Once you are through the most uncomfortable or painful parts of an HAE episode and have the energy, there are a few follow-up steps that may help you better manage — or prevent — a future episode.
Keep Track of Symptoms
After the swelling goes down, continue to rest and track symptoms, says Randhawa. Use a journal or notes app to record where the swelling occurred, how long the swelling lasted, and which treatments and self-care strategies you used to manage the attack, along with how well they worked.
If symptoms are severe or flaring up frequently and interfering with your quality of life, your doctor may want to either adjust the medication dosage or switch you to a new maintenance medication (to prevent episodes) or on-demand medication (to treat an acute episode).
Stay in Touch With Your Care Team
Everyone with HAE should be in regular contact with their doctor. If symptoms are, for the most part, under control and don’t interfere very much with your daily life, you may only need to see your doctor every 6 to 12 months. If symptoms flare up a little more often or are more severe, you’ll likely want to see your doctor more frequently.
Consider a Clinical Trial
You may also be a candidate for an HAE clinical trial. These test the safety and effectiveness of new potential treatments before they’re fully approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The US Hereditary Angioedema Association keeps tabs on active clinical trials on their website. Talk with your doctor to get a better understanding of the risks and benefits, and determine if a clinical trial could be a good option for you.
“HAE medications have made significant advancements in the last decade,” says Randhawa. Once you find the right one for you, it’ll be easier to keep symptoms under control.
Read the full article here
