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Reply to "Elective surgery??"

CTBarrister posted:
Kh1988 posted:. I would prefer surgery over biologics at this point in my life, even though I’m not severely sick. I will definitely keep you all posted!

This is not really a sound analysis in my opinion. You are making an assumption that surgery will cure you of IBD and you will never need biological drugs in the future. This is not true in a not insignificant number of cases of which I am one. I had a colectomy as a TRUE elective surgery in 1992, when biologics didn’t exist. Had biologics existed, I might never have needed surgery. My only effective treatment was prednisone. However higher dosages didn’t stem the inflammation and when dysplasia was found in 1991 the surgical decision was made. I then deteriorated while trying to lose weight for surgery to the point where a legitimate elective surgery nearly became an emergency surgery. By the time I lost weight and was in the OR my colon according to my surgeon was dissolving in his hands as he removed it. Toxic megacolon was in my immediate future but for that “elective surgery” which was a legitimate elective surgery that took out a highly deteriorated colon.

I don’t agree with your analysis and I instead agree with your GI who apparently believes the biologics should be implemented as a treatment modality and exhausted (there are many to try) before attempting surgery. You seem to think surgery is a panacea. I would suggest reading the many “this surgery was not what I signed up for” threads on this board, mostly authored by persons who didn’t realize surgery wouldn’t cure them of autoimmune disorder or other manifestations of it and get them off meds. This is of course In addition to all the other things that can go wrong with surgery including Pouch failure.

I will say my surgery was a success because the Crohn’s I have now is much more treatable than the UC which led to my surgery, which spread and engulfed my colon. But according to your criteria or reasoning, my surgery would be characterized as a massive fail, because now I am on Remicade. My quality of life is the reason why I consider it a success.

However I am not the only J Pouch taking biologics to treat Crohn’s or Pouchitis. Many on here are, including our Moderator.

Sorry if my last post came off a little harsh but I didn’t appreciate your tone and your assumptions about me. You don’t know me, my life, and what I’ve been going through. I also don’t see your surgery as a “fail” like you said, just because you are now on remicaid....I know the same could happen to me, but guess what? There are plenty of others out there that don’t have to take meds post surgery. Also, I’m sure you would agree that having surgery while young and reasonably healthy is better than waiting for it to be an emergency. 

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