Gout - Come ye fellow sufferers!

Big_Nothing

Big_Nothing

Well-known member
@Pauliej @Zoophonic @Fangdale Beck and anyone else who I recall having talked about the subject before.

Please take a read of this and let me know what you think… cheers 👍

“So, I’m early 30s, slightly overweight and live in Vietnam.

The first doctor (apparently a rheumatologist) said she wasn’t convinced of the gout as there was no crystal deposits. My UA is at 516 and the imaging department said there’s a potential minor fracture on the outside of a bone spur of my big toe.

She sends me to the orthopaedic specialist. He immediately rules out a fracture and states that I have indeed got an acute gout flare up, guarantees no fracture and says he’s had gout for 20 years. He was a pretty eccentric fella who explained it isn’t something to be ashamed of and that in wealthy Vietnamese circles they joke that unless you’ve got gout then you haven’t really lived.

His prescription and advice:

“This isn’t a bad one, take allo (300mg per day) along with Arcoxia/Etoricoxib and colchicine daily until the flare up subsides. Once it has subsided you can regain activities as you wish. Consider red wine over beer but if you must drink beer then drink lots of water at the same time. Lose some weight, you’re too fat. If it comes back, repeat this process.”

This sounds reckless to me. I mean, I’m not the doctor and my flare seems to be calming down after about 24 hours of actual pain. But to suggest it’ll be fine and I might never have to call him again.

Is he an idiot? Is he an optimist?

I don’t even want to consider the idea of getting away with one here but my plan is to let this flare up cease and then test having beers with plenty of water and see if anything happens. Then maybe add some steak or whatever else it may be into the mix and try to test what I’m able to enjoy.

If it comes straight back then I know I’m buggered, surely I’ve got to at least try though?

Weight loss will occur naturally (I’ve had two surgeries and haven’t exercised for 6 months, I’m currently producing lower Testosterone than usual also) I’ll be resuming exercise and seeing a T boost soon. Hopefully they contribute to keeping gout at bay?

Oh and this is a specialist doctor/surgeon at a well regarded international hospital. Not any old bloke who bribed his way through medical school. Thought it was worth mentioning…”
 
The best pain relief for me was Naproxen, but since my heart issues I can no longer take NSAID's so I have been prescribed colchicine. It works, just not as efficiently as naproxen.
I am sure you shouldn't be taking allopurinol at the same time as colchicine, but I may be get muddled up here!

I've been taking allopurinol, regularly, for a long time and it has certainly reduced the amount of flare-ups I have had. Prevention is always better than the cure.

You'll probably find there is no discernible rhyme or reason as to why your flare-ups occur. I have been on strict diets and lived like a monk and still had them. Equally I have been on week long benders and not had an attack. In my case, there is no smoking gun, neither is there a silver bullet.

Start on allopurinol, take it regularly without fail and learn to live with it, is the best advice I can offer.

Good luck,
 
Big_Nothing said:
@Pauliej @Zoophonic @Fangdale Beck and anyone else who I recall having talked about the subject before.

Please take a read of this and let me know what you think… cheers 👍

“So, I’m early 30s, slightly overweight and live in Vietnam.

The first doctor (apparently a rheumatologist) said she wasn’t convinced of the gout as there was no crystal deposits. My UA is at 516 and the imaging department said there’s a potential minor fracture on the outside of a bone spur of my big toe.

She sends me to the orthopaedic specialist. He immediately rules out a fracture and states that I have indeed got an acute gout flare up, guarantees no fracture and says he’s had gout for 20 years. He was a pretty eccentric fella who explained it isn’t something to be ashamed of and that in wealthy Vietnamese circles they joke that unless you’ve got gout then you haven’t really lived.

His prescription and advice:

“This isn’t a bad one, take allo (300mg per day) along with Arcoxia/Etoricoxib and colchicine daily until the flare up subsides. Once it has subsided you can regain activities as you wish. Consider red wine over beer but if you must drink beer then drink lots of water at the same time. Lose some weight, you’re too fat. If it comes back, repeat this process.”

This sounds reckless to me. I mean, I’m not the doctor and my flare seems to be calming down after about 24 hours of actual pain. But to suggest it’ll be fine and I might never have to call him again.

Is he an idiot? Is he an optimist?

I don’t even want to consider the idea of getting away with one here but my plan is to let this flare up cease and then test having beers with plenty of water and see if anything happens. Then maybe add some steak or whatever else it may be into the mix and try to test what I’m able to enjoy.

If it comes straight back then I know I’m buggered, surely I’ve got to at least try though?

