Does the immune system find a new "target" post colectomy?

killcolitis

Veteran Member

Joined : Dec 2009

Posts : 2396

Posted 3/4/2012 7:29 PM (GMT 0)

Anyone have this happen? One of the many worried we have re: surgery is that once my daughter's immune system has lost it's punching bag of choice it will attack something else, which can't be removed. Any thoughts? Experience? Research? Doc and surgeon say no guarantees but this is not something they have found happens as a RESULT of surgery (if you were going to get something else you would have gotten it anyway regardless).
Thanks!

B'Dereh

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Joined : Jun 2011

Posts : 1912

Posted 3/4/2012 7:34 PM (GMT 0)

My GI has told me 20-30% of patients will have some other symptoms after the colon is long gone, like joint problems. There are also skin problems. So I imaigne it is also impossible to say that these other symptoms would not have shown up if there had been no surgery.
The knee pain I always had got worse after surgery, but who is to say it wouldn't have anyway.

Ju330

Regular Member

Joined : Dec 2009

Posts : 175

Posted 3/4/2012 7:43 PM (GMT 0)

I have wondered about this as well... I have heard that having UC puts you at higher risk for arthritis and other inflammatory type health problems, whether or not the colon is removed, because of certain genetic markers or something. Prior to surgery, I had pretty bad acne, and with the last flare terrible joint pain. Since surgery, I have had absolutely no joint pain and the acne has cleared up completely. I am interested to see in the future, around the times I normally had flares (seemed to happen in cycles with the seasons), if any of these symptoms appear even though my colon is now gone...

uc_free

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Joined : May 2007

Posts : 646

Posted 3/4/2012 9:36 PM (GMT 0)

I developed pyoderma gangrenosum around my stoma, which is an autoimmune disease as well. I would not have gotten that regardless, and I never had it before. PG is extremely rare, almost unheard of in UC patients who undergo a procotocolectomy, but here I have it.

When I got my colon out my disease was in RARE form, and wasn't even quieting down with 60 mg of salumedrol. I don't care what any of the experts say. I truly believe that my disease had nothing to attack, so it started on my skin.

Don't let this deter you from having surgery, but I believe that the immune system can find another source to torment. It doesn't always happen, but it did in my case. When you become that .0001%, the statistics mean nothing to you.

torranceboy

Regular Member

Joined : Aug 2011

Posts : 125

Posted 3/4/2012 11:47 PM (GMT 0)

colitis_sux said...
...When you become that .0001%, the statistics mean nothing to you.

Agreed. When you are in the .0001% it may as well be 100%.

Collicat

Veteran Member

Joined : May 2009

Posts : 827

Posted 3/5/2012 3:50 PM (GMT 0)

My understanding, as to what most researchers think, is that "something" in the colon sets off the immune system to attack it. This does not necessarily mean that the immune system is over active just that it makes a mistake in recognizing something it should not. As it becomes very active in fighting this mistaken "thing" the abundance of antibodies can sometimes start affecting other parts of the body as well. When the colon is removed and the item that started this whole cascade is gone the antibodies diminish and with them most other issues.

I know that everyone does not believe this scenario but, from my understanding, it is how most researchers view it.....

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