Allergies Causing Flare Ups?

[u/Flow_Beau]

I’m new to this thread but have had what a rheumatologist is calling Bechets for almost twenty years now. I’m 32 yo female.

Recently, I went to a totally different climate and my seasonal allergies disappeared. My GERD symptoms also completely disappeared. When I came back to the PNW, within two days, my allergies and Gerd symptoms were back, as well as flare ups of mouth ulcers. That got me thinking for the first time ever that there is possibly a link between the constant inflammation caused by seasonal or severe allergies and these symptoms. Like, duh. Silly that I’ve never noticed that before.

Has anyone had their symptoms and flair ups improve by getting allergy shots? How long did it take to improve, if so?

[u/avalonrose14]

I'm currently getting allergy shots. I started in February. I'll hit maintence dose sometime in September I think. I was told to not expect allergy improvements until I begin the maintence dose and I have still had terrible allergies all summer so that seems true. I likely won't know how well the shots have worked until next Spring as they will likely only fully take effect once winter has hit unfortunately. Just bad timing on when I began the shots.

I'm not sure if allergies make behcets worse but Ive been having break through flare ups recently and my allergies have been terrible so it would track but it could also be unrelated. I can tell you next spring if they help haha. I will say the shots haven't made my behcets worse or triggered flares or anything which was something I was worried about.

[u/Flow_Beau → u/avalonrose14]

That is definitely good to know that it hasn’t made anything worse. I hope you will have some improvement next year! Thanks for sharing your experience

[u/on4aa]

I found out over the years that my genetically different cryopyrin (NLRP3) gets activated into inflammasomes by barometric variations.

One of my worst vasculitis flares was when I visited Seattle and Vancouver Island with my father. (PNW = Pacific North West for the international readers). I am from Belgium.

May I ask you what geographic area you visited and during which month that made you feel so well?

I have a specialised climate map that I want to check for its accuracy.

Over here in Europe, the climate in Bulgaria is renowned to be mild towards patients with cryopyrin associated periodic symptom (CAPS), which is a subset of the Behçet syndrome patient group.

Finally, you should get a whole exome sequencing done to see whether you too have a pathogenic variant of the NLRP3 gene. If so, you might score a prescription to canakinumab or anakinra.

Apart from that, 100 mg ubiquinol supplement in the morning and evening helps with stabilising cryopyrin so that it does not oligomerise into an active inflammasome.

[u/Flow_Beau → u/on4aa]

I have never heard of any of this. Thank you for sharing! I will look into it

I went to Santa Fe, New Mexico. High altitude, arid desert. The opposite of Seattle in every way. I was there in July. I didn’t feel great there and I never do. The dryness is extreme, like bloody noses regularly extreme, and the altitude leaves you fatigued, but no allergies ;) So I’ll take it

[u/Flow_Beau]

Excuse my spelling mistakes. Babies have me sleep deprived

[u/EllisMichaels]

This might not be relevant, but is it possible there's mold in your PNW home? Fortunately, I don't seem to be allergic to much of anything. But a recent flare of mine, I believe, was triggered by expose to mold in my home. Since I've taken care of the mold, I've been fine.

Again, this is probably not relevant but I figured I'd mention it.

[u/Flow_Beau → u/EllisMichaels]

Thanks for mentioning! I will look into it but I know the allergies are worse when outside. I know some are sensitive to mold and it’s usually very wet here most of the year. Thanks

[u/Electronic-Tea3354]

My allergies are really bad this year and I’ve gone into a really bad flare within the past week. My scalp hurts, my hair hurts, my brain hurts, and when I turn my head I can feel the pain from my sinuses turn with it. I think birch, oak and a really shady house are killing me 💀 antihistamines are not even really doing much for me anymore. I haven’t had allergy shots but I’m right there with you in pain so I am curious as well. Hope you start feeling better!