The Knowledge Board:
Gout
Welcome to our new ResBlog on Gout – Treatment through both diet and medication.
Gout (also called metabolic arthritis) is a disease created by a build- up of uric acid, starting, in many cases, with the big toe.
Last year we started a rolling set of blog research into particular aspects of arthritis. For this part of the study we are particularly interested in
how you feel your gout has affected your lifestyle and the effect of treatments above and beyond the purely medical. We would like to know how people around you (friends, family and colleagues) reacted to the changes and what kind of support you received.
In particular we are interested in the following questions:-
- Please describe the symptoms and effects of the gout flare up? What activities, for example, is participation no longer possible?
- How old were you when you were first diagnosed?
- What types of treatments did you / are you following? How has your diet changed and overall what is the impact of the change?
- How satisfied were you/are you overall by the range of treatment options you were offered?
These questions are only a guide and so please feel free to bring up any other issues that you consider are relevant to you.
Thanks very much in advance for your help. Remember, a blog is really like having a conversation with lots of people at the same time and so please check back on the blog to see what others have said so that if you would like to add to their thoughts you can. It's a conversation and a chance to learn and share!
Belinda | 16/05/2008 17:18:00
Thanks for comming to the blog I look forward to reading your contributions
mick | 19/05/2008 12:13:00
has anybody got information as to the best treament as the doctor doesnt
Terry Malone | 19/05/2008 12:22:00
I had my first attack at the age of 35 -40 years ago.I found my life very restricted as time went on. I I used to get gout in my feet, hands, elbows, chest and knees.=It took many years before they found the right dosage of allopurinol and then so long as I took the medication the attacks stopped. However I now suffer from arthritis in the joints which experienced the gout. Thanks to allipurinol, I do not have to follow a diet and enjoy a glass of red wine and roast beef
Ray Percival | 19/05/2008 12:53:00
I had my first Attack of gout in 1997 ,what kicked it of was that i dropped a heavy glass pan on my foot and it was at night it kicked off it was so hot and swelled up like a bloon,at first i thought i had broke a bone in my foot due to the pan being dropped, i mannaged to get to the hospital with the help of my dad and they could not find anything wrong with my foot all they said was take pain killers and if it is still the same on the monday go to see your own gp so come monday off i went and with in five mins the doc told me it was gout and gave me 300mg of allopurinoland after a couple of days my foot went down and i have never looked back and i never want pain like that again and i still eat beef but not to much as you just don't know .
Graham Edwards | 19/05/2008 13:07:00
I was first diagnosed with gout in my mid thirties. It affected my right foot and later my left. I've felt odd twinges in my jaw and elbow.The attacks ere preceeded by itching and were controlled by perscription drugs namely Alpurinol and Rheumox. Over the years the attacks have reduced and I have been taken off perscribed drugs. Any reccurance is controlled by Ibuprofen. I believe the reduction is due to a change in working lifestyle, namely no driving for a living and no more wearing safety boots and walking miles for work. I do find that walking more than four miles brings on an attackMy diet was always varied and healthy and I can enjoy red meat and red wine
Ralph Mazdon | 19/05/2008 13:22:00
Diagnosed, aged 48 - 36 years ago. Fortunately I only detect gout in my big toe joint, which I manage to control and repair by careful awareness of early symptons and treatment with Colchicine tablets. However recent blood tests reveal I have high Urica without gout, so having a course of Allopurinol to be followed by further blood test.My best treatment advice is to be aware and act on the doctor's information with doctor's co-operation. Be very conscious of diet and exercise, to the best of your ability.Unfortunately doc's are human with limits on time and knowledge, and it requires patients to research what suits them best in their own interest.
Ian Storey | 19/05/2008 14:10:00
I was first diagnosed with high Uric acid content and arthritis aged 28, 30 years ago when my knee swelled with fluid and became stiff. I sufferered more and more gout attacks as time went on and Rheumox was prescribed. Attacks were relatively infrequent but increasingly in different joints and were more severe.Attacks could be triggered by over eating rich foods (Christmas especially!), drinking too much, exertion and any kind of knock or bang on a joint.Increasing dosage of medication reduced the effects of the attack but had side effects which were unpleasant (stomach problems and bloody stools). Eventually my doctor, reluctantly, prescribed Allopurinol. The medication worked but I suffered from water retention and joint swelling and still needed to take anti-inflammatries for the arthritis.I read an article in 2004 regarding cherries for the treatment of gout and tried it when I next had an attack - they worked but you had to eat at least a kilogram to have an effect - they also had a mild laxative effect! They are also expensive and seasonal. I next tried cherry juice which worked but again had a gastric effect and was rather expensive.My next move was to import Tart Cherry Capsules from the USA which was the best thing I have ever done. Since I started taking them in Sept 2005 I have not had a full blown gout attack and have stopped taking the Allopurinol. As soon as I get a tweek of an ache in a joint I increase my dosage and the symptoms disappear within 12 hours. There are also no side effects (I have tried overdosing by taking 2 capsules per hour for 12 hours without any side effects).I still watch my diet, have cut down on drinking (but am still overweight) but basically I can eat and drink what I like. My next mission is to find a similar 'cure' for my arthritis which still bothers me.
