Anybody had long-term experience with gout, "the disease of kings"?

I was diagnosed awhile back and am trying to control it with diet -- less red meat, and careful with alcohol (particularly beer) consumption. Seemed to be working pretty well for me, but this week has been a gold-plated pain in the....foot. Can't figure out what triggered it, but there it is.

With mine, it's the bottom joint of the right big toe (same one involved with bunions -- a different condition altogether, which I don't have) that gets inflamed and swollen from the little crystals that accumulate there. Makes it painful to walk, though keeping ibuprofen in my system helps some.

I'm trying not to have to take the medication that controls the uric acid level, just because I prefer to control it otherwise if I can. Might have to start, though. This stuff can make you feel practically lame.

Anybody have any experience long-term with this? What helps you?

__________________
Ukraine -- now more than ever

My doctor prescribed Allopurinol about 18 years ago. Works good and is fairly cheap for a perscription med.

I ain't giving up steak or BBQ!

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I have had a lot of it many times. To start with the doctors will say to take aliprino but if you get the gout to QUIT takeing it. To add to the confusion on that some doctors might put you on it WHEN you get it. I just dont take it at all. I take ibuprofen when it shows up. That works the best of anything when it shows up. Takes the swelling and pressure down but I dont like what else it does to me, slightly upset stumach, quick steps etc.
If I eat sea food thats what brings it on. It will travel around too. Maybe one foot and then the other etc. I knew a guy that got it in his arms! He died and I heard it was from that but personaly I doubt it. Sometimes I can feel it comeing on before it does come on strong. Kind of a numbness in the area and maybe a slight swelling. I hate to tell you this but you are also prone to get kidney stones eventualy if you get the gout. Kidney stones will make the gout look good. Wish you the best.

Well mushrooms and clams are items not to be eaten either. (Two of my favorite foods)

My Doc put me on Uloric<spl> and that allows me to eat anything it appears, as I have not had a flare-up in 3 years. Suppose to watch what I eat but since starting the drug all has been well!

Due to other health problems going on the drug was in my best interests and like I said I eat what I want.

PS. I have also had shingles and to be honest I do not know which hurts the most. They both hurt quite a lot!

__________________
14 S&W Revs none with locks!

Most sea food, asparagus, anchovies, wild game..........
otherwise "Rich Food" and #1, BEER !!

So my steamed clams, Pizza's, Chief Salads and Football games have gone down hill, big time, to say the least !!

White wine is the only booze now since it is better than red wine..................if I have to have a glass with dinner.
No Red wine with Pasta is killing me............maybe just half a glass ? !

I've had a few gout attacks over the past 30 years...it really tests your tolerance for pain. to avoid the misery the above mentioned foods.....shell fish, organ meats, beer need to be avoided.

I had a recent gout attack in September, after a few days, went to the doctor and he gave me a shot of something in the hip and a prescription for "vimovo". got relief in a day and a half.

I enjoy eating /drinking the items that will increase your uric acid level, however I dislike the intense pain even more.

this information about gout from the mayo clinic may be a helpful link....

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gout-diet/MY01137

good luck...

__________________
There's nowt so queer as folk

I have had gout attacks for some 27 years now and I find I can eat pork but only once a week,I can no longer eat oatmeal as it causes some horrible attacks and I even had times where weather changes caused attacks!Not fun at all!!!

I had it several years ago. Was given rx for indomethican (SP). Helped greatly. I eat fresh cherries in season and canned when I cant get fresh. It really works. Try it.

__________________
Bill
Dis B. Leaf

I've had gout twice. Both times I drank a glass of cherry juice in the morning and one in the evening. After the first day, started to get relief. Second day of cherry juice resulted in no pain. Third day of cherry juice and all symptoms were gone. Friend of mine had the same results with his gout. His doctor was amazed. My doctor was simply stumped. My grandfather used to get gout, and my mom said he always would drink two glasses of cherry juice a day for three days to clear it up. Might give it a try.

That's what I've been taking for gout and it works great. Wiped out ALL my symptoms. I am also on a no-red-meat diet, but that is for kidney stones.

I have been on Allopurinol for 10 years or so and have not had an attack since. Unless there is some medical reason, I would think anyone who has had attacks would want to take it.

Yup. I'm on the same meds as everyone else here. I have used cherries and tart cherry juice with great success.

__________________
Even older, even crankier....

Had it off and on for the past 5-7 years. Things that aggrivate: pork, steak, beer, sugar, anything sweet.
I control my mine by eating as best as I can and staying away from sugar. Sugar is a really big deal when it comes to gout. If I stay away from sugar, drink only light beers once in awhile, the gout stays away forever.
I have had it so bad that you could not allow a bed sheet to touch your foot! I have seen the gout move around in my foot. I have had it so bad you would not believe the pain.
The cure: stay off sweet's and sugar, this includes soft drinks and tea, stay off beer, eat steak and pork in moderation, and you will loose the gout.

One more thing, keeping the ibprofen going helps too.

DR

I'm lucky; my uric acid level was going up and my doctor put me on allopurinol. That was about 10 years ago. I don't watch my diet; I love steak and shellfish, although I don't drink much beer. I prefer Jack Daniels. Can' have much sugar since I'm diabetic. Have never had a gout attack, and hopefully I never will.

I had gout really bad all the way up my foot and in my knee and elbow. I am on dialysis now and it takes care of the uric acid. But I think the cherries did help when I had it, the darker the better. Good luck with it.

I have had it of and on for several years. Last year I woke up the day after a knee replacement with gout on both feet. Because of the knee operation, they would not treat the gout for over a week. After a week in a lot of pain they gave me a shot that stopped it in a day.

I have found that drinking the cherry juice works. I buy it by the case on amazon and that saves a lot. You should not take Allopurinol when the gout is present. It is designed to prevent it, not treat it. Colchicine is an old medicine that works for me. The FDA gave the rights to certify this years ago and now a pill costs 4.35 rather than .09 each.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colchicine

__________________
Corripe Cervisiam

I appreciate all the suggestions, guys. I'll definitely be checking them out. And, to paraphrase ol' Billy Shakespeare:

"Out, damned gout, out I say!"

__________________
Ukraine -- now more than ever

Which cherry juice are you buying off amazon?

DR

There are different brands. I bought this one because it was 100% juice and it was 8 46oz jugs for less than $40.

Amazon.com : Indian Summer 100% Juice, Montmorency Cherry, 46-Ounce Containers (Pack of 8) : Fruit Juices : Grocery & Gourmet Food@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51LoovOwtmL.@@AMEPARAM@@51LoovOwtmL

__________________
Corripe Cervisiam

Talk to your Doctor again, it isn't just red meat or beer that causes an attack. The really unpleasant fact is that you have to reduce ALL of your meat protein intake to just 2 to 3 ounces per meal. That means Fish, Poultry, Venison, and even eggs. Basically you need to go a bit more that semi vegetarian in your diet and can't even have a cold brew to ease your misery.

Got gout? Yep.

Symptoms? Nope, thanks to Allopurinol!

__________________
Audaces Fortuna Juvat

So what you are saying is the cure is worse than the disease.

May as well curl up and die. As a buddy of mine use to say, "If it taste good, spit it out!"

My doctor told me tomatoes were really bad. When I feel a attack coming on l start taking grape seed capsules from Walmart. If that doesn't work I use the other drugs mentioned.


Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk