so who gets gout..

[Rodj]

I used to get gout a few times a year, then on a tip from a friend I stopped eating wheat bran, which I'd previously had every day as a good-for-your-intestines-cereal. That was about 6 years ago, and I've had no gout attacks since.
May be worth a try.

 

[ridgepaddler]

I used to get regular attacks, always the same place, big toe on my left foot. My father had exactly the same problem.

After numerous trips to my GP, and various prescriptions, they ran a set of blood tests, and discovered high levels of uric acid in my blood stream.

Apparently, gout isn't genetic, but it does "run in families". Anyway, the upshot is that they put me on Allopurinol (2 x 100mg, once a day), and I've not had an attack since.

That was more than 5 years ago!

 

[johncrobinson]

So i now have to "suffer" even more for the excess and glories of the past life i used to lead.!!!

Its no fun (Or healthy) swallowing pain killers like Smarties,I really dont want to come across as feeling sorry for myself but living with 24 hrs per day /7days a week/ 52weeks a year pain really,really gets you down.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I have been gout free for over a year having discovered lager was the main cause of mine, yesterday i could feel soreness in my big toe joint and i feared today i would not be fit for work but luckily it hasn't got any worse the dull pain is still there so i am taking Ibuprofen and keeping my fingers crossed it doesn't get any worse.

 

[johncrobinson]

One of my doctors i saw a few weeks ago was reluctant to renew my 400mg Ibuprofen prescription that i have had for the last 15yrs saying its not good for me.!!!
First I knew about any problems with Ibuprofen.

 

[Banbeer]

Had it for the first time this January in my big toe, covered my foot with ice etc and it went after a week or so, after that did some research and went into Holland and Barrett who advised B+ slow release(vitamins with Vit C) pre attack and cherry juice when you get it, I really hope I don't get it again.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

One of my doctors i saw a few weeks ago was reluctant to renew my 400mg Ibuprofen prescription that i have had for the last 15yrs saying its not good for me.!!!
First I knew about any problems with Ibuprofen.

I assume they are not good for your guts as you have to take them with food.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Had it for the first time this January in my big toe, covered my foot with ice etc and it went after a week or so, after that did some research and went into Holland and Barrett who advised B+ slow release(vitamins with Vit C) pre attack and cherry juice when you get it, I really hope I don't get it again.

Cranberry juice is supposed to help but I haven't tried it.


Cranberry juice or extract helps to increase the clearance of uric acid from the body. Uric acid causes gout. It is a waste product in the blood that becomes stuck in joints and forms painful uric acid crystals. Avoiding certain foods can help to reduce the formation of uric acid in the first place.

 

[johncrobinson]

Sorry to show my ignorance but to be honest I thought gout was something that afflicted wealthy Victorians.!
I am really suprised to find it a modern complaint.

Seeing this thread has been a bit of an eye opener
shows how informitive the internet can be.

 

[Rodj]

JCR, have you tried a systematic control of your diet? For example, eliminating certain items one at a time for a period to see if there is any benefit. I'm thinking in terms of post 21 above; you might find something that triggers your gout. You could try all the high-purine foods, bran, and anything else you can come up with (beer, spirits, sex, other things that you don't really need...). In the meanwhile you have my sympathy - it's not nice.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Sorry to show my ignorance but to be honest I thought gout was something that afflicted wealthy Victorians.!
I am really suprised to find it a modern complaint.

Seeing this thread has been a bit of an eye opener
shows how informitive the internet can be.

A couple of lads at work also suffer so it's not a wealthy person complaint.

 

[GerritT]

Regarding systematic diet (a la @Rodj ): the FODMAP diet is one of those diets. Not exactly a diet, more of a course actually. In FODMAP you lower for several weeks at the time intake certain food groups, like lactose, fruits, carbon hydrates etc. It helps with irritable bowel syndrome, one of those diseases without a clear cause. Such an approach could help with gout too. Skip certain foods for a month or so, and see if it affects the gout problems. A month without coffee and sugar drinks, then a month without red and organ meat, a month without alcohol (... I know...), a month without tomatoes, spinach and asparagus etc. Fill up with safe foods and drinks.

It might not be genetic, but there could be an hereditary factor (weak kidneys is what I think of). I know what living with meds is (pain killers for my back), it's no fun but better than living with pain again.

 

[abacab666]

JCR, have you tried a systematic control of your diet? For example, eliminating certain items one at a time for a period to see if there is any benefit. I'm thinking in terms of post 21 above; you might find something that triggers your gout. You could try all the high-purine foods, bran, and anything else you can come up with (beer, spirits, sex, other things that you don't really need...). In the meanwhile you have my sympathy - it's not nice.

Sex causes gout? Well that explains that then

 

[GerritT]

Sex causes gout? Well that explains that then

Or someone is a teetotaler here!

 

[Rodj]

Maybe I got it the wrong way round. Perhaps gout causes sex.

 

[abacab666]

Maybe I got it the wrong way round. Perhaps gout causes sex.

Gout causes sex? That's more like it! That's all my issues sorted, no more medication required

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Believe me if you have gout sex will be the last thing on your mind.

 

[abacab666]

Believe me, I know

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Mine has eased off quite a bit so i have had a lucky escape this time, wearing steel toecap boots doesn't help when the dreaded crystals start doing their thing even in the early stages.

 

[alsch890]

I had this - big toe, hands and shoulders (randomly) so I went on a low purine diet and cut out all bread and bakery, all smoked meats, most beans and pulses and some other funny stuff like chocolate, cauliflower, peas and mushrooms. Reduced red meat and alcohol (beer really should be on the cut out list not the reduced list but... You know...) and within 6 months the levels were normal.and I just have the occasional pain on the big toe now.