John Hammond | 19/05/2008 14:15:00
I was diagnosed with gout in my mid 20's (I'm now 67). I can only recall it as a severe pain, sometimes in my right big toe and sometimes in my left. When I was 'suffering' I could hardly walk, even with the aid of a stick and I used to drive by using my 'good' foot on the brake and accelerator while operating the clutch with a walking stick!Eventually I went to see the family Doc. who diagnosed it immediately and prescribed allopurinol. Apart from one episode a few yewrs ago when I had 'forgotten' to take my allopurinol for a few weeks, I have not had a recurrence. My diet is now fairly healthy having been diagnosed as diabetic (2)and dependent on my being Coeliac but I regularly enjoy beef and other red meat and it is a rare evening when I don't enjoy a (fairly) large glass of red. I have a blood test about once a year for Uric acid. Hopefully I won't suffer the pain of gout again as it might curtail my rock climbing,scrambling and mountain walking hobbies
Jean Marshall | 19/05/2008 16:22:00
Originally I was given Slozem for a heart condition which had a bad reaction with a beta blocker I was taking and consequently I developed arrythmia and began to retain fluid. After continually visiting my GP as I was gaining a lot of weight (six stones in the end) he told me it was probably air and let me become so ill that I couldn't move. I kept requesting referrals and in the end he relented After another 6 weeks of fluid retention I finally saw the the consultant who despite my protestations booked another appointment for 6 weeks hence. After this appointment he realised I was so ill that he admitted me there and then. So I spent a month in hospital where they drained the fluid of in six weeks and after returning home I was actually recovering well. Then after two weeks I developed gout in my feet at first, then in every joint. I was later told that it was due to the rapid fliuid removal leaving large uric acid deposits in my joints. It took my GP nearly a year to diagnose this, but I was in a wheelchair unable to walk for nearly a year. Eventually, with drugs it disappeared, only to return in my hands very severely. So now I have to see a rheumatologist and neurologist to try to stop the horrendous hand pains. I eat very carefully as I am a diabetic and have no red meat, wine or anything liable to worsen the gout. I am on warfarin and have had bowel cancer so have to watch what I eat and scrutinise every label on every product. C'est la vie!
Roger Lovelock | 19/05/2008 17:12:00
I was first diagnosed with gout in my early 40's. I have never experienced pain like it before. My Doctor was reluctant to prescribe Allopurinol until I started to have attacks of gout frequently, I am now on 300mg daily dose. I have not had any symptoms since starting the Allopurinol. my lifestyle has changed little although I do not drink as much as I used to. The hardest part is remembering to take the tablets.
Bill McLaughlin | 20/05/2008 10:52:00
I had my first attack when I was 35. It was in my right (preferred) big toe joint. My doctor decided it was either hallux rigidus or something else and by the time a blood test was taken, the uric acid build-up had passed. Shortly afterwards I had a second attack - same place - and a quick blood test proved it was gout. Threatened with permanent drugs, I dieted on raw fruit, vegetables, milk, almons and sesame seeds and passed a blood test a month later AND was free of attacks for some time BUT I couldn't keep to that diet forever ...I have found that my body does not like drugs - I get eczema from even the smallest doses of allupurinol and once had a supuration around my waist (the size of a money-belt) from other drugs. So, I watch my diet as carefully as I can without making the rest of my life 'impossible'!I have found quercetin and celery useful prohpylactics but they are expensive and not so easily obtained in strength and quality. My mother (post-hysterectomy) and her fatherboth suffered gout and arthritis; I seem to have inherited both from them. I have in the 30+ years since my first attack had attacks of varying intensity and duration, the worst attack was after an operation with a general anaesthetic (when some 100ml of crystals were syringed off my big toe joint) and the longest duration was 2 months, just last year.I have attacks in virtually every joint in my body and once or twice in my muscles (in my back, in the area of my kidneys). I have permanent tophi along my right achilles tendon and I may no longer run (as I used to) without damaging my joints and achilles and usually precipitating an attack.I have found that everone has gout differently BUT there are a few general points that are mostly involved: there are signs of an oncoming attack, often unnoticed by the sufferer but may be noticed by an observant spouse or other close contact. For me, I start to sleep very heavily, often waking in the exact same position as that in which I went to sleep. For myself, I sometimes notice my temper shortening which is another sign in advance of an attack.The second 'generality' is that the more one can dilute with water, the less intense will be an attack and, possibly, avoid one. This applies whether one's 'source' is the perpetual breakdown of body cells (common to us all) or from the food we eat AND/OR an inability to flush away the uric acid everyone makes.The pain of an acute attack is the only one I know that affects my thinking; I cannot depend on anything requiring judgment or other important thought-process during a medium or worse attack.I am alarmed to have learnt of the apparent increase of gout generally in recent years. A friend's daughter has bad attacks, seemingly related to her PCOS (if I have that correctly ...) and I am fairly sure that much (if not all) of this can be traced to the widespread use of drugs (both medicinal and recreational) and processed food.With all the money and time devoted to conditions and illnesses that attract headline attention, it seems to me that a small proportion of this devoted to this, one of man's oldest-known afflictions, would benefit so many of us, especially doctors who (and I have seen many in many countries in my lifetime) have shown me that I know more about gout than they do - by a long way. (I am an engineer, not a docto, and I am used to observing rationally.)
