GOUT!

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Had very hard to identify mid-foot gout for years that got worse & more frequent. Had a consult with Kelsey Jordan at the Montifiore (she is a world-leading gout specialist). Proved I had gout with a special scan she developed. Stuck me on Allopurinol and I haven’t had an attack for three years. You might get an attack at first but load up with colchicine and Naproxen. In my experience definitely take the medication

Yep. Allo doesn't 'work' well on a first ever attack till the inflammation has been settled (colchicine is the go-to for that). As others have said, cut out any foods that trigger it. Allo famously has little risk of adverse effects, unless you are 'hypersensitive' in which case a rash is a common first sign. If you are hypersensitive then the diet needs careful monitoring. Legal note: I am a pharmacologist (drug researcher, PhD) not a medic (clinical practitioner).

 

[Mellotron]

Thanks everyone for wise words and shared experiences. It’s really, really appreciated.

Things like this can get you down and make you feel like you’re the only one going through it, so it really does help to hear from others who understand.

 

[Mellotron]

UPDATE - this attack has been a right nasty bugger.

We are talking over a month ago now. It had all but subsided (finally) in the last few days then last night it has suddenly started turning up in the ankle.

I guess I just have to keep on the water, cherry extract tablets, nurofen, emulgel etc until it has gone - not allowed to go onto Allopurinol until this attack is over. Just getting a bit concerned about the long term damage stuff, given how long this one is lingering for.

 

[WhingForPresident]

My dad is a chronic gout sufferer, he's currently having his worst ever attack where his whole foot and ankle have trebled in size to the point he's having to wear flip flops to work and it's been going on around a month now. He's done allopurinol, colchicine, the cherry tablets etc but hasn't got on with any of them.

I haven't had an attack for 5 years +, felt it coming on last night and my big toe is bloody agony today. Not looking forward to the drive down to the Amex tomorrow. Hoping Naproxen is going to do the job...

 

[Heffle Gull]

Nott sure if it's been mentioned elsewhere, but Mrs Heffle has just had a gout episode. It cleared quite quickly after cutting tomatoes from her diet. May be worth considering if you eat a lot of them.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

My dad is a chronic gout sufferer, he's currently having his worst ever attack where his whole foot and ankle have trebled in size to the point he's having to wear flip flops to work and it's been going on around a month now. He's done allopurinol, colchicine, the cherry tablets etc but hasn't got on with any of them.

I haven't had an attack for 5 years +, felt it coming on last night and my big toe is bloody agony today. Not looking forward to the drive down to the Amex tomorrow. Hoping Naproxen is going to do the job...

Dads know best. Try to wear flip-flops or open-toed sandals if you can. Might look a bit odd, but to hell with that. From experience, trying to squeeze your foot into a normal shoe in the throes of a gout attack can be be bloody excruciating. Good luck tomorrow

 

[Colonel Mustard]

My dad is a chronic gout sufferer, he's currently having his worst ever attack where his whole foot and ankle have trebled in size to the point he's having to wear flip flops to work and it's been going on around a month now. He's done allopurinol, colchicine, the cherry tablets etc but hasn't got on with any of them.

I haven't had an attack for 5 years +, felt it coming on last night and my big toe is bloody agony today. Not looking forward to the drive down to the Amex tomorrow. Hoping Naproxen is going to do the job...

Bad luck. I suffered from gout over a period of about 10 years but haven’t had an attack for 7 years or so, so hoping that might be it. It’s hard to offer advice because, as this thread shows, it affects people in different ways. Personally, I found that attacks were more likely after too much red meat. I had a bad attack in the US, for instance, when I was on business expenses and eating big steaks every night! Thinking about it, in recent years my diet has improved with a lot more veg and home cooking, and not so much red meat, which my wife won’t eat. Maybe this has helped keep it at bay. Alcohol and red wine is said by many to make it worse. As for tomorrow, obviously make sure you have soft comfy shoes like a roomy pair of trainers. The worst time for me was when I was working and still felt obliged to wear smart rigid business shoes. Ouch! Good luck.

*Edit - just saw above about wearing flip flops for work. I probably should have done that though at the time I worked in a very formal business environment where I’d have felt self-conscious. Silly really.

