Gout. Please help.

[spongy]

Yesterday I started having an attack in my left ankle. I've hardly slept overnight due to the pain and today I just want to cry in agony.

I used to get regular attacks so started taking allopurinol but since then I've stopped drinking week days (the root cause of it) and have since weened myself off it a could of years ago and I have been fine since. Alas it seems that was a really stupid idea.

Is there anything I can do to stop it? What's not helping is that Ive got an 11 month old daughter who's woken up like Tigger on speed today and I'm stuck on the bed unable to even twitch a toe.

If I take a trip to A&E will they be able to drain it or is that considered a waste of their time?

This hurts so much I want to cut my foot my foot off with a rusty saw just to stop the pain.

I don't have any allopurinol left and I have no way of getting some on a Saturday. Do I seriously just have to ride this out?

 

[Hyperion]

Feel for you there. Dreadful pain. I would at the very least try and get something drug wise to help. Why not phone the out of hours doc or that NHS line to at least speak to someone

 

[BRIGHT ON Q]

Don't they reckon cherry juice is good for it, everywhere has cherries at the moment so try winding a load of them back.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

I had it a few months ago in my toes. It hurts like hell. It's not just tea that sets it off - the main culprits are beer and red meat ( bacon in particular ). Unless you can get a prescription for an anti-inflammatory painkillers are your best bet ..... oh and dumping the beer !

 

[Tricky Dicky]

I have plenty of Allopurinol. Have been taking it for maybe 15 years, never had an attack since. No reason to stop taking it.

 

[humndinga]

I've heard cherry juice helps but isn't going to miraculously fix it, I went A&E years ago after my first attack, was a while before I was seen they prescribed pain killers which took the edge off the pain, best thing to do is on call Dr or weekend walk in surgery (there is one at Brighton station) they can prescribe Colchicine it's for acute attacks of gout, its a very old and toxic drug but works, eat before you take one. Oh and get back on the Allopurinol after the gout stops.

 

[HantsSeagull]

I have plenty of Allopurinol. Have been taking it for maybe 15 years, never had an attack since. No reason to stop taking it.

do the decent thing man! get in your car and drive to 'socks of the Has'!

 

[Ernest]

Allopurinol is the drug you need

 

[Boring Goring]

I suffer too (10 years or so), and there is a big difference between what behaviour you can take to prevent attacks and what your options are once an attack occurs.

I concur with the cherries. They can alleviate the effects by breaking down the crystals and thereby reducing swelling and the pain. I have found over the years that their effectiveness has reduced and I am concerned if you have a "full on" attack that they might not be man enough for the job. I don't take any ongoing medicines for probably the same concerns that you have, but I mitigate the frequency of attacks through watching those trigger foods, that you learn by experience (mushrooms was the big discovery over the last year). I have a prescription for a serious anti-inflammatory painkiller called Naproxen that deals with the attacks when they occur.

I sympathise with your situation being caught out on a weekend without medication to resolve the attack. What I do know is that it won't go away without help. So unless you prefer to wait it out until Monday, which sounds like something you don't really want to do, then I too would suggest picking up the phone to the out of hours service and explain what has happened, I'm sure they will understand and help you. Otherwise down to A and E and explain the situation. Don't lye there in agony.

 

[deslynhamsmoustache1]

Dehydration is a major problem in this weather. Real cherry juice is excellent, anti-inflammatory like naproxen could be available from A&E, but as a specialist said to me aim to drink x 2ltr's of water a day. Buxton seems the only water I can drink in sufficient volume- doesn't seem to bloat you out, this dilutes the uric acid crystals. Remember you only have to dehydrate a small percentage ( very easy in this weather) and you will increase the concentrate of uric acid in your urine. Water is the key.

 

[mona]

Once you've had gout. It is always likely to return and it's not always drink related. You can cut dosage of allopurinol if you're not having probs but don't give it up totally. Allopurinol won't immediately clear it tbh - doc should also prescribe an anti-inflammatory. Is there a NHS drop in centre near you?
My sympathy fella.

