You know what ain't fair? GOUT, that's what!

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beach elvis

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Just left the E.R. for the second time in a week during the current flare-up.

I don't drink, I don't eat the stuff I ain't s'posed to, and I ain't rich.
What the heck gives????

For extra added fun, I have 3 drumming gigs and an 8-hour fishing program to do this weekend. There's nothing like stomping on pedals for 4 hours a night while your foot's doing its best to imitate a flesh-eating zombie. GRRRRR....

Indomethicin didn't do squat this time.

Now they put me on Colchicine. Lotsa horror stories about this stuff.

Anybody have any thoughts?

Well, off for my 4th glass of cherry juice today.
 
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Gout was giving me fits til I was put on Phobenecid 500mg once daily. Once on it, you need to stay on it...It's generic, it doesn't cost too much and stops Gout.

Gout used to be called "The Rich Man's Disease"...I've proven that to be false.. :-)
 
I was in my early 30s when I had my first attack. Took a while, but now I take an allopurinol and a probenecid tablet daily. Never had another attack once the doctors figured out I needed both. Usually, one or the other prevents such attacks.

Gout is a very painful experience and may not be simply because you eat the wrong foods. Some folks just have very high amounts of uric acid, which triggers it.

Bob
 
I get it every once and a while now. Been 2yr (knock on wood) Broke my big toe 3 times and that were it gets me. I do take colchine only when I feel it coming on 2 hits a day for 2-3 days usally takes care of it.

My heart goes out to you. People don't know what pain is till you get a case of gout
 
I used to have some very severe episodes of gout. Many don't understand that gout can be a major health crisis with pain so severe that it can cause shock. Also, repeated bouts of it can cause severe damage to the affected joint. The things that contributed to my problems were being very overweight and eating too much protein. The idea that it is a "rich man's disease" came from a time when meat was a luxury for the wealthy. One had to be in the more affluent class to afford meat everyday.

In adition to the colchicine and probenecid, I was told to drink lots of water and cut out or very much down on animal protein foods, ie, meat. I did find this helped. As I am sure you know, certain other foods, high purine foods, can also be a problem.

The real frustration came when I finally started to lose a bunch of weight and that brought on attacks of gout! I don't know about your case, of course, but mine got so bad even a bed sheet was too painful to have over my foot. It felt like lighteneing was going through my foot. It was one of the most painful things I have experienced. You have my sympathy on this. I hope you get better.
 
Thanks for the support, guys.
Sorry you've had to deal with it, too.

For those of you forummers lucky enough to never have experienced gout, here's something that might put into perspective:

I once played in a band with a guy that had gout before I ever had it. (His was from drinking too much.)

This same fellow also once fractured his kneecap into small bits in a skiing accident.

He told me that if given a choice between having another gout attack or re-shattering his kneecap, he said, he'd TAKE THE KNEE!

Can't suck enough.
 
I am the grand master punjab of gout attacks! Thank God not lately though. The big thing to watch for is kidney stones. They seem to go hand in hand and you could get them later. They make the gout feel good! If you get a attack of gout I have found indcine SP?, helps. Reduce the swelling fast, but on that I need the bathroom handy.
Alapreino is kind of confuseing to be on. If you take it, you QUIT takeing it at the 1st sign of gout. Conversly, I belive if you dont take it, they put you on it when you get the gout. Go figure! You will find your 1st bout of gout is the worst. After that you seem to learn to bull it through. The same with kidney stones.
 
My grandpa, rest his soul, said the good Lord was punishing him with gout because, as a young man he used to laugh at all of the old men with gout. Proper diet will help.
 
I've had my big toe act up and I know it hurts. I recently developed Rheumatoid Arthritis, which feels like gout in every effected joint. I couldn't turn the key in the ignition of my truck or even hold an empty soda can. While researching RA I've read that gout is a form of arthritis. For those that haven't been there, imaging a small glowing charcoal ember in a joint. When you use the joint it is like blowing on the coal. Gout, arthritis... whatever. It's just no fun at all.

