Colitis causing inflammation in other areas???

[mom2makinlee]

I was diagnosed with UC when I was 20 and have only had 2 flares and am now 27.  I am having some issues that dont seem to be related to my colitis but the doctors cant figure out what is wrong.

I am having neurologic symptoms and have had 2 MRIs of my brain and cervical spine both turned out fine.  My neuro wants me to do a spinal tap to see if I have inflammation but said if it comes back fine then next step would be gastro intestinal doctor.  No offense but dont like going there they always schedule a flex or colonoscopy and they are just no fun if you know what I mean.  

I have not been having my usual symptoms of UC.  I have actually been a little constipated (usually have diarrea of course) and no blood in stool but have had mucus so I have been taking my librax for the IBS thinking it was that.  My stools have been really thin when I do go but I feel like I have to go all the time.  I do have spasms in my rectum because I can feel it...feels like in is opening and closing and I cant make it stop almost like when you hold it too long.  

So I went to my regular family doctor for follow up and she thinks maybe I am not absorbing my nutrients from my food due to inflammation from my colitis or some other stomach issue.

My symptoms are on one side of my body and they are...

right knee and leg feels stiff and hurts sometimes
headache on right side behind eye
floaters in right eye which are almost always there  
right pupil slightly larger but responds to light
neck pain
collar bone pain on right side
dizziness
nausea
right arm and hand tingling and my fingers curl up like crampy sometimes
charlie horses in feet
weight loss (but did not have this until I stopped taking zoloft and changed to celexa but for some reason I just keep losing weight even though I am eating)

Is it at all possible that all of these things or most of these things have anything to do with my stomach or colon issues?

Thanks for your help!
Laurin

[Ratnakar Kini]

Hi,
Yes, you are prone for other autoimmune disorders as well.
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The information provided is for patients’ education only and is not a medical advice. Always consult your personal physician for complete evaluation of your health problem.

- Ratnakar Kini M.D

[mom2makinlee]

Thank you for your response.  I guess I need to make an appointment with the GI doc.  

My only confusion is that I am not having my normal UC flare symptoms.  I guess it would be better to go see my doctor though to find out for sure.  Is it even possible my stomach and bowel symptoms could be a flare since I am not having diarrea?  Or could it just be my IBS?  Also I have been using my Rowasa ememas and they do seem to make me feel better.  I know that is probably bad since I am not having diarrea so probably should not be using those huh?

Also is it true that since I have UC which is an auto immune disorder that I am prone to other auto immune disorders?

[Ratnakar Kini]

Hi,
UC is primarily a disease of colon. But there are many associated symptoms which constitute the extraintestinal manifestations of UC. These include-
1. Acute arthropathy - Painful joints ( both large and small joints). This occur when UC flaes up.
2. Sacroliitis and ankylosing spondylitis - Pain in the lower spine - Not related to UC activity
3. Skin lesions like erythema nodosum,pyoderma-gangrenosum,Sweet’s syndrome. These occur during flareups.
4. Primary sclerosing cholangitis ( involvement of the bile ducts)
5. Eye involvement - Uveitis, iritis, episcleritis

Some of the symptoms you have mentioned can thus be extraintestinal manifestations of UC.
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The information provided is for patients’ education only and is not a medical advice. Always consult your personal physician for complete evaluation of your health problem.

- Ratnakar Kini M.D.