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My Anxiety Update July 2019

MyAnxiety and IBD medication

It has been sometime since my last blog post. I still struggle with and have been working on my anxiety and depression.

About 12 months ago I went to my GP as I had a significant family event approaching in six months time; namely my daughter’s wedding. During my consultation with the GP it was agreed to a change in my medication and so I now take Sertraline in addition to the Pregabalin, medication. I started on a dose of 50 mg per day and after three weeks this was increased to 100 mg per day. I didn’t feel any particular side-effects from the medication and to be truthful it is difficult for me to know whether it’s making any significant difference. So I now take Pregabalin 300mg twice a day and Sertraline 100mg once a day in addition to my IBD medication of Pentasa Mesalazine 1g two tablets twice a day and Omeprazole 20mg once a day. I also have Pentasa Mesalazine 1g/100ml enema which I am meant to use once a week and regularly during a IBD flare up.

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Ulcerative Colitis Update July 2018

Ulcerative Colitis Update July 2018 Header

As you know from previous blog posts I have Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in the form of Ulcerative Colitis, to be specific I have Ulcerative Proctitis which effects the rectum area, rather than the whole bowel. Crohns and Colitis website has an excellent explanation of Ulcerative Colitis here

I am under the care of Kettering General Hospital who have their own team of IBD Nurses, so I see a nurse every 12 months, with the option to contact them at any time if I have any concerns about my Ulcerative Colitis. I then see the Consultant every twelve months about my IBD and he also keeps on eye on my liver condition, so I see someone every 6 months. I also have a blood test every 6 months, which I do a couple of weeks prior to my appointment. Continue reading “Ulcerative Colitis Update July 2018”

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Reflection about losing PIP Award

My Anxiety Blog Post

I had been receiving DLA and then PIP for the past 5 years or so, because of my mental health and Ulcerative Colitis. Following a mid award review which started in August 2017 and a medical assessment by Capita in November 2017, my PIP award ended on the 11th December 2017.

I have been reflecting on this a lot over the past 6 months. Financially the impact was significant, as it meant I also lost my Tax Credits award from the 11th December, and any day I expect a bill for £500 over payment following the year end tax credit review.

I have been lucky and been able to earn a little more money through the work I do and been helped by family.

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Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week 2017

Colitis Awareness week 2017

Crohn’s and Colitis week is happening now:  1st to 7th December 2017, being promoted by wonderful charity Crohn’s & Colitis UK, to raise awareness of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), with a focus on it being a hidden illness or disability.  The charity has done some fantastic work with supermarkets nationally getting signage added or changed to disabled toilets to get the message out that not every disability is visible – so that Ulcerative Colitis sufferers like me, don’t have to worry about being challenged for using disabled toilets when we need to – because we ‘look ok’.

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PIP Review 2017

My Anxiety Blog Post

Early in August I received a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Review form dated the 6th August 2017, which is called a ‘PIP Award Review – How your disability affects you’. This came as a surprise (shock) because my PIP award is to August 2018. I have felt anxious and overwhelmed by the prospect of completing the form and the implications of the review: will it change my PIP Award, which could then effect my Tax Credits award (which I now claim as I work part time at home on a self-employed basis).
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Know your limitations My Anxiety

This is not a drill Know your limitations

I blogged about my ‘dream’ job a few weeks ago – ‘The Next Step 2017‘ and applied for the job that weekend.

I have learnt a lot about myself and my anxiety in the following days and weeks. So here is what happened and my reflections after the event.

[I have used this image, as it sums up how the phone ringing does affect me and my anxiety – acknowledgement #CollegeHumour]

Having applied for the job with some enthusiasm I started to think about the reality of the job and I suppose my anxiety kicked in. I started considering the work environment and how I would manage my anxiety, IBD and IBS, particularly my toilet visits, where was the loo etc., what would people think?

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Ulcerative Colitis Flare Up and Management

My Anxiety Blog Post

After 2 to 3 years I had my first flare up of Ulcerative Colitis in January and February 2016. I think this was a result of being run down with the flu and being depressed.

To find out what was happening I had a few trips to the GP and an endoscopy and today a appointment with the Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) nurse clinic at Kettering General Hospital. This was a highly beneficial appointment as I found out a lot, that perhaps I should have been told when I was originally diagnosed in 2003. ​
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