Gout/G ouch

[long colt frazier]

I noticed in a couple of treads lately that we have a few gout sufferers, me included.
I had never even meet anyone with it until I had my first bout with the nasty affliction 3 years ago. I finally went to the doctor after my 4th round in 2 years and he gave me a prescription. So far so good for the last 11 months.

[feralmerril]

From my experiance the gout hurts the worst the first time you get it. After that you start to get a little used to it. I dont get it near as much or long as I used to in my working days. The more important spinoff is kidney stones! You are more prone to get them if you have a track record with gout. They are many more times painfull than gout! I belive that stuff might be somewhat genetic. My dad had numerous kidney stones however I dont think he ever got the gout.
If the gout shows up I take indmethacin. It does have annoying side effects for me but it helps. Vicodin is a wonder drug for the pain but doctors dont like writeing prescriptions for it and they will probley give you hydrocodine. Not near as good but a lot better than nothing.
Long term they will probley try to put you on alperino (sp?) to keep from getting the gout. I dont take it. If the gout does show up while you are takeing it, you QUIT takeing it untill your over it. Some doctors do the opposite. If you arent on it they put you on it when the gout shows up.
Lots of people swear by takeing real cherry juice when they get it.
It aint fun and I got hit with it a couple days ago after eating rich food and eating shrimp. I am almost over it today but it would be rough if I still had to work and it involved being on your feet and walking. They tell me to stay away from sea food. Also liver, (No problem) and tell you to stay away from red meat. I refuse to. In short, if it taste`s good, spit it out! I wont and dont.

[Biginge]

Real cherries and Apple cider vinegar , with the mother helps me keep it at bay.

Regards

Bill

[GKC]

I have experienced both gout (numerous times) and kidney stones (7, to date) and neither one is a walk in the park. Ironically, I have always had my gout attacks in one or both ankles, and no where else. In fact, the first time it happened, my doctor didn't believe it was gout until he did some tests because it is so uncommon to experience gout in the ankles. Actually, it can happen in any joint, including the spine (now, that has got to be miserable!)

My system produces an excessive amount of uric acid, and as a result, I have gout and uric acid kidney stones. I took Indocin for years, and then Colchicine, and a couple of years ago my doctor told me I could stop taking it. I still take Allopurinol daily to reduce the uric acid in my system. Fortunately, I haven't had either one (gout or kidney stone) in several years.

[310Pilot]

My brother had a recurring gout problem, but, after drinking cherry juice (as a preventive measure), he hasn't had an attack for several years. It can be tough to find real cherry juice, but it really helped. BTW, his "diet" is absolutely horrible, definitely not "anti-gout."

[feralmerril]

Some guys dont go to doctors for it if they want to keep up their flying physicals, especialy kidney stones.

[Tam 3]

For a gout crisis, indomethisin is an anti-inflamatory that works right now. Allopurinol halts the production of uric acid with no other effect. It is also very cheap. One pill a day for the rest of your life. Both require a prescription. Enjoy.

Regards,

Tam 3

[Cyrano]

Allopurinol has kept me gout free, at least so far, and I'm not on any sort of diet: I eat just about whatever I want, and as much as I want (which is usually too much).

[vytoland]

years in the past, i had several gout attacks. about 2-3 years ago i read an article about vitamin C as a gout preventative. i began taking two 500mg vitamin C tablets daily. one in the A.M. and one in the evening. since then no more gout and i dont get colds either. seems to work and the vitamin C tabs are not expensive.

[DesertFox]

Originally Posted by GKC

I have experienced both gout (numerous times) and kidney stones (7, to date) and neither one is a walk in the park. Ironically, I have always had my gout attacks in one or both ankles, and no where else. In fact, the first time it happened, my doctor didn't believe it was gout until he did some tests because it is so uncommon to experience gout in the ankles. Actually, it can happen in any joint, including the spine (now, that has got to be miserable!)

My system produces an excessive amount of uric acid, and as a result, I have gout and uric acid kidney stones. I took Indocin for years, and then Colchicine, and a couple of years ago my doctor told me I could stop taking it. I still take Allopurinol daily to reduce the uric acid in my system. Fortunately, I haven't had either one (gout or kidney stone) in several years.

