want is to hear your loved one say they feel okay. One thing you can do is have a conversation with your loved one about how many times per day, per week, per month it is okay for you to ask them how they are doing. Everyone’s different. Some may not mind it so much. For me, I absolutely hated it when people were constantly asking me how I was doing.
Is there anything else you can think of that should be on the "do" and "do not" list?
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Relaxation Techniques and IBD
We all know that stress does not cause IBD, but that stress, along with anxiety and depression, can make symptoms worse. It is really important to find a way to cope with the psychological aspects associated with IBD. One way is to use relaxation techniques to calm your mind and body. So, next time you are feeling stressed, anxious or depressed try one of these...they really can help:
1. Slow breathing: This is probably the simplest thing you can do, but it really does work and the best part…you can do it anywhere. If you are by yourself, close your eyes. Then, relax your body. Take a deep inhale in, slowly counting to four or five. Hold the breath for a second, and then slowly exhale over four or five seconds. Rest for a second, and then repeat. While you are breathing, concentrate either on counting the seconds while you are inhaling and exhaling, or think of something peaceful, like the ocean. This works great if you are by yourself and can lay down and close your eyes, but it also works if you are out in public and start feeling some anxiety because it will make you concentrate on something other than what you are anxious about.
2. Progressive Relaxation: This is a great technique that works best if when you are alone. Start by either lying down or sitting in a comfortable chair and closing your eyes. Take a couple deep breaths. Then, tense the muscles in your feet. Hold the tension for a few seconds and then let it out. Move to your calf muscles. Tense the muscles and hold for a few seconds. Then release. Move to your quadriceps muscles. Tense your quadriceps muscles and hold for a few seconds before you release. You are going to repeat this procedure, moving all the way up your body including your buttocks, hands, lower arms, upper arms, whole arms, abdomen, chest, and facial muscles. After you have finished, tense your whole body, hold for a few seconds and release. Then take a few deep breaths.
3. Guided Imagery: Start by either laying down or sitting in a comfortable chair. Close your eyes and picture yourself in a peaceful, relaxing place. This could be either at the beach, lying in a hammock…anywhere you like. Look at your surroundings. Notice the colors and textures around you. Hear the sounds, smell the ocean or the flowers, feel the sun. Notice any other sensations. Relax and enjoy. The more you do this, the easier it becomes.
There are many other relaxation techniques, but these are the three I like the best. Remember, the less stressed, anxious and depressed you are, the better you will feel. Enjoy and remember they all take practice. I hope these help!
1. Slow breathing: This is probably the simplest thing you can do, but it really does work and the best part…you can do it anywhere. If you are by yourself, close your eyes. Then, relax your body. Take a deep inhale in, slowly counting to four or five. Hold the breath for a second, and then slowly exhale over four or five seconds. Rest for a second, and then repeat. While you are breathing, concentrate either on counting the seconds while you are inhaling and exhaling, or think of something peaceful, like the ocean. This works great if you are by yourself and can lay down and close your eyes, but it also works if you are out in public and start feeling some anxiety because it will make you concentrate on something other than what you are anxious about.
2. Progressive Relaxation: This is a great technique that works best if when you are alone. Start by either lying down or sitting in a comfortable chair and closing your eyes. Take a couple deep breaths. Then, tense the muscles in your feet. Hold the tension for a few seconds and then let it out. Move to your calf muscles. Tense the muscles and hold for a few seconds. Then release. Move to your quadriceps muscles. Tense your quadriceps muscles and hold for a few seconds before you release. You are going to repeat this procedure, moving all the way up your body including your buttocks, hands, lower arms, upper arms, whole arms, abdomen, chest, and facial muscles. After you have finished, tense your whole body, hold for a few seconds and release. Then take a few deep breaths.
3. Guided Imagery: Start by either laying down or sitting in a comfortable chair. Close your eyes and picture yourself in a peaceful, relaxing place. This could be either at the beach, lying in a hammock…anywhere you like. Look at your surroundings. Notice the colors and textures around you. Hear the sounds, smell the ocean or the flowers, feel the sun. Notice any other sensations. Relax and enjoy. The more you do this, the easier it becomes.
There are many other relaxation techniques, but these are the three I like the best. Remember, the less stressed, anxious and depressed you are, the better you will feel. Enjoy and remember they all take practice. I hope these help!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
LinkedIn Group
If any of you are on LinkedIn, I started a group yesterday called Crohn's, Colitis & Digestive Disease Support Network. It is for people suffering from digestive diseases, caregivers and health professionals to share stories, advice and support. I know there are other groups like this out there, but I just thought I'd start another one for some place else to go for support!
