Gout Rant

[Jefenator]

I missed a week of work, a while back. Thought I was out of the woods, then the other day it came back and I'm out, 2 more days.

Got a steady string of gigs coming up - those are all going to bite. (Sometimes just getting to the bathroom feels like Homer's Odyssey.)

It would be pretty hard at this point to overstate the extent to which I am "over" this @&#^%$.

I've been trying Colchicine for a year. Seemed okay for minor attacks, but this time, it's worse than useless. (All side effects... NO freaking relief. )

I've been trying to avoid the permanent drug regimen, but this is the last straw. I've been dealing with this crap for 8 years and this latest episode has lasted so long, I feel like I should be charging the gout crystals rent.

I guess it's time to get with a GP and try the Allopurinol.

That is all - thanks for indulging me. [/RANT]

[Demon_Hunter]

I feel your pain. I've had attacks of gout in the past and it is the worst pain ever.

[Truktek2]

I read the title quickly , and thought it said grout. I'm re-doing my bathroom, so unfortunately I can't offer any advice
Feel better though.

[Angus]

People tolerate the allopurinol quite well- why haven't you gone this way in the past? Trying to avoid much medication? Colchicine is really only useful for acute attacks, so like most acute medication isn't really a great solution for chronic pain/symptoms.

Sounds like it's time to go see your GP, like you said!

[bassybill]

I can understand your plight; I've suffered with it for years. Seems to attack at random times for no apparent reason. I find naproxen helps to some extent, but like you I've always been reluctant to go the permanent medication route.

[Chris Fitzgerald]

A colleague of mine at the U. had a really debilitating case of this for years, and finally solved it after going on a strict elimination diet. He ended up eating some pretty strange stuff for a while, but has been pain free for several years now. I have no idea what the diet was or is, but thought I'd throw that out there. Good luck.

[GregC]

Originally Posted by Angus

People tolerate the allopurinol quite well- why haven't you gone this way in the past? Trying to avoid much medication? Colchicine is really only useful for acute attacks, so like most acute medication isn't really a great solution for chronic pain/symptoms.

Sounds like it's time to go see your GP, like you said!

+1. I've taken it for a couple years with no ill effects, and haven't had any attacks since.

[jerry]

I have had it for almost 30 years and so many things can trigger a attack, diet, stress, etc. It's a pretty wily ailment, I take Allopurinol and for bad attacks Indomethacin, neither being too great on the kidneys. I've changed diets and I don't eat meat, but gout is like a marine, it overcomes, it adapts.

[Jefenator]

Thanks for the replies, guys!

I used to do the naproxen thing, but I think I was flirting with bleeding ulcers. Might be okay once a year or so, but I don't like slamming those anti's so hard on a more frequent basis.

The colchicine seems gentler on the system. Unfortunately it's also gentler on the gout. (Just picked up another bottle yesterday and the pharmacist asked if this was my first time using it - I said actually, it's my last. After this latest experience I'd like to burn down the factory that produces the stuff and pee on the ashes. YMMV )

I just found a good doctor through my music network. (Booker/pianist's husband - already know and like the guy - didn't realize he practices right here in town & has lots of gout experience.)

Before anyone feels too sorry for me, I sort of went on a total beef bender before the latest onset. That was really stupid. But I think 3 weeks' penance is just about enough!

[bottomzone]

Stay away from foods that are high in purine content, especially shell fish and hot links!!! And cut down on beef consumption for sure. This has really worked for me.

A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

[Angus]

I'm always surprised that that works for people- "purines" are half of the bases of your DNA, so most (the vast majority, in fact) of the purines being metabolized in your body are independent of food. But it does seem to work for people.

[lowendfriend]

Drink lots of water and take a multivitamin with a big load of Vit D.

I took allopurinol for years and just started weaning off it after I lost 40 lbs.

Ironically, I have a buzz going across the bottoms of my toes of the left foot today. Had a big load of sushi and wasabi last night....hhmmmmmm

[steamthief]

Stay away from beer, that is a bad thing for gout.

[Angus]

Alcohol in general.

[Jefenator]

Originally Posted by lowendfriend

I took allopurinol for years and just started weaning off it after I lost 40 lbs.

That's what I'd like to do: get on the Allo, lose the weight, get off the Allo.

(I'm told that losing weight can bring on attacks. What kind of a lousy catch-22 is that!!)

Ironically, I have a buzz going across the bottoms of my toes of the left foot today. Had a big load of sushi and wasabi last night....hhmmmmmm

Uh, oh...

[Nappa]

What is gout? Isn't that what Bobby got when he ate too many chicken livers?

[Jefenator]

Bobby got gout?? That's not a very comical thing to have happen to a pre-teen.

Gout is when you wake up one morning and say: "That's funny - I don't remember having my foot get run over by a moving van."

[jerry]

I almost always get it the knee.

[Nappa]

Originally Posted by Jefenator

Bobby got gout?? That's not a very comical thing to have happen to a pre-teen.

Gout is when you wake up one morning and say: "That's funny - I don't remember having my foot get run over by a moving van."

A New York Deli open up in the mall and they served chopped chicken liver. Bobby's gout got so bad that they gave him a rascal. He missed out on the prom because of the gout.

[Kawai-chang]

2 things: One, I feel for you. Chronic pain Sucks. Two, the King of the Hill episode when Bobby got gout is pretty funny.