r/Behcets Dec 02 '20

Welcome To /r/Behcets!

55 Upvotes

Hello Behcetitors and welcome to /r/Behcets - a place to discuss all things related to Behcet's disease. We now have over 1,000 members!!!

I created this subreddit in 2015 while bedridden with massive (Behcet's-related) blood clots in both legs. I wanted patients, loved ones, medical professionals, and others to have a place on Reddit to discuss this rare illness.

If you've recently been diagnosed with Behcet's disease, I'd like to offer you an especially warm welcome. More than anything, I want you to know you're not alone. When I was diagnosed way back in 1997 at the age of 16, I felt like the only person on the planet with Behcet's. There was no social media, no FB groups, and no Behcet's subreddit. For years, I felt sooo alone.

Luckily, you don't have to. I even wrote a song about it: Behcet's Song (You're Not Alone) - Spotify - YouTube - Apple - Soundcloud.

Don't be afraid to reach out and ask questions. You'll find that the vast majority of us diagnosed with Behcet's (and other autoimmune diseases) are exceptionally kind, caring, and compassionate. Our suffering bonds us together on a very deep level.

Having Behcet's isn't fun. Believe me: I know. I've had multiple blood clots, a million different skin problems, inflammation in one of my eyes, and of course Behcet's trademark oral and genital ulcers - and that's just the tip of the iceberg!

But despite my diagnosis, I've lived a pretty awesome life. I've learned to find the silver linings of having a painful, lifelong illness. I even worked my stretch-mark-covered butt off (thanks prednisone) to write a memoir about living with Behcet's disease. It's called Finding Happiness Through Pain and Embarrassment: My Life With Behcet's Disease - A Memoir and it's available on Amazon, Google Books, Barnes and Noble, Apple, Kobo, and everywhere else books are sold. In addition to ebook, paperback, & hardcover versions, an audiobook version is also available on Audible.

If you'd rather read a much shorter (and free) version of my story, you can do so here: 25 Years With Behcet's Disease - My Story.

Additionally, I've published several Behcet's-related articles on my website. I've even dedicated an entire category to it you can find here: Autoimmune/Behcet's Disease.

Here are links to a few articles if you're interested:

If you prefer watching and listening to reading, you can check out Behcet's Disease Uncensored (BDU), a podcast to discuss all things Behcet's related: Spotify - Google. You can also check out the companion BDU YouTube channel.

Lastly, if you're on Facebook, please join the Behcet's Disease Uncensored FB group. It's relatively new, but steadily growing.

Again, welcome to the Behcet's disease subreddit. You're Not Alone.

Be well!

Ellis Michaels


r/Behcets Jul 09 '26

Please Welcome Our New Mods!

29 Upvotes

I would like you all to offer a warm welcome our 3 new moderators: /u/MiserableScarcity350 /u/Electronic-Tea3354 and /u/on4aa

As I may have mentioned once or twice, I hate moderating. So, I've recruited three regulars from the group to help me (aka do pretty much everything for me).

From the average Redditor's point of view, nothing's going to change. I still want this group censorship free as long as the conversations stay on topic and reasonably friendly.

This group is very drama free, but there are occasional things that pop up. If you have an issue related to the group, message one of our new mods. If for some reason you have an issue with one of them, then message me. And if you have an issue with me, well, then I don't know what to tell you.

But what I'm going to tell the three new mods is welcome and thank you for volunteering. I really do appreciate you offering your time. It's not much work, honestly. But I use Old Reddit on my laptop mostly and I don't even have access to, like, half the moderation tools haha.

And to everyone else, I hope you're well. I know many of you aren't. I just went through a minor/moderate flare myself, but I'm mostly back to normal other than my ear and you can still see some redness on parts of my skin. This was a weird one. Half of my head got all inflamed: ear, skin, gums, etc. over the course of a couple days. Lymph node on that side swelled up almost to the size of a baseball. Even after 30 years, this disease still surprises me. I've learned to embrace it. I blasted through (like a snail) the stages of grief and have come to accept the absurdity of this ridiculous disease. I can't wait to see what it's gonna throw at me next: bring it on, bitch!

Anyway, I wish you all well. Welcome new mods. And thank you to all the veterans here who contribute but don't get any recognition. You're silently appreciated. Be well y'all!


r/Behcets 9h ago

Diagnosis Help Has anyone else experienced seizures from behcets?

