I have never really asked this before but why couldn't we have had a colon transplant?

If they can do face transplants these days why not a colon?

THANKS TO ALL THAT RESPONDED, I DID FEEL VERY SILLY AFRER READING SOME OF THE NEGATIVE RESPONSES BUT THE OTHER POSTS CHEERED ME UP.

I ONLY HAD UC FOR A WEEK BEFORE MY BOWEL PERFORATED AND I WAS RUSHED INTO SURGERY, THAT WAS ONLY THIS YEAR SO AS YOU CAN SEE I AM NEW TO THIS AND ITS STILL VERY SCARY. SO I AM SORRY BUT I AM SURE YOU WILL SEE MORE "STUPID QUESTIONS" FROM ME.

THANKS ALL

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Manchester,

I would think that if our immune systems are "attacking" our own colons (for those of us with UC/Crohns), they really wouldn't like someone else's.

I guess the FAPers could give a transplant a try. But then they would have to go on all those good immuno-suppressant drugs like the rest of us.

Maybe that's why it isn't tried?

I asked my surgeon this same question and she said it is possible but not worth the trouble beacause the colon isnt a vitale organ. I sure think it would be nice to have a good one.

I asked my surgeon as well and got two answers. Firstly he said there are hundreds of blood vessels and whatnot hooked up to the colon and they could never re-attach all of those correctly. Secondly, he feels it's always better to live without foreign objects in your body if possible. Some people that get transplants reject the organ because it's not theirs and then have to try and take medication their whole life to fool their body into accepting it.
I would rather live with a little less and it be all me rather than add someone else's stuff.
My brother, who is 6'5 and 400 lbs. offered to give me part of his colon and I said, "thanks, but I'm not sure where I'd put it." I'm 5'10 and 130!

Don't know that I would want someone else's colon!!!!!

nys

When I was preparing for my surgery, I had a friend whos brother got into an accident and was on life support. They were basically keeping him alive in order to keep his organs alive for transplant. She called me and offered me his colon. I wasn't even sure what to say.

I felt so grateful that she would even think of me for something like this, but I had to explain to her that it probably wouldn't be possible because the same disease that ruined mine would probably ruin the new one. That's all I could think of.

Let alone who knows if we would have even been a match.

But I thought it was amazing and so thoughtful of her.

I am a bit surprised at the question and at some people's responses. As Fudd had intimated, UC isn't strictly a problem with your colon, but with your immune system. The problem isn't that I wouldn't want someone else's colon, or that such a transplant is not medically possible, but that the nature of UC/Crohn's (which I hope all you UCers have investigated) precludes such an opperation. Our problem is that our immune systems don't work properly. Getting your colon removed does not fix this, only one of the symptoms of it. You should be asking whether you could get an "immune system transplant" which, of course, you cannot.

Z

Zap

How are you surprised at the question? Surely this board is about people seeking information that they don't have.

Myabe you could clone a new one using your dna so it wouldnt reject....then see what could be done about the immune system transplant

I don't think that it is that silly of a question. I asked the same question 12.5 years ago after removal of my colon. The answer I received, also, was that the colon was not a vital organ and we could live without it.

Zap, sounds like you have everything figured out. Please disclose so that the rest of us can pack up and go home. Most "professionals" tend to believe that this is a problem with our immune systems. I'm not a professional, and this is just an opinion, but I personally believe that our problem is caused due to a pathogen of some nature compromising the integrity of our gut, thus resulting in an exaggerated immune response due to foreign invaders permeating the gut. It just might be the reason why many with AS (with which I currently suffer and am trying to overcome) have put the disease into remission by healing their guts. Again, just an opinion.

The question must not be too silly, because it has been asked many times, and Jan also has answered it. As indicated, the short answer is that any organ transplant requires that the recipient take dangerous anti-rejection drugs for the rest of his/her life; and since the colon is not an essential organ, " . . . the risks and lifetime medical and fianancial costs far outweigh any benefit."

Contrary to the statment, "the nature of UC/Crohn's precludes such an opperation [sic]" (sorry, Zap--with you, I just can't help myself), colons have been transplanted successfully, both in a Crohn's patient and in others, but only as part of last-ditch, multi-organ transplants. Here are several other threads about it that include links to abstracts, courtesy of Jan:

Yes, there are colon transplants, but not alone

"Colon Transplanted" in the news !?!?!?!?!

Any news on stem cell or colon transplants?

Well, a lot of things about people surprise me. I'm not sure what more you want me to say.

Huh, perhaps I musunderstood the question. See, I thought the question was about transplantation as a solution (i.e. a "cure/treatment") for the UC problem -- of which it is not. I guess then the question is terribly interesting as to whether one "could/could not" have a colon transplant - i.e. as a matter of discussing possibility (much like questions like "Is it possible for there to be a 100 foot tall man?", "Is it possible for 1+1 = 3?", "Is it possible I was born in another city?" and the like). I just thought it was asked in the specific case of IBD. So, yes, I guess Connie is right, having UC does not preclude an opperation to transplant the colon. Or, to make the case painfully obvious for those who can't do it themselves, the fact that I was born in the city I was does not preclude the possibility I was born somewhere else.

However, after the uninteresting nit-pickers have chimed in, my point stands.

Yes

2. Colon transplant --> "cure/treatment" for UC?

NO

Oh, and "LuckyOne" you'll excuse me but I'll stick to what the "professionals" have to say on the issue. Though, to be honest, I am not sure how your "theory" is incompatible with what you say "they" hold to be the case.



Z

Oh, and I have found several grammatical errors in your previous posts Connie. But, only because I know you like this kind of stuff. I'm sure that if you look you'll find them. In any case I laced this one with some for ya!

Happy hunting.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Zap,

I believe I did use "[sic]" properly: it indicated that "operation" was spelled incorrectly. I only enjoy doing it especially for you, because you arrogantly refer to others' posts as "surprising" (by which it is clear you mean "surprisingly stupid") or "uninteresting," and since there is so little you apparently do not already know.

quote:

I'm not sure what more you want me to say.

How about nothing? I'd vote for nothing. Oops--too late.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Connie,

Again, you only harp on that stuff because you have nothing informative (or to the point) to say. I do enjoy the under handed ad hominem attacks. Gotta love those!

But, this is your problem, not mine (unless this is for a mark). Happy inferiority complax.



Z

ehh i don't know exactly what's going on here...

anyways, yeah my mom was like "i wish i could give you my colon." I thought it was funny at the time but really thoughtful as well.

As to our immune system, why is it then that the symptoms only show up in the colon? I know there are ibd'ers with some joint pain and other slight problems with overactive immune systems but I am HOPING that the only part of the immune system that was overactive was being triggered by my colon. Now that the trigger is gone, I can hopefully be totally nomral. Sigh, anyways, I was happy, am happy, and am going to stay happy in that surgery WAS the cure for my ulcerative colitis.