Antidepressants and Stoma Complications: Any Experiences?

I have been experiencing signs of depression—loss of interest, etc. A lot of it has to do with the aftermath of surgery and the serious food restrictions and absorption issues I have. Has anyone taken any antidepressants, and have they had complications with their stoma, etc.? Please share anything you can on this subject. Thanks, Aquarius.

Hi aquarian! Oh yes, I know how you feel; it has been 5 months since my surgery and the depression is still there. Some days are better than others. My surgeon put me on an anti-depressant before I left the hospital, and when I realized I had filled this type of med after getting home, I only took it for a week. With all the other meds I was taking, I was not so sure I wanted to add this kind of drug to the list of possible, never getting off them. It is hard and more of an adjustment than I bargained for. I also have a very limited diet still and constant malabsorption issues due to previous resections of bowel and Crohn's disease in general. I think trouble with the stoma has me down as well... oh, and all the bag issues ;)
It is such a personal decision if you think anti-depressants will help you, but for me, I use this site to help me understand and accept what I have to live with now. I do hope you have family & friends to listen when you're down as well. Take care~~~

Hi Ladies - I take anti-depressants and would say that they are not an issue particularly with the stoma itself .....

My take on them is that they do not take away the depression per se but they DO help you to cope a bit better with it all. I have now been on them for years, not sure if I am addicted to them or not really but have so many health issues I really do not know what is what anymore!
Take care
Rach xxx

My daughter who has Crohn's took antidepressants for years. Finally she decided everybody is unhappy and she should just get over it. She takes none now. She is not an ostomate, but was wonderfully helpful to me after my cancer-driven permanent ostomy... all of which has nothing to do with depression. I was depressed. I am occasionally, still... about the ostomy, but I am coping without pills. I don't like side effects and most drugs have them. Therapy helped my daughter a lot. Maybe try that, too.

Hi Aquarian - I have taken many different antidepressants over the years. The main side effect of the tricyclics (which they hardly ever prescribe anymore) is constipation. The newer ones tend to cause sexual dysfunction and weight gain, but not everyone experiences these. I also use lorazepam which is a mild trnquilizer - I find it helps my GI tract as well as calm me and lessen anxiety. Don't be afraid to try these medications - just be sure to let your doc know right away if you suffer side effects :)

Stories of Living Life to the Fullest from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

I empathize with you and I feel you are entitled to your depression. After suffering for decades with "stomach" problems, surgeries, struggling with pain, and constant bowel movements after a total colectomy, my only option for improvement was yet another surgery. The ileostomy was a huge step for me, as well as I imagine for scores of others. I wanted to have a "normal" life, but my husband wanted me to hang in there; I could tolerate it if I tried. He was insensitive. I hoped that if I cleaned and worked outside of the home and he had sex often enough, he would be happy. What about me? In short, I was attempting to make up for my shortcomings with him in spite of how miserable I was. I knew that when I decided I just could not take any more pain, sleep deprivation, and numerous bowel movements, and told him I decided on the surgery, he would not be happy. I told him, he would not look at me, and he said, "Well, that's the end of our sex life, the smell and the sounds..." He later said I was making a mistake. With all things considered, I scheduled the surgery for 10/12/10. I moved out before the surgery, realizing I could not make him happy, and he divorced me on 11/22. All the days that we all wish we could just be our old self, trying to overcome the discomfort and then hoping we will not be rejected by people or our loved ones is overwhelming, not to mention adjusting to the physical changes and hygiene is not simple anymore. It is early for me, but I need an antidepressant prior to the surgery; anxiety was over the top. I felt that I failed, I should have been able to accept... we are our worst enemy, but I also feel that I will eventually adjust and will not need the medicine. It is only to help you minimize the depression; it will help you with the changes. It is a daily task for me to reassure myself that this will pass and focus on the positive, and we must go on. Do not give in, and yes, it is okay to have a "pity party" occasionally and cry too. Dear, push yourself to go back to your interests. Good luck.

I have an ileostomy and take antidepressants. Also, I was in bad shape before I took them, and they helped a great deal.