 

[Goldstone1976]

Montmorency cherry juice from Holland and Barrett.
50mg of Sodium Diclofenac 3 times a day (prescription) OR 50mg Potassium Diclofenac (OTC) 3 times a day. The change in salt from Na to K does slightly diminish the impact of the Diclofenac, but K is OTC. Many Drs are weaning folk off Dicofenac (some impact on coronary disease) and instead putting people on 250mg of Naproxen. All the above are anti-inflammatories.

I'm not sure what you mean by "drain". Gout attacks are caused by excess serum Uric acid, which crystallises out and collects in the joint. I don't see how one can "drain" a crystal. If you have oedema, it's more likely to be due to an immune system response to the inflamation; I think it's unlikely that they can or will drain the oedema.

Get back on the Allopurinol and stop drinking for 2 months. Then - don't drink beer.

Disclaimer: I'm not a Dr - just a lay person who's done a shit load of research.

Goid luck!

 

[Hillian1]

Cherries and cherry juice.

I feel your pain brother.

Edit: narproxen anti inflammatory.

 

[surlyseagull]

You should not take allupurinol when you are having an attack as this will make it worse ,yes agree with above you need some strong anti inflams .No never heard of draining ? I have had gout for years and the worst thing for me is chinese food especially sweet and sour sauce which can bring it on in 30 mins but there are many foods that trigger it .Plenty of water needs to be drunk ,and to not eat for a long period then stuff yourself is also bad .Cherries yes are good .There are many conflicting opinions about gout as I was once told by a doc that citric fruit was bad ,but was then told by a consultant that it wasnt ! .I think you tend to find out yourself through trial and error what effects you and stay clear of potential risk foods.Good luck mate I feel for you .

 

[severnside gull]

Colchicine helps combat flare-ups if you don't want to take a tablet every day. Gives you the shits though!

Short term the previous advice on hydration and anti inflammatories is excellent

 

[SittingbourneSeagull]

You should not take allupurinol when you are having an attack as this will make it worse ,yes agree with above you need some strong anti inflams .No never heard of draining ? I have had gout for years and the worst thing for me is chinese food especially sweet and sour sauce which can bring it on in 30 mins but there are many foods that trigger it .Plenty of water needs to be drunk ,and to not eat for a long period then stuff yourself is also bad .Cherries yes are good .There are many conflicting opinions about gout as I was once told by a doc that citric fruit was bad ,but was then told by a consultant that it wasnt ! .I think you tend to find out yourself through trial and error what effects you and stay clear of potential risk foods.Good luck mate I feel for you .

Agree with most of the above. Occasionally get an attack in the toes on my left foot and then can't wear a shoe. I don't take drugs but do drink lots of water. Cherry juice from Holland & Barratt is good. I was told recently that strawberries can be a trigger. Oh and stop drinking. I love bitter but have had to give it up its just not worth the pain!
Good luck, get some help.

 

[Norman Baker suck my lozenge]

Cherry juice or cherry capsules are very good for twist and shout.

 

[spongy]

Cheers for the advice peeps.

I have 2 colchicine left and have taken 2 this morning with dread. It's really nasty stuff and should be taken with extreme caution. I'm gonna get the missus to go through the medicine cupboard and see if there's any naproxen left. Forgot about that stuff. And get her to go out and get some pure cherry juice.

It's getting worse as the morning is going on. There may be a trip to A&E looming if I can get to the car.

 

[spongy]

When I had my first attack in my know years ago I didn't know what was happening and in extreme pain so I went to A&E. As part of their examination they stuck a syringe in my elbow and pulled out more than a smarties sized syringe of fluid to do a biopsy. When examining it they saw the crystals and was how it was diagnosed.

But as an aside the attack calmed down a lot and was gone by the next day due to them removing the crystals when doing the syringe work.

I wondered if they'd do it again but im having trouble getting to the toilet yet alone the car and to the hospital.

 

[El Sid]

Cheers for the advice peeps.

I have 2 colchicine left and have taken 2 this morning with dread. It's really nasty stuff and should be taken with extreme caution. I'm gonna get the missus to go through the medicine cupboard and see if there's any naproxen left. Forgot about that stuff. And get her to go out and get some pure cherry juice.

It's getting worse as the morning is going on. There may be a trip to A&E looming if I can get to the car.

Have you ever taken indomethacin?