Weight loss will occur naturally (I’ve had two surgeries and haven’t exercised for 6 months, I’m currently producing lower Testosterone than usual also) I’ll be resuming exercise and seeing a T boost soon. Hopefully they contribute to keeping gout at bay?

Oh and this is a specialist doctor/surgeon at a well regarded international hospital. Not any old bloke who bribed his way through medical school. Thought it was worth mentioning…”
Click to expand...
BN I can only recant you my experience living with gout and not comment on that doc's advice.

I first started to get gout attacks, mostly in the toes but then started to attack the heel and the bottom of the foot ( it moved about in attacks) not long after turning 40. I was a regular beer drinker and would say slightly overweight but not "obese". Beer would trigger attacks noticeably and when these attacks moved from the foot to the knee and more than three or four attacks pa it was clear I needed to do something about it.

I started on daily Allopurinal ( Indomethecin for calming any flare ups). Whilst I was against having to take a tablet indefinitely on a daily basis the gout had started to affect my quality of life. I could hardly walk without being in pain and driving was purgatory. I decided that I must lose some weight, I took up road cycling and went on Allopurinol ( 1 tablet on a daily basis) Almost immediately the attacks started to wane and within 6 months had gone.

I don't drink beer anywhere near the volumes I used to. I drink it occasionally. Wine doesn't seem to affect me. Food doesn't either - shellfish I do avoid. My advice is don't hesitate to go on Allo. Genuinely it has improved my life ten fold. Try and lose weight as it will help.
 
I only get it about once or maybe twice a year max… because of that I’m not keen to go on the daily pills for the rest of my life.

When I get a flare up I just use plenty of ibruprofen gel on it and drink tons of water. Still fecking knacks for about a week, like 😅
 
I feel your pain BN so here goes with my penneth worth.
I'm on Allopurinol permanently now and pretty much eat and drink what I want.
My GP asked me, just off the cuff, if I liked shellfish. Strange question at the time or so I thought until I cut out shellfish 🤣
I used to eat a lot of mussels, cockles etc and he told me they are loaded with the proteins that can cause Gout. Also told me to cut out liver and that was one meal I loved.I haven't had an attack since and that advice was pre COVID. It may be the allopurinol or it may be the stopping shellfish and liver or a combination of both but touch wood I've been fine for a few years now.
Wouldn't wish it on anyone.
As for the pain I always used Colchicine and it eased in a day or two. Naproxen seemed to take a bit longer.
Fingers crossed you can get sorted mate.
Wouldn't wish it on anyone.
 
I've had a couple of flare ups over the last 30 yrs. It's so painful but Naproxen sorts it out in a couple of days. Nothing for the last 4 yrs though (fingers crossed)
 
Thank god I researched the medication in more depth before I took that allopurinol.

It’s strongly recommended that it not be taken during the first attack as it can trigger subsequent painful follow up attacks. It should only be taken if attacks become common and if taken and stopped suddenly (as recommended by this doctor) it can lead to complications and a worsening of the disease.

What the actual F. I despair at the advice given out by doctors in this country sometimes. A doc would be in serious bother if they recommended that back home. 🏡
 
Big_Nothing said:
@Pauliej @Zoophonic @Fangdale Beck and anyone else who I recall having talked about the subject before.

Please take a read of this and let me know what you think… cheers 👍

“So, I’m early 30s, slightly overweight and live in Vietnam.

The first doctor (apparently a rheumatologist) said she wasn’t convinced of the gout as there was no crystal deposits. My UA is at 516 and the imaging department said there’s a potential minor fracture on the outside of a bone spur of my big toe.

She sends me to the orthopaedic specialist. He immediately rules out a fracture and states that I have indeed got an acute gout flare up, guarantees no fracture and says he’s had gout for 20 years. He was a pretty eccentric fella who explained it isn’t something to be ashamed of and that in wealthy Vietnamese circles they joke that unless you’ve got gout then you haven’t really lived.

His prescription and advice:

“This isn’t a bad one, take allo (300mg per day) along with Arcoxia/Etoricoxib and colchicine daily until the flare up subsides. Once it has subsided you can regain activities as you wish. Consider red wine over beer but if you must drink beer then drink lots of water at the same time. Lose some weight, you’re too fat. If it comes back, repeat this process.”

This sounds reckless to me. I mean, I’m not the doctor and my flare seems to be calming down after about 24 hours of actual pain. But to suggest it’ll be fine and I might never have to call him again.

Is he an idiot? Is he an optimist?

