Smokers Message

Smoking alleviates pain and somewhat inhibits mouth ulcers in people with Behcet's Disease.

Unfortunately, it is a terribly unhappy option for those of us who'd like to live long enough to see our grandkids grow up.

I am working on not smoking and it has been difficult.  I crave sugar, but am learning to reach for cucumbers instead.  I just ran out of steroid mouth rinse, and feel very close to a real freak out and total panic.  On the other hand, I know enough to not be my own worst enemy by eating or drinking stuff that is bad for my system.  Most Behcet's sufferers have probably figured out what works and what doesn't regarding nutrition.  If you haven't, please do so.   I also refilled my pain medication.

Is it actually possible to give up cigarettes without completely going off the deep end with Behcet's symptoms?

Stay tuned.  Going to exercise now.  What a bore.  I'd take my dog for a walk but a woman and her 3 year old daughter just got held up at gun point in my fairly normal middle class neighborhood.  My political blog continues to take most of my time.

Fall - Bad Time of Year for Me!

It's fall, and all the Halloween candy has hit the store shelves.  This is very bad for me.  I'm somewhat addicted to candy, the cheaper, more unhealthy it is, the better I like it.  This is very bad for me, since I eat the candy and then have to wait for the mouth ulcers to appear.  It would be better if I smoked, because smoking does retard the development of mouth ulcers in my system.  But smoking is something I really want to NOT do. 

I suppose I could exercise the same self-control for not eating the candy that I'm exercising for not smoking the cigarettes, but then, well, crap, why don't I just drop dead and be done with this completely boring life.

Anyhow.  Fellow candy addicts and Behcet's sufferers, you are not alone.  I put on my skeleton face and hit the candy bucket.  I just don't care. 

Baking Soda Toothpaste

Recently had a flair with my Behcet's, and made an interesting accidental discovery.

Toothpaste containing baking soda helped soothe and heal a particularly nasty mouth ulcer.  I didn't use the steroid rinse, as the toothpaste made a huge difference.  Can't say this will work for everyone, but switch to a toothpaste with baking soda, and see what happens.