Appendix

Theoretically I don't think it would help to have it removed since it harbors beneficial bacteria.

I have seen an increased connection with liver problems that can plague UC'ers like PSC.

Something like 6.4% of UC have had an appendectomy but 25% of UCer's who were diagnosed with PSC had had an appendectomy :(

I doubt very much it would help any UC symptoms if it were removed. The gall bladder going bad is also linked to IBD.

We now know that the appendix is a reservoir for crucial microbiotica and serves to provide "emergency relief" to the body when dealing with conditions like dysentery. How that extends to IBD and what antibiotics do to the organ is anyone's guess, but it clearly needs further study.

I would not only advise against removal, but to be on the lookout for charlatans in the medical establishment who push you to get it removed. It's not a useless organ at all and does have some correlation to UC rates as Levi just said.

I did a little more digging on IBD rates and it increases the risk of Crohns but not UC, so I stand corrected on UC:

The study reported in the January 2003 issue of the journal Gastroenterology found that people who had their appendix removed were 47% more likely to develop Crohn’s disease than those who did not have the surgery. However, the risk of developing the relatively rare condition was still low overall. The increased risk was present soon after surgery, and was still present ten years later.

UC is a disease mediated by the complex relationship between the immune system and microbiotica. It either works for you or against you, and cutting out the appendix may indeed regulate the inflammatory (T-cell 2) process involved in UC, but it might also land you other autoimmune conditions in the future. All you are doing is trading off a reduction in UC risk for an increased risk in other autoimmune and heart conditions in the future.

Taking that risk when other measures that provide reductions in the inflammatory process are available, is again, foolhardy to me. Again, I think a lot more research is needed on the role that our microbiotica play in this, particularly in protection from dysentery and other bowel conditions.

Couldn't a lower UC rate in people that had it removed be evidence that bad bacteria or an imbalance in bacteria cause the disease? Since it is a safe haven for bacteria?


Sometimes you need to get things like tonsils and appendix out. I had severe and repeated tonsilitis as a kid. Had to go on antibiotics several times a year and basically stopped growing. The before and after photos are really stark. Never had a sinus infection, ear ache, and few colds or sore throats since. They did pull them out of every kid back then which probably wasn't a good idea.

My D had Bad appendix pain, post diagnosis by 4 years. They didn't see fit to take it out till another big attack. The organ was "bursting" and had "banding"...which indicated prior unrecognized attacks( by college medical helpers). Her GI said that others have experienced relief for their UC symptoms when appendix removed and healed. Alas, it was not to be for her.
That said,I don't think the organ should be removed without symptoms, we don't know enough.