UC and Arthritis connection?

Hello again,

              Another question, Do you guys suffer from ailments other than the UC?

I suffer from Arthritis, Sjogren's Syndrome and some other goodies and they tell me they all fall under the Autoimmune umbrella.

Very curious...

I am a big believer that my immune system was out of whack when my UC was flaring and causing me problems for years.  I also think inflammation is a big part of that as well.  I do not have arthritis, but GERD and pretty intense allergies were always a problem as well.  That is why I am glad I found the Haldi line of health drinks, they are anti inflammatory as well as immune system modulating. 

I am not familiar with Sjorgrens, was that what you were first diagnosed with?

----------------------------------------------------

yuckygut

diagnosed 1998

now off prednisone and colazal

drink 1 Haldi beverage to remain in remission

Arthritis, muscle and connective tissue pain, non-IGE mediated alergies, dry eyes and mouth, eczema. I also had Graves disease of the thyroid which was successfully treated.

I have uveitis in my left eye.  I had several flare ups about 8 years ago and at that time was tested for Lupus and several other connective tissue/autoimmune diseases.  I came up ANA positive with no specific diagnosable disease (except for uveitis) at that time...my uveitis settled down and I have not had any problems for five or six years but my doctors said that I would likely develop another problem in the future..they were really watching for arthritis...I was diagnosed with UC in 2006...

Such long names for all these ailments! I don't even want to know what they are, you know the power of suggestion.
My arthritis symptoms related to the UC have been temporary, I get better with basic arthritis medication.
My back pains me this year because of a slightly bulging disc, and I irritated it by walking 18 holes of golf a month or so ago. So I have scheduled another epidural shot since it seems to be slow in healing this time and my sciatic nerve is getting too much of a workout. BTW, my family are all healthy, healthy stock so I push myself, maybe too much sometimes.

I believe a positive attitude (denial?) and exercise helps keep away a lot of the effects that UC should be having on someone who has had it as long as I have.

Festeris, I know it is frustrating that the treatments don't seem to work very well, and it snowballs into other problems. You should pat yourself on the back for the weight loss, that is so hard to do and I expect it has made you feel lots better. I hope you can find surround yourself with some positive people and something rewarding to do with your time.

I have an immune disorder (IGA deficiency), severe allergies (cause anaphalactic shock), arthritis in almost every joint, hair loss, slight allergy to sun, rashes, and two blood clotting disorders (including lupus anticoagulant), but have not been diagnosed with lupus.

I am currently having issues with my eyes. For me, i know it is all autoimmune

Old Hat said...
Joint stiffness/pain is one of the most common extra-systemic manifestations of UC. When I was 1st diagnosed in 1980, I had such discomfort in my sacrum that it felt like my whole torso was encased in cement. At other times I've had problems in neck, shoulder, or hip-- which usually improves as the UC flare comes under control. Have you ever taken mesalamine meds? I'm wondering if your gastro put you on a high dose of Imuran because other meds haven't helped you. / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC ... [etc.])

That is correct. They put me on Asacol and only 150 mg. of Imuran when I was first diagnosed but things got worse. Do you know how there is always that 1 person in a million that is allergic to any given medication. Well I was that one and I got very ill so they stopped it right away. Your description of the torso in cement is very accurate.

30 years eh? It's gonna be a long hard ride then...

festeris,
 
Random note here. Have you considered the possibility of Celiac disease?
 
A good friend of mine who suffered for many years with a host of conditions including ulcerative colitis,  rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogrens ultimately found the origin of all her conditions in a diagnosis of Celiac disease.  CD is a genetic intolerance to gluten (a protein found in wheat, rye,  oats and barley).  The only treatment for CD is a strict adherence to a gluten-free diet.
 
People with untreated Celiac disease are prone to developing any auto-immune condition you could name,  as well as lot of other unpleasant Celiac-related problems. By the time my friend's CD was diagnosed she had already had a complete colectomy,  which ended her rheumatoid arthritis symptoms,  and lost her teeth to Sjogren's.  She still suffered from terrible fatigue,  a rash related to Celiac disease which was mis-diagnosed as atopic dermatitis,  joint and muscle pain,  headaches,  intermittent (severe) lower back pain and brain fog.  These symptoms resolved after several months of following a STRICT gluten-free diet.

Celiac disease is grossly underdiagnosed in the USA. People of British or northern European ancestry have an elevated risk,  though it's found in people of every heritage.   The British Isles (and particularly,  Ireland) have some of the highest rates in the world; it's relatively frequent in Germany and the Scandinavian countries, as well.
 
It's worth investigating the possible connection.