Hello fellow J Pouchers, and happy new year. I debated whether to ask this question because it sounds silly in my head but please bear with me. I currently take the immunosuppressant Stelara (self inject every six weeks). The goal is to keep my immune system suppressed so that it doesn’t go haywire. This leaves me prone to infections and other invaders. This I understand, my question is would immune system boosting supplements such as zinc, vitamin c, etc. reduce the Stelara effectiveness in suppressing the immune system or am I just overthinking this? Thank you all for any input it is much appreciated!
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Hi Pedro, do you suffer from infections or are you just worried?
I had a treatment with Stelara some years ago. I did not take any supplements to boost the immune system, but I did not have infections either. As Stelara did not improve chronic pouchitis for me we stopped the therapy after some months.
Thanks for the reply SteveG, I don’t typically suffer from infections but I want to boost my immune system in case I do happen to get something. I work at an after school program with kids. Last month, during flu season I caught some type of bug and was out for a few days. Stelara has been working well for me over the last year. Sorry to hear that it didn’t work for you, I hope you have found treatment and relief of pouchitis. Have a great day and thank you again for the reply
I have been taking Remicade for over 7 years (similar biological immune suppressor to Stelara) and haven't had infections although I recently survived a bout with Covid, for which I got all vaccines/boosters when recommended. I do take Vitamin supplements. Including Vitamin C and Zinc and Vitamin D.
There is a large industry devoted to the notion that the immune system has a simple level that can be artificially weakened or enhanced. It’s certainly true that there are diseases and medications that can disable specific component of this complex machine, and thereby impair some of its responses, but it’s much less true that it can be “boosted” in a useful, general way. It’s worth remembering that inflammation is an immune system response (and usually a useful one), but most of us don’t want more inflammation in a general sense, for very good reasons.
Meanwhile you can support the spleen, which is a major player in the immune response, by cooking your veggies, chewing your food well, practicing good food combining, avoiding refined sugars and starches, etc. When we make digestion easier, we free up energy for other parts to use. When I'm having a strong immune response, my spleen literally hurts. I take vitamin C and zinc to help relieve some of the load on the spleen, but only for a while, not all the time. Probiotics can help, too. And celery juice is magic for the spleen-really palpable for me at least. The spleen and the digestion also respond well to movement, so getting the body (and the blood) moving really helps. That's my experience. I have wondered if it's the immune condition (that caused the initial problem-the UC) that caused the spleen to be weakened, or if it is something to do with the pouch? Or maybe a combination?
CTBarrister, Scott, and Sara Marie thank you all for your knowledge and advice, it is much appreciated. I now have a better understanding of the immune system. I will keep taking my vitamins and supplements with the addition of celery juice (I used to juice daily until my colon burst which led to creating the pouch)