Just wanted to say hi to everyone here and
introduce myself. I am a 33 year old gout
sufferer. My dad and my mom's dad both had
gout.
To complicate my condition I am allergic
to allopurinal which is what my dad has
been taking daily forever as he drinks
himself into oblivion...
anyways so I have been trying to monitor
what I eat and drink since I had my first
really bad attack last summer (I think I
had previous attacks that I figured were
injuries).
I rarely drink anymore and try to stay
away from shell fish and red meat.
I and my dr agreed a beer or two every now
and then wouldn't be too bad as long as I
paid attention to being hydrated.
So I had 2 beers on memorial day sunday
and by thursday I had a gout attack in my
ankle that was crippling. At first I began
taking colchicine as it has worked in the
past, however there was no response.
then my primary care doctor thought it was
an infection and treated for that starting
on Friday.
Over the weekend it got worse and I ended
up in the ER. again treated for an
infection but they were thinking gout
again.
So saw my primary care dr again on monday
and he says it's gout but may be brought
on by infection. Wants me to stay on
antibiotics and puts me on steriods. also
tells me to take the indomicin which I
makes me very sick.
Things are getting better today (tuesday)
but I missed a big work conference I was
supposed to fly out to sunday and be at
monday and today.
So I'm pretty down now.
I just don't know how to get this under
control?
I asked my dr how we should precede as I
the attacks were occurring more frequently
(2 major attacks in less than 6 months)
and he gave me the same print outs again
that really don't have any new
information. don't regularly eat shelfish,
red meat, drink alcohol, etc.
but I don't know - my dr doesn't seem to
know much more than what is on the print
outs.
I'm wondering if I should see another type
of doctor?
have people out there found one type of
doctor is better versed in handling gout
than another?
how often do others get accute attacks?
how much do I need to cut out of my diet?
can I never have a beer? can I not eat red
meat, at all?
I'm just a little bewildered today and
hope you don't mind my long post. could
really use some info and just sharing of
experiences so I know what to expect.
thank you
|
accordboi
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 May 2007 Posts: 3
Posted: 06-05-07 23:35pm
I'm still trying to figure it out myself.
I had my first big attack in early April.
Then i had a 2nd attack in early May.
They say the second doesn't come until
like 6 months later or something, but mine
came a month later. Though i'm pretty
sure it had to do with me taking vitamin c
supplements since the 1st attack.
Anyways, the first thing you need to do is
go find out your uric acid levels. They
do that through a blood test. That can
give you an idea of how hight your uric
acid levels are, which are a big
contributor to gout. Once you know that,
you can then decide what to do next, but
that is usually the first step.
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goutinmygenes
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 05 Jun 2007 Posts: 2
Posted: 06-06-07 04:36am
my uric acid levels seem to be around 7.2
at the time of the attack. My dr says the
uric acid levels actually are pretty
normal until after the attack and symptoms
have gone away, then they increase as the
crystals flush out.
|
accordboi
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 May 2007 Posts: 3
Posted: 06-06-07 14:12pm
7.2? wow.....during my attack, my level
was 6.1. The range is suppose to be from
3.0 to 7.0 so you're on the high end. I'm
starting to think that no matter what i
do, its inevitable thanks to hereditary
reasons. Still, i do what i can do
prevent it which is simply eating
healthier. Cut the alcohol completely, i
know i know, its hard, but its for the
best. I love red meat but have to be
careful with that and try to eat chicken
or lean meat. And seafood, well, i don't
ever really crave that so i'm good. Eat
more vegetables (the greener the better)
and drink water like you've never drank
before. Cantaloupes, watermelon,
cherries, and bananas are the best fruits
for neutralizing the acid in your system.
Last but not least, remember, each time
you have gout, you're damaging your joints
so think twice before you reach for that
alcoholic beverage. Other than that,
you're pretty up to speed to where i am
at.
|
pcrisell
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 29 May 2007 Posts: 1 Location: uk
Posted: 06-07-07 14:31pm
accordboi
wrote:
7.2? wow.....during my
attack, my level was 6.1. The range is
suppose to be from 3.0 to 7.0 so you're on
the high end. I'm starting to think that
no matter what i do, its inevitable thanks
to hereditary reasons. Still, i do what i
can do prevent it which is simply eating
healthier. Cut the alcohol completely, i
know i know, its hard, but its for the
best. I love red meat but have to be
careful with that and try to eat chicken
or lean meat. And seafood, well, i don't
ever really crave that so i'm good. Eat
more vegetables (the greener the better)
and drink water like you've never drank
before. Cantaloupes, watermelon,
cherries, and bananas are the best fruits
for neutralizing the acid in your system.
