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Is it easier for younger people to control UC?

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Posted 7/15/2011 11:00 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for all your replies, everyone. The reason I am still on rectal steroids is because my current GI doctor will not prescribe 5-ASAs. She said since sulphaslazine did not work for me, that the other 5-ASAs will not work either. I'm trying to get in touch with another GI doctor but until then I'm using what has worked in the past (and the other thing I have atm) which are steroids. Hopefully I'll be able to find a GI doctor that will prescribe me something other than steroids! I'm going through a flare right now and I have nothing but Prednisone or Budesonide Rectal Enema. My current GI doctor wanted me to go on another 6 month course of Prednisone along with Imuran but I refused. Instead I'm taking one enema nightly until I find a new GI doctor. Hopefully that will be soon. Thanks for everyones' kind words and encouragement. It is greatly appreciated. :)
Posted 7/16/2011 12:51 AM (GMT 0)
I'm pretty sure that doesn't make ANY sense. I don't call imuran dangerous, at least I do fine, but pred is! Do not go on that next course. What state do you live in? We have people from all over and maybe someone could give you a doctor reccomendation.
Posted 7/16/2011 4:08 AM (GMT 0)
KIWI, I pulled this from the report on that study you cited.

“We know from research by other investigators that as people age their immune systems tend to quiet down, and the results from our study reflect that findings,” he noted. “Ulcerative colitis is driven by an over-active immune response in the gut, so it makes sense that people whose immune systems are less active might have better outcomes. Conversely, younger patients are more likely to have robust inflammatory responses, so their disease is harder to quiet down.”

http://healthomg.com/2011/06/06/remission-from-ulcerative-colitis-more-likely-after-50/
Posted 7/16/2011 6:37 AM (GMT 0)
Well Gina....run like freaking hell from that GI.

Never heard such bull...ok, I've heard a lot of bull, but not the comparison of the "if sulfasalazine didn't work, none of the 5ASA meds will. Total bull crappola...omg.

The ball is NOW in YOUR court. If you take the advice of that doc, you'll definitely have more problems.

q
Posted 7/16/2011 1:55 PM (GMT 0)
HI Gina,

I don't know the answer to the question, but it seems like this disease is so individual that it is hard to make generalizations.  Also I think I stated this in another post, but I am allergic to sulfa meds so sulfasalazine would not work for me but I use Lialda (oral ASA) and rectal mesalamine (asa) so I think your Dr. is so wrong.  Also some people do not have luck with one asa but have luck w/ others.  A funny thing....my friend uses Asacol and does very well w/ it.  The Dr. changed her to Asacol hd (so basically same med...slightly altered) and it did not help her at all.  So I must say that I would def. change Dr's.  Also, I have learned wwaaayyyy more from the veterans on this forum than any Dr I have been too.  I am so glad you found us!! Keep us posted.

Thanks,

B

Posted 7/17/2011 1:58 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much for all your replies. I appreciate them so much. I've learned more from your guys than I have from any doctor so far! I live in Ontario, Canada in the GTA area. I've asked my family doctor to find someone new for me to see. I'm also trying to do my own research on GIs so hopefully I'll be able to find a superb one soon. If anyone has any recommendations, please do let me know! I'll be seeing my family doctor this Monday and hopefully he'll have someone for me to see by then. It's so difficult trying to get GI appointment sometimes. They're always booked!
Posted 7/17/2011 2:57 AM (GMT 0)
Good luck! I hope you find someone better!
Posted 7/17/2011 2:59 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much, ElephantPipe! :)
Posted 7/17/2011 8:09 AM (GMT 0)
this might help.

http://www.ratemds.com/filecache/searchResults.jsp?ddocname=&dgender=&dcity=toronto&sid=58&country=1&dspecialty=Gastroenterologist

q

Posted 7/17/2011 9:41 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks a bunch, quincy! That website is very helpful! :D
Posted 7/17/2011 9:56 PM (GMT 0)
I'm 49, have had IBD for some six or seven years and am in remission.

