UC and lung dysfunction/disease

I was looking up something else to do with UC today and came across a few websites that talk about lung problems associated with UC. Have any of you ever hear anything about this? Has you Dr. ever talked to you about symptoms to watch for etc.

Some sites say that 57% of people with IBD that they tested had lung dysfunction. If the percentage is so high, why isn't ever mentioned? I'd love to hear others opinions or experience with this. Thanks. I really try not to worry about all the things that could go wrong, but it's hard not to when you read all the crap that can happen to you when you have UC. I've had a tickle in my throat/chest since the middle of July, and thought it was probably just a reaction to pollens or something, now I'm thinking I've got some horrible lung problem due to UC. Apparently even drugs we take Asacol etc can cause lung problems.

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48 year old female
Dx'd with proctitis/proctosigmoiditis?? July/06
Asacol 9/day
Salofalk enemas 4(g) at bedtime
...Aloe
Vit B complex/folic acid
fish oil (pharmaceutical grade)
VSL#3

I have asthma also, I also have a tickle in my throat alot but it is due to my allergies. I have had breathing test done and except for my exercised induced asthma it all comes back ok. could be allergies.

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Rona

synthroid .088 mg, lowpressor 50 mg x 2, cozaar 25mg x2, imdur 30 mg
nitroquick, proventol, plavix 75 mg, protonix 40 mg x 2, asacal 400mg x 9
carafate 1 gm x 4, zyrtec 10 mg, rhinocort aqua nose spray, fish oil,
potassium.

Thanks ladies! I have been having a bit of heartburn now and then, but also have post nasal drip feeling. It's a general burning, scratchy, feeling from my throat to my stomach. I have not cough or shortness of breath, so hopefully my lungs aren't involved.

What tests do they do for reflux. Knowing my GP, he'll just give me some meds and tell me that if they take the feeling away, then it was obviously reflux. I'd rather know for sure before taking the meds.

What I've read about the lung dysfunction is that the lungs almost always show normal in x-rays and the lung function tests also don't show anything. I think they have to do a CAT-scan to know for sure, but I'm not sure about that. I'm going for a full physical in a couple of weeks, so will mention this weird throat/chest sensation to him then. I assume if my lungs were involved, I would most likely have a cough, which I don't.

Other than that, I've been doing well, thanks for asking quincy. My UC is under pretty good control. Only having 2 formed bms a day. The blood only seems to show up around my period, so I increase the enemas and/or suppositories around them. My GI is taking very good care of me, and I really like him. I get blood tests every 4 months as well as see him. He's very open to hearing what the patient has to say, which I like very much. My GP on the other hand is a bit of an ass. He thinks I'm obsessive because I like to research things and get myself all worked up. In some ways he may be right, 'cause now I'm worried about lung disease after researching on the 'net. Thanks for listeing and the advise everyone!

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48 year old female
Dx'd with proctitis/proctosigmoiditis?? July/06
Asacol 9/day
Salofalk enemas 4(g) at bedtime
...Aloe
Vit B complex/folic acid
fish oil (pharmaceutical grade)
VSL#3

Let me preface my post by stating that I'm a half pack a day smoker and have been since before the UC DX

Well, even slightly before DX I used to feel occasionally short of breath -

But every now and then now, definitely not all the time, I get shortness of breath and sometimes wheezing (which I never ever had)

I believe I read somewhere regarding the autoimmune condition AS that it can cause the ribs to tighten? Correct me if I'm wrong, sorry I don't have the time to double check that fact.

Anyway, this concerns me as well and I guess I will mention it when I get my next physical with the GP as my GI would probably just look at me.

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Diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis 6/2006 at age 26 after sudden E.R. visit

~Affecting Transverse Colon

 ~I had Mono in 2000

On Colazal 3x3/day; Folic Acid 1mg; Calcium/Magnesium/Zinc combo, Biotin

In remission about 2-3 months after E.R. but not back to normal!

 

~Interested in finding a cure/making sense out of U.C. and philosophical and psychological aspects of UC and "Stress" and Personal Development issues with Chronic Illnesses.