11 months post BM and secondary Acute Reactive Arthritis

[Zengal]

Hi All it’s been 11 months since I was hospitalised for 3 weeks with severe BM and secondary acute reactive arthritis. Lost the use of one side of my body temporarily and have had to have treatment for the reactive arthritis since. They hope the arthritis will go after 18-24 months.

I’m still photosensitive, get overwhelmed when lots of different sounds are around and get more headaches than I used to. I also have tinnitus which they think will be permanent. I’ve stopped having caffeine which has helped and was back at the gym swimming but since my last set back I’ve struggled to return.

I’m proud to say that I’ve gone back to work and am enjoying to be back in it but I’m so exhausted after.

Can anyone else relate to this and share me their experiences after BM. I know I’m so lucky as I caught it early and it could have been much much worse and for that I’m extremely grateful. I just struggle that I’m not what I was before.

A lot has changed in my life due to the illness. My relationship has broken down (I was due to be walking down the aisle when I ended up in hospital) and I’ve relocated back to my family and have basically started again whilst recovering from my illness. Emotions up and down. Is this normal post BM?

Would be great to hear from anyone who has experienced BM and would be great to know if anyone else developed secondary acute reactive arthritis also.

Sorry for the long post!

[July23]

I am so sorry for the impact your B M has had on your life in the last year.

I had VM 2 months ago, but have very similar ongoing issues atm.

However I already had inflammatory arthritis pre VM (reactive arthritis) and had to stop my usual immunosuppresant medication, (which controls the arthritis flares) while I had VM.

I recognise I am now having an arthritis flare (joint pain, stiffness, feeling hot and cold, fatigue, poor appetite, emotionally labile) but I know when my medication kicks back in, after a few weeks, it will improve. I might have an intramuscular dexamethasone (streoid) injection to dampen down inflammation in the short term.

Can you see a Rheumatologist, to get blood tests for a diagnosis as inflammatory arthritis often occurs after an infection. This illness this controllable. (Arthritis.org/inflammatory arthritis)

The tinitus I am preparing to live with !

I am also light and noise sensitive and this effects my ability to concentrate . Sadly I have no answers for this .

Best wishes for an improvement for you.

[Zengal in reply to July23]

Thankyou so much for replying. Tinnitus is so bad tonight. The light sensitivity has got better but it’s still there and I’m definitely able to tolerate a lot more sounds but find it hard to concentrate with multiple sounds going on.

Re the arthritis I’m under care of rheumatology but hopefully I’ll have had the last steroid injection as I know long term this can have major implications that I don’t want. Swimming and yoga help, when I have the energy and ability to go.

I’m back in work part time but so exhausted when I get back.

Because it’s an invisible illness no one can seem to understand what I’m going through and I’m

Regularly told I look so well, it’s frustrating.