Sandra D | 20/05/2008 13:00:00
When I first suffered with my toes I just didnt think much about it as I suffer arthritis all over I didnt realise, that is until I knocked my toe one night in the dark it was so utterly painful, after switching on the light I saw my toe was discoloured, swollen and so very painful, I was then 42 years old, my interpretation of gout was an old man who drank umpteen amounts of port and I of course was very unlike that, I dont drink alcohol at all. I was prescribed Allpurinol to alleviate the pain and now I have to take a tablet every day to keep the pain at bay it does help, but as I also a renal patient suffering from kidney failure, my fluid intake is monitored and I have not had a flare up as bad as as the first time but I have had pain on and off despite the medication but I guess its something I have to live with.
Don Mallett | 20/05/2008 15:11:00
About three years ago I had an attack of what my doctor described as gout in my foot and it was agony.It seemed to have been coming on gradually. The medication he prescribed cured it very quickly. I later read somewhere that Vitamin E is very effective in preventing gout and have been taking it ever since.Although I have had some twinges since, I have never had,touch wood, a full blown attack.
Paul | 20/05/2008 17:14:00
I first had an attack 2 years ago at the age of 38. I was on this diet of, Sardines, Mackreal, Salmon and Spinache for 4 days. I thought I was being healthy as I wanted to lose some weight. Then on day 4 I went to play 5 aside football, then a few beers then ouch. There I was laying in bed and then the pain in my right big toe came. I thought I'd broken my toe from the football. It was also the first time I'd done anything physical for a long time. I went to the hospital and they diagnosed me with the "Disease of Kings", " GOUT". I forget the medication I was given at the time but it cleared up almost immediatley. It was a severe pain to, even the bed cover was agony resting on it. Now two years later at the age of 40 years, I got it again. this time I was in Thailand on holiday for 3 weeks. Not doing anything but relaxing and drinking beer each night. On day 17 I got the classic gout symptoms in my right big toe and foot again, agony. I was trying to put my finger on possible causes. Beer, lack of excersise, Pineapple, Squid, Chilli. All these items I had in great quantity each day. The gout was severe but cleared up in a couple of days with some Thai tablets, Again I forgot the name of the medication. On day 20 I was in Singapore and had Sushi in great quantity resulting in Severe gout attacks that lasted 5 whole days. I was also taking medication. " VOLTAREN". So this is what I now avoid, " Singa beer, Tiger Beer, Pineapple, Squid, Sardines, Mackreal, Salmon and Blue cheese". I have just come back from Brazil where I overdosed on red meat and I was fine. I cannot pin point the causes of my severe gout but I now do regular excersises and avoid the above and try and eat as healthy as I can. Hope this helps... Oh I was very grumpy when I had it severe.
Jef | 20/05/2008 19:32:00
I was diagnosed with gout in my big toe about 6 years ago at age 64;it is in the toe where I suffered frostbite in school many years ago.I take allopurinol which is effective to a large extent Gout is a side effect of one of my tablets-bumetenide.
