Diverticulitis with depression

Yes. I’ve been quite depressed and anxious since my diagnosis last month. I’m still on soft food/low residue diet and so frustrated with the limitations on my life. I know many folks have it much worse than me, so I try to stay positive but it’s been difficult going from a reasonably healthy active person to what I am now.

Hi Ann

I had an anxiety disorder before my diagnosis and my psychologist has been kind enough to point out that being in pain so much and not knowing what to eat and being sick so often are going to make anyone anxious and depressed. I went through a bad bout of depression and have come out the other side with no medication. An aside some doctors believe people with DD have a vitamin D deficency and in my case that is true. I got my blood tested a few years ago and it was almost nonexistant. So I take 3000iu everyday and I find it does help with depression for me. I had to pay for the original vitamin D blood test but it was the best money I spent. And it was about $35 (Canadian) about four years ago. I no longer have to pay because my vitaminD was low so it is now covered. I hope this helps and I hope you find yourself feeling better very soon.

Julie

I to developed chronic anxiety/panic attacks when diagnosed with diverticulitis back in Feb 2018, they put me on Adivan, I did 3 rounds of antibiotics and in hospital with abscess, I was in ER constantly and said it was just panic attacks, so my Dr sent me to Mental Health to get help, I had a very hard time dealing with the diverticulitis and the eating was very traumatic situation lost 32 lbs, They had me on so many diff meds and they all made me feel worse and caused me more anxiety, felt like I was going crazy. They say it takes time to find the right fit of meds for your body. In the mean time I learned how to control my anxiety panic with breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, walking I go to groups to learn on mindfulness and reprogramming my brain to be in wise mind. I found a website on Diverticulitis pain free foods and also went by the Mayo Clinic diet , I finally started eating all good, keep a food journal and am on Xanax 2x a day. They did a mouth swab for dna to see which meds would work best for my body chemistry so was put on Pristiq, well that didn’t work had bad reaction to it also now I feel like I am having a flare up of my diverticulosis, my labs are normal just waiting on Cat Scan results. So angry that If this is a flare up I have to start all over again I already have done the 48 hr liquid diet and am now on soft diet, I quit the Pristiq cuz all side effects are the same as the signs of having a flare up. All this time and months of healing myself and not working is so hard but at least now I have the skills to deal with the anxiety and panic, this all causes me. And I will not take no more meds they try to put me on. I just take Xanax for now, and will soon wean off them. It is funny how the brain and gut react together. So yes I believe a lot of people who have diverticulitis also developed anxiety, It’s a nasty combination and the eating and changing your lifestyle is not an easy thing to do. Be upfront with your Dr about how the meds make you feel , really be in tune and listen to your body, Best wishes for a healthy recovery.