Dont know! I havent seen any stats that list that as one of the common problems, as I can remember. I personaly dont have a problem with it.
Mary Ann

If I am not mistaken IBS is often seen in Lupus patients. I have lupus like UCTD. I have IBS. Had to have a CT of abdomen because of it last week. Dr. wanted to make sure nothing more serious going on.

Hello, I am new here but I needed somewhere to go to talk to others like me. I am responding to the post about IBS. It took me forever to get a diagnosis after waiting for the right doctor and having my rheumy put me on medications for "I don't know yet, it could be SLE, could be RA, could be MCTD, we'll have to wait and see if the disease presents itself". I was not okay with that after living like this since I was probably 15-16 and people thought I was just a hypochondriac. I have been diagnosed with MCTD, Raynauds, IBS with constipation, arthritis, degenerative disc disease, among other things. I am 23, but I feel like I'm 80 :) I just try to smile (it doesn't usually work!), and take each day as a new day and hope tomorrow is better than today. I did see a gastroenterologist who did a colonoscopy due to my "problems" in that area and he said it was just IBS with constipation. At this time, that is the least of my problems because I am used to either going non-stop, or not going at all! I am currently on 150mg of azithroprine (although not helping as much as I'd like or hope it would...can anyone tell me if this has improved symptoms or not??) along with about 15 other things. I was diagnosed with ADHD and bipolar type 2 when I was younger although I believe this was a misdiagnosis of just excessive sleepiness and mood fluctuations due to this autoimmune problem. I tried plaquenil, methotrexate, NSAIDs, and prednisone. Not successful. I was just given vicodine to take two a day if I want because the doctor said he didn't know what else he could do to help. I have to see a pain counselor but I think this would be a positive thing for me. I have way too much going on with my body to discuss all of it at once, but I just wanted to say hello to everyone and I'm really hoping this can become my helping place... Also, if anyone could give me some advice or anything, I'd really appreciate it. I have been glancing through the internet trying to see if there are any medications or treatments that may slow this disease down or make life fun and exciting again...I think that in the short year and a half of being diagnosed, I've already gotten worse and I would love to live til I'm at least 80... would this be possible? Thanks everyone, I hope to hear back soon.
-Ashley

hi ashley, try not to worry, now you know why you were always so freakin exhausted, you may be onto containing it or even going into remission. there are a few young ones on this site nd many middle aged as per the stats on prevalence. keep in mind, those who spend more time on this list are often the ones at home, not working and can spend time on the site. it is one of the many variables to take into account otherwise you may think we are all on deaths door and we are not.

chances are you will live to 80, treatments in the future and good self care until then. can i say two things, even though i do not like to give advice, a suggestion or two for you......? 1/ Water, lots of it. litres per day more in summer, our skin needs it so does our digestive system. 2/ avoid stress. not easy i know, a counsellor or yoga whatever you can afford, i go to a community centre so have cheap yoga classes and for me, not sure about you but 3/ no sun

Hi Ashley. I was about 22-23 when I was diagnosed with mctd and 10 years later, I am still kicking around. Had two kids in the meantime and although I have my days 9(weeks, months) for the most part I am doing alright. You can live to 80, even 100 if you take care of yourself and get a good doctor to help you.
jaymiesmom, even though I have not been diagnosed with IBS, i have been having terrible ibs like symptoms for the last month or so. I don't know if it is ibs or some other digestive thing, but I do believe that there can be digestive issues involved. Why not, seems like we can have every other thing anyway?!

I always had trouble with going too much.....my homeopath said I had leaky gut, most likely due to the autoimmune stuff and the meds. I started taking fiber and probiotics and digestive enzymes. Things have been soooooo much better. Honey is good too, either raw or manuka. Like Oz said yoga or anything that relaxes you and Keats you destress. Good luck and welcome to the site.

I have been diagnosed with IBS...although it was some years ago. I think it was likely due to the stressful situation I was living at the time. That was way before my mctd diagnosis. It would certainly make sense though. Nevermind all the meds that cause G.I. upset and "weirdness"!!

Hope you feel better soon.

I just read on the National Lupus Foundation website that IBS is a symptom of lupus, so then it would be considered a symptom of MCTD.

ins is a syndrome, meaning a whole lot of undiagnosed, undifferentiated grouping of symptoms. mctd and/or upus can cause all sorts of attacks on the tissues surrounding the bolwels and perforation is a high cause of death when one finally does die.....and infection.
am fixated on television re japan.
have midnight oil songs stuck in my head. (US forces give the nod)
almost armageddan
stay covered, stay inside is the warning to the japs. but go to work and then stay inside, paradoxical, risk assessment high by any measure, radiation of a nation hoefully not a region, australia never really wanting to be seen as part of asia, despite its proximity.......

I've always had bowel issues. Even diagnosed with krohn's at one point. This disease will kick you wherever it can.

I have no idea about anything having to do with my MCTD accept for the lupus. Because I just happen to share my story with a total stranger & found out she has lupus. But, with out information it has been very hard for me to deal with it all.
Can someone please help?

Hi and welcome Mama66. We are a very helpful bunch here. Sometimes with sage wisdom, sometimes with wit. What I recommend is that you introduce yourself on the weekly roll call. Tell us a little about your disease history, and ask some pointed questions. If you have a single specific question, put that into a NEW discussion thread with a title that will bring people with similar issues. We shall be glad to toss out opinions. Everybody has them you know. :-)