Robert | 24/05/2008 23:12:00
Well, as I sit here at 7.30 in the morning on a Sunday, I am in the middle of a pretty bad Gout attack. I thought an attack might be coming on last night, but did not get to the chemist for some anti inflammatory pills like Voltaren. Most of the time I just get twinges in my joints that can be managed in the early stages with anti-inflammatory pills. I have been tossing all night and now wished I had gone out last night in search of a late night chemist. Why are there no 24hr chemists in Melbourne!!. Like many of the other sufferers, my symptoms started in my early thirties. I am now 47. It was on holiday in QLD. I had been snorkeling for much of the day, with a tight flipper pressing on my right big toe. On coming back from the reef that afternoon by boat, I noticed my big toe as being quite sore. I simply thought this was due to poor fitting rented snorkel gear. Nothing to worry about not I was back to wearing bear feet. Not so. By that evening I was in incredible pain. I was hobbling around like my toe had been broken with a sledge hammer. Any movement of the joint at all caused involuntary expletives to the extreme. That night I did not sleep much, and I could not even have the weight of a sheet on my toe. In the morning I went to the local Doc and gave me anti-inflammatory drugs. The relief was almost instant. I could almost feel the swelling melting away. Within two hours I could begin to move my toe joint a little and within four hours I was virtually cured. I thought it was simply an irritated toe, but on reflection it was first attack of Gout. All the usual suspects were at the crime - dehydration after swimming all day, seafood, beer and direct irritation to the toe it self. Over the years I have had several bad attacks (about one every four years). I have been correctly diagnosed now and I can pretty much prevent an attack if I have some Voltaren and plenty of fluids. I do believe however, that I am a chronic sufferer as for many years I have low level annoying pain in my knees, back, ankles, heels and toes. If I run or do hard labour work where I get a bit dehydrated and put pressure on my joints I know about it afterwards. I feel pain in my back and joints like I am an old man. I used to notice it when I would drive long distances after manual work too (when we were building our country bungalow about 2 hrs from our home). I'd get out of the car and feel pain in my back and joints before I got moving. I often said to my wife, I can't be getting this old this quick. I never really put two and two together until about five years ago, but when I thought about it, it's all to do with gout at some level. I reckon I have these nasty needles getting stuck into me all over my body at time. If only it was as relaxing as acupuncture. I know I have to make some real changes to my life style to cope with this affliction now. It's stopping me from keeping fit and is gradually getting worse. But good diet, plenty of water and regular exercise to keep these crystals moving and expelled is important. I don't want to go on daily drugs, but I may have too. Well for anyone who reads this I hope my experience help clarify symptoms you may be having with Gout. For me I am hobbling off to the chemist as soon as they are open for some Voltaren. Otherwise it’s not going to be a good Sunday to be around me.
Judy | 26/05/2008 02:02:00
I only get gout on the odd occasion but its agony when it strikes. I have to watch what painkillers I take in case they react to the pills I take daily. I usually drink as much water as I can to "dilute" the uric acid, it usually works but it takes a bit of time. What I cant understand is why I get it. I dont drink alcohol, and rarely eat beef, I dont have a "rich" diet so its a mystery why it attacks me. Maybe someone has an idea or two.......
Al Fisher | 27/05/2008 14:57:00
When I got up At age 65 I just had my second attack of gout, the first was at least 30 years ago. MY first attack was the classic big toe, terribly painful, couldn't bear a sheet touching it. I made no lifestyle or diet changes and had no further attacks until last Tuesday. On Tuesday morning and went to make coffee I felt like I was getting arthritis or rheumatism in my right hand. Joints were stiff and sore and lifting the coffee pot hurt. It eased up after a while and my morning was spent helping a friend use my honey extractor to extract some honey from some honeycomb. Right after lunch my hand starting aching again and I mentioned it to my wife, Monika. She thought maybe I should call the doctor but I told her that at my age you don't call the doctor over every ache and pain. An hour later I called the doctor. My hand was really beginning to hurt. I got an appointment to see my Dr. at 3:45. By then my hand hurt so badly I couldn't drive and Monika had to drive me there. By this time my hand was hurting through and through and the pain had traveled to my wrist and was beginning to affect my forearm. If it had been my left arm I would have thought I was having a heart attack, but it was my right arm and there was no associated chest pain. The pain was increasing at such a pace that even during the 15 minutes or so that I was with the Dr. it became noticeably worse. It wasn't a burning pain, or a stabbing pain, it was as though each cell of my hand/wrist/forearm was swelling with fluid and every cell felt under stress. By this time I could no longer bend my fingers without the pain becoming even worse. I speculated that there might be a blockage in a vein and the Dr. thought that a possibility. It definitely wasn't a blocked artery as I had a very strong pulse. Even with the swelling in the wrist you could see the pulse. This made me think even more that a vein was blocked and was causing this back pressure. The Dr. sent me to a local hospital emergency room to get an ultrasound on the basis that if it was a blocked vein I was in the right place. I stopped at home on the way to the hospital and got some acetaminophen-codeine that I had received after a tooth-extraction (which hurt much less than this!) because I was sure I would sit in emergency quite a while and I wanted the ability to self-medicate if this became unbearable. At the ER Monika had to sign me in as I couldn't even stand to touch the pen. After waiting an hour I asked permission to take the pills and they said OK as it wouldn't affect the results of the ultrasound which they planned to do. I took