Living with gout

Trying to get a handle on this arthritic condition. Are there any others suffering with it on these threads?

 

I've had it for about 15 years now. It sucks.

 

When it hits, its not because of any specific food that I've eaten. Hell, I can drink water all day and it will hit me.

 

My only consolation is that Cheney has it too.

Avoid: organ meats (liver, kidneys &c), shellfish, mushrooms, rolled oats, spinach, asparagus, lentils.

In the event of an attack, heaviest safe dose of Naproxen can help. Vicodin doesn't work. An old standby is colchisine, which has to be prescribed. It works quickly as well, but has digestive side effects.

Allopurinol in either 100mg or 300mg works well as a preventative, but should not be taken during an attack - your doctor will probably have forgotten to mention that to you.

Alcohol is OK, but in moderation.

 

Alice, I can avoid those things and by golly, my big toe will still swell up and look like something unmentionable.

 

Talk to David Wells.

 

Eat a bowl of cherries

 

The allopurinol and/or an herbal supplement called Go-Out Plex (Vitamin Express, San Francisco) are supposed to help prevent that. Naproxen should slow it down within 24 hours.

Immersion in ice water for 20+ minutes can relieve some of the pain. Might be time to see a specialist. Doc Talk may have more informed thoughts on this subject.

 

I can take pain. It's more of an inconvenience.

 

My grandpa smokes dope for his. It's legal in Montana and drives grandma nuts.

 

I have lived with gout for more than 30 years, though I haven't had an attack (thank God) in the last 20. I used to take Xyloprim but doctor changed that to Allopurinol (300 mg.), which I take every day. It works, believe me.

Back in the beginning, I had attacks in the knee, ankle and (the worst and most painful, for me) wrist. And yes, when you get an attack, colchicine is the best remedy, but be careful of the diarrhea that may follow.

But believe me, Allopurinol works. (Plus, I gave up drinking about 20 years ago).

 

I have it in my right ankle. At first, it was so severe that the doctor just thought I broke my foot until he X-rayed. I've got a small batch of pills for the swelling.

I also have arthritis in my left knee from a previous surgery to remove torn meniscus. There are times when I can't put weight on the joint, and I'll walk with a cane.

Most forms of hydrocodone (like Vicodin) are useless because I'm allergic. I took it after the knee surgery in 2003 and broke out into a full-body rash. I took Benadryl for that. Needless to say, I didn't know my fucking name for a while. I went without painkillers when I had two wisdom teeth pulled the same day. The chief photographer has dubbed me the toughest motherfucker he knows.

I make sure to buy comfortable, supportive shoes, even if a pair of blue Nikes clashes with slacks and a tie.