what are the chances your children will have UC

pb4 said...


DNA is organized into genes that encode all of the instructions required to build and maintain living organisms. Genes determine physical traits such as eye and hair colour and height. Genes also program the body, for example, cells of the immune system are under the control genes that determine the strength, effectivness and appropriateness of an inflammatory response. Genetic infulences have long been suspected to play a role in IBD based on the following clues. 1) certain ethnic groups are at substantially higher risk for IBD than the general population. 2) there are extream cases of familial IBD where nearly every family member suffers from the condition. 3) in studies of identical twins, if one twin has CD there is a 40-60% chance the other twin will also have the disease.

If you don't agree with the above statements then you're disagreeing with one of the lead reseachers of the genetics and inheritance of IBD in Canada

I agree with these statements. The thing is that these statements in addition to the following URLs say that "It's believed that the genes people are born with may increase their chances of developing ulcerative colitis. In other words, the disease seems to 'run in the family.'"

This means that you have a higher chance of getting UC if you are predisposed to the disease. However, it does not mean the opposite--that you can't get UC without being predisposed to the disease.

I don't know why you are so persistent to say that I have to be predisposed to Colitis due to the fact that I have it. If you are predisposed. Then you are predisposed. Research into that area will help you. For me, research into the genetic predisposition of Colitis isn't going to make a difference. Fecal transplantation and Probiotics (to put back the good bacteria into my colon) and diet (to make my colon stronger) do.

I thought one thing that we should have all realized by now is that UC is very individual. And I do think that fact that nobody in my family has any digestive issues of any sort and that I've been setting off triggers my who life shows that I'm not predisposed. If I was predisposed to UC, I would have gotten this disease a long, long time ago.

pb4 said...
But in IBD it appears that many different genetic defects may be simutaneously necessary to produce the disease...the mathematical pattern of inheritance that is the case with CF is simply not known in IBD.

Same with a some of the bad genes that I am likely a carrier of. They pop up here and there. There is no guarantee that my kids or grandkids will get those things, but there is always a possibility. They have found that there is a mixture of genes that cause then. Some may get them more than others. They are bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia, and selective multism. And then I have two cousins who are colored blind, so much that they are legally blind. The gene for that is rare and both parents must have it; so I don't worry about that one. Colitis may be difficult to live with, but these other disorders are far more debilitating.

pb4 said...
I'm confused as to why you would think that if you were predisposed to getting it that you would have gotten it long long ago? What is your reasoning behind that? Being predisoposed to getting it doesn't guarantee a certain age that you will get it. It's based on when it gets triggered is all.

It's not the age. It's the triggers. My triggers are antibiotics, foods high in fructose, and getting too cold. I've been taking antibiotics all my life. I've been eating foods high in fructose all my life, and once I got so cold that I caught pneumonia, not Colitis.

pb4 said...
I don't know why you are so persistent to say that you were not predisoposed to getting it. It being individualistic also has nothing to do with the predisposition factor of it either.

Yes. Colitis is very individualistic. That's my point. I don't disbelieve that there are those who are at higher risk for getting it. Why disbelieve that there are those who have it who aren't predisposed to getting it?

pb4 said...

You're wrong about the color blindness, my son is color blind (reg-green) and I'm not, neither is my husband or anyone on my husbands side which wouldn't matter because the gene for red-green color blindness comes from the mothers side in correlation to her fathers genes, so as my eye doc explained my son is red-green color blind due to genetics from my dad and he asked if my dad was also color blind, he wasn't so my eye doc explained that his father (my grandfather) would likely have been.

My two cousins don't have the same color blindness that your son has. Their eyes are so sensitive to the light that they can't see any colors at all. They are legally blind. One of them uses computers in his job. He has a special computer that shows only a few words at a time. That's how bad his eyesight is. Their condition is so rare that they were able to see top specialists for free. The doctors were interested in studying the boys' eyes. It was these doctors who said that they have a rare form of color blindness in which both parents must have the gene for them to have it.

Color blindness also has a genetic component to it. However, one can become color blind as a result of eye, nerve, or brain damage, or due to exposure to certain chemicals. Perhaps some of us can get UC for similar kinds of reasons, that is for an external impact to the colon such as destroying the good bacteria due to antibiotics and/or damage done to our colons due to poor diets.

pb4 said...
That's what I mean, if you believe your colitis was triggered and not antibiotic-induced (which from my understanding antibiotic-induced colitis can be cleared up) where on the other hand triggered ulcerative colitis has a genetic component to it, then why do you say your's isn't genetic? Are you basing that solely on the fact that no other family members (that you know of for fact) had an IBD? Will your mind change if someone in your family ends up with crohn's or UC?