Brother, I feel your pain.
 
I reckon I'm just lucky, because I'm 41 years old and eat meat all day, EVERY day and have never had a case of gout.

Is there a certain kind/type of meat that causes it?
 
What is gout?

Gout is a kind of arthritis. It can cause an attack of sudden burning pain, stiffness, and swelling in a joint, usually a big toe. These attacks can happen over and over unless gout is treated. Over time, they can harm your joints, tendons, and other tissues. Gout is most common in men.

What causes gout?

Gout is caused by too much uric acid in the blood. Most of the time, having too much uric acid is not harmful. Many people with high levels in their blood never get gout. But when uric acid levels in the blood are too high, the uric acid may form hard crystals in your joints.

Your chances of getting gout are higher if you are overweight, drink too much alcohol, or eat too much meat and fish that are high in chemicals called purines. Some medicines, such as water pills (diuretics), can also bring on gout.

And, of course, your genetics play a major role in any type of arthritis.
 
High uric acid levels may be caused by:

Individual differences in the way your body produces or gets rid of uric acid.
Conditions, such as:
Kidney disease or kidney damage.
The increased breakdown of body cells that occurs with some types of cancer (including leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma) or cancer treatments, hemolytic anemia, sickle cell anemia, or heart failure.
Other disorders, such as alcohol dependence, preeclampsia, liver disease (cirrhosis), lipid disorders, obesity, psoriasis, hypothyroidism, and low blood levels of parathyroid hormone.
Starvation, malnutrition, or lead poisoning.
A rare inherited gene disorder called Lesch-Nyhan syndrome.
Medicines, such as some diuretics, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), lower doses of aspirin (75 to 80 mg aspirin daily), niacin, and some medicines used to treat leukemia, lymphoma, or tuberculosis.
Eating foods that are very high in purines, such as organ meats (liver, brains), red meats (beef, lamb), game meat (deer, elk), some seafood (sardines, herring, scallops), and beer.
Drinking a lot of alcohol, especially beer.


Purines are a class of organic molecules consisting of an asymmetric fused double ring that contains substantial nitrogen. When these molecules are metabolized, they produce copious uric acid, which must be removed from the blood by the kidneys. If the kidneys can't handle it, the uric acid crystalizes out to produce kidney stones and/or gout.

In short, eating meat rich in internal organs, like the preserved hard sausages, and washing them down with beer, is a stress test for your kidneys.
 
Beach Elvis, I feel your pain, literally! I had my 1st attack a few years ago, I put off going to the doc because I felt like a dork, I mean, my big toe hurts, cowboy up! I finally went, she took one look at my big toe, and said it's gout. That sent me on a research bender, I finally had to be put on 300 MG of Allopurinol a day and it seems to keep my flare ups in check. THis was after numerous episodes, I mean, when you can't put your socks on because it hurts, you've gotta do something. I get the twinges, and occasionionally the water from the shower hitting my feet causes pain, and I know I'm on the verge of an attack.

Watch your diet, and you may have to go on a maintenance drug, it's the only thing that keeps me from having more frequent flareups.

Take care bro, I know how much it hurts.
 
OKFC05 said:
High uric acid levels may be caused by:

Individual differences in the way your body produces or gets rid of uric acid.
Conditions, such as:
Kidney disease or kidney damage.
The increased breakdown of body cells that occurs with some types of cancer (including leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma) or cancer treatments, hemolytic anemia, sickle cell anemia, or heart failure.
Other disorders, such as alcohol dependence, preeclampsia, liver disease (cirrhosis), lipid disorders, obesity, psoriasis, hypothyroidism, and low blood levels of parathyroid hormone.
Starvation, malnutrition, or lead poisoning.
A rare inherited gene disorder called Lesch-Nyhan syndrome.
Medicines, such as some diuretics, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), lower doses of aspirin (75 to 80 mg aspirin daily), niacin, and some medicines used to treat leukemia, lymphoma, or tuberculosis.
Eating foods that are very high in purines, such as organ meats (liver, brains), red meats (beef, lamb), game meat (deer, elk), some seafood (sardines, herring, scallops), and beer.
Drinking a lot of alcohol, especially beer.


