I am aware of no association between Relapsing Polychondritis and calcified pulmonary lymph nodes. Your nighttime cough could be related either to GERD, to lymph node pressure on a bronchus or the process, presumably obstructive lung disease (asthma/COPD) that has resulted in air-trapping. The diagnosis of bronchiectasis is unlikely, in the absence of the typical findings of bronchiectasis, on your chest CT-scan.
You should request complete pulmonary function testing to determine if any of the (presumed) airway obstruction is reversible with bronchodilators, with or without inhaled steroids.
The following statements, relevant to your condition, are taken from Cecil’s Textbook of Medicine.
Patients with relapsing polychondritis frequently have associated coexisting diseases, such as systemic vasculitis, various connective tissue diseases (e.g., RA), , and thyroid disease.
Patients with autoimmune thyroiditis may have other endocrine and nonendocrine autoimmune disorders. It may be a component of the type 2 polyglandular autoimmune syndrome associated with autoimmune adrenal insufficiency and type 1 diabetes mellitus. It is less commonly a component of the type 1 syndrome that includes adrenal insufficiency, hypoparathyroidism, and chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis. Other nonendocrine autoimmune conditions associated with autoimmune thyroiditis include atrophic gastritis, pernicious anemia, systemic sclerosis, Sjügren's syndrome, and vitiligo.
I assume that you have had a thorough evaluation of the “profound iron deficiency”. If not, you should definitely consult with a Hematologist. Also, the best specialist to sort out these various problems would be a Rheumatologist and you should seek that consultation, if you have not already done so.
Good luck
ok, this will be my last post. sorry to bother. interesting to read about chronic mucocutaneous candidasis. i have recurrent thrush that i treat with trouches. i wonder if childhood histoplasmosis is part of this. i also had black mold in my workroom which was dealt with by professional mold remediation team. i will ask my gp about this also. that is very helpful. thanks
thank you for your thoughtful remarks.
i do have sicca as well. i do see a rhematoligust and am taking plaquenil. i have passed the metabolite test, and may start imuaran. my primary thinks it may be a sclerderma process, because of the esaphogeal dysmotilty, and reynauds, which we are treating with nifidipine. i have a follup [ with the rhematoligst next month.
pulmonarty function test confirm a non reversible obstructive defect.. mild to moderate.advair helps but triggers reflux (gerd and lpr) i sleep with my bed elevated at the head, which helps. i do see hematolgist regurlary, and i get iron infustions as necessary. my gi has been very thorough, and has recommed a double ballon endoscopy, which i may do in the fall. whatever this may be, in addition to the RP, appears to be system wide. my main concern though is the exertional sob, perisitent low grade fevers and weight loss ( currently 102), and difficulty swallowing. i know asthma patients have greater sensitivity to feelings of sob, but i do not think this is the case with me at this moment.i will google a couple of the terms you mention and will speak to my gp soon. thank you for your time and advice. regards