When it rains, it pours

[Cormanus]

Ferret, I'm so sorry the colitis is causing you such grief. The consequences of such conditions are never simple and, as you example attests, affect so many other areas of our health and life.

I'm sure you're all over it, but it may be worth finding a support group—something men (me included) are bad at as MTC notes—that may be able to help you to find relief in things like diet. Trawling the internet can often provide some help, although one has to try to distinguish between the sensible and the lunatic.

I hope you're able to find some way to make your day more comfortable. Meanwhile, MTC is right: if riding helps your state of mind, keep doing it as much as you can. I know about depression. It's endless and corrosive and doing whatever you can to keep it at bay is only sensible.

Best wishes.