:)

Triggers are things that cause a flare. If you have Colitis because of taking antibiotics, then antibiotics are your trigger.

I've never heard of "triggered ulcerative colitis."

I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, not antibiotic-associated Colitis. I think the reason my doctor doesn't feel I have antibiotic-associated Colitis is that I didn't get Colitis when I was on antibiotics. However, fecal transplantation put me immediately into remission. So fecal fora does play a role in my Colitis. I was in remission for two years. After that I flared about one or two months after having taken antibiotics three times during that year.

I am not basing the fact that my Colitis is not genetic-based solely on the fact that no other family members had it or have it. I am basing it on the fact that no one in my family has it or had it, and if I was genetically predisposed to Colitis, then I would have gotten Colitis a long time ago due to all the antibiotics I've taken over my life and my poor eating habits, especially during the 10 years prior to developing Ulcerative Colitis.

Your experience with Ulcerative Colitis must be very different from mine, and that is why you have trouble understanding this. But Colitis just means inflammation of the colon. The colon can get inflamed for many reasons. I'm sure that the colons of those who are predisposed to Colitis are easier to get inflamed. I think the fact that my colon wasn't inflaming sooner is a strong indication of just how strong my colon is. Imagine. my colon never got inflamed despite the fact that the antibiotics I had taken over all those years had destroyed my good bacteria. It was only after I weakened my colon when I stopped eating breads, pasta, and noodles, and started eating chocolate and drinking high fructose corn syrup beverages, that my colon started to complain and this wasn't until many years of eating poorly. That's how strong my colon is. No wonder I only have to take one Probiotic a day plus change my diet to get into remission, and no wonder my GI said my recovery was remarkable when he gave me a colonscopy after I did fecal transplantation when I had my second flare.

http://www.science-direct.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6W8V-4C5G5GG-1&_user=10&_coverDate=07%2F31%2F2004&_alid=888454604&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_cdi=6664&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_ct=1&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=570059081135cc79763cb4e4fdb92c2c

I'm not sure if you can open the link or read the article, but it basically talks about how environmental factors can trigger the genetic component of IBD.

From the article:

"A variety of enviornmental factors modify the expression of genes in susceptible individuals and modulate the effector function of the intestinal immune system. This combined action results in an inappropriate and persistent inflammatory response at the level of the gut mucosa, which is clinically manifested as IBD" (395).

pb4 said...
You said "I am not basing the fact that my Colitis is not genetic-based solely on the fact that no other family members had it or have it. I am basing it on the fact that no one in my family has it or had it," (that's what I asked if you were basing it on, you say you're not then proceed to say that you are) you're talking in circles, you are basing your colitis not being genetic based on the fact that no family members of yours have an IBD just as I suspected you were.
You should re-read what I asked you and then re-read what your response was because you say you're disagreeing with me but then your answer is exactly what I said.

No. It's not exactly the same as what you said.

You said "solely." I said not "solely," but for two reasons, one of which, yes, is the reason you stated. Again:

I am not basing the fact that my Colitis is not genetic-based SOLELY on the fact that no other family members had it or have it. I am basing it on the fact that

1) no one in my family has it or had it, and
2) if I was genetically predisposed to Colitis, then I would have gotten Colitis a long time ago due to all the antibiotics I've taken over my life and my poor eating habits, especially during the 10 years prior to developing Ulcerative Colitis.

pb4 said...

I have crohn's colitis and my mom has UC, I've had crohn's for 18 yrs

Exactly. That's why you can't understand how there can be some people who can get this disease without being predisposed.

pb4 said...

because of your confused reasoning to if your colitis was genetic you would have gotten it long ago (which also makes no sense)...

It makes perfect sense.

pb4 said...

BTW, lots of people over-abuse antibiotcs AND eat high sugar and they don't end up with colitis, so again your reasoning makes no sense.

I don't think you understand this either.

1) I think I was quite extreme on the over-abuse of antibiotics. I don't know anyone who used antibiotics as much as I have. Doctors have a limit on how long they can prescribe certain medicines for. The limit was six months for the kind of antibiotics I was using. I went way over that six-month mark, many times. In fact, one time I was on them for two years straight. Whenever I tell any doctors how long I was on antibiotics for, they shake their head back and forth. It was way over the limit.