two of the pills and they had absolutely no effect. A half hour later a doctor came out to see me, explained they were trying to get me a bed in emergency but that none were available and asked did I want some morphine. Did I!!? They gave me a shot and took me in for the ultra-sound. Not only did the morphine not do anything, the pain got worse as they did the ultra-sound. After the ultra-sound they gave me another shot of morphine. No effect. They gave me a shot of dilaudid (never heard of it but the doctor swears by it). Nothing. The ultra-sound showed that there was no blockage in my arm, so a blood-clot was not the problem, thank goodness. Next they gave me a shot of dilaudid intravenously and after 15 minutes there was some effect. They gave me another shot half an hour later and I finally got some relief. They were still trying to figure out the cause of my pain. The doctor was inclined to think it was carpal-tunnel syndrome because of the swelling in my wrist, but I have had that and it didn't seem the same to me. He mentioned gout but didn't follow it up. On the basis of carpal-tunnel they also started me on indocin and prednisone. They put me in a hospital room and drugged me every four hours all night long. By 7am I could move my hand, although that hurt. Without moving it, it hardly hurt at all. My personal physician came in and after being brought current suspected gout. A hand specialist later confirmed it and with an additional dose of prednisone I was able to go home. My hand still hurts just a little bit when I make a fist but that is all. It is almost gone. I just got done studying the “gout” entry in Wikipedia. I read it this morning with a combination of wry humor and puzzlement. It is very informative but I found the following quote amusing: “Gout is a form of arthritis that affects mostly men between the ages of 40 and 50. The high levels of uric acid in the blood are caused by protein rich foods. Alcohol intake often causes acute attacks of gout and hereditary factors may contribute to the elevation of uric acid. Typically, persons with gout are obese, predisposed to diabetes and hypertension, and at higher risk of heart disease. Gout is more common in affluent societies due to a diet rich in proteins, fat, and alcohol.” I am 65, had eaten no protein rich foods (except cheese) in the previous day or so (and cheese is supposed to lower the risk factors for gout according to a later paragraph in Wikipedia), have kept my weight in the 160's for the past year, my blood pressure is consistently in the 120's over 60s, and I know of no reason I should be at higher risk for heart disease - my cholesterol levels are acceptable to me and my doctor. The list of foods to avoid reads like a list of foods I rarely, if ever, eat (offal?) except for poultry, which I consume in moderation. They repeatedly cite alcohol but more specifically beer as a contributor to gout and I haven't had a drop in almost two years, and rarely drank beer when I did drink. Go figure.
Bob | 30/05/2008 19:12:00
I'm 55 and had my first attack of gout 7 days ago. I had no clue what was going on. Terrible pain in my right toe, swelling & redness. It was a 3-day holiday weekend (Memeorial Day in the US) and so I had to wait until Tuesday to see a doctor who immediately said it was gout and gave me Indocin which has relieved most of the pain. My foot is still swollen and red. I wear a slipper on the gout foot because I can't get a shoe on -- still too painful. I am really bummed out to hear that I may have to give up beer since I like IPAs. And I like seafood too. Oh well. Some of these stories posted here are far worse than mine. Hope you all find a way to get by. Damn the gout!
Prem | 05/06/2008 18:12:00
Im 34, and currently under sever pain due to the latest gout attack. The first ambush happened when I was 25, and the pain was around the ankle. Since then I am subjected to this nasty gout attack year after year, same time of a year. Come june/july, I am all set to welcome this guest mentally... phew... The location of the attack varies. A few times, it was the ankle, the knee and the latest one - my left hip joint. I agree with most of the posts and wikipedia that Beer is a strong cause of this illness. Many a times, it has been noticed that, if I consume beer for two consecutive days, the chances of getting the pain are more. I feel the suceptibility of the attack would vary from person to person. Lifestyle is a problem, but I do excercise regulary and very mean on seafood and red meat. One of the symptoms I share with another post getting more restless a few days before the attack and being short-tempered. Once the pain starts, I normally resign to it taking loads of water having rest.
Tom M | 06/06/2008 03:09:00
I am 58, been having gout attacks for probably 30 years. My father, uncle, and brother all have it... I used to take Allopurinol for it, but since I wasn't having any attacks, I quit taking it... bad decision.I've had mostly problems in my right toe (I'm right handed), which now has a prominent lump (bunion?). I've also had attacks on my left knee and left big toe, but not so severe and no lumps.I have frequently had attacks while on vacation travel. I've travelled a lot on business, and don't recall getting attacks on them... just my tourist-type travel. I remember having to stop driving in Ireland and stick my foot up out of the window to stop the throbbing. I went to an Irish doctor who said to take my Indocin and a daily pint of Guiness... My latest attack began during a trip to Mexico (lots of beans), and continued for several weeks. I normally have a glass or red wine each night; perhaps when I travel I drink slightly more, but I don't think that it is significantly more. I am definitely on my feet walking much more when I travel. Perhaps I drink less water when I vacation (to minimize pit stops). I certainly eat more when I travel. I'm about 50 pounds overweight, with blood pressure aroud 120/80. I would be very interested in the vacation/gout connection...
Matt | 07/06/2008 16:09:00
I just turned 46 and had my third (what I now know is gout) attack last week. All 3 happened in the last 9 months. The first time, I went to Emergency thinking it was broken (it HAD to be!). Anyway, I'm just sitting here trying to figure out what I can eat. I'm in a "biggest loser" thing at work. I'm going to drink more water, avoid meats - gave up drinking in 2006. Thanks for the posts - it helps!
