Is my immune system suppressed because of Crohns medicine?

[Mary]

Is it an auto-immune disease? Or is it suppressed because of the medications?

 

[Manzyb]

Crohn's is an autoimmune disease. The immune system over acts and that's what causes all of the problems. However, some medicines they give to treat it suppress the immune system and this is suppose to help keep the disease from flaring. At least that is what I understand it as!

Anyone else out there know anything differently?

 

[Lisa]

It can be either - depending on the type of drugs you are on.....

Now, researchers believe that a number of factors, such as heredity and a malfunctioning immune system, play a role in the development of Crohn's disease.

In my case, I am both since I am on Remicade....

 

[My Butt Hurts]

I understand it to be that Crohn's is your immune system in overdrive. The immunosuppressors might not even make your immune system extra low, they might just even it out.
I'm sure that varies from person to person, but I have been on Humira or Remicade for 2 1/2 years now, and I haven't noticed any lack of immune system. I've been less sick these past 2 winters that I used to be, and I work with kids so I should be catching everything that they have. My daughter can't shake a cold that she has had for over a week, but I haven't gotten it.
What meds are you on?

There was a thread about this once, I will see if I can find it.
edit - I found it!
http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=9615&highlight=immune

 

[misterquin]

As far as I know everyone's described it pretty well. Our immune systems are misguided and attack our own bodies. Before I was diagnosed or had any signs of crohn's, I basically never got sick. I think I had chicken pox when I was young and the flu once but other than that was completely healthy. It's so frustrating being sick all the time now!

 

[Inna]

It most likely suppressed from both meds and disease. But make sure you take good quality natural immune system support supplements.

 

[Zalanicht]

I'm sure it is the medicine which is suppressing the immune system.

 

[ssv]

My understanding is that the popular theory that our immune systems are over active. We are then given drugs which suppress certain parts of the immune system to decrease the inflammatory response.

The other thing I have been reading about lately is that maybe our immune systems are under active in some areas, therefore we are not strong enough to fight what ever is causing the problem. So this theory involves boosting/assisting the immune system to be better prepared to fight the cause of the problem. My understanding is that this is where LDN is working for some people.