Dumb Question

yes you still have IBD. IBD is a systemic disease and just removing the colon doesn't fully elimante the disease.

This could be pouchitis or cuffitis. The scope should rule it out or diagnise it and the doc can prescribe meds to help. Rectal meds are prescribed for cuffitis and antibiotics for pouchitis. You can still have active disease in the rectal cuff if you pouch was stapled.

Not a dumb question at all - actually it's a bit vexing. Insurance companies still believe you have IBD, and even think you still have UC after surgery. Life insurance companies still consider you a health risk too - so everyone who can (for their benefit) considers you to still have IBD. However, technically, without a large bowel, it is impossible to have IBD

Steve

If you have a cuff, you have a residual piece of colon.... so it seems to me, and my doctor agrees, that a colonectomy is not in fact a cure for UC even if insurance companies say it is so.

It's an area of disagreement among lawyers and doctors, so I don't pretend to have an answer to this tricky question. I suspect the Supreme Court would be divided on the question. It is part legal, part medical..... but to me common sense trumps both of those.

Colectomy cures you of colitis, but you still have the DNA for IBD. That means you still are susceptible to related diseases and disease in the residual rectal tissue and perhaps the pouch as it adapts to become more colonic on a cellular level.

So, basically, even though the colon and rectum are the target organs of UC, the autoimmune tendencies still exisit. You may or may not manifest any of them.

Jan

Thanks for the help everyone!
-Roni*

Roni,

For what ever its worth, I am a beliver that there is no such thing as a Dumb Question. How would you learn without asking questions.

Rocket

You're right, Rocket. Thanks for that.

-Roni