I think that has been one of the hardest reasons to hold the diagnosis as when something has occurred in the peripheral areas, it has been dismissed as affiliated. I have had numerous issues in my hands, shoulders, legs and ankles (and brittleness of the spinal bones) so that would make sense. As far as gut, officially IBS and in the colon, other issues but when in flares, I really wasn't under a case that could diagnose it.