Why do my HAE attacks feel worse than they used to at 74?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am a 74-year-old female with HAE, and one thing I have noticed over the last couple of years is that my swelling attacks seem more intense and take longer to recover than they used to.

The attacks themselves are familiar, but it feels like they affect me more physically now and leave me exhausted afterwards. I am not sure if this is part of aging, changes in treatment response, or just a coincidence.

For older adults living with hereditary angioedema, have you noticed attacks feeling worse with age, and are there factors that commonly make symptoms more severe over time?

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have read your history and can understand your concern.

I can understand why this would be frustrating and concerning, especially after managing hereditary angioedema for so many years.

While HAE (hereditary angioedema) itself does not necessarily worsen in a predictable way with age, many older adults find that attacks seem harder to recover from and leave them feeling more drained than they did when they were younger.

Part of this may be related to normal aging, as the body often has less physical reserve and takes longer to

Recover from stress.
Inflammation.
Pain.
Swelling episodes.

Other factors that can make attacks feel more severe over time include:

Additional medical conditions.
Infections.
Emotional stress.
Certain medications.
Reduced mobility.
Poor sleep.
Changes in treatment effectiveness or access to timely treatment.

It is also possible that swelling episodes are similar in size or duration but have a greater impact on energy levels and overall well-being than they once did.

Because you have noticed a clear change over the last couple of years, it would be worthwhile to discuss this with your HAE (hereditary angioedema) specialist so they can review your treatment plan and look for any factors that might be contributing to more difficult recoveries.

If attacks are becoming more frequent, more severe, or less responsive to treatment, a reassessment is particularly important. Many people with HAE continue to do well into older age.

I hope it helped with the query.

Please let me know if you have any more questions on your mind.

I would be happy to guide you.

Thank you.