What do you think is cause of this I really want to know your opinion

I think zhat there are multiple causes of IBD just the sympoms are mostly same.
Because of that some people respond to one type of meds and someone else to another type of meds.
What do you think causes UC?

I had recurring sinus infections as a kid and teenager. Probably on 4 courses of antibiotics every year since I was 5. I'm guessing that was a factor but who knows. We all probably have a different trigger due to genetics.

I always thought that UC is the end result of differing factors. Many factors and issues can lead to UC, everyone has a different equation that equals UC. This could be anything from viral, bacterial to genetics, its all different per patient but the results land us in the same boat. That is one of the reasons I don't like to solely rely on my Western Dr., they only look at health issues from a single viewpoint and look to stop symptoms and ignore what the underlying problem really is. As much as I rely on my pharm drugs, I would rather have conversations with my doctor about causes and look into correcting those rather than discuss the options to fill my body full of pharm drugs to supress the symtoms and totally ignore what is causing them.

I really don't know. It's probably genetic. :(

I think we are genetically coded; just like some are coded for Type I diabetes or non-diet related heart disease. In the case of UC; a trigger is what sets it off and that can be a variety of things from stress to antibiotics. I also agree that if/when they discover the root; UC will have many subsets.

Sue

The unifying hypothesis accepted by most research scientists is this: In genetically susceptible individuals interactions between the gut microbiota, host immune system, and environmental factors contribute to the development of UC. Pretty vague, but its a start and it acknowledges many things.

Having worked in one of the top IBD lab centres in the world for two years now, Im almost certain the main issue is with the epithelial/mucus barrier. Studies into antimicrobial peptide expression, mucus layer defects/alterations, the effectiveness of probiotic and FMT therapy etc, all point to a prominent role of the interaction between that barrier and the gut flora. Only time will tell, but Im certain that is the right line of inquiry.

The same thing that causes RA, MS, asthma...

Figure it out and you get the Nobel Prize. They haven't even sorted out the genetic and environmental conditions that predispose you to it, or why the rate of IBD is going up. The drugs that treat UC either suppress the immune system or interrupt the inflammatory process. They treat symptoms to allow healing. They increase the time between flares, induce remission and reduce the severity of flares. You will still flare and the severity is variable in people.

Better safer ways to control inflammation and reducing new IBD through controlling exposure to triggers will be as good as a cure and cause will not be that important.

Post Edited (AZYooper) : 6/20/2014 9:37:07 AM (GMT-6)

I believe that taking minocycline for three years prior to my UC diagnosis upset the natural balance of bacteria in my gut. I had terrible acne for years and decided to take antibiotics to treat it (I was unaware this would have significant consequences). Even though minocycline and tetracycline are not antibiotics typically associated with UC, I believe they are harmful. There is a book written by Dr. William Crook entitled "The Yeast Connection" in which he attributes many health issues to antibiotic use.

It's interesting. I used to be ovo-lacto vegetarian pre-UC, ate a lot of grains and dairy products, and my skin was terrible. Now I am following more of a paleo diet and my skin has never looked better. I use topical Retin-A twice a week but I think I could probably go without it and still have great skin.

hey 32 -

do you monitor your vit D levels while taking retin A ? how long have you been using it ?

boy, if it were me, I'd give it the boot and see how your skin does w/o it -

Hi soystud,

I have been using the Retin-A for a year or so. Is it harmful too? Is there a natural alternative other than tea tree oil for spot treatment?

I've never had my vitamin D levels checked. I don't even know where to go to have it tested. Is that something you request from your PCP?

In addition to poison evil, I still have to suspect a genetic component,combined with something else.
I have UC and my son lost his colon to UC. The something else might be that UC is contagious, or
we were both exposed to the same pathogen,such as Map, live a quarter mile from a working dairy farm.
Of course some other environmental toxins may play a role.
So much probably has to go wrong with your immune system it is a wonder we get it at all.
Of course when he got UC he was on Isotretinoin cream and tetracycline, where the Iso at least in pill form is associated with UC,whether true or not.
So much has changed since around 1900 where the increase in incidence of IBD started,what caused it then may not be what is causing it now.
Played in a lot of dirt when a kid,drank well water at grandmothers house,not sure if breastfed though,should have asked when there was still time.
Was exposed to a lot of pesticides when a kid,guy next door raised prize flowers and fogged often.
Father was a house painter, from age 12-18 I used to clean his used brushes and rollers,bathed in
paint thinner and I guess also lead paint.
Brother has allergies/and I guess asthma,he was real young when we lived next to the guy that
used pesticides.
Had a zillion shots in the army,some nasty vaccines some made you ill for 3 days.

Now with all that,Korea 1971 had a bad case of the Korean craps for about 2 weeks.
Lot of burning and strain on the anus,well one day felt something actually tear, it burned
for 3 days then healed.
Come home 1972,feel something strange in my butt, low and behold a big anal abscess, emergency
surgery,seton and the whole bit,healed up.
Then I got another and another but they would drain,also turned into fistula tracks leading out.
Quit smoking 1977,still had the fistula tracks which would ooze once in a while or get infected.
Anyhow proctitis 1980.
The old fart proctologist who used to give me all the rigid scopes said probably due to all the bacteria
associated with the fistulas. So probably had mucosa breach,and some kind of infection on and off in there for years,finally immune system being fed up with the bacteria it was exposed to and could not clear, went nuts
father up in the rectum,and stil trying to destroy it.
Your guess is as good as mine.
Old Mike

PS: Since most everyones UC starts in the rectum,I have to wonder if there is not some sort of mucosal breach, from say pressure or abrasion even a small one that you don't notice,along with some infection. 

The immune system is now primed,with memory cells for these bacteria,when it sees them farther up it attacks

and destroys,or the bacteria migrate up and are attacked,or the immune system just tries to destroy the whole mess,after it figures out it cant clear the bacteria any other way,or your rectum get overran with this bacteria at the expense of the others,and immune system really goes nuts.

Post Edited (Old Mike) : 6/20/2014 2:06:34 PM (GMT-6)

Mine started when I was treated for Dysentery (which I now know was UC) with antibiotics, and when that didn't work they gave me more....so antibiotics caused my UC, but with my history, three family members with Crohns, I was a ticking time bomb just waiting for antibiotics to set it off...so I think some people definitely have a propensity to this disease more than others...

I think genetic susceptibility has a big role. I suspect mine was triggered by birth control (orthotricycline) for years and then Exploded! From a cipro/flagyl combo.