Last but not least, remember, each time
you have gout, you're damaging your joints
so think twice before you reach for that
alcoholic beverage. Other than that,
you're pretty up to speed to where i am
at.
I tried a teaspoon of baking soda mixed in
a glass of water 3 times a day. First
thing in the morning after lunch and just
before bed. Consult your doc first. Worked
wonders. Balances your body's PH level.
Drink water all day, you'll piss like an
elephant but it is worth it
|
JYY2
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 05 Jun 2004 Posts: 227
Posted: 06-07-07 15:37pm
More testimonials and survey results of
baking soda on gout, etc., can be found
at: http://www.ICuredMyGout.org .
|
painfree
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 14 Nov 2004 Posts: 73 Location: ,
Thanks: 3
Thanked:0
Posted: 06-08-07 08:05am
More important than how you eat is how you
sleep. Make sure that you don't have sleep
apnea. Check out [links removed] , and the
book "The Perils of Sleep Apnea - An
Undiagnosed Epidemic".
|
EddieZ2000
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Jun 2007 Posts: 3 Location: Midwest
Posted: 06-11-07 17:00pm
I've had attacks of gout since I was 16
years old but also thought they were
injuries since I was active in athletics
and was officially diagnosed at 22. I
totally believe that diet is only a small
factor. I'm now 40 years old. I have been
in great shape weight wise and athletic
conditioning wise and still had gout
attacks. I have watched my diet closely
and still had attacks.
Some mention sleep apnea as a major cause
of gout. I don't snore very often and I
sleep good at night and wake up well
rested. My wife is not aware of me not
breathing at night.
I think gout is a curse from the devil
himself. Ok not really but it is a
metabolism disorder that is hard to keep
balanced. I find I get attacks when I
begin to get into shape (working out
endurance running bicking ect) once in
shape not many attacks. I get attacks when
falling out of shape (stop working out
gaining a couple of pounds) but once in
poor shape not many attacks. I get attacks
after a beer or alcohol binge but not if
i'm just drinking a couple a few days a
week. The bottom line is the more balanced
and stable my life the less attacks.
I'm being treated with 300mg of
allopurinol and it works most times
although changes in life style still cause
minor attacks and if I forget to take my
pills for a couple of days and have a
alcohol binge I can count on an attack.
Best things I can do when I get an attack
is taking indocin, take ibuprofin, lightly
message the area affected (usually my big
toe) with my hands, elevate my foot, ice
my foot, and relax on the couch.
For those with gout attacks and
goutinmygenes I want to say I totally
understand your depression and
frustrations. The pain, lack of control,
inconveniences and did I mention throbbing
pain of can drive you crazy. I really
don't think your diet affects your gout
all that much other than excess alcohol.
The bigger factors for me seem to be
changes in life weight up or down, getting
in shape or falling out of shape, a string
of stressful days, a string of lack of
sleep. For those with attacks let me tell
you I feel your pain (literally) but you
can control it will medication and a
balanced lifestyle.
See your doctor and get medicated . When
you do get an attack try to relax becuase
there is only so much you can do to
shorten your attack and stressing out does
not help.
|
JYY2
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 05 Jun 2004 Posts: 227
Posted: 06-12-07 00:33am
Sudden increase or decrease of the body's
level of urate (uric acid plus monosodium
urate, MSU) can shed the protective
coatings to expose the raw MSU crystals in
the joints to trigger gout attacks. The
conditions that can jolt the body's urate
level include: sudden changes in physical
and mental conditions, medication
(includes alcohol consumption), medical
conditions, etc. Therefore by avoiding
sudden changes of these conditions, one
can avoid or reduce the chance of gout
attacks.
The goal of urate lowering therapy is to
keep the blood urate level below 6 mg/dL.
If 300 mg of allopurinol a day is not
enough to achieve the goal, one needs to
increase the dosage. To avoid gout attack
when restarting allopurinol, restart it at
a lower than normal dosage plus colchicine
or an NSAID, and gradually increase the
allopurinol dosage to the desired level
and wean off colchicine or an NSAID.
