Does anyone have any knowledge or insight on the impact of full colectomy on the gut-brain axis? I presume that branch of the vagus nerve is severed and not reconnected to the pouch?
My surgeries were 21 years ago and I’ve felt a growing anxiety/depression since that time. So gradual that it is not related to the surgery itself. Possibly related to the lack of microbiome regulation? Or just standard anxiety/depression?
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I don’t think there’s any evidence of elevated frequency of anxiety and/or depression after colectomy. These are very common in the general population, and we’re not immune.
I had my jpouch surgery in1985 and have been taking antidepressants and anti anxiety medication since 1988 and will for life. I think the surgical experience and every day life after surgery has caused me to feel sad, out of control and generally anxious EVERY single day. I don't think it's uncommon with an illness such as ours.
I wish it was different but obviously not.
@Accept It posted:I had my jpouch surgery in1985 and have been taking antidepressants and anti anxiety medication since 1988 and will for life. I think the surgical experience and every day life after surgery has caused me to feel sad, out of control and generally anxious EVERY single day. I don't think it's uncommon with an illness such as ours.
I wish it was different but obviously not.
I agree with you 100%! I think it might be similar to post partum depression, I get that too sometimes with my disease.
Things that tend to help me with it is that I think about things I am grateful for and say it out loud, that helps me a lot. Maybe that might help you guys too or even putting it in a journal and going back to it whenever you need it 
Gee, this is a really tough one. There is a lot of info on this, but it is so complex because of the intricacies of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, microbiotica, and endocrine systems that all work together, along with the brain to affect mood and homeostasis.
If it were as simple as to say that if we lose a portion of our GI tract we suffer some sort of mental deficit, we would all suffer with one form or another of a mood disorder. But, that is not true at all.
I don’t know this for a fact, but the way I see it is that we all may be exposed to the same traumas of chronic illness and surgery, but we are equipped differently both innately and through our experiences and support systems. So, some of us have temporary situational depression/anxiety. Some have a chronic form. Some suffer none of it. Just like different people respond differently to a virus, we all respond and/or recover differently to the loss of an organ or the traumas associated with it.
I am one who never suffered with depression or anxiety. I do not consider myself special, just lucky.
Jan
I suffered from severe mental illness and was hospitalized multiple times prior to my colectomy. My gut was simply not functioning. Since my colectomy in 2012 I have found that my mental health has improved immensely and I have been able to come off some of my medications. I do believe that there is a direct connection between gut health and mental health however it varies amongst individuals and has many causative factors.
Stay safe.
I read that the colon regulates the seretonin levels in the brain.so people end up depressed and needing SSRIs to help.It says 95% of serotonin is produced by the gut and low levels can leed to depression in people with IBS.
I'm on lexapro 10mg and that helps alot.
@Former Member posted:I read that the colon regulates the seretonin levels in the brain.so people end up depressed and needing SSRIs to help.It says 95% of serotonin is produced by the gut and low levels can leed to depression in people with IBS.
I'm on lexapro 10mg and that helps alot.
Thank-you so much for sharing this! I did not know this at all! Thank-you
Before my quick onset uc I knew something was wrong as I was crying alot and had a feeling of sadness all the time.I would cry alot and I usually never cry.even waiting to see my family doctor I was fighting back tears and usually I would be angry because he always makes you wait along time and when I saw him I cryed and he said 75% of what he did was prescribing anti depressants.I was so worried to take them but even after the first pill I felt the most content I had in along time.less than two months later I was having my colon removed.my family doctor was on holiday when I went in and the new doctor took my temp and looked at my tongue and told me to go straight to the emergency department and she rang them and told them I was on my way,she saved my life.my usual doctor never took my temp or checked my mouth he wouldve just given me antibiotics or increased my antidepressant dosage.