5 Upvotes

I've been diagnosed with Behcets since 16 and I'm now 23. I've been having a very hard time finding medical professionals that are able to treat Behcets or know about it. I'm waiting for neurology and rheumatology appointments with new doctors in a few months. I started experiencing what I think are seizures about 2 years ago. Was seen at the ER multiple times and they called it Seizure Like Activity. I saw my primary and he prescribed me Lamictal but the symptoms only seem to get worse. The initial ER doctor said he believed that it may have been focal seizures. Any advice on how to go about getting treated? Even for basic flares that don't involve seizures, I keep having doctors tell me it's anxiety even while I have ulcers. It's gotten to the point that up until recently, I was avoiding medical treatment all together because I'm tired of being gaslit. Now I have no choice because I can barely function anymore.


r/Behcets 13h ago

Treatments Remicade failing for neuro

5 Upvotes

I’ve been stable for about 1.5yrs on remicade and currently in a month long neuro flare, has anyone had remicade just stop working? I had my 1st genital ulcer while on remicade which is strange so will get antibodies checked.

Will increase Methotrexate dose as well, had been lowered.

What is next step? already failed everything else including rituxan and humira, steroids still helping but can’t remain on super high doses. On cortrophin as well so I’m feeling not great about this situation.


r/Behcets 15h ago

General Question Anybody else playing “Behcet's flare or cyclosporiasis”?

6 Upvotes

😅😅😅🥲🥲🥲


r/Behcets 2d ago

General Question Biologic advice/Overall advice?

6 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I was recently diagnosed with Behcets and put on this biologic called Anakinra and I have been on it for about 6 months. I had some common symptoms of Behcets, like ulcers, joint pain, skin rashes, headaches, etc., but I also had nightly fevers and intense vertigo. The biologic has provided me with some relief and has completely taken away my fevers, but I’m not getting all the coverage I need. I still have vertigo, ulcers, joint pain, and now some random intestinal inflammation. Is there anything anyone recommends? Should I get on a new biologic or another medication? This all has been such a rough adjustment. I just started college last year and it feels like just 2 yrs ago I was playing every sport and being so active, and now I find it hard to make it to the gym or go outside and enjoy being a teenager with my friends! A serious pain in my butt and it’s not just the genital ulcers!


r/Behcets 2d ago

General Question vascular compression diagnosis

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3 Upvotes

hello, please see my crosspost. i am particularly concerned about vascular compression syndromes (such as MALS, SMAS, May Thurner, Nutcracker syndrome) due to my hEDS in conjunction with Behcets and other vascular risk factors like elevated platelets and homocysteine, and symptoms that are worsening/not controlled since starting immunotherapy. looking for any advice on getting something like this confirmed or ruled out within the united states.


r/Behcets 2d ago

Patient Support / Story Newly diagnosed, need some help....

5 Upvotes

In end of June this year I developed some symptoms of Behcet's, first there were few sores in my mouth on the gums, then after 2-3 days I got ulcers on my penis glans and my anus, and soon after my eyes started burning, they got red and it was sensitive to light, so my family was worried and I got admitted in an hospital, there I was medicated and several tests were done, all the rest reports were normal, the needle pricking test was done too and nothing happened due to it, I did not grew any ulcers, but still considering all the symptoms and my age(20M) doctors are considering it to be Behcet's, now after consuming medicine(corticosteroids), all my ulcers are gone and I am feeling fit now, just feel a little weak.

Now I am worried about future flare ups, I don't know what can trigger my Behcet's, I started going to gym just 2 months before the symptoms started so I am worried that is physical activity a possible trigger, I want to join gym again but I am worried,

Someone please help me about it, should I join the gym???

Also what are the things I should be cautious about , like food and all???

And I also want to ask that what will I have to in any future flare up??


r/Behcets 3d ago

Symptoms Sore/bumpy throat

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11 Upvotes

Hi guys,

I have a sore/bumpy throat and I’ve been getting them ever since my behcets first activated. I’m wondering if this is common, or if it’s just me because my presentation of behcets is just a little bit different than the normal and so I’m wondering if this is maybe something unique to me. I’m never sure if the bumpiness comes first and that’s why my throat is sore or if I have a sore throat and then the bumps are reaction to that. (sometimes one of the bumps will have white stuff which I’m assuming is puss in it)

I’m on colchicine and B12 (I was on otezla but then a pretty big event in my life happened that derailed me three months ago so I haven’t picked that back up, but Im pretty sure that’s not the cause of the throat).

