I'm sorry your husband is going through that. I wish I could help but what I can do is offer support. Surely someone on here will have an answer for you. I do know anxiety and depression suck because that kept me from being happy. I'm sorry I can't be of much help but I've only had my j pouch for almost 7 months. 

Continue moving forward.. I find the busier I am the less I think about my pouch. In the overall scheme of life and my medical issues since I had my pouch done 5 years ago, I have suffered a severe automobile accident (that almost took my right leg) that required multiple surgeries and most recently viral bronchitis that caused congestive heart failure and another pulmonary embolism and a recent discovery that I have two ovarian cysts that we are monitoring.

After surviving all of the above... I just have to laugh it off that "you just can't kill me" and the grace of God is always with me.

I work part-time, love to garden, attend many events (music festivals, jam sessions, dancing, plays, wine tasting, county fairs, amusement parks), dinners with friends and family, walk my dogs, and go to church.. that I am very grateful for what I do have (not what I am missing, such as broken body parts).

Start planning activities to distract him from focusing on his health.  I am 54 years old (divorced), live with my eldest daughter (who is expecting my first grandchild in Sept) and consider my life to be great.  However, I am reluctant to start any new relationship with a male, but I am happy with the freedom I have being single.

Short and sweet.

Keeping stress levels down was important for me. 

It seems all my stress was directed to my gut so if he can find a diversion. That would be important.  

When I was stressed I definitely could feel it in my gut which in turn let itself be known.

Good luck. It sounds like he has been doing well. Sorry to hear this and hope he can get past it. 

Richard. 

It felt like something was trying to knaw out of my abdomen - like the "alien" being.  Has he been in for a pouchscooe recently. Has he been tested for c.diff? There might be somethinf medically wrong and that causes depression in me,

I also had that gnawing feeling, I described it as feeling like I had a gigantic abdominal infection (I didn't, but that's the only way I could describe it). Since I've been on antidepressants it's completely gone. I weaned off of them once and the gnawing came back, so looks like I'm on them permanently.

Thanks so much for your reply Meatball - yes, he is on antidepressants also but now the Drs think he may have a thyroid problem so more and more tests this week - thankyou again and all the best to you . . .

Thanks everyone - will let you know how we go - and all the best to your partners also - I know how hard it is to watch your loved one going through so very much - take care everyone and all the best . . .

Colons have a role in producing neurotransmitters for our brain, like serotonin. Surgeons don't go into this with us. Since we are missing that production we might need antidepressants to assist in neurotransmitter production. Not in everybody but for those of us who become depressed. Have you ever heard of then gut being our 2nd brain?  This production of neurotransmitters is why. I am on several antidepressants that help produce several different neurotransmitters.  I think these are meds I will need to take the rest of my life. These medications have helped me.