Similar story here - down to the ankles. First time I suffered the symptoms, I had been out deep sea fishing off the coast of Jamaica and thought I had twisted my ankle while on the boat. Nope. 5 star cuisine, bottles of Grand Marnier... Not so good on ye ole gout.

My family physician treated me with Colchicine injections which worked great the first couple times. Then I ended up in an ER late one night during an attack. They looked at me like I was from outer space when I told them that I needed the Colchicine. It is evidently a remedy dating back to ancient Rome and is somewhat toxic. Extracted from "meadow saffron", it worked really well for me until the last time I was injected. I felt like I was going to die, and must have looked like it too because the Dr. and nurse looked worse off than me when I snapped out of it!

Beware the evil cousin kidney stone which seem to lurk around the corner for those prone to gout. Cherry juice, lemon, olive oil, apple cider vinegar and drink water like it is going out of style. Limit or quit alcohol intake. Diet sodas are supposed to be worse than regular soda but both can contribute.

DO NOT take prednisone as it is a steriod that makes the gout symptoms go away but they tend to come back with vengance. Prednisone also puts an "tire inner tube" of belly fat onto you faster than you can say Rumplestiltskin and it is tough to ditch even with diet and exercise.

Yeah, not only have I dealt with gout and kidney stones but additionally chronic plaque psoriasis on a fairly large percentage of my body. The amount of fortitude I've mustered to combat this triple threat has been massive. Any one of these is hard enough. All three conditions? Only wished on for my worst enemies. There does seem to be some sort of link to these auto-immune disorders - body freaks out, over or under produces trying to fight off perceived threat.

Just glad to be alive and breathing... Still... For now...

I take no prescription meds, preferring natural/alternative relief. Modern medicine had nothing to help me with any of these three conditions.

Good luck with the gout! It is a true pain in the arse.

[chief38]

I've suffered with Gout for many years and about 12 years ago the Doc put me on Allopurinol. I have not had an attack since!

I have also had 6 bouts and 6 Lithotripsy procedures - trust me the Gout is nothing compared to Kidney stones. I drink a lot of water with fresh lemon squeezed into it and I have been OK for 5 years now.

Neither is fun!!!

[photocosmo]

As a gout sufferer myself I can sympathize with your predicament! I know that I have posted this self-penned lymric before but I will offer it up again at the risk of boring everyone to death in the hope that you will find it somehow comforting in your time of distress:

'Twas a "gouty" young man, so they say
who's gout pained his big toe in a terrible way.
With the cause traced to beer
his solution was clear;
he cut off his big toe the next day!

P.S. You'll get used to it eventually. My attacks often alternate between feet from episode to episode.

[long colt frazier]

Good to hear the report on Allopurinol. That is what I've been taking for the past 11 months with good luck but have been holding my breath and crossing my fingers all the time.

[feralmerril]

My first bout of gout was very odd and I am not sure if it was a factor or coincidence. I was driveing to death valley in summertime on a hot day. I had a old datsun truck with a very cold add on air conditioner. That cold air was partialy vented right on my foot. I got the gout in it and it was my first and worst bout of the gout. Right now I am just getting over a mild case of it. First attack in a year or two but years ago it seemed like I was always fighting it about a 1/3rd of my life. I was a guard, on my feet and walking a lot. Always bulled through it and never took off work but it was hell at times. I once knew a guy that would get it very severe in his arms!

[jdh]

Originally Posted by long colt frazier

Good to hear the report on Allopurinol. That is what I've been taking for the past 11 months with good luck but have been holding my breath and crossing my fingers all the time.

Have not had another attack since I started it over 5 years ago.

[straightshooter1]

30 plus years ago, I had my first attack. I thought I had sprained my ankle. But gout hurts a lot more than that. It's one of those pains you just can't get away from. Sit still, elevate your foot, sleep (fat chance) or whatever and it is still there.

I was introduced to allopurinol and it worked for a while, then the attacks came back. And back, and back.

