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Extraintestinal Manifestations or Just Getting Old?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 3/5/2019 9:30 PM (GMT 0)
Over the past year or so, I seem to have picking up all sorts of new ailments. Everything from aching joints in my hands, to plantar fasciitis, to really dry eyes. With every new ailment, I find myself googling to see if is related to UC. Low and behold the internet is telling me that almost every ailment I pick up along lifes journey "can" be related to UC. My question is how do I know if it truly a extraintestinal manifestation or if this is what life is like when you start creeping into your mid 40's? I really don't want to turn into a hyperchondriac but man, just feels like my body is falling apart sometimes....
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Posted 3/5/2019 9:50 PM (GMT 0)
You will probably never know. The reality is that knowing really doesn't make a difference. Things may get better or they may get worse. The only thing you can do is take care of yourself as best you can and accept whatever comes along.
Posted 3/6/2019 1:03 PM (GMT 0)
Ditto the above. Those of us who have extra-intestinal-manifestations of UC, have picked them up over time. Not an all at once, upon initial diagnosis thing. but rather 4-years later, 6-years later etc etc.
Posted 3/6/2019 2:27 PM (GMT 0)
Very hard to pin this down to UC vs. age especially age 43 unless your family is esp. short-lived and unhealthy. My spouse is 70 with no chronic illness unlike me so I have some perspective on my own situation but that may not apply to yours. "Things happen" it's not all due to UC in my case. Removing foods that support inflammation and consciously eating things that lower inflammation is very helpful for me.

After many years of being gluten-free my spouse joined me because of a skin condition (inflammatory his doc says) and yes it's helped him but phototherapy helped that condition miraculously. He's had plantar fasc. too and other muscular issues that needed physical therapy. And he has no chronic conditions to blame it on unlike me.

Is it age? In my mind it's not aging 100% as much as "opportunity", meaning more time on earth that these things show up. Is the world unhealthier nowadays causing more illnesses? Not on a global scale but we read about issues with chemicals in food, water and air that make us worry. US lost ground last year in longevity increase compared to other countries and too many middle-aged people died, is this a bad trend or a blip? Just do the best you can without getting paranoid. Remove stress as much as possible and live your best life.
Posted 3/6/2019 5:57 PM (GMT 0)
All other goodies I have are not UC related....accepting it is what it is, but functioning with constant issues is absolutely physically and mentally exhausting.

q
Posted 3/6/2019 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your comments. I agree, that it really doesn't matter whether ailments are UC related or not. We should always try to make the best of the hand that we are dealt, whether it's UC, cancer, or just a result of too many birthday parties.

Full disclosure, after spending the majority of the past year in surgeries/recoveries, I have been chomping at the bit to resume my fitness regime and most likely been overdoing it. When I really think about it, that's probably more the culprit for my ailments rather then extraintestinal manifestations (at least for the plantar fasciitis).
Posted 3/7/2019 5:57 AM (GMT 0)
I have been struggling with aches and pains lately too. I assume they are not related to UC, but who knows. I think I pulled something. I have other weird ailments, like dry eyelids and really dry hands. I wonder if any of it is related to AI.
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