Elective surgery while taking immunosuppressive drugs

I know this is vain, but I'm considering elective plastic surgery and was wondering if any of you might know or if anyone here has had surgery while on immunosuppressive drugs such as imuran or 6mp? Actually, I don't know if elective surgery would be safe while having an autoimmune disease at all.

I've had a couple surgeries while on 6mp (not elective though) and I just made sure the docs knew that I was on it. I never had any complication from them but they did make sure I took antibiotics after each procedure though or during by IV. You should ask your docs about this.

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I had j-pouch surgery but was taken off 6-mp about a month prior to my surgery as I recall. I don't know if it was removed due to the risk or because the drug was ineffective in my case so why bother taking it? It's probably best to check with both your surgeon and your GI.

Sue

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dx proctitis in 1987

Thanks guys, I will be checking it out. I have a funny feeling that there will be no elective surgery while on these kind of drugs.

I'm having gallbladder surgery next month, which is elective (sort of), and there's no problem being on Imuran, which is the same as 6mp.

Nothing vain about plastic surgery. If you can afford it and you want to do it, and you are passed by the surgeon as a good candidate -- AND YOU'VE FOUND A GOOD SURGEON -- go for it. Life's too short to not take care of something that is not how you'd like it.

Mitz

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Sporadic proctitis since about 1985. Mother had UC, then J-pouch surgery 1983.
DX'd with clostridium difficile in 2000. Prednisone, two courses of Flagyl, then Vancomycin finally got rid of it. Symptomatic with UC after that.
Colonoscopy in 2001 dx'd left-sided UC. Was pretty darn ill at that time. Treated with prednisone, Rowasa, Asacol. Asacol not working so switched to Imuran. Three small flares since in 2002, 2005, and 2007.
Gall bladder attack 6/13; ultrasound showed stones; surgery before end of 2007.
100 mg Azathioprine and 225 mg Effexor XR (for chronic, longstanding depression) daily.

Thanks Mitz, I am feeling vain about wanting some plastic surgery done. Especially with the other health issues I have. I def. have to get healthy before going under the knife.

Donna

Well, it wasnt elective ( I had a lumpectomy AND an appendectomy), but I was on Imuran at the time.  I dont recall any different procedures because of this.  All went well...  I know my dr's were aware of my med situation, but it wasnt a big deal.