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Glenn Frey passes away--complications from UC and other things

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/18/2016 11:45 PM (GMT 0)
So sad. From the sounds of it he was going to have surgery for his UC, but got pneumonia and other complications.

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/glenn-frey-dead_us_569d5f8ee4b0cd99679b1a75
Posted 1/18/2016 11:56 PM (GMT 0)
According to that article, he did have surgery and still had reoccurring problems. It is very sad indeed, it sounds like he dealt with his UC for many, many years. It doesn't seem right that someone die from UC, but it probably happens way more than we think.
Posted 1/18/2016 11:57 PM (GMT 0)
Very sad. Sounds like he had some kind of surgery in November....perhaps for the UC. Complications got the best of him. Heaven must be short on entertainment....taking these guys too soon.
Posted 1/19/2016 12:23 AM (GMT 0)
Wow, we don't often hear about a death attributed to UC but he obviously struggled with it for many years. Why would he have partial removal in 1990 if he had UC? Maybe they thought it was CD but it was actually UC?
Posted 1/19/2016 12:31 AM (GMT 0)
Maybe in 1990 they didn't realize yet that it wasn't a good idea to do that for UC? Anyway it was kind of startling to read UC as a contributing factor in his death.
Posted 1/19/2016 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
"Anyway it was kind of startling to read UC as a contributing factor in his death."
I think it's because our mind is set on uc and we don't notice how many people die of a flu or other seemingly "ordinary" diseases
Posted 1/19/2016 1:49 AM (GMT 0)
Really sad. They said "stomach problems" on the news here.. eyes
Posted 1/19/2016 2:14 AM (GMT 0)
I believe his UC was originally misdiagnosed, which might have complicated his treatment.
Posted 1/19/2016 2:17 AM (GMT 0)
“The cause was complications from rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia, according to a statement from his family and bandmates posted on the Eagles’ website. “

I don't understand dying from arthritis and ulcerative colitis alone. Maybe he succumbed to pneumonia after his immune system was compromised.
Posted 1/19/2016 2:50 AM (GMT 0)
I wonder what meds he was on.
Posted 1/19/2016 3:01 AM (GMT 0)
Isn't 67 years old actually pretty old for a rock star? Don't most of the good ones pass away when they are 27? They live hard lives.

There is always a risk for a 67 year old having surgery, pneumonia is a common risk for patient of that age. I'm sure his compromised health probably didn't help.

I'm in my 30's and I ended up with a VERY minor case of pneumonia when I had one of my surgeries. They were very adamant about me doing breathing exercises everyday while I was in the hospital.
Posted 1/19/2016 11:35 AM (GMT 0)
I was shocked and saddened to read of Glenn Frey's passing. The Eagles are one of my favorite bands, and Tequila Sunrise was always one of my favorite songs.

When I read that he had complications from UC, I got a chill. People don't realize how serious it can be, and I know when I was in the hospital last year from a bad flare I was terrified! I also thought maybe he was hospitalized for the UC and contracted the pneumonia while there.
Posted 1/19/2016 2:09 PM (GMT 0)
Terrible blow to music, losing him. January is terrible so far.
Posted 1/19/2016 2:25 PM (GMT 0)
The Eagles are the music of my life...saw them 4 times in concert, the last being this past July...and Don Henley once...Freaked me out to hear that UC was the reason he was in hospital in the first place...and then got pneumonia after the surgery. Scary stuff...my husband already thinks I am a germaphobe...now I am going to be hyper vigilante with hand washing! RIP Glenn...
Posted 1/19/2016 4:21 PM (GMT 0)
"I don't want to harp on this, or sound like a zealot, but I just decided to take better care of myself and get into shape. I was in the hospital two years ago with an infection in the lower intestinal track that had everything to do with lifestyle. Not eating right. Not exercising. Smoking. Drinking. Snorting. You name it." [1988]

"I got sick. I was supposed to do a benefit concert with Henley, and I ended up in the hospital with diverticulitis. It's from burgers and beer and blow and broads -- all the bad stuff I'd been doing to myself. [1988]

While the tour had to be stopped temporarily due to Glenn being afflicted once again by diverticulitis and having to get part of his intestine removed, he got back in the game like a trooper as soon as he recuperated and finished the job. [1994]

In November of 2015, Glenn once again underwent surgery for the intestinal problems that had plagued him since the eighties. This time, however,his recovery was complicated by the medications he took to fight his rheumatoid arthritis. They weakened his ability to fight off the pneumonia that occurred as a side effect. On top of his acute ulcerative colitis, it was just too much for his body to take.

