Remicade or Surgery

Just saw my GI due to third flare in 2 years. he said it is time for the next step Biological or Surgery. Due to my age (65 with UC for 40+ years) leaning toward surgery and reluctant to start Biological. Any input would be appreciated and any surgeons recommended in the Marietta-Kennesaw Georgia area. Thanks

     I was 63 at time of surgery and lean toward the surgery option for you for these reasons: 1. Biologics only work for a short period of time, not the long term and you are not getting any younger.  2. Overall health may be good now, but let's face it, with age comes body break down problems...maybe heart, maybe diabetes, etc.

With me, I suffered for twelve years with UP (mine was always in the rectum).  All the meds failed over time and I had become prednisone dependent.  As if the UP wasn't enough, prednisone gave me full blown osteoporosis, uncontrollable high BP and type 2 diabetes.

     Without the surgery...total colectomy with end ileostomy because I was not a candidate for j-pouch...and I really didn't care, I just wanted that disease GONE...I don't think I would be here today at age 66.  I feel great and only take 1 pill a day and that is for my BP which is very well controlled.  I no longer have diabetes either.  However, the osteoporosis is here to stay.

I had surgery before biologics were an option, the last drug for UC was 6mp. I'm glad I had surgery when I did, and I do not regret not having the opportunity to try newer drugs. I had jpouch surgery 11 years ago and the past 11 years have been fantastic. I don't think I could say that if I hadn't had surgery. We all know surgery is not an easy decision; it was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made.

Sue

My son tried Remicade for about 6-7 infusions until he made antibodies against it. It never did a whole lot for him...seemed to work for a couple of days. However, I realize that it has helped a lot of people. Surgery ( J pouch) , for him, came afterward and has been a complete success.

I feel like it's more like Remi and surgery or just surgery. My surgeon said that Remi for UC doesn't have that great of track record. It works in some and then it loses its effectiveness. So, why wait if that's where I was going to end up eventually anyway. I didn't want to go through all the hassle and money only to find out in a year or two (or sooner) that I could have been done with the surgery and living my life. Don't regret it at all. I feel so blessed to have it all behind me. Good luck in your decision.

I have just been through a similar dilemma. I tried everything possible for years including remicade for last two years and although I had success with remicade I knew it wouldn't work forever. I had more and more polyps growing inside me, I was always tired, taking a concoction of lethal drugs...so I decided it was time to have surgery, I hated the idea of having a surgery and didn't think I would cope having a temporary ileostomy. Well it turns out my ileostomy maybe permanent, the surgery didn't go to plan. After two months I have coped better than I ever thought possible, and the way I look at things is that I had a life saving surgery, I get another chance at life, i have wonderful support and that all that matters....it really is ok.....I wish you all the very best in your decision.

I tried Remicade and later Humira. They both became toxic wastes of time. I finally gave in and scheduled surgery... Too late because before I could do it, I had a stroke! So, after getting in shape so I could stand surgery, I had it done at age 72. Today I wish I  would have done it 10 years earlier. Do it now, while you are healthy enough. You only have a few years left.

Dave D

I got a reasonably good year on remicade, then tried humira and then cimzia, both of which didn't do anything.... ended up with an extra 15 months or so of prednisone ....

I don't really regret, because by the time I had surgery I really felt I'd tried everything.... so emotionally that was good... .but I got so, so sick that my recovery was slowed down, and I need to be vigilant about my bone density, eyes etc as a result of the pred.... so objectively, I would have been better off had I had surgery a few years earlier.