Bloody gout.... any advice from fellow sufferers?

[Muzzy]

I've always had problems with my right foot after I tore some tendons 5 years ago. At first I thought I had just re injured it as I had a swollen foot and the swelling was exactly where the damage was....

It was a couple of days later I realised what it was and my foot tuned into this...

The photo doesn't show just how bad it had swollen. It was like that until Wednesday, no matter how much water I drank, anti inflammatories I took or how much glucosamine or cherry juice I drank, 6 days of agony, the pain has now gone and the colour is back to normal but the swelling has remained.

My boss the generous fellow that he is phoned me on Friday to say that he had to cancel his off-roading trip for the weekend because of me and that I was letting my work colleagues down due to my absence and that he wouldn't pay me for the time off.

So I've been back at work since Monday with a severely swollen foot that is still agony to walk on, working 7am to 7pm, sometimes crying in pain.

Where I've been limping around I'm now having problems with my right knee and left hip. But today is the first day I have been able to walk properly without a limp despite the swelling remaining. If it hasn't gone by Sunday I shall be back at the doctors to get it sorted. I'm going to Turkey in 3 weeks so I need to get it sorted and get the allopurinol up and running. I used to take it but I cut down on the drinking and weened myself off it, that was 3 years ago, now I'm going to go back on it, I'm not ever going through this again!!

I feel your pain mate.
It may be worth asking your Dr for a specialist referral. Can't think of the name off the top of my head but the top gout specialist is working at princess royal in Hayward Heath.
She has changed my life for me. I don't know anyone else that has suffered as badly as me but she has helped enormously. I've gone from averaging 4 bad bouts per year to none since May last year.
Be careful with what drugs you take. If you are on colchicine then do not take them for more than 6 days. They can do damage to you. Diclofenac should be taken with omeprazole.
Allopurinal is only a preventative medicine rather than a cure for acute attacks but do not stop taking them if you are still using them daily.
Hope this heps. Happy to help via pm if you wish
Hope you feel better soon as trust me mate, I know exactly how you feel

 

[Hillian1]

Have you had a full on knee attack yet?

No, mine seems to be confined to my feet/toes and rarely in my left wrist

 

[Tricky Dicky]

No, mine seems to be confined to my feet/toes and rarely in my left wrist

Left wrist was certainly my worst attack. A&E RSCH made it a lot worse, so as a lefty, I couldn't write for 2 months.

 

[TheDuke]

No, mine seems to be confined to my feet/toes and rarely in my left wrist

I started this thread way back in Feb. I managed to have 2 weeks without an attack and went straight on the Allopurinol I thought I'd cracked it at last. Nearly 3 weeks without pain but wow it's back with a vengeance...and it's my left knee that is making me cry out aloud...really bad (not had it there before...and my toes are starting up again...F!, F!, F!). Don't know whether to keep on with the Allo or just Indometacin and other pain killers.
However, at last, via my doctor, I've got an appointment with a specialist Bognor rheumatologist in early July. Is this the right type of consultant? I have a great regard for my GP but they are jacks of all trades and certainly not masters of gout. I'll keep you all in touch with the results from the specialist

 

[Birdie Boy]

I went on allopurinol for about 3 years and weened myself off it, 2.5 years later and bang! Started back on Allopurinol about a year ago and it has never fully gone away, get twinges and some constant light pain, like now, although this thread seems to have brought it on worse! I try to drink lots of water but know where near enough, although I have just downed a pint and grabbed another one! Food doesn't appear to affect it, a heavy session on the lager does, always plays up slightly and yes I did have a few last night!

Strangely, I brought some fruit in to work today which included cherries, nothing to do with the gout. I think I will start buying cartons of the drink and try this daily.

@Muzzy, how has she changed your life, have you changed your diet etc?