I don’t even want to consider the idea of getting away with one here but my plan is to let this flare up cease and then test having beers with plenty of water and see if anything happens. Then maybe add some steak or whatever else it may be into the mix and try to test what I’m able to enjoy.

If it comes straight back then I know I’m buggered, surely I’ve got to at least try though?

Weight loss will occur naturally (I’ve had two surgeries and haven’t exercised for 6 months, I’m currently producing lower Testosterone than usual also) I’ll be resuming exercise and seeing a T boost soon. Hopefully they contribute to keeping gout at bay?

Oh and this is a specialist doctor/surgeon at a well regarded international hospital. Not any old bloke who bribed his way through medical school. Thought it was worth mentioning…”
Click to expand...
Look, gout suddenly struck me in August last year and x12 colchicine over 3 days took it away…..for 2 weeks!
After another bout x2 the doctor gave me colchicine but said, from here on in you need allopurinol permanently (!)
😮😳
I was determined not to go on tablets at 55 years old for the rest of my days.
My missus is avid researcher and she also has been drinking at least 3litres of water a day for a few years.
Water brings down your uric acid levels. I know that because we sat down and talked about water and its benefits which include assisting your joints generally (!)
With the research my wife did, I started drinking 3-4.5 litres of water a day, EVERY DAY, since Mid march this year.
I have not had a bout of gout since!!!

I had gout in my toes, ankles, and knees!!!

I cannot recommend it highly enough and I still have a beer or two daily watching the football…
 
for me allo didn't work and was getting absolutely massive headaches after 1-2 weeks of use. i'm on febuxostat now which is the alternative newer medication to lower uric acid levels. and it lowers them quick. just waiting out the 2-3 months now for some build up of acid to clear hopefully. had a massive flair last week in my toe but it is clearing out now.

i have found that it is probably genetic rather than what you eat and drink, not saying that doesn't affect it at all but genes are more the main reason. runs in my family.

there are newer studies that say sleep apnoea could be a cause of it also as the body doesn't get enough oxygen in during sleep to repair the cells properly and uric acid forms due to this.

it is a nightmare to live with so i would advise anyone to just get on the allo or febuxostat if that doesn't work for you.

hoping there is light at the end of the tunnel
 
I've had two bad attacks - about 10 years ago - both dealt with in a few days using colchicine.

I've not had a bad flare up since coming off medication for colitis and neuralgia about 8 years ago - fixed with diet.

I do occasionally start to get symptoms in my left foot and immediately stick half-an-inch of cider vinegar in a standard pint glass and fill with water - then neck it whilst holding my nose.

Not pleasant but once a morning and night for two or three days either does nothing as it wasn't going to flare up anyway or works wonders depending on how you view such things.

I'll be sticking with it as a preventative measure.
 
Been on the Febuxostat for years now and never had an attack since I started on it. I eat and drink whatever I like and take on more water than I did before.
Doc tells me I will be on it for life and they check my Uric levels and liver function etc yearly.
 
When I went to the GP after I’d had my 3rd bout in about 18 months, he recommended I go on the daily pill.

I’m only 40 so that would be about 15-20,000 pills I’d be taking! I just thought that was mental.

I’d rather just put up with the 5 days a year of pain 😅

I realise everyone’s circumstances are different… I work from home and can just call on my butler (the mrs) to wait on me from the sofa.

If I was self employed and missing days pay, or if I start getting it more regularly, I would reconsider
 
5 days a year? I wish.
My attacks lasted up to 2 weeks each time and every 4-6 weeks. Could not even have a light sheet touching the toe.
I may be lucky in some respects as, (as yet) not had any side effects from the Febuxostat
 
I have been taking allopurinal on prescription for decades now and I very rarely even remember I have gout.
 
Fangdale Beck said:
5 days a year? I wish.
My attacks lasted up to 2 weeks each time and every 4-6 weeks. Could not even have a light sheet touching the toe.
I may be lucky in some respects as, (as yet) not had any side effects from the Febuxostat
Click to expand...

Like I say, just my experience.

Can definitely relate to the bed sheet thing!


My brother in law gets it apparently, and his solution is his mrs massages his toe to push the crystals out he said. I was like , yeah that’s not gout. If someone tried to “massage my toe” they would be getting booted out the bedroom window.
 
Like ex footy legs, I drink a lot of water daily, probably about 2 to 3 litres.

I know if I haven’t drank enough because I get the first notices if gout.

I don’t watch my diet so much and more or less eat and drink as I did before.

Haven’t had a bad attack for about 4 years now
 
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