 

[WhingForPresident]

Thanks for the advice. I have 'broad feet' running shoes which give me loads of space so should be alright for footwear, but if I have to do flip flops, so be it!

I have been doing keto these last few weeks and eating loads of meat as a result so I suspect that's it. My old man insists it's 'stress' that is his main trigger and that it's probably mine as well, but I'm not sure anyone else has even theorised that!

 

[Questions]

Had it for the first time a few months ago. Proper nasty.

I took a shitload of painkillers which sufficiently numbed it, but I hear cherry juice is meant to be a good remedy.

So a Kriek could help ?

 

[Colonel Mustard]

Thanks for the advice. I have 'broad feet' running shoes which give me loads of space so should be alright for footwear, but if I have to do flip flops, so be it!

I have been doing keto these last few weeks and eating loads of meat as a result so I suspect that's it. My old man insists it's 'stress' that is his main trigger and that it's probably mine as well, but I'm not sure anyone else has even theorised that!

Ah, keto may well have brought it on. I’ve done keto myself a couple of times but generally got my protein from cheese, white meat and fish rather than red meat. So maybe shift your choices for a while and see if that helps.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Thanks for the advice. I have 'broad feet' running shoes which give me loads of space so should be alright for footwear, but if I have to do flip flops, so be it!

I have been doing keto these last few weeks and eating loads of meat as a result so I suspect that's it. My old man insists it's 'stress' that is his main trigger and that it's probably mine as well, but I'm not sure anyone else has even theorised that!

Maybe that, in conjunction with not drinking enough water during the very hot, very humid spell of weather we've been having recently

 

[Dun Lurkin]

Reading through this thread it seems as if half of NSC has suffered at one time or another. As have I. Have been on Alopurinol for a number of years now, which has kept it at bay, after initially taking Colchicine. When I had my first major attack, it felt as if I had a broken ankle and had to crawl to the loo as I could not walk. On another occasion I had a bacon sandwich and then watched my ankle swell in front of my eyes (with accompanying pain). I have also found that any type of seafood brings it on, so I now avoid this. All my fellow sufferers have my profound sympathy.

 

[banjo]

UPDATE - this attack has been a right nasty bugger.

We are talking over a month ago now. It had all but subsided (finally) in the last few days then last night it has suddenly started turning up in the ankle.

I guess I just have to keep on the water, cherry extract tablets, nurofen, emulgel etc until it has gone - not allowed to go onto Allopurinol until this attack is over. Just getting a bit concerned about the long term damage stuff, given how long this one is lingering for.

Have you used naproxen for the pain?

​

 

[Mellotron]

Just a quick update - finally got over a really nasty bout which lasted about 5-6 weeks overall and caused really big swelling in the knuckle of my big toe, if you get me.

I wanted to wait until all the last twinges had receded before going onto Allopurinol for the first time - so starting it tomorrow. Just wanted to know how severe people had gout attacks after first taking the Allopurinol, what should I expect?

 

[HangletonGull]

Anyone suffer from this? Had a series flare up in my big toe since Saturday got so bad today was almost in tears , anything to help a flare up ?

 

[WATFORD zero]

I have to say I've been extremely lucky as I see Red wine, shellfish, chocolate, offal, game and red meat as the perfect balanced diet.

Sorry, but I believe there's a few cherry juice concentrations that help

 

[Arthur]

Been covered on here before:
Thread 'GOUT!'
https://www.northstandchat.com/threads/gout.355658/

The short answer is everyone is different when it comes to triggers and cures so giving you advice maybe complete nonsense.

Have a read of that thread though….you aren’t alone and anyone who has had it will sympathise.

 

[hart's shirt]

As above...wise minds think alike.

Hope you feel better soon @HangletonGull .

 

[North of Robertsbridge]

Drink as much water as you can. Avoid shellfish, smoked foods, red meat and red wine. See your doc and get yourself onto allopurinol (daily for the rest of, sadly)

Edited to add - avoid stress, that really does trigger attacks

 

[Miximate]

Get it very occasionally, still haven’t sussed exact reasons why, but drink pints of water and usually gone within a few days. Painful as anything though I’m afraid!