bignum Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 I was diagnosed with gout (well from a doctor) about a month ago, i had the symptoms for 3 weeks before it went away only to return this week, ive been scouring the net to find more info on gout and believe it or not have found a forum with some very good info including natural remedies, for anyone who suffers with gout will know how painfull it can be and really gets you down, ive considered chopping my right big toe off thinking the pain will be less. Most doctors are useless and only offer anti-inflamitories which are bad for you anyway, so don`t suffer in silence, there are remedies out there and i`m just about to try them, i will post back with results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steb9780 Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 Too much of the high life mate? Apparently it's named the rich mans disease isn't it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 Johnny Vegas has gout. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignum Posted June 26, 2008 Author Share Posted June 26, 2008 Too much of the high life mate? Apparently it's named the rich mans disease isn't it. It is indeed, i don`t overdo it thats the thing and i`m certainly no Mr vagas, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaveriK Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 I have it and its from too much falling down juice in my case for sure. Hurts like hell and mine was right big toe as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 what is it?` Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewOW Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 what is it?` Its nasty, that's what it is! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gout Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheekymonkey Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 I've had this before, about 2 years ago. It came on after a 2 week holiday in greece (lots of food and drink) and hurt like hell for 4 weeks. Right hand side big toe also. I then improved my diet and it went away for a while. About 6 months ago I thought it was flaring up again, but only lasted for 2 days. As soon as I notice the symptoms I down a couple of strong NSAIDs (indometacin) which seems to see it off! I pretty much self-diagnosed gout, went for a blood test which confirmed slightly higher than normal uric acid level but I never went for the 100% diagnosis where they drain the joint and look at the fluid (ouch!!) Was a bit of a wake up call at 28 to improve my diet... recently seem to be slipping back to my old ways though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewOW Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 I've had this before, about 2 years ago. It came on after a 2 week holiday in greece (lots of food and drink) and hurt like hell for 4 weeks. Right hand side big toe also. I then improved my diet and it went away for a while. About 6 months ago I thought it was flaring up again, but only lasted for 2 days. As soon as I notice the symptoms I down a couple of strong NSAIDs (indometacin) which seems to see it off! I pretty much self-diagnosed gout, went for a blood test which confirmed slightly higher than normal uric acid level but I never went for the 100% diagnosis where they drain the joint and look at the fluid (ouch!!) Was a bit of a wake up call at 28 to improve my diet... recently seem to be slipping back to my old ways though... At 28?! Going by that, it sounded like you were more like 58! Take care of yourself. That doesn't sound good at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheekymonkey Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 At 28?! Going by that, it sounded like you were more like 58! Take care of yourself. That doesn't sound good at all. The strange thing is that I was pretty healthy even then. Maybe 15kg overweight on my 6'4 frame but nothing too major. I never got a confirmed clinical diagnosis though - and while I am a heavy meat eater, at the time I was nothing like a heavy drinker apart from on that holiday The doctor I spoke with says that while the stereotypical gout sufferer is in his 50s or 60s with a glass of port in his hand, it's actually more common than you may think in younger people - he wasn't surprised at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignum Posted June 26, 2008 Author Share Posted June 26, 2008 Blimey 28, i felt hard done to at 32. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 Yeah, I've suffered from it for about 4 years (it took 2 years to diagnose due to useless doctors) In fact it's very easy to diagniose provided your doctor listens - there is a simple blood test that can be done to check for uric acid in the blood, if it's there then you have gout. It only took a few days to get the results after having the test done. Trust me, you need to get it sorted now before any damage done. On the plus side there are now medicines available that stop gout occuring. I took the medicines for about 9 months, never had another issue. Stopped taking them 6 months ago and have been fine since Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheekymonkey Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 In fact it's very easy to diagniose provided your doctor listens - there is a simple blood test that can be done to check for uric acid in the blood, if it's there then you have gout. It only took a few days to get the results after having the test done. That's not 100% though. Raised uric acid levels are just that, raised levels. It doesn't mean you have gout. The only 100% diagnosis is to drain the fluid and check for the presence of the crystals. It's still possible to have pseudo-gout and raised levels, then you might be put on allopurinol for the rest of your life for no reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignum Posted June 26, 2008 Author Share Posted June 26, 2008 You guy`s know