Behcet’s

Overview

This is an autoimmune disease which attacks the blood vessels and joints.  There is no blood test that would show a sign of having Behcet’s which means it is hard to diagnose.  As it is similar to other diseases like lupus these diseases have to be ruled out in the process. 

Behcet’s can have flare ups that can come and go in cycles.  They can be mild and in some cases server and painful.  It is the same pattern as MS or Lupus. 

Our body which would normally protect itself against infections by producing controlled inflammation, now somehow becomes over-active in this disease.  To manage this, we have to take immune system suppressants. 

It is believed that in the UK 1 in every 100,000 people have Behcet’s. 

A patient with Behcet’s could be under many consultants (please see below list).

• Eyes
• Skin
• Stomach
• Heart
• Nervous system / brain
• Immune system
• Rheumatologist

Symptoms:

• Oral ulcers.
• Genital ulcers.
• Eye inflammation.
• Joint pain.
• Blood clots.
• Skin legions.
• IBS.
• Chronic fatigue.
• Arthritis.
• Urinary tract inflammation.
• Headaches (either Primary or Secondary).

My Behcets:

I noticed my hands hurt and I had reoccurring mouth ulcers.  Behcet’s has left me needing a lot of dentistry work.  I am on anti-malaria pills which help to stop the body attacking itself.  I suffered two blood clots in my lung in 2010, I was diagnosed with Behcet’s after the blood clots.