As to what to eat, we can eat anything --
provided eat less of high purine and low
pH foods and drinks. The pH and the uric
acid content of foods and drink in mg/100g
can be found in section 4 of
ICuredMyGout.org.
|
Makoto
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 16 Jul 2006 Posts: 263 Location: Japan
Posted: 06-13-07 17:58pm
Just want to add my support of taking
baking soda. Since I started taking baking
soda from time to time(when I feel I might
have an attack, or that I know I have been
taking too many foods and drinks that
might bring on an attack)I have not had
an attack or anything. My last attack has
been 9 months or so ago.
I have been on trips and vacations where I
have not been careful with my food, but
because I have had the baking soda close
at hand, I have not had to suffer through
an attack.
I can not recommend the advice on baking
soda enough. There is no need to suffer
through a gout attack. I know baking soda
sounds strange, and it tastes terrible,
but I'd rather baking soda over a gout
attack any day.
|
rajdhan
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Dec 2005 Posts: 2 Location: Austin, TX
Posted: 06-19-07 16:39pm
Makoto
wrote:
Just want to add my support
of taking baking soda. Since I started
taking baking soda from time to time(when
I feel I might have an attack, or that I
know I have been taking too many foods and
drinks that might bring on an attack)I
have not had an attack or anything. My
last attack has been 9 months or so ago.
I have been on trips and vacations where I
have not been careful with my food, but
because I have had the baking soda close
at hand, I have not had to suffer through
an attack.
I can not recommend the advice on baking
soda enough. There is no need to suffer
through a gout attack. I know baking soda
sounds strange, and it tastes terrible,
but I'd rather baking soda over a gout
attack any
day.
I have read lot about the baking soda
treatment, especially on these forums. Do
you guys have any numbers to back it up ?
What was your uric acid level before and
after you started the baking soda
treatment.
Baking soda treatment sounds simple and
too good to be true, but when I check with
my doc. he goes, don't go by the stuff on
the internet... Not that I believe him
completely. Even, if I ignore my doc's
suggestion, which I am willing to, then
there is the question of injecting such a
strong base into the body. I have heard
from people where, injecting too much of
baking soda into the body has caused some
kind of ulcers in the intestine and stuff
like that.....
I am not trying to scare anybody here, but
the fact is that baking soda is an
inorganic chemical compound which is very
powerfull and we have to really careful in
using it.
All said and done, I myself had half a
spoon of baking soda mixed in a glass of
water last night. I went for it, even
though I am scared of taking chemicals.
The reason being, my UA level was 11.2
yesterday morning. It's like an ATTACK
waiting to happen. And somewhere deep
inside me, I really wish that baking soda
is really the treatment for Gout.
If you read this post to this point, all I
want to say is Thank you.
But I would really appreciate if the
baking soda proponents could back their
claims by some numbers .....
|
JYY2
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 05 Jun 2004 Posts: 227
Posted: 06-21-07 23:12pm
A study has shown that taking 10 grams
(about 2 measuring teaspoons) of baking
soda (sodium bicarbonate) a day can reduce
the blood uric acid level by 1 mg/dL.
While bs seems to do some wonders for some
gout patients, it is not the best thing
for lowering the ua level. How well does
it work for gout patients? As of today, a
survey carried out in [link removed]
shows:
If you have tried baking soda to treat and
prevent gout, was baking soda:
extremely useful:...... 456 (59%)
very useful:...............113 (14%)
useful:.......................91 (12%)
not very useful:...........40 ( 5%)
not useful at all:..........78 (10%)
BS is a weak base and is quite safe to
ingest by mouth. It is commonly used in
cooking, baking, antacid, etc. On the
other hand, "injecting ... baking soda
into the body" is very dangerous. Doctors
inject only minute amounts of sodium
bicarbonate in patients' veins to alkalize
their bodies, often under emergency
conditions.
The blood uric acid level of 11.2 is quite
high. It increases the chance of gout,
uric acid kidney stones,... However, due
to the side effects of the drugs, doctors
are not to treat hyperuricemia with drugs
unless the patients have a few gout
attacks, kidney stones, tophi (urate
crystals) built up in the body, etc. More
hyperuricemia and gout info can be found
in the above mentioned webpage. Take
care.
|
baby_cat
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Posts: 5
Posted: 06-27-07 01:32am
my grandma used to cut lady
finger(vegetable) and
soak it overnight and in the morning she
use to drink the water. or you can also
consume lady finger in the form of salad.
if you need some salad recipe then let me
know
and
soak it overnight and in the morning she
use to drink the water. or you can also
consume lady finger in the form of salad.
if you need some salad recipe then let me
know