The doctor said I was an unusual case (no kidding!) and added probenecid to the allopurinol script. Two pills, allopurinol and probenecid in the morning, another probenecid in the evening.

30 plus years with no more attacks. No kidney stones (yet) and my doctor attributes that to these two meds.

I understand the pain and suffering that comes with gout, but there is a "cure" so to speak that prevents more attacks.

Most folks can avoid them with allopurinol, some need the extra help from probenecid.

The good news is that either or both of these meds are very inexpensive.

Bob

[feralmerril]

My wife builds me sort of a tent with pillows to keep the weight off sheets and blankets off my toes and feet.
I had one of my worst attacks and theresa`s back was her worst on the evening we got married january 2004. We both were so crippled and in pain you couldnt belive. She got off her walker and me my wallking stick for the ceramony and a few pictures.
One of the sickest funny incidents I ever seen: 50 years ago I was working for the conservation department in wisconsin. I took a lunch break in the carpenter shop at our HQ. The carpenter was moaning about haveing the gout with his foot propped up on a table. Another guy came walking by with a hammer in his hand and said something like, aw, it cant be that bad! I know he meant it as a joke that went bad. He took a swing with the hammer at the carpenters foot intending on just comeing close but the carpenter kicked his foot out trying to get it out of harms way but kicked it right into the hammer! The result was something to behold! Funny but not funny! I still have to laugh though when I think about it!

[A10]

I've been doing the pure tart cherry juice thing for the last couple months, and the last attack I had (last weekend) was so minor I barely noticed it. Good advice on the meds, though. My last doctor just said deal with it (with ibuprofen). I haven't gone back to him since.

Thanks for the heads up on the kidney stones thing.

[anglertoo]

I'm using allopurinol daily with the Colcrys (sp?) for attacks.
A friend turned me on to dried black cherries ... cheap, shelf stable, works like a charm and tastes like candy.
Still have to lay off sardines though.

[feralmerril]

I told this one long ago but indulge me. My first kidney stone attack I drove myself to the doctor. While in the waiting room a blond was sitting across from me looking at me and my antics. She was just a blurry form to me. Days later our departments security secatary asked me what I was doing at the doctors last week? I never reconised her!
Anyway I finaly got in the doctors office and asked her to give me something for the pain and she left to get it. While she was out I never was in such agony in my life. I prayed for relief. Almost instantly the pain stopped! At first I thought it had been a spasm and would come back. It didnt! The nurse came back with a needle. I told her to forget it and that I never felt better in my life! That was true. From agony to a solid wave of relief! The doctor came in and I told him about it. He kind of poo pooed my testimony and said the stone probley went to my bladder. He said I would have pain when I pass it later. I never had pain and never found a stone with the strainer they gave me! I did have another 5 or so incidents later through the years but the pain wasnt near as bad as that first time. I never was able to actualy find a stone. They always give you a strainer to catch the stone so they can examine it and tell you to stay away from what it shows.

[long colt frazier]

3 years ago my wife and I had to go to Dallas on short notice. We stayed in on the second story of a motel with metal stairs to the ground. Sometime in the night I had an attack and could not stand up the next morning. Missy had to go to Walgreens and buy me some crutches just to get me to the car and the ride home was pure misery all 7 hours. Never had one come on so fast.

[feralmerril]

One time I got hit with a kidney stone at buffalo bills casino at the state line. I spent a couple days in the room in misery to agoney. The GF of the time was scared to drive on the freeway. Finaly I drove home to lancaster, a 4 hour drive. I sat sideways driveing or whatever else it took. To top matters off I got a bad tank of gas with water in it at state line. The only time in my life and at the worst time to have that happen! My truck kept sputtering and wanting to quit especialy going over mountain pass south of the line. Thats why flight physicals they want to know if you have had kidney stones. I belive I could land a plane though after haveing went through that ordeal.
I once was in the hospital recovering from a pulmanary embelism. They brought a guy in about the age I am now. He told the doctor he had passed out for a block or so driveing but didnt crash. I didnt have time to tell him to shut up. The doctor told him he was obligated to inform the DMV and that they would take his license!

[Pootie]

allopurinol daily since an attack in Manila in 2005 - no problems since