He passed away on January 18, 2016. [all of the above from http://www.glennfreyonline.com/biography.htm]

So my guess he was on immuno-suppressant drugs which worsened the pneumonia and finally killed him. But at what point the diverticulitis became acute UC who knows. Probably after the resection in 1994. RIP great song writer.
Posted 1/19/2016 4:35 PM (GMT 0)
Oh great. Another reason for people to say "Oh you have UC? You need to eat better. Quit the fast food and donuts".
Posted 1/19/2016 4:50 PM (GMT 0)
Well, we SHOULD all stop junk food, donuts and the like for obvious reasons. Hopefully this tragic, much too soon death will increase awareness that UC can be deadly. When awareness is increased, research dollars follow. Also Frey's struggles with UC demonstrate how disabling and devastating UC can be, Frey and the Eagles lost millions when he couldn't perform, if there was any way he could have, he would have been on that stage...
Posted 1/19/2016 4:55 PM (GMT 0)

Serenity Now said...
Oh great. Another reason for people to say "Oh you have UC? You need to eat better. Quit the fast food and donuts".

I was thinking the same. He made it sound like we are a bunch of slobs who can't control our junkfood intake. It's sad because it sounds like he blamed himself, like it was his choices and lifestyle. The reality is, he could have eaten differently and nothing would have changed. I am not a big junk food eater and I ended up having surgery...

I got pneumonia from UC treatment. I bet he died like that. They said I wouldn't have survived if I were older. It was a strange situation because I didn't feel like I was THAT sick. It wasn't until I was wheezing walking across my home that I thought "I better go to the ER". Before that, it was minor chest discomfort and a mild cold - nothing you would think could kill you.
Posted 1/19/2016 5:01 PM (GMT 0)
hey beatUC, some of us were already not eating junk food and donuts. Were you? Is that how you developed UC? That's not what happened in my case, and I do not like the assumption that I brought it on myself in that way. (It could be I brought it on myself in other ways, but not by eating cr@p.)

That's scary, nssg. I don't think I have a good enough understanding of how pneumonia can develop and how to identify it when it does.
Posted 1/19/2016 5:26 PM (GMT 0)

zengrrl said...

In November of 2015, Glenn once again underwent surgery for the intestinal problems that had plagued him since the eighties. This time, however,his recovery was complicated by the medications he took to fight his rheumatoid arthritis. They weakened his ability to fight off the pneumonia that occurred as a side effect. On top of his acute ulcerative colitis, it was just too much for his body to take.

He passed away on January 18, 2016. [all of the above from http://www.glennfreyonline.com/biography.htm]

So my guess he was on immuno-suppressant drugs which worsened the pneumonia and finally killed him. But at what point the diverticulitis became acute UC who knows. Probably after the resection in 1994. RIP great song writer.

IF this is really what happened then I'm going to guess he was taking Xeljanz and maybe some narcotic painkillers for the RA. Xeljanz can cause gastro bleeding issues, narcotics will slow the bowels and if he had a blockage/stricture it could have lead to a toxic megacolon.

He battled substance abuse issues previously, maybe he got addicted to pain meds for his RA and it lead to a toxic megacolon with the weakened condition of his colon.

My real guess is that he had surgery, was not in good health and developed pneumonia that he couldn't fight off.

He has a publicist and I doubt we are getting the whole story except that he died too young but a lot older than many other Rock n Roll stars.
Posted 1/19/2016 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
I see your point sorry if you took my post the wrong way. No I didn't develop UC because of junk food, but if I drank soda and ate donuts for awhile, I'd definitely bring on a flare. But as you said, no one has the right to judge us or think we brought on our UC by some bad behavior, thats simply not true. As I said, I hope awareness is raised and people have a better understanding of what we go through on a daily basis.
Posted 1/19/2016 5:31 PM (GMT 0)

Serenity Now said...

That's scary, nssg. I don't think I have a good enough understanding of how pneumonia can develop and how to identify it when it does.

What I learned is, if you have lung pain of any type, pleurisy they call it, go to the doctor. That's how I am going on moving forward.
Posted 1/19/2016 5:35 PM (GMT 0)

zengrrl said...
"I don't want to harp on this, or sound like a zealot, but I just decided to take better care of myself and get into shape. I was in the hospital two years ago with an infection in the lower intestinal track that had everything to do with lifestyle. Not eating right. Not exercising. Smoking. Drinking. Snorting. You name it." [1988]

"I got sick. I was supposed to do a benefit concert with Henley, and I ended up in the hospital with diverticulitis. It's from burgers and beer and blow and broads -- all the bad stuff I'd been doing to myself. [1988]

While the tour had to be stopped temporarily due to Glenn being afflicted once again by diverticulitis and having to get part of his intestine removed, he got back in the game like a trooper as soon as he recuperated and finished the job. [1994]

It sounds like he had at least 2 diverticulitis major flare ups, usually after the 2nd one you should get a Colectomy and with a 3rd major flare up you definitely need to have it all removed.

He probably should have had his colon removed along time ago because of the 2 diverticulitis flare ups and the UC, he was definitely risking a toxic megacolon.
Posted 1/19/2016 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
beatUC - agreed.

nssg - I will keep in mind to take any lung pain seriously. I tend to "wait and see if it goes away" which could do me in one day.
Posted 1/20/2016 12:05 AM (GMT 0)
Well it seems the truth is coming out now....he had been suffering from UC "most of his life"....he had been in hospital since November and was put into a medically induced coma. This article will inform a great many about the serious nature of UC and RA.

Yahoo Health article https://www.yahoo.com/health/why-did-glenn-frey-die-145613332.html
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