Do you have different medication/treatments during big flare ups, does it help?

[vikkilouise]

I've been lucky not to have a flare up of what ever I have (suspected behcets) for a while but the last big one went on for 2 or 3 months. I wondered if people are given any treatment when a flare starts, does it abort or reduce the flare?

[Hidden]

I went undiagnosed properly for about 4 years. At one point doctors thought I had Crohn's when a colonoscopy and barium xray showed ulcers in my illium and I was put on reducing doses of Prednisolone. When I was on high doses I was symptom free but as dose reduced the symptoms came back which puzzled doctors. I was also on Azathioprine for a while and symptom free. Then doctors decided that I did not have Crohn's and I was taken off all meds apart from pain killers, Nestle rescource drinks and Loperomide and spent months going round the houses at the hospital along with going back and forth to my G.P with mouth and genital ulcers, painful joints, bloody diarrhoea, weight loss, debilitating headaches and severe fatigue. Eventually in June this year I was diagnosed with Behcet's after my G.P referred me to see a Rhumatology consultant. My G.P had been saying for months that she thought I had Behcets's with all my symptoms that I had. Straight away I was put on Colchicine which seemed to reduce the ulcers but had little effect on my other symptoms. Then bang out of nowhere the mouth ulcers returned so bad I couldn't eat proper meals as my mouth was so sore and it was back to the hospital for me. The consultant said I was having a nasty flare and gave me a high dose steroid injection and then commenced me on Azathioprine. That was about 4-5 weeks ago so really early days. So far so good apart from not being able to get out of bed for a few days and then getting a cold that I haven't been able to shift. I've had the occasional mouth ulcers, one genital ulcer, a few migraines and some bad days with my tummy but am starting to feel a lot better than I did which is fantastic. I still get very tired but think that's just life with BD. Aza isn't for everyone which I am sure you will find out from others on this site but I'm hoping with the progress I am making, that the combination of the IM steriod injection and Aza along with Colchicine is the key to keeping my BD under control.

I hope you get a diagnosis soon and can start getting the right treatment. Good luck x x

[Denise--]

I have my medicine box haha, mainly for skin complaints but I like to catch a flare up before it gets worse! Steroid creams/ointments and antibiotic creams mainly (also have prednisolone on standby).

I think if you feel a flare coming on the best thing to do is rest immediately. I have also been lucky lately and might only have a bad evening but recover quickly. Not too many ulcers lately (thankfully!!)

I wanted to go out on Saturday night but had a real weak spell where I was uncontrollably shaking and feeling 'woosy'. I was feeling slightly better at 10pm but decided against going out because I knew I wasn't able for it.....I think with Behcets you really have to learn to listen to your body and find a way to cope with the flares (easier said than done though :)...!)

[Hidden]

Tricky question; one person's idea of a flare isn't always the same as anothers. Also, the way they start varies from patient to patient. An outbreak of spots for example, may be considered a minor flare, (not to undermine it) but could continue to get worse and other symptoms could appear, or it could start with a sudden headache or gradually increasing joint pain.

Excellent advice above about rest and being stocked up and prepared with things like topical meds. It's not always possible to tell if you are about to have a flare, or to what degree you will suffer, but if you are in any doubt whatsoever, rest rest rest! Keep a close eye on yourself and contact a doctor. In some cases it is certainly possible to 'catch it' in time to try and prevent it getting much worse by taking extra or different medication, or to get help to manage it.

I hope you get your diagnosis soon - perhaps by referral to one of the Centres of Excellence if you have not yet been seen there.

[bailey23]

I am on all sorts of drugs that keep most symptoms under control but recently I had a bad flare up when I couldnt even open a door because of my joint pain. I had a steroid booster injection (am alreadyon steroids) and an increase of Methotrexate. This took a while to kick in but eased the problem. Everyone is different though and each individual has different ways of dealing with a flare up.

Hope you get the right answers and treatment soon.

Angela