 

[Nadger]

I started this thread way back in Feb. I managed to have 2 weeks without an attack and went straight on the Allopurinol I thought I'd cracked it at last. Nearly 3 weeks without pain but wow it's back with a vengeance...and it's my left knee that is making me cry out aloud...really bad (not had it there before...and my toes are starting up again...F!, F!, F!). Don't know whether to keep on with the Allo or just Indometacin and other pain killers.
However, at last, via my doctor, I've got an appointment with a specialist Bognor rheumatologist in early July. Is this the right type of consultant? I have a great regard for my GP but they are jacks of all trades and certainly not masters of gout. I'll keep you all in touch with the results from the specialist

Stick with the Allopurinal when you take it it lowers your uric acid levels allowing all the stuff accumulated in your joints to dissolve which brings on attacks. It normal for people in the first 6 months taking allo to make it worse but it will be better in the long run. Been on it myself for 4 years first few months were terrible but been free from any gout after that

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Stick with the Allopurinal when you take it it lowers your uric acid levels allowing all the stuff accumulated in your joints to dissolve which brings on attacks. It normal for people in the first 6 months taking allo to make it worse but it will be better in the long run. Been on it myself for 4 years first few months were terrible but been free from any gout after that

Not me, as far as I recall. Was put on anti-inflammatories which took the swelling down immediately, then allopurinol and didn't have another attack. About 15 years now and nobody has suggested me coming off the Allopurinol.

 

[soistes]

Personally I would also change the name Gout to a more user friendly name, personally maybe with a French twang, perhaps like 'Gouet' as in 'Gilet', add a little romance to the condition.

Guspoyet ?

 

[Carshaltonloyal]

Guspoyet ?

Costs about £26 on amazon , 3000 cherries in one bottle!
www.cherryactive.co.uk/joint_care.html

 

[Don't get me started]

It would be interesting to know if any of the fellow gout sufferers are average weight for their height, normal BMI would be a good indicator. I am not I am mid overweight and so are the others I know who have it. Show of hands please

 

[Arthur]

Costs about £26 on amazon , 3000 cherries in one bottle!
www.cherryactive.co.uk/joint_care.html

Flip me! £26 a bottle! I'd rather just buy some cherries!

Interesting this thread has bounced now as I'm suffering a bit at the moment. My own stupid fault as I've eaten far too much beef over the last week. Knew it was coming as well as I tend to get really painful cramp a few days before hand. Got twinges in my right index finger, left ankle and big toe on my left foot but worst bit is the little toe on my right foot. It's bright read, very swollen and boiling hot. Thankfully its not too painful to walk at the moment and I'm all right once I get moving.

Going to continue on the cocktail of pain killers and anti inflammatories today as I'm supposed to be playing golf tomorrow.

Are you supposed to knock the allopurinol on the head when you have an attack??

 

[Carshaltonloyal]

Flip me! £26 a bottle! I'd rather just buy some cherries!

Interesting this thread has bounced now as I'm suffering a bit at the moment. My own stupid fault as I've eaten far too much beef over the last week. Knew it was coming as well as I tend to get really painful cramp a few days before hand. Got twinges in my right index finger, left ankle and big toe on my left foot but worst bit is the little toe on my right foot. It's bright read, very swollen and boiling hot. Thankfully its not too painful to walk at the moment and I'm all right once I get moving.

Going to continue on the cocktail of pain killers and anti inflammatories today as I'm supposed to be playing golf tomorrow.

Are you supposed to knock the allopurinol on the head when you have an attack??

It's super concentrated , tiny amount dilutes to half a pint ! Cherries are 2 to 3 quid a punnet, and you need to eat loads!! I always keep indometacin handy , any slight twitch and I'm taking one !

 

[Tim Over Whelmed]

I went on allopurinol for about 3 years and weened myself off it, 2.5 years later and bang! Started back on Allopurinol about a year ago and it has never fully gone away, get twinges and some constant light pain, like now, although this thread seems to have brought it on worse! I try to drink lots of water but know where near enough, although I have just downed a pint and grabbed another one! Food doesn't appear to affect it, a heavy session on the lager does, always plays up slightly and yes I did have a few last night!