alot about this gout business, ive been reading up on the net and thats all correct, here`s me thinking i`m the only 1, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigcol Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 I cant afford gout:( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loks Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Yup and on the Allopurinol for the rest of my life Still get attacks if I have a few days on the booze though If you don't have it, you don't want it, it can hurt a tad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jevansio Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Think I'm going through an episode now, my big toe/ankle/sole of foot is swolen/stiff and reddened for no apparent reason (I drink heavily, am overweight, did little excercise & didn't have the best diet until recently, & was told by my Doc I have a liver function abnormality). This is the 2nd time I've experienced this in a joint (was my knee last time, just woke up one morning & it was killing - just like this time). I'm going to the Doc's for another blood test at the end of the month so will ask them to check my uric acid levels then. Until then are there any remedies available from a pharmacist that I can use in the short term? I've already started eating healtheir & started a training programme before Xmas to loose weight, but I think I'll add cutting back on drink to that list if this is what it's going to be like every couple of months for the rest of my life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
den1 Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Hello Jay . Get down the doctors as soon as possible and get booked in for a blood test! I get gout ( But not so much now) It can be excruciatingly painful. I have had the situation where even the duvet sent me shooting to the ceiling. If it is gout, it isn,t just the swelling that is the only problem, but the overproduction of uric acid over a long time that can cause liver damage. If it really hurts only the doctor can give you the indomethacian that will stop the swelling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Until then are there any remedies available from a pharmacist that I can use in the short term? I've already started eating healtheir & started a training programme before Xmas to loose weight, but I think I'll add cutting back on drink to that list if this is what it's going to be like every couple of months for the rest of my life. There's two types of medication available, one is for long term use which stops the liver producting Uric acid, then there's a powerful anti-inflamatory you can take when you start to feel a gout attack coming on, it can pretty much stop any pain you're getting, but obviously you need to get it checked out sooner rather than later. Thankfully due to the advice posted by Cheekymonkey above I went to the docs again and it turned out he was correct! I didn't have gout afterall, it was likely caused by a liver imbalance brought on by poor diet and lack of exercise. I've not taken any medication for it for a year and it hasn't come back (though I did lose 4.5 stone since the doc first 'diagnosed' it - bit of a wake up call!!). It's probably not advisable but I have tons of prescription anti inflamatory drugs left over, can send you some if it helps releieve the pain (they are not to be used if you are on any blood pressure tablets). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jevansio Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Hello Jay ... Cheers Den, I've got an appointment in a week or so for a blood test I'll ask them to specifically to check for signs of gout then. There's two types of medication... Many thanks Darryl, I appreciate the tablets but I think it's probably for the best that I get any tablets from the Doc (I'm already on medication to keep my epilepsy under control & I wouldn't want any side effects on that else I'll lose my licence for a year ) I'd already started a massive change in my diet/health, cardio training 3 times a week, weights once & squash once, my diet has totally changed, but I've had a massive binge on th drink over Xmas (2 bottles of wine a day for 8 days) and a big drink last weekend. I think this is God telling me I also need to cut back on my drinking . The Docs are already looking into my liver function, so I'll tell them about my foot when I see them next week to see if it's related. I've put up with it for a week now, & today it was slightly better so I guess it's on it's way out for now so I'll just live with the pain. When you guys get it are you off work? I was off on Monday as I couldn't put any weight on it and I thought driving would be unsafe (braking etc), but I felt guilty and dragged my arse in the rest of the week hobbling around at work (I'm an Computer Analyst so there's not much time on my feet anyway). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignum Posted January 17, 2009 Author Share Posted January 17, 2009 Definately sounds like gout jay, i found a gout forum believe it or not, tells you to eat 30-40 black cherries and some blue berries. also dries figs, this all helps to balance the uric acid, i tried it and it worked, i had a week off work when i had mine, i have to work off ladders alot so no chance, good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jevansio Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 Definately sounds like gout jay, i found a gout forum believe it or not, tells you to eat 30-40 black cherries and some blue berries. also dries figs, this all helps to balance the uric acid, i tried it and it worked, i had a week off work when i had mine, i have to work off ladders alot so no chance, good luck. I like cherries a lot, will try that. Last night was my 1st night off the drink for ages, wasn't too bad . Cheers bignum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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