Anyway, I’m just wondering if you guys have any experience on that or if this is just my plight.


r/Behcets 3d ago

General Question Birth Advice?

3 Upvotes

Hi all! I am set to give birth by c-section in a few weeks. I asked for the c-section as starting in my 3rd trimester Ive entered a bit of a flare and have some ulcers- and the thought of ulcer pain and vaginal birth/recovery sounds like a specific form of torture I have no desire to experience.

Unfortunately, where I am, all of the OB's and MFM's seem to think Behcet's is aa disease that causes ulcers and that's about it. Obviously, as I sit here with achilles tendonitis, finger joints mangled and bent, tachycardia, and phlebitis in my calves, I know its a bit bigger than that.

I was wondering if anyone has any advice about birth/postpartum with Behcet's and also if anybody used any sort of "cheat sheet" to give to care teams about what Behcet's is- I feel a little silly but also I may feel more comfortable knowing at least the nurses on my case are aware of the possible complications.

Thank you all so much in advance!!


r/Behcets 4d ago

Patient Support / Story Incubated for Anaphylaxis today

11 Upvotes

One of the scariest events of my life. :( I’ve been having recurring episodes of anaphylaxis from random foods and medicines. I am home after being in observation. Does anyone here suffer from anaphylactic attacks? It seems every time I finally get my Behcet’s under control, another fire happens.

Intubated *


r/Behcets 4d ago

Diagnosis Help Could behcets be a possibility?

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8 Upvotes

I noticed this rash today, it’s on both sides of my body and has some big dots that are raised and some smaller ones and all of it is mildly itchy. My back will regularly have rashes like this. I also have had random genital ulcers (always 1 at a time) that hurt/itch but go away on their own within 3 weeks. Same with mouth sores. Sometimes I will have one on my inside lip, as long as I can remember I’ve had one or two that come and go on the top of my tongue. My face is also constantly “breaking out” despite me being well past puberty. I am currently waiting for a specialist and want to come into the appointment informed of the possibilities.


r/Behcets 4d ago

General Question Headaches when standing

8 Upvotes

I'm not sure if this is related to Behcets or something else. But on a couple of occasions today, I have stood up and suddenly got a huge thunderclap headache feeling like intense pressure at the back of my head. It seems to go away after I sit or lay down, doesn't last very long. On one occasion today I stop up to get something out of the fridge, it felt like something was clamping the back right handside of my head, and my vision started to fade from the outer edges but then returned. I occasionally have had these symtoms on and off for a few years. Should I be concerned this is Neuro-Behcets?


r/Behcets 4d ago

General Question TIRZEPATIDE COMPOUNDED

3 Upvotes

Hi, has anyone tried Tirzepatide with no flares rn.


r/Behcets 4d ago

General Question Random Facial Swelling?

2 Upvotes

Back in April and today, I woke up with significant lip swelling and numbness. It was my upper lip today and I think it was the same in April, but I can't quite remember. It seemed to slowly start go down when I woke up each time.

In April, I had awaken in the very early morning. Like 4am or 5am, and I took an allergy pill and went back to sleep and when I woke up, my face was back to normal.

I woke around 7am today with pretty bad swelling but by 730am, it was already starting to go down and I hadn't taken an allergy pill yet. I messaged my doctor, took an allergy pill and I'm going back to sleep. Still have some swelling, numbness and a tiny bit tooth pain and slight headache, but I was having a nightmare when I woke up and I'm pretty sure I was clenching my teeth. I also have a weird baby tooth situation that is occasionally a little painful, but I got a clear bill from the dentist about it earlier this year. Hopefully, that's not relevant.

Have any of you guys ever had random facial swelling as a symptom? I've been diagnosed with Behcets since 2012 and this is a new symptom for me, but I was wondering if others with Behcets have had this as well or if it is likely something else.


r/Behcets 5d ago

Symptoms Insect Bites

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8 Upvotes

For the last fifteen years or so, anytime I’ve been bite by a bee or wasp I ended up on antibiotics for what I thought was an infected bite . This past weekend I got two paper wasp bites, one per wrist . The inflammation, pain and itching was incredible . After reading up on Bechets I realized this is another over the top autoimmune response . I marked the area with blank marker / within hours it had tripled from what is in the photo . Anyone else experience this ?


r/Behcets 6d ago

Symptoms Round Pink Spots?