Strangely, I brought some fruit in to work today which included cherries, nothing to do with the gout. I think I will start buying cartons of the drink and try this daily.

@Muzzy, how has she changed your life, have you changed your diet etc?

Cherries are the only food item that actually reduces Uric Acid and a daily dose of fresh cherries is excellent for reducing gout attacks. That said Allopurinol works a dream, bit concerned though have been on 300g a day for years!

 

[Muzzy]

@Muzzy, how has she changed your life, have you changed your diet etc?

It was a concerted effort by both of us really.
She explained exactly in laymans terms how gout works and what sufferers can do to avoid acute attacks. There are many old wives takes regarding this disease and she helped me to remain positive and how to control my intake of food and drink that affect me as an individual.
The key to avoiding gout is to learn what things trigger attacks. For me, mussels are my biggest enemy and consumption would mean a very severe attack so obviously I avoid them and any dish that may contain them eg paella.
Pretty much everything else that is high in purine I can have very occasionally. Things that are medium risk eg mushrooms I moderate.
The problem for gout sufferers is that all the high sugar foods eg chocolate and cakes do not affect gout so you then have to avoid too much of these because being overweight can also affect gout.
I don't drink hardly any water but I do drink plenty of juice drinks.
The main thing for all sufferers to get right is the balanced, healthy diet which can take time. Learning to cope with the extreme pain simply isn't an option!

 

[Muzzy]

Cherries are the only food item that actually reduces Uric Acid and a daily dose of fresh cherries is excellent for reducing gout attacks. That said Allopurinol works a dream, bit concerned though have been on 300g a day for years!

I was on 800mg per day! My Uric acid levels were still too high and I'm now trialling a new drug called Adenuric, just 80mg per day and no gout attacks

 

[Muzzy]

It would be interesting to know if any of the fellow gout sufferers are average weight for their height, normal BMI would be a good indicator. I am not I am mid overweight and so are the others I know who have it. Show of hands please

My weight was fine when I started getting attacks. Since I quit smoking 1 year ago I have somewhat ballooned, but not had an attack in this time.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Cherries are the only food item that actually reduces Uric Acid and a daily dose of fresh cherries is excellent for reducing gout attacks. That said Allopurinol works a dream, bit concerned though have been on 300g a day for years!

Blimey. I've been on 100 mg for about 15 years, but I had no idea if that was a lot or not. Seems not.

 

[Muzzy]

Blimey. I've been on 100 mg for about 15 years, but I had no idea if that was a lot or not. Seems not.

I believe most goutees take 50 - 100mg daily. 800mg is the maximum allowed

 

[Tricky Dicky]

I believe most goutees take 50 - 100mg daily. 800mg is the maximum allowed

Must admit, my taking the Allo, pretty much gets lost in all the other meds I have to take every day.

 

[albie_noobs]

I started this thread way back in Feb. I managed to have 2 weeks without an attack and went straight on the Allopurinol I thought I'd cracked it at last. Nearly 3 weeks without pain but wow it's back with a vengeance...and it's my left knee that is making me cry out aloud...really bad (not had it there before...and my toes are starting up again...F!, F!, F!). Don't know whether to keep on with the Allo or just Indometacin and other pain killers.
However, at last, via my doctor, I've got an appointment with a specialist Bognor rheumatologist in early July. Is this the right type of consultant? I have a great regard for my GP but they are jacks of all trades and certainly not masters of gout. I'll keep you all in touch with the results from the specialist

Yes mate a Rheumatologist is the one to see, I suffered for years and it was slowly crawling up from big toe to ankle and then both knees. The Rheumatologist at the county did loads of tests, drained the fluid, gave me a steroid injection and started me on Allopurinol. I take 200mg a day and have been attack free for over 2 years now. Good luck mate, hope you find a cure soon.