I think it might be more difficult for those who acquired UC at a young age. For one, genetics probably plays a larger role in their disease. Two, they have to live with the disease longer, not unless they get surgery.

I think your aunt might be thinking that you are young; so your body is stronger and should be able to handle this disease better. However, our body is attacking ourselves when we are flaring; so being stronger is not going to help in this case.
Posted 7/18/2011 2:49 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks subdued :) The thing that confuses me the most is that no one in my family has every had an IBD type condition (I know only my family tree up to my great grandparents though). This sort of came out of no where. I swear the use of Accutane has something to do with it. It would give me peace of mind if I knew for sure if this UC were genetic or Accutane inudced.
Posted 7/18/2011 4:05 AM (GMT 0)

Baggravation said...
Thanks subdued :) The thing that confuses me the most is that no one in my family has every had an IBD type condition (I know only my family tree up to my great grandparents though). This sort of came out of no where. I swear the use of Accutane has something to do with it. It would give me peace of mind if I knew for sure if this UC were genetic or Accutane inudced.

Accutane is known to cause UC. So I wouldn't be surprised if it was Accutane-induced. Mine was antibiotic-induced.
Posted 7/18/2011 1:09 PM (GMT 0)
I would have never have taken Accutane had I known this was a side effect at the time. I don't recall IBD being on that contract of side effects I signed. I bet like 1% of people taking Accutane develop this; just my luck. Haha. I'm curious as to how something like Accutane or anti-biotics could induce UC. I'm going to do some research. It's hard to find some solid literature on it at the moment. Most of the databases I'm checking are against the correlation. I haven't been able to find any double blind randomized controlled trials. If anyone knows of any literature on this, please do share. I'm interested to learn more!
Posted 7/18/2011 1:29 PM (GMT 0)
They actually have lawyer commercials here that tells everyone if they were ever on Accutane and developed an IBD that they could have a law suit.

Btw, I was diagnosed with Uc at 22. I don't know if it's any easier on the young or the older to be honest because I didn't have that option. Right now, I am actually doing tons better then when I was young. Perhaps because my immune system is slowing down because I'm older now?? I honestly don't know. But when I was younger and I had this, it was pretty tough to balance a family, career and having Uc at the same time.
Posted 7/18/2011 3:31 PM (GMT 0)
I think this disease is so terrible for everyone but I am always especially especially saddened when it happens for children and younger people. It's tough enough to grow up and to have a disease on top of it, I could not imagine.
Posted 7/18/2011 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
I'm glad you're doing a lot better now Red_34! :) @ Beth75 - I don't think I have it as bad as a lot of others. Im coping well. When you hear the stories of what others are going through, you realize there's always someone who has it worse than you. Makes you think twice before you complain about your own health. I'm glad I didn't have to go through with UC in high school. That would have been horrible; high school kids can be very mean. If I had the side effects I got from Prednisone in high school, I know kids would have made a lot of fun of me. Luckily, I graduated high school a couple months before developing UC ;). There's something somewhat positive (not really but hey!). I know there's a mother on here with a 13 year old daughter with UC. I really feel for her. She's such a brave girl for putting up with the UC; I don't know how I would have managed at that young age. It's great that her mother is being so proactive and getting involved in this forum. My parents are trying their best to help but they're going through an emotional roller coaster since by diagnosis that they're not making much sense lol. They just tell me that I should eat "good" food and I won't need the medication anymore. I think they're taking this diagnosis harder than I am. They're just very scared for me.
Posted 7/18/2011 5:00 PM (GMT 0)
UC is easier for younger people because it is easy for them to accept change that a 50 yr old mother who has been doing the same routine for 30 years. It's practically impossible to change after the age of 50. Imagine finding out the coffee you have been drinking for 30 years is making you sick and you cannot have it anymore. Rough.

Why is it easier for younger?
Easier to change routine
Easier to accept change
Probably not working, can easily take time off from school
Have parents to take care of you when you when sick
Have parents for their support
More time to develop a cure
Have brighter less detiorated minds
More imagination

In ten years time who knows what kind of drugs they will be using for UC, or what foods are the best foods to eat/avoid.

