Unable to answer your specific employment questions, although I'm wondering if the
Disability Discrimination Act may be your friend.
Long term, the course of the disease can be very variable, and I'm guessing that this may have an influence on your career pathway. I expect the authorities will be interested in things such as frequency and severity of exascerbations, predictability, time off on sick leave etc.
The good news is that treatments (these days) are generally pretty good.
Keep us posted, and good luck