Purines are a class of organic molecules consisting of an asymmetric fused double ring that contains substantial nitrogen. When these molecules are metabolized, they produce copious uric acid, which must be removed from the blood by the kidneys. If the kidneys can't handle it, the uric acid crystalizes out to produce kidney stones and/or gout.

In short, eating meat rich in internal organs, like the preserved hard sausages, and washing them down with beer, is a stress test for your kidneys.
Click to expand...

That's a lot of GOOD information.

WHEW! Boy am I glad I'm not from Chicago! I'll bet that place is gout central...especially with those Bears fans, huh? :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPP3aTB6nLo
 
Had gout when I was married to my first wife ... got a divorce and never had another attack. Now I am fighting asthma, ulcerative colitis, diabetes, osteoporosis and tinnitus. And if that ain't enough, I'm scheduled for an abdominal CT scan at the Prescott VA on the 25th because my last two blood labs show elevated liver enzymes. Getting older ain't for sissies.
 
Seafood will bring it on the quickest. Also they say meat organs like liver and kidneys, but I hate them. I also heard asspargas is bad. Getting your feet wet also can start it. However if you are a skinny health nut you probley can get away with everything. Its suppose to come from a lot of rich, spicey, fatty food. In other words, everything I like! (except for the organ meat).
Seriously, as I already said, and I cant say it enough as a vet, kidney stones seem to go along with it. The gout is or could be a warning siginal for stones, and brother, you dont want kidney stones! There isnt ANYTHING in this world that hurts worse than kidney stones!
 
Sorry for all you guys and gals that suffer with gout, as I do. Until I experienced it I had no idea what gout was.

I overindulged (the most delicious foods including organ meats, seafood and wild game along with copious amounts of alcohol) for most of 30 years. Then one day I started to experience soreness in the joint behind my right big toe. It would go away but, returned a couple of times over a year. Then one day, BAM. Extreme pain and no going away.

It took meds like allopurinol, steroids and severe dieting for over 9 months to significantly lower my purine levels and to become free of attacks.

Since those 9 months have passed, I do have small portions of seafood and some other prohibited foods but, no liver and onions. I also have one to two beers every day or two. More on some weekends. Thanks to allopurinol and watching my diet, no more attacks.

The attacks were so painful that I was willing to do anything to make them stop. I still am and I will again alter my lifestyle in any way that is needed should the attacks return.

Best wishes to all of the striken out there.
 
I started having trouble with gout at 52. I am now 63 and it won’t bother me if I take care of myself. Google low pruine diet. I decided I didn’t want to die early because of liver failure after taking medications for gout. It’s a diet and weight problem. My diet consists of lots of vegetables, fruit and nuts. When I started this diet I was 6’ tall and 205 pounds. In six months I lost down to 180. Two years later I am at 175 with no gout attack for at least 6 months. I still get an attack at times, but it only lasts maybe 8 to 10 hours and very mild. Steak or beef of any kind could and sometimes will bring on an attack. I eat beef about once every 2 or 3 months and I expect an attack. It don’t always come. I eat meet once a day and only about 3 or 4 oz. Mostly its chicken, pork or turkey. I am in better shape now with lower BP.
This reply is getting long, you will just have to work it out, or take the medication. I made my choice and I’m sticking to it. Good luck.
Phil
 
Stress will bring on gout. Stress is a quiet killer in more ways than one. Organ meats (liver, heart, etc.) are bad. I used to get gout but haven't had an occurance in over 10 years. I know what the warning signs are and still have the medicine in case I get that heated 'tingle'...
 
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