Sarah Jane | 08/06/2008 08:40:00
I am 18 years old and I am experiencing pain in my big and little toes, knuckles and just a few minutes ago, my knee. I am scared that this will develop into a full blown case of Gout. I seem to be the youngest poster to go through this, which makes me worry a bit. Developing physical symtoms and also losing motor control of your toes - depending. It isn't something I am looking forward to. I think I should mention it to my doctor either way. I am not the type of person to report ever little thing but my step mother has it and she was the one who mentioned Gout in the first place. I didn't know why I was experiencing this sharp pain in my joints. On an ending note, I notice that the part of my body affected will jerk slightly/contract/seize when the pain comes on, it certainly doesn't help me in any way.
sunny yen | 11/06/2008 01:40:00
A US customer of mine suffered gout for years. 2 weeks ago I found a natural remedy on a Chinese website and translated for him. Yesterday he came back to me and said it works. So I hope other people suffering the pain can also benefit from it. And here's my email to him:================================== Just found someone sharing his experience of recovering from gout:http://www.eluq.com/fang_more.jsp?id=34679Basically the guy said that he sufferred serious gout for more than 10 years and took all kinds of medicines. One day after eating spinach the ache was severe and he had a fever and coughing heavily. Knowing that the Chinese medicine believes radish provides relief to these syndroms, he ate an uncooked giant radish (as shown in the pictures) and indeed the cough and pain went away 30 minutes later. So in the following week he tried different kinds of radishes and carrots, and found that only the giant red ones (red skin, diameter 4", white flesh, a bit hot when uncooked) do the trick. Since it's so big to eat and a bit hot, he prepared it in a blender and continued taking it for a whole week and the gout is totally gone! Anyway, here's his recipie:400 grams (14 ounces) of giant radish, cut into small blocks after washing (don't skin), put into blender with 200 ml (6.7 fluid ounces) warm water and 1 tablespoon of honey (adjust the amount of honey base on your taste), blend it and drink it within 10 minutesTake 1 serving 1 hour before breakfast and another serving after dinner. Dunnot eat anything within 1 hour after drinking it. If you can't find the giant radishes, then maybe you can farm some in your garden:http://rareseeds.com/seeds/Radish/German-Gianthttp://rareseeds.com/seeds/Radish/Giant-of-Sicily=================================== Fortunately for my US customer, the German Giant Radish is availabe in his local super market. I believe any round radish with red skin and white flesh and 2" diameter should work. According to the author of the original post, actually all kinds of radishes work to some extent.
Paul | 12/06/2008 10:06:00
Reply to Robert 24/5/08Robert mentioned that he developed a case of gout after snorkelling and using a tight flipper. I have just made a connection! My post dated 20/05/08 explained that my last gout attack happened on day 17 of a 3 week holiday in Thailand. I have just remembered that the day before my attack I'd been wakeboarding using a very, very tight shoe on the wakeboard. I have also recalled that my very first attack 2 years ago happened after I'd played 5 aside soccer, kicking the ball hard with my right foot. This could be a connection re: applying irregular pressure to the common afftected area," Right Big Toe, Foot.".
Mike A. | 11/07/2008 22:51:00
I have gout and high blood pressure. The two diseases are often related. Some of those writing into this site indicate confusion about why they might have gout when they don't eat excessive quantities of meat nor do they drink. The answer is that they may have diminished kidney function which is not properly eliminating uric acid. This diminished kidney function may be a result of untreated or poorly treated high blood pressure. Interestingly there are also compelling hypothesis indicating that high blood pressure could result from high uric acid levels over time.I am currently being treated with Allopurinol. I have not had an attack since I began this treatment over a year ago. I can eat whatever I want. In the past when I have had an attack it was typically precipitated by an injury. For example I would lightly sprain my ankle. The sprain would seem to not really improve much and then a few days later I wake up in the middle of the night in agony, completely unable to walk because of a gout attack in that ankle. It is completely incapacitating. It is not at all unusual that injury or pressure on a particular joint would proceed a gout attack in that joint.There is also a very interesting study showing a correlation between lead levels and gout (and high blood pressure!) In the study gout sufferers with high blood pressure were tested for high lead levels. A diproportionate number were found to have unusually high lead levels (which can independently cause high blood pressure). Those subjects were treated with using EDTA and chelation therapy which lowered both their blood pressure and the uric acid levels. The use of chelation therapy is generally considered controversial, however in this case it is treating a documented incidence of a higher than normal heavy metal (lead) load, which is its intended purpose and thus seems like an avenue worth more investigation. My syptoms are being effectively treated, but I am interested in finding and understanding the underlying cause. Whenever your doctor uses the words "ideopathic" or "primary" it means I/we have no clue what is wrong, you figure it out. I'd be very interested in hearing reports from anyone who tries chelation therapy.
