I’ve had BD for years diagnosed early 20’s now 38, I’ve had 3-4 major flares, attacking liver, lungs, gastrointestinal tract and all the usual places, joints, skin. I haven’t been flare free the rest of the time, usually flaring 6 times a year for 2-3 weeks, ulcers, skin, joints extreme fatigue. Especially when seasons change.
Last year after a seasonal flare in the summer with usual symptoms I’ve learned to really push through, I found I couldn’t push through it, despite 10 mgs of prednisone. It just got worse and worse. I became almost psychotic, wandering, staring into space, struggling to walk. It attacked my nerves and my brain turned to mush, speech, memory, personality changes, urine retention and inconsistence, no feeling to deficate or move faeces through. I’m still not recovered, feeling hasn’t returned fully. If I get slightly tired it all the symptoms return, despite being on 25-30mgs of prednisone, I’m knackered all the time. It’s almost a year now and no signs of it abating, I’m just wondering how long this will last? I’ve had so much time off work. I just don’t function anymore. I’m waiting for treatment, but the hospitals just push me between one another. Steroids take the edge off but they aren’t a cure.
How long do people’s flares last?
Is it just I’m older and don’t recover?