Hi there, I'd like to invite anyone with any questions, or need of a friend to respond.

Just joined the community this week and stumbled upon your post. I'm 26 and recently had my first Crohn's surgery (a month ago) to tend to a few fistulas connecting my sigmoid colon with my terminal ileum. I'm due to start back to work this week. I'm a high school special ed. teacher for students with emotional and behavioral disorders as well as the school's dance team coach. Still in a bit of pain, but what is concerning me most is the anxiety and almost depression. I haven't been able to sleep much this past week, and last night I couldn't get to sleep until about 4:00, and even then it wasn't restful. I had this feeling of almost wanting to crawl out of my skin. I was up and down trying to have a light snack, drank some tea, watched TV just to try to calm myself down. Nothing worked. I explained how I was feeling to my husband but I don't even understand it myself so I don't expect him to. I thought about taking this week off, call my doctor and see if I can get some kind of medication to help with this, but I had rescheduled dance team tryouts for this week. I guess I'm just at a loss what to do and need someone to tell me what to do, which I know isn't realistic, but I can't make my mind make a decision. Even now, the anxiety has lessened a little, but I'm still having these random moments of crying, and I don't know why. If you have any advice, if you've been in a similar situation or know someone who has I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you so much!

Erica

I'm sorry to hear you're suffering. If no one told you yet, depression and anxiety can be a big part of it. Aside from exercise and meditation I've found Valerian Root helpful if you don't take tranquilizers. Also serotonin levels can be effected. I take Prozac and have a much easier time breaking those bad feeling cycles than when I wasn't on antidepressants. I hate that jumpy uncomfortable feeling. Goes back as long as I remember. Used to break my pencil in elementary school just so I could get up and sharpen it because I felt if I didn't move I'd go nuts. Also might want to check or watch B 12 levels. If you just need to talk or sympathy please reach out to me anytime and if you have specific questions I can help with, feel free.

Your story sound familiar. I was diagnosed back in 1970. Even my dr. had a lot of questions. I was 18 yrs. old and he had not seen anyone with crohns this young. It must have been the way things were back then, I had a lot of operations and a lot of experimental meds. I struggled for better than 3 years just to get back on my feet. You are right about not having anyone to talk to. Everything I learned was by experience and a little help from the dr and nurses. They did not have answers because they had never been through what we went through. I spent a lot of years going to hospitals and talking with patients that were going through what we went through. I still do from time to time. Hopefully I have been a help over the years.
Denny

I'm sure you have. I met a woman at the hospital when I was there for my second colonoscopy, and very upset at this being a part of my future and she helped me greatly. I still remember her to this day and that was like 30 years ago. Wish you the best and contact me anytime. Thanks for sharing.