Mike | 16/07/2008
I had my first gout attack ~6 years ago at age 33 (I am 39 now). The first attack affected the joints in my smaller toes (right foot) and really just felt like I had bruised my foot. Some pain, but pretty bearable. I figured I had just somehow injured my foot. I had several more attacks (~ every 6 months), and began to suspect something else was going on, so I went to my doctor. He sent me to a podiatrist to get fitted for an orthopedic. I didn't bother (rolling my eyes).About the 5th or 6th time I had an attack it was in my big toe and the pain was much worse than any of the previous attacks. I could barely walk, but somehow managed to get on a shoe (still don't know how) and went to work. I was hobbling around the office and someone asked my what the problem was. I explained my symptoms and he right away told me it was gout. He told me that he would get attacks in his knee, and his doctor would prescribe indocin.I immediately started researching gout on the Internet and sure enough, the symptons described were exactly what I had been experiencing. Realizing that staying well-hydrated and eating cherries might help, I drank a lot of water and ate a lot of cherries over the next few days and the attack subsided. Since learning about gout, I have been able to mitigate most attacks by simply increasing intake of fluids when I feel an attack coming on. Most attacks only last a few days and the pain is quite manageable, so I haven't brought it up again with my doctor. That being said, I am currently on day 9 of the most recent bout, and my big toe is throbbing. The increased fluids and cherries haven't had the same effect this time. I did forget that drinking beer can trigger or exacerbate an attack, and I had quite a few the past two weekends (especially July 4th). I normally have a handful of beers on the weekend, going to be really bummed if I have to give them up. I think I'd rather have a throbbing toe than go without my pints :).
R. Gprdon | 21/07/2008 04:10:00
Had my first classic attack (big toe, thought had injured it) at age 31 due mainly to dehydration. Next attack was 2 years later in my KNEE. Next time went to ball game and drank beer with copius amounts of peanuts. Knew exactly is was. Since then on allopurinol. Avoid beer/peanut combo. Go on spurts of med. non-compliance: attack usually follow holidays when a beer or six might be logically consumed. had bout of gout on 5th of July(beer & bbq) another July 20, switched toes, only common factor was possible dehydration and beer.These last two attacks were preceded by hand fatigue/pain/arthritis/loss of grip strength, where it hurt to shake hands or hold anything heavy. As soon as toe is triggered hand joints back to normal with complete strength Also, it is in the genes as both bio parents in their 70's have bouts with gout for 20+ years..
pat strickland | 23/07/2008 03:25:00
who is the best Dr. to see for gout I have it in both feet I crawl to the bathroom I an 54 years old and had my son at home with no medicine and gout has that beat by millions of miles if any-one can help me please let me know I have take all the medicine that a Dr. can give me tomorrow will be four week I've had gout its never lasted this long I think they should do a study on gout if there is one out there let me know thank you for all the help you can give me
pat strickland | 23/07/2008 03:31:00
who is the best Dr. to see for gout I have it in both feet I crawl to the bathroom I an 54 years old and had my son at home with no medicine and gout has that beat by millions of miles if any-one can help me please let me know I have take all the medicine that a Dr. can give me tomorrow will be four week I've had gout its never lasted this long I think they should do a study on gout if there is one out there let me know thank you for all the help you can give me
ed | 04/08/2008 00:11:00
I am sitting here writing this in terrible pain from a gout attack that has now lasted for more than a month.The pain is really not that bad most of the time but the stiffness in my ankle prevents me from doing as much exercise as I would like/need, as a soccer coach.I think the most frustrating thing for me is the randomness and the varied responses to the prescriptions?I recently did a diet that meant that I ate no red meat, seafood, usual suspects etc and drank zero alcohol for three weeks but do you think it stopped it? Actually for a while it appeared to but after taking an anti-inflam when I got a tweak back it came again big time. Now I appear stuck with it.I am experiencing the weirdest times at the moment. Some days I can have ALMOST totally unrestricted movement and can even run (50 mins the other day) and then on others I can barely walk. I am reluctant to take the tablets that have worked for me in the past (an anti-inflam and colcochine,sp) as I suspect these are making the condition worse sometimes. But, without them, I never get total relief and sometimes at night, when the pain starts to become excruciating, I don't feel I have much choice.I agree with others that the triggers can be banging somewhere (knee, ankle, toe) dyhydration, getting run down, prolonged use of feet, knees etc and of course binging. The trouble is that it can quite as easily can when one is being comletely saintly (like when I was doing my diet). I also find it comes on when I stop drinking or if I have a day off or holiday.Yours in PAINed
rob | 21/08/2008 22:24:00
So is red wine a yes or a no???
JON | 05/09/2008 20:01:00
its the worse pain ever, symptons you cant describe, days without sleep ,i get it in, both toes varies pains like striking matches on toes to pin attachs ,pushing in of glass, the freezing ,the plyers on toes ,its crazy ,pills dont work, leg when you put it down sometimes feels like its going to burst ,but i finally got it MUSHROOMS for me i think always thawt it was the steak , ive cut them out had 1 tiny attach in 18mths after getting 3 to 5 a year from 30 now 41 cut out lager still got em i think u have to moderate thou on seafood avoid football and banking feet like spading garden well thats what itell her anyhow hope fully no more night time telly and canabis helps just as a mind thing them pills jesus id rather have gout felt like i was dying on cocicine wont even touch alpupinol and no amount of pain killers touch an attach for myself would like to hear of others pain haha and i would love to be able to give a gout pill to afew people
Shaun | 25/09/2008 04:22:00
I'm 37 just been diagnosed with gout. I think I've had it before but thought it was some kind of sprain. Unofficially, this would be my third attack in a couple of years. Is there any type of herbal supplement that we can take to balance the excretion of uric acid? I can't take drugs - doesn't work for me.Can we find giant radish as food supplement tablets?
