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Do you have other auto immune diseases as well as UC?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 5/30/2012 12:10 PM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone.

I would just like to know how many people out there have had other autoimmune related diseases crop up AFTER being diagnosed with colitis..

Does anybody know of any studies or prevelance rates for these

secondary diseases?

And also, does anybody know if getting rid of the colon would stop the risk and development of further illnesses?

I'm sick and bloody tired of this disease, I'm in remission with only mild distal colitis and healthy but I can't take the mental strain of what the future (or lack of) has instore.. I want to have my colon removed to put an end to it.

Does anyone know of people who have had elective surgery when they have a very mild case?

I'll do anything to get rid of the associated autoimmune risks and constant mental torture..

Any info would be great.

 

Posted 5/30/2012 1:06 PM (GMT 0)
I don't have any other AI diseases, nor do I have any extra manifestations of UC. I had jpouch surgery for UC 11 years ago.

Sue
Posted 5/30/2012 1:13 PM (GMT 0)
I have had things crop up after Uc but the majority of my AI conditions showed up BEFORE the Uc did such as psoriasis, allergies and Raynauds. After my Uc diagnosis I've had things happen but not AI conditions.
Posted 5/30/2012 1:15 PM (GMT 0)
I've had other AI diseases both before and after my diagnosis of UC. I started with inflammatory arthritis, then Graves disease of the thyroid, then UC, then eczema.

I don't think colectomy eliminates the risk of other, separate AI diseases, but it will usually eliminate the risk of some of the extra-intestinal symptoms of UC (related arthritis, liver and pancreas problems, etc.)
Posted 5/30/2012 1:31 PM (GMT 0)
Judy2 is correct, having a colectomy will not reduce the chances of another AI disease or extra intestinal manifestations.
It's a wonder why some are continually afflicted and others aren't. Another part of the UC/AI puzzle.

Sue
Posted 5/30/2012 1:59 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the reply people :)

So does anybody know or have heard of people with a mild case of distal colitis getting elective surgery?

I love to travel and not knowing if I could flare when away is a worry.

Plus I never want to get as sick as I was 5 years ago!

I feel that maybe if I had the surgery yes, the bag would be a problem but at least I could manage that and there would be no flares etc.

Also while i'm in good health I'd surely bounce back fast and get back to normal?

I find it of great comfort talking here as the rest of the world thinks I'm bloody nuts sometimes! :)
Posted 5/30/2012 5:43 PM (GMT 0)
Kiwi,

I would just like to know how many people out there have had other autoimmune related diseases crop up AFTER being diagnosed with colitis..

It's hard for me to say the timing, as I had been suffering from active UC without formal diagnosis for at least 1 + years before, but around the same time: hypothyroidsm, alopecia (came after UC), rosecia, fibromyalgia (prior to UC).

I do know that some are pre-disposed to getting more than 1 AI disease, and once you get once, you can easily get others.

I'm hoping my continued use of the LDN has stopped the AI from coming forth...

Posted 5/30/2012 11:50 PM (GMT 0)
I already had one autoimmune disease before ulcerative colitis. I have type 1 diabetes and unlike type 2, it is autoimmune. It's definitely not uncommon for people to develop more than one autoimmune disease.
Posted 5/31/2012 12:23 AM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with Chronic Pancreatitis.
I was having symptoms of my UC and CP before I was diagnosed, for like 10 years.....no joking either.
I also have hypothyroidism and low blood sugar issues. In the last few years the transient joint pain has really
taken off as well.
It's a version of hell right here on earth.
I'm not a pessimist by nature, but today I feel super icky so I'm being negative.
It's not easy to stay positive with all this junk going on.
Hang in there!
Posted 5/31/2012 2:54 AM (GMT 0)
Funny, I was wanting to ask this exact same question, you beat me to it!

I have another auto immune disease, diagnosed two years before I ended up with UC.

There's a fair bit of information on Chris Kresser's website and I'm sure elsewhere.

I'm going to try to get on LDN, as it is an immune system modulator and seems to regulate the underlying auto immune process.

It might be worthwhile trying.

Best of luck!
Posted 5/31/2012 3:44 AM (GMT 0)
I developed psoriasis after developing UC, though I still believe this was triggered by Remicade. Whether that's true or not, I imagine I am predisposed towards autoimmune conditions, as I imagine many of us here are.
Posted 5/31/2012 3:46 AM (GMT 0)
There's a chart on the UC Wikipedia article that lists some secondary autoimmune issue incidence broken down by gender: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulcerative_colitis

I myself do not have another autoimmune disease, but virtually everyone in my family on both sides has at least one autoimmune disease.
Posted 5/31/2012 9:14 AM (GMT 0)
Ok so this is the next question.....how many of you are women? I see there's a greater chance of getting these things if your a female.
Posted 5/31/2012 9:58 AM (GMT 0)
I kind of see your issue/concern but I also suspect there's a distinct possibility that UC is just a manifestation of having a malfunctioning immune system or some sort of deeper source of inflammation. That is it maybe that removing the colon doesn't always remove the problem and that it just happens to be the weakest link and that some other part of the body will then be the inflammatory outlet. Of course that's just a possibility, some/many report that surgery was the cure/solution
Posted 6/1/2012 1:55 AM (GMT 0)
Someone posted a question along this line months ago. I have had allergies forever, a little eczema patch that I've had as long as I can remember has turned into a few more miniscule patches in the last year. My osteo arthritis has disappeared since I changed meds a month ago. I did find out that I have a family history of UC and they all have allergies, osteo arthritis, and some have dry skin patches. All I've been told is that once you get one AI, you're open to others, although I've been told that the AI's you may get run in your family. This has been true for me. I don't think giving up your colon will prevent the others.
Posted 6/1/2012 9:19 PM (GMT 0)
I posted a thread like this a few months ago. In general, once you have one autoimmune disease, your risk of getting another one increases (not sure of the exact numbers). IBD affects males and females equally; most other AI diseases disproportionately affect females.

I don't think that removing your colon will keep you safe from other AI diseases. If IBD is truly a result of a malfunctioning immune system (which is the current school of thought), then removing a part of the body isn't going to fix the immune system. That's my biggest concern regarding surgery--what if I get my colon removed, and then I get another AI disease and have to be on all these meds anyway?

I have narcolepsy (some think there's an AI connection) and endometriosis (again, some think there's an AI connection). My environmental allergies got MUCH worse after UC, as did my oral allergy syndrome. I developed allergies to tree nuts and got IBS after my second flare (have to be gluten-free, low amounts of fat, sugar and beans). My acne got worse, my eczema stayed about the same. Currently, I'm getting random twitches throughout my body when I lie down and have weird gasp for breaths every couple of hours. I'm sure I'm forgetting some stuff...
Posted 6/2/2012 12:39 AM (GMT 0)
Is it the chicken or the egg?

I've had rosacea for many years before UC, but now that I’ve been reading this thread as well as the other one about skin disorders, I'm wondering if it's not actually eczema that's been misdiagnosed.
Posted 6/2/2012 2:37 AM (GMT 0)
Wodin,

Rosacea has a gut bacteria connection, it can be caused by SIBO. You may have the right diagnosis and getting the wrong treatment.

Just a thought.

Good luck
Posted 6/2/2012 2:42 AM (GMT 0)
iv got graves? witch is a hyperthyroid but had that since i was 15 and im 24 now.
Posted 6/2/2012 11:48 AM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) at age 13 in 1999.
I then was diagnosed with UC in late 2000.
Then this October I was diagnosed with Pyoderma Gangrenosum.

The PG is common among people with IBD.
And I am female, obviously.
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