2) I was not merely eating a diet high in sugar. I had an addiction problem. Getting addicted, especially to alcohol, does run in my family. (As I said some of my family members are bi-polar. I believe I'm carrying that gene.) Anyway, after my divorce, I refused to drink or smoke to relieve my upsetness. So I ate chocolate and drank high fructose corn syrup beverages instead. That's all I ate and drank. I said I did this for two years, and I wasn't exaggerating. In fact, I probably did this for more like five or six years. Perhaps even ten years. That's how long it was between my divorce and when I started going out with my current boyfriend. Time goes by so fast. Anyway, that's all I ate and drank. No one can live like that without something going wrong with their body.

I don't know why you refuse to believe that some of us don't have a genetic disposition to the disease. It is a given fact that people get this disease for different reasons.

I've been thinking about it though. Why would you be so persistent about my not being predisposed. I mean, it is my condition, not your condition that we are talking about. All I can think is that perhaps it gives you more hope to think that all of us are predisposed. After all, if I'm not predisposed and you are, then there is actually a higher chance that your children will get this disease, because my stats are being counted too. In other words, if the average is a 10-15% chance that your child will have Colitis if you have it and that percentage is really 0% for my children, then that percentage is really higher than 10-15% for your children. And then if some of us are able to get into remission with Probiotics and diet, but we are not predisposed to this disease, then it actually might be harder for you to get and stay in remission than you had hoped. I'm sorry if this is the case. But I can't tell you that I'm predisposed to UC when I'm not. Anyway, at least having Colitis isn't as bad as being bipolar, schizophrenic, or selectively mute. At least you probably aren't carrying genes for those.

I now have a third reason for saying I'm not predisposed to having Ulcerative Colitis:

3) I don't have difficulty getting into remission. All I need to do is fecal transplantation or take Probiotics and change my diet to get into remission. If I was predisposed to UC, I would have a harder time fighting this disease.

pb4 said...
OMG, milder cases of IBDers can find remission easier and longer than moderate to severe cases that has nothing to do with being predisposed and your reasoning still has no merit when it comes to saying that your colitis was caused by poor diet and/or antibiotic abuse and as if the fact that your colon wasn't inflaming sooner is a strong indication of just how strong your colon is. But you keep on thinking because so far you're way off as to my issues with why you are content with believing your UC is not genetic. And your 3rd reason for believing it is quite laughable but hey what ever tugs your boat...I suppose if one of your family members does happen to get DX with an IBD you'll assume that it's just coincidence and still not a hereditary/genetic factor.

Except that my flareups weren't mild cases. I was very close to losing my colon with my second flare. My GI said my colon looked like dog meat when he first saw me. He gave me medication right away without waiting for a diagnosis, because I was in such bad condition. That's why my GI kept saying how remarkable it was that I got into remission and healed so quickly. He was very, very impressed. He wouldn't have been so impressed if I had only a mild case.

My reasons do have merit. However, you, on the other hand, haven't given any evidence as to why my Colitis is genetic-based. Why do you continue to insist that my Colitis is genetic based? The facts are that genetics may increase the risk of getting Colitis. To assume that this means that all incidences of Ulcerative Colitis are genetic-based is a huge assumption to make. So I really don't understand why you are so insistent to believe so. What proof do you have?

You don't need to keep conjecturing that someone in my family is going to get Colitis, because no one in my family is going to get it. When I tell them that you think they are at risk, they say that they aren't going to get Colitis and that I shouldn't listen to you.

BTW, I also got Colitis at the atypical age of 43. Although one can get Ulcerative Colitis at any age (I'm evidence of that), there are peaks at ages 15 to 30 or perhaps even up to 40 (depending on the source of information) and then again at ages 50 to 70. If I was predisposed to getting Colitis, then I would think it would be more likely that I would have gotten it doing those ages, and yet I didn't. Instead I got it at 43. (This doesn't mean that you can't get Colitis at 43 and not be predisposed to the disease or that if you got it at those ages that you are predisposed. It is only further indication that I really don't fall into the predisposed category.) What more proof do you need? Heavy antibiotic use, extremely poor diet, no one in my family having the disease, getting the disease at an atypical age, flareups going into remission with fecal transplantation, Probiotics, and diet. I would think that would be enough evidence for you. Or is it the case that you won't except any evidence? That you just refuse to believe that perhaps some of us just aren't genetically predisposed to this disease?

Well I better not get involved with anyone on this site for my kids sake!

On a serious note it doesn't surprise me I have intestinal issues. My mother used to carry a bottle of pepto bismal around in her purse since I can remember and my Dad was always taking rolaids and tums when ever he ate. I know he had acid reflux disease and low and behold my older sister has it also, but she eats like crap. Nobody had UC though like me fortunately.

bookworm what you say makes total sense and it's based on the same facts that I've learned as well...