DEAN | 27/09/2008 01:52:00
I HAVE GOUT IN MY TOES ELBOW HANDS HIP, CAN GOUT CAUSE SUDDEN TOTALHEARING LOST IN THE LEFT EAR?
Dawn | 26/12/2008 22:03:00
I have had gout since I was in my late 20's. I was told it was hereditary and my mum also suffered from it. My first attacks were very minor and the doctor thought they were in my knee joint. My first major attack was after I went over on my foot and were in my instep. I went to A & E and they said that it was a sprain. My foot ballooned and I could hardly walk. I got more frequent attacks and it debilitated me for days. The pain was so severe I couldn't walk. Eventually as the attacks were so frequent I was advised to take allopurinol and have been on it ever since. I hardly drink and don't eat all the things that can encourage gout. So I believe that my gout is not affected by diet at all.
DR, 55 | 06/01/2009 21:41:00
My attach came on with the vengence of the Tailiban, my left big toe felt like all the weight of the world came crashing down on the very small part of my anatomy. It started out as a twinge and grew to a full blown outbreak. I refused to go to the emergency room for help (this actually my third attack) so I suffered four days before finally went to the Dr. for medication. During this period, I drank no less 3 gallons of a black cherry concentrate and probably 20 black cherry tablets, I found no relief until I took Indomethacin and colchicine. I am certain that my attack was a direct result of my love of hamburgers and country ham.I would not wish this affliction on anyone.
alanrowe | 02/02/2009 08:39:00
ive just discovered that i have gout in my left big toe from the symptoms i have read on numerous websites and will be going to the doctors today to get a cure. at first i thought i had stubbed my toe but cant remember doing this underneath my toe feels like ihave permanent pins and needles and the side of my foot is swollen and very sensitive when touched also there is discoloration and cracked skin. to all those out there who suffer with gout i wish you all well.
Stan Roberts | 06/02/2009 00:14:00
I got gout in my left big toe age 37. Im now 46. At first Indocid worked and then after 2 more attacks it didnt. I tried clochicine next, that worked for about 3 or 4 attacks. Finally I was reluctantly given prednisone (a steroidal anti-inflam) and I thought I had found my wonder drug. Not so, after 2 attacks they stopped working too!. I was prescribed allopurinol which sparked an attack immediately. Thats just normal says the Doc. I hate the way they give casual advice (guesses) when you are in excrutiating pain. I gave up drinking for 3 years and stopped eating seafood, it helped a little. I have just moved to Fiji and have been here 3 months and have continuous attacks of varying strengths. For the first time I got gout in my Right Ankle and also in a different part of the joint in my left toe. Nothing I took worked. I stopped taking Allopurinol because some doctors say stop when you have an attack and others say dont stop. I had had enough. I stopped takig all meds drank heaps of water and suffered for a week. The pain resided but never went away. I have stopped eating any meat, dark leaf vegetables and drinking lots of water. I am writing this as nothing has helped. No medicine, no diet change,drinking habit change seems to have any effect. I am stumped, foiled disappointed and unhappy. Where is the Cure? Why dont they have the answer? Canned Crabmeat will set me off in hours. Fresh Seafood, I mean the stuff you take out of the water yourself doesnt seem to affect me. I am leaning towards all things preserved and filled with preservatives.MSG .Maybe I have had attacks after eating Asian food, with or without seafood. Bottom Line is I am still conducting my own research and once I find something I can nail down ALL gout sufferers will be the first to know and I WONT be trying to make a buck out of it like all these wonder cures we are all reading about.
The Patients Voice The Patients Voice is one of the many patient-focused services from Healthcare Landscape. Healthcare Landscape is a medical and healthcare research company, which conducts interviews with all the different kinds of people involved in the healthcare process. They range from patients and their carers, to medical professionals like nurses, pharmacists, physicians and academics. Our mission is to find out what they think and what their experiences have been.
We can interview over the web, at home or at a special research facility; depending on what type of study it is, the choice is often yours. We also run patient diaries and blogs, so you can air your views as honestly and informally as you like. We want to ensure that you have access to the best research experience, and in turn, our clients will learn from your story. Our clients are quite diverse. They range from pharmaceutical or medical device companies, to charities and government bodies. The Patients Voice is open to anyone in the world who wants to give an opinion and would like to try to make a difference. This forum gives you power by allowing you to get YOUR VOICE HEARD.
You should always consult your physician regarding any medical issues. While we attempt to make sure the information on this site is as accurate as possible consulting a medical professional is always to be advised.
Membership of the Patients Voice is Free and open to anyone.
To become a member of the Patients Voice please enter your email below and click Submit.
