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Interesting: My sister's colitis was cured

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 11/2/2012 3:48 PM (GMT 0)
I just found this interesting so I thought I'd share...

My sister and I were diagnosed with UC about the same time.  It was nice to have someone to commiserate with...  about three years ago, she had a hysterectomy.  She hasn't had one single symptom since.  Nothing.  SHe thinks it's completely gone.  I told her to get a colonoscopy just to check but she doesn't have health insurance.  Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your POV) I don't have a uterus so it's not an option for me.  But I find it pretty interesting...

Posted 11/2/2012 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
UC can and does go into remission where you can  have no symptoms.  I myself had a 10 year remission with no symptoms, no meds, no special diet.  To date there is no cure for UC short of removing the colon.  She may very well be in remission and thats great!!!

Posted 11/2/2012 4:06 PM (GMT 0)
If it never comes back then is it cured?
Posted 11/2/2012 4:10 PM (GMT 0)
Was it a completey hysterectomy (uterus and ovaries) or just uterus?

Especially if it was a complete hysterctomy, I can see how that helped. I mean, my UC started after childbirth (hormone surge to the max) and a lot of women have UC issues around their periods and a lot of women flare either when they're pregnant or shortly after childbirth. I have always had issues with diarrhea and such associated with my menstrual cycle, long before I had UC (but it didn't seem to affect my UC, actually). And if I am on birth control, I don't have the diarrhea issues.
Posted 11/2/2012 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
Interesting about your sister. MY UC started around the time menopause started for me and I long thought there was a connection but have never seen studies stating that and it would not explain the men and children who get UC.

I wonder if your sister took antibiotics pre- or post-surgery because many people here have found antibiotics a start to their remission. And many, perhaps more, feel taking antibiotics started their UC. Something I might agree with too.

Too many variables for you to look at one point of information (your sister) as a cure. And as you say you don't have a uterus anyway :-) I kept mine but got remission with diet modification.
Posted 11/2/2012 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
I;ll remove my uterus maye it will cure me.
Posted 11/2/2012 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
I wish there were a thumbs-up icon for your post Somedude!

And yes, there are long term remissions. I know a woman with a 25 year remission and I had 10 years until a severe flare prompted me to surgery. A tricky disease with no rhyme or reason.

Sue
Posted 11/2/2012 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
Lol. Well she said had she known, she would have had the procedure much sooner than she did. SHe had the hysterectomy (both ovaries and uterus I think but I'm not sure) because there was some problems. I don't remember all the details. Her theory is that her body was fighting some agents that were attacking her uterus and that as a result her body was stressed and causing the colitis. She thinks once it was removed, the colitis went away. I'm no doctor but I bet in many UC cases there is some other internal issue that is exacerbating the colitis.

When I had my appendectomy, I was pumped full of antibiotics and had the worst flare up I've ever had in my life. I ended up staying in the hospital three extra days because of it...
Posted 11/2/2012 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
I'd literally do anything for a 25 year period of total remission.

There is nothing I wouldn't do. NOTHING.
Posted 11/2/2012 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
I know they say there is no "cure" for colitis and agree it's a tricky disease, but I'm of a firm belief that it can be healed and never come back. Maybe you see it like the alcoholic who hasn't had a drink in 10 years but still calls himself an alcoholic. If I have a wart problem and they go away, do I have to say I have warts for the rest of my life, even if they never show up again?
Posted 11/2/2012 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
Kinda reminds me of the post when someone said they broke their leg and their UC started to behave...maybe it's along the same lines...but no, once you have the disease it's never technically cured but yes it can go into long remissions for many...I think even if you have your colon removed it's considered a cure but I don't know if it stops any extraintestinal manifestations from occuring, if not, then it's not technically a cure because it's still affecting you to some degree in some ways.
Nasty disease!
Posted 11/2/2012 5:55 PM (GMT 0)
     Not saying this is true in your sister's case, but I do know a few people who claim they had UC but actually were suffering from IBS.  The symptoms are somewhat the same.  I suffered with IBS since childhood but didn't develope  ulcerative proctitis until I was 52 yrs old.  Ironically, I was following the Atkins (or is it Adkins?) Diet for two weeks when I started with the bleeding, tenesmus and then all hell broke loose.  My GI doctor claims it was just a coincidence, but you can't convince me that diet didn't play a role.
Posted 11/2/2012 6:05 PM (GMT 0)
I had a hysterectomy last year. UC was great for a few months until my ovaries kicked in again....then, right back to "normal". It does give me hope that when I hit menopause I may get some relief. If I had known no ovaries would have "cured" me I would have removed them!!!
Posted 11/2/2012 6:10 PM (GMT 0)
I had a total hysterectomy in 1993, flared many times since then. The only thing I don't have is the ups and downs from periods influencing my colon.

I also had endometriosis and fibroids.

UC can also be misdiagnosed.

It's great your sister's doing well...you didn't say exactly why she had the hysterectomy...would you mind to clarify.

q
Posted 11/2/2012 6:19 PM (GMT 0)
Autoimmune diseases have been linked to hormone levels, particularly in women. Many autoimmune diseases effect women more than men, although I don't think that's true with UC. In any event, if her hysterectomy changed her hormone levels it is very possible that that "cured" her UC. If the doctors start talking about HRT she may want to have a very long discussion with them about it's possible effects of bringing back her UC. I'm not an expert on HRT but if she is doing fine UC wise it may not be a good idea to rock the boat unless the doctors think it is in her better interest.
Posted 11/2/2012 7:06 PM (GMT 0)
"It's great your sister's doing well...you didn't say exactly why she had the hysterectomy...would you mind to clarify."

I am pretty sure she had some cysts or something on her ovaries. I will ask her. It is possible that she was misdiagnosed, but it wasn't just she had the symptoms and she assumed because I had UC that's what she had to. She went to a GI and had a colonoscopy and they took biopsies and they told her that it was UC.

I really want her to get a colonoscopy, but she's happy not to with absolutely no symptoms for three years.

What is HRT?
Posted 11/2/2012 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
HRT is hormone replacement therapy (estrogen or estradiol which is plant-derived).I've been on hrt since day one...but did go off it for a a while. Interestingly, I did flare once the hot flashes started, and with blood (first time bleeding in 14 years after UC diagnosis...was a shock).


Usually biopsies don't specify UC, but they're consistent with and concluded because of it, especially after the GI's done a series of elimination tests (stool, blood, etc).
Did the doc state UC or did he say "colitis" which is nonspecific.

Regardless...it's awesome she's doing well.

q
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