You are very lucky to be getting this thing young. It is something you will have for the rest of your life, so try getting used to it. Just think about today. You'll be fine.
Posted 7/18/2011 5:35 PM (GMT 0)
@ mindoverbutter

I would have preferred waiting until 50 for this disease, less years living w/out it.....absolutely!!

Found out the meds I took for it gave me kidney disease 4 years go. I am battling both to get into remission so I can have children. I'll be 36 in Sept and am close to the end of the med line, after that it's surgery which can reduce fertility and I would have to wait an additional year at least. That's a huge reason for me on why it would be good to have it later.

When you develop this disease as a child you have to deal with it longer and eventually you will have to have your own insurance, be resonsible for youself etc. I also don't think people at 50 have deteriorated minds. I sure hope not i've only got 14 years left if that's the case ; )
Posted 7/18/2011 6:05 PM (GMT 0)
I have to agree with Beth75 on this matter. I would have much rather developed this at 50. I think that living forever is not the purpose of life, but rather living the most years of your life, disability and illness free. So if those first 50 years were absolutely healthy, I don't think I would mind the last 30+ years being a little harder. I'm going to have to take medication from when I developed this at 17 until I die I'm assuming and we all know what horrible long-term side effects these drugs have. The longer you take them, the higher your chances of developing something else. Of course we need them to control the UC but you'd be a very lucky person if you didn't develop some other condition from them. For those reasons, I would have much rather preferred UC at around 40+. Also, when you develop it at a young age, your friends don't quite understand what you're going through and aren't mature enough to take the matter seriously. At least my friends are not. I have a few that can understand but most of them are very immature about the situation. I feel like if I developed this later on, I'd have a better support group; a more mature support group. I have to worry about things like will I find a significant other with this condition? Will UC stop me from having kids? I'm young and for that reason I have my parents helping me through this and I am so grateful for that but I feel like a burden on them :(
Posted 7/18/2011 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
Accepting change at any age is difficult. The experience that comes with it is so subjective. Any disease can have extreme effects on daily living and what comes with it can be compounded tenfold. We have no idea what tomorrow will bring healthwise and everyone copes differently.

Wishing something would come later is only saying I can't deal with this now because I have a life to live.   One only hopes that we get smarter and wiser with age and have good doctors who treat us properly.

A 22 year old cannot imagine what it's like to be 50, and a 50 year old cannot imagine what it's like to be 70.

q

Posted 7/18/2011 8:10 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Gina

As people age their immune systems tend to quiet down resulting is less aggesive UC symtopms

See study below that explains why people with UC see huge improvements in their condition after the age of 50

http://www.healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.aspx?docid=641794


Posted 7/18/2011 8:28 PM (GMT 0)
I got UC at 50 and I'm grateful I had 50 good colon years and, yes, I believe that age has given me a milder condition.
Posted 7/19/2011 2:31 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the link Mudua. I love to read up on the condition. Thanks for sharing that article with me! @ journeytohealth - Now I have something exciting to look forward to when I get older! Milder UC! That's something awesome to look forward too ;) Let's hope I still have a pretty decent colon when I'm around that age.
Posted 7/19/2011 3:15 AM (GMT 0)
I'll just note that my mom didn't get UC until her mid 60's and was on the severe scale with her UC for the most part....IBD doesn't discriminate by age, sex, or any other reason, it's individual for each IBDer regardless of age, ect.

I just don't want people to get their hopes up that the older they get the better things will be with their UC because I'm worried that those that are expecting it will be so disappointed if it doesn't work out that way for them....I'm not trying to be negative or anything, just scared for those of you that get your hopes up too high and possibly be very disappointed, something like that could spiral into depression...guess I'm just trying to say, stay as realistic as possible, hope for the best but keep your expectations realistic. I really hope you all do find comfort from your IBD as you age, I just didn't see that happen with my mom's UC (may she be resting in peace). Take one day at a time.
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