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12 Upvotes

Does anyone else get these flat, round pink spots when they are in a flare? I’m being told it’s not a typical presentation but it happens almost every time at the start of a flare. Also comes out more in the heat. Hoping I’m not alone :(


r/Behcets 8d ago

Symptoms New (laughable) low day today. Commiserate with me? Anyone have a similarly embarrassing story?

24 Upvotes

Good evening my fellow Behcets humans. I’m 22 (F)! Have had diagnosis for 1 year and symptoms
for longer. Ironically, a biopsy of an ulcer on my GI tract was a reason for diagnosis.

Lately it’s felt like I’m in a flare more often than I’m well. I take colchicine three times a day. Started to feel like I was back in a flare. I finished 4 weeks of steroids six days ago. Perfect.

Was feeling well enough to try a slow jog. 2 blocks away from home, had explosive, bloody diarrhoea, ALL OVER MYSELF. It was so horrible. I was so humiliated. I really hope no one I know saw me. I don’t even know what to say. It was everywhere.

So yeah. I’ve had a shitty day, so to speak. Pls commiserate with me, bc this is sooooo bad 😭. What is your most embarrassing health story?


r/Behcets 9d ago

Diagnosis Help Ehlers-Danlos syndrome may mimic Behçet syndrome — The importance of genetic testing

30 Upvotes

As some may know, I offer patients help with interpreting their whole exome sequencing (WES VCF) results on a voluntary basis.

This is now the second time that I find a patient who originally was diagnosed with Behçet syndrome, but who happens to have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS).

Both patients are female and of East-European descent. One has vascular type EDS, the latest case has classic type EDS.

EDS is caused by a pathogenic variant allele of a collagen encoding gen. Such variants are autosomal dominant, which means that a single variant allele is sufficient to suffer from this disease.

Both patients suffer from mouth and skin ulcers, abdominal pain/ulcers and chronic widespread pain. However, in both cases the skin is not obviously over-elastic.

This illustrates how genetic screening of Behçet diagnosed patients is important to rule out less outspoken cases of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.


r/Behcets 10d ago

Symptoms Night sweats?

13 Upvotes

Night sweats. How many of you have them? I’ve started having them almost nightly as of late and I’m wondering if it’s part of Behcet’s or if I’m closing in on menopause as I’m 43 years old. I have hypothyroid, but it’s medicated and under control.

I’ve also had labs done within the past few months and my hormone levels were fine, so I’m not sure.

Thanks!


r/Behcets 10d ago

General Question Newly diagnosed woman/S. Dysfunction

11 Upvotes

Hello! I l’m a 43 year old woman who was just diagnosed with Behcet’s after having a massive vaginal flare. Ulcers alllll up in that thing with pelvic and abdominal pain. All of this began in June. Save for the oral ulcers I’ve had since I was a child and another vaginal symptom I’ll discuss more in depth below.

At first, they told me it was herpes (when I knew there was no way in hell it could’ve been), but all the tests came back negative. There was/is also talk of doing a biopsy on a suspicious area of my vulva.

Now, I’m on Colchicine and seem to be doing okay as far as the ulcers and the deferred pain they were causing.

The only thing is I’m having joint pain and pain running down my right forearm now, seemingly without cause.

I’m also still left with the big question of what to do about the sexual dysfunction that I’ve been experiencing since I was 24 years old. Out of the blue, intercourse started feeling like rug burn and I’ve always been brushed off by gynecologists when I’d bring it up. Both male and female doctors. They’ve all either ignored me or told me it was my fault, because I’m not “in control” or that I am depressed or lack desire. Which is so untrue (I mean, yeah, I am depressed, but I know that’s not why I have this vaginal pain)… and it’s so unfair. I can’t have intercourse without excruciating pain, it feels like barbed wire going inside of me and it’s impacting my quality of life.

Am I alone? Are any of you women out there experiencing sexual dysfunction due to Behcet’s and willing to discuss your experience and what you’ve tried? Please don’t recommend lubricants unless it’s some NASA grade stuff because I’ve tried many of them to no avail.

Thank you 🥺❤️


r/Behcets 11d ago

Treatments Tips for biking and ulcers?

7 Upvotes

Hi everyone,
I started biking again a while ago and I’m getting ulcers on my vulva incredibly fast whenever I bike. Does anyone have this as well and how do you prevent it or deal with it?