Joy (subdued) my mom didn't get sick with her UC until she was in her mid 60's so that blows your "age theory" out the window, the age thing is based on the majority of cases that fall into a basic age catagory for most often getting sick with the dissease but it's never been a factor to it meaning that it's based on those that are predisposed because as researchers say, when it comes to IBD evidnece points at the predisposition for getting it along with it being triggered, but you're free to believe what you wish.

Maybe you should read the links that I posted on the 1st page of this post, and it's not necessarily about having certain genes to get an IBD it's about specific genes that are related and about some that are malfunctioned, like I said, you're free to believe what you wish even if it's not based on fact.

This is from one of the links pb4 gave me:

http://uc-education.com/What_causes_ulcerative_colitis.asp

* Experts don't know exactly what causes ulcerative colitis.

* It tends to "run in families" and may be caused by problems in our genes, immune system, or the environment.

Notice that it says that it may be caused by problems in our genes, immune system, OR the environment. It does not say that it is caused by problems in our genes.

So if experts don't know exactly what causes Ulcerative Colitis, how come you guys know? How come you guys are so sure that I'm genetically predisposed to the point that you have to infer that either one of my relatives has it and I just don't know it or that one of my relatives will get it.

Get real, people, I was on antibiotics most my life. But no, you think I have some genetic predisposition to the disease.

A person who is predisposed to something is susceptible to it. Considering what my colon has been through, I'm not susceptible to UC.

Now my boyfriend's daughter got Colitis when she was a baby, and his mom got microscopic Colitis after taking SAIDs. I would say they are predisposed to getting Colitis. Because it didn't take much for them to get it.

And yes, observations are very important. Observation 1: I was on antibiotics for many, many years. Observation 2: I did fecal transplantation and it put me immediately into remission. Observation 3: I took Probiotics and changed my diet and that put me in remission too.

Hmm. It doesn't take a genius to realize that perhaps my colon is lacking good bacteria, and all it needs is good bacteria for it not to get inflamed. But do I tell you guys that Ulcerative Colitis is due to the fecal fora being messed up and that you have to do fecal transplantation. No. I know that we don't all get Ulcerative Colitis for the same reason, and I'm not going to impose what works and doesn't work for me onto you or make any assumptions about your condition.

And Paul, my family doesn't keep secrets like that from each other. Yours might, but mine doesn't. We are very open. It's not a case where we don't talk about such things. There is actually a relative that has digestive problems. She is not a blood relative though; so I'm not including her when I say my relatives, because we really are only taking about blood relatives here.

To spend money to validate what I already know just to prove to you that I'm not genetically predisposed to UC would be a waste of money.

Who are you guys to tell me that I have some genetic predisposition to Ulcerative Colitis? Please, do you really think you even have the right to say such things? Or that you even have the right to judge my condition? What's it to you whether or not I'm genetically predisposed?

How did you know that I wear jeans? I should have worn Kilts all those years. lol

You missed the point I made about my mothers secrete. We never kept secrets in our family until I found out about this one. It took a few years after my mother died at the age of 80. You can never be sure when it comes to secrets.

I never accused you of being genetic predisposition to Ulcerative Colitis. All I said is based on your evidence there is no way to know for sure.

I have been in 2 different placebo controlled studies for UC and realize that patients can go into remission immediately thinking they are on the real treatment when actually they are on the placebo. It happens all the time. The placebo rate for UC can be 30% or more. That is why they do studies with many patients.

Not all researchers believe that UC has a genetic component, but more recent research probably has changed some of those who didn't believe it to now believing it because facts cannot be denied...my opinion is that your trigger was the antibiotics and probably the poor eating habits you spoke of, but as researchers (the knowledgable ones that is) will say, in order for the disease to be triggered you must first be predisposed to getting the disease (hence genetics)....you asked why I feel so strongly so again I'm trying to explain it but of course you're only focusing on one of the links (which is likely not as updated as the others that I posted) and it's not personal either, I would have the same veiw if it were anyone eles saying what you're saying...as others have pointed out, this disease likely skips generations (experts have also drawn that conclusion) so it's very likely that in cases like yours where no immediate family members have the disease doesn't mean none of them might not get it or that others long before you were born might have had it...but as I said you're free to believe what you wish even if you have no concrete proof to back it up.

My grandmother had it and I have it, that's it for my family. My mom and my sister do not have it and I pray my childen do not get it!