Here's the link:
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?mostPopular=&gid=3781587
I'd love for you to join!
Here's the link:
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?mostPopular=&gid=3781587
I'd love for you to join!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Depression and Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Understandably, any chronic illness can trigger depression. Nobody wants to deal with the pain, the medications, the doctor visits and/or hospital stays, the everyday struggles, or the uncertainty of what comes next. Having a chronic illness can take a toll on a person both physically and mentally.
When it comes to Inflammatory Bowel Disease, there is an increased risk of anxiety disorders and depression in people who have IBD compared to those who don’t. Now this makes sense right? There is the anxiety of having to know where a bathroom is at all times or when the next flare is going to kick in. In terms of depression, there is so much to deal with when it comes to IBD in your personal and professional life that sometimes it just becomes too much. So what can you do if you have IBD and are feeling depressed?
1. Seek professional help – I know this is something that a lot of people don’t feel comfortable doing, but it really can help. Currently, I counsel people who have a range of digestive disorders and a lot of them tell me that just venting to someone who understands what they are going through helps them to feel better. Seeing a therapist doesn’t mean that you will automatically be put on more medication to treat your depression. Most of the time, talking about your depression with your therapist and jointly coming up with strategies to help you feel better is enough.
2. Join a support group, either in person or online – As I mentioned above, talking with others going through similar situations as you can be a life saver. It really helps to know you are not alone.
3. Get out of the house – Sitting at home thinking about your illness is not going to help you to feel better. Getting out of the house, even if only for a short period of time each day will help to distract you from your sadness. Take up a hobby, something that makes you happy, to keep you distracted.
4. Surround yourself with loved ones – Being alone when you are feeling depressed is only going to make things worse. Family and friends are there to support you. Talk to them about ways they can help, whether it be helping with small chores, making you laugh, or not talking about your illness at all!
5. Remember that you are not always going to feel this way – When you are living with any chronic illness, some days are going to be worse than others. But your symptoms will improve, given time and treatment. It’s important not to get stuck in a rut of negative thinking. Instead, when you are feeling down, think of some of the things you would like to do when you start feeling better. Having ideas of positive things you want to accomplish will give you something to look forward to.
Remember, as hard as it is, it’s important to stay positive when you are feeling down. A negative outlook is only going to exacerbate your symptoms and make it harder for you to get well.
When it comes to Inflammatory Bowel Disease, there is an increased risk of anxiety disorders and depression in people who have IBD compared to those who don’t. Now this makes sense right? There is the anxiety of having to know where a bathroom is at all times or when the next flare is going to kick in. In terms of depression, there is so much to deal with when it comes to IBD in your personal and professional life that sometimes it just becomes too much. So what can you do if you have IBD and are feeling depressed?
1. Seek professional help – I know this is something that a lot of people don’t feel comfortable doing, but it really can help. Currently, I counsel people who have a range of digestive disorders and a lot of them tell me that just venting to someone who understands what they are going through helps them to feel better. Seeing a therapist doesn’t mean that you will automatically be put on more medication to treat your depression. Most of the time, talking about your depression with your therapist and jointly coming up with strategies to help you feel better is enough.
2. Join a support group, either in person or online – As I mentioned above, talking with others going through similar situations as you can be a life saver. It really helps to know you are not alone.
3. Get out of the house – Sitting at home thinking about your illness is not going to help you to feel better. Getting out of the house, even if only for a short period of time each day will help to distract you from your sadness. Take up a hobby, something that makes you happy, to keep you distracted.
4. Surround yourself with loved ones – Being alone when you are feeling depressed is only going to make things worse. Family and friends are there to support you. Talk to them about ways they can help, whether it be helping with small chores, making you laugh, or not talking about your illness at all!
5. Remember that you are not always going to feel this way – When you are living with any chronic illness, some days are going to be worse than others. But your symptoms will improve, given time and treatment. It’s important not to get stuck in a rut of negative thinking. Instead, when you are feeling down, think of some of the things you would like to do when you start feeling better. Having ideas of positive things you want to accomplish will give you something to look forward to.
Remember, as hard as it is, it’s important to stay positive when you are feeling down. A negative outlook is only going to exacerbate your symptoms and make it harder for you to get well.
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