I became more alergic, not less, once I had the collectomy...my skin peels off in layers when I have steri-strips or tape on it for more than a couple of days...I get into these 'hightened alergic reactions' periods where anything sets my antibodies off and they attack me...it could be a cup of tea or glass of water...no matter...I will react for weeks or months and then I will be fine for a year or two...no one has ever figured it out...their only advice after see a couple of good alergologists is to take a Zyrtec or other such anti-hystamine every day...I do and have for yrs...it has gotten the situation under control but is not a cure...I will occasionally go back into an alergic break out and have to ride it out...
Sorry that this is not the answer that you hoped for.
Sharon

Hi Sharon,

You're right, it isn't! But thanks for the reply anyway. Did these attacks start immediately after your colectomy or long after (are they directly correlated or not)?

I believe my daughter has an issue with histamine which has been caused by the mess in her gut (some enzymes which help break down histmaine "live" in the mucosa). Just wondering if anyone else had any experience/thoughts.

Idiopathic hives are very, very common, and can come and go in frequency/severity, so it is nearly impossible to nail down the direct cause. I can tell you I have had numerous cases of hives from sun exposure, sweating, etc, along with the usual stuff. Then years and years will go by with no problem at all. I am prone to eczema and contact dermatitis. It did not improve with colectomy.

It could be related to UC in the fact that UC is autoimmune and many idiopathic skin disorders are also autoimmune. People with one autoimmune disorder tend to have others.

It can be a mistake to hang too much hope on the notion that everything is tied to colonic inflammation, "leaky gut syndrome" and the like. Things could improve with colectomy, then again, if they do, it could be coincidence too. The one thing I have learned in the 42 years since my UC diagnosis, is that it is exceptionally random, with relapse and remission without rhyme or reason. The same is true for my extraintestinal manifestations.

Jan

Jan, I don't expect that it will get better with colectomy tough I do hope so. I don't think it's "leaky gut" though I do believe in intestinal permiability but there are colonic bacteria which release histamine and dysiosis can cause too much to build up in the system apparently. And, DAO and other enzymes which are required for metabolizing histamine are also in the mucosa. Don't know what happens if you remove the colon and so all of the bacteria and some of the enzymes though? Since her skin now reacts to so many things, I'm worried about the ostomy issue. It seems like she's become incredibly reactive very quickly. She had cradle cap as an infant (severe) but no eczema since then. If I remember from reading through the site, you had a one step? Curious if you have any issues with adhesives etc?
Do you take regular anthistamines?

Yes, I do, and appliance adhesive problems was a real worry for me. Luckily, I never had to find out (yet).

Last time I had surgery (it was lapro), I blistered under the bandaids they used.

Jan