- This topic has 3 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 4 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
Hi, I am a new member and apologise if the questions I ask here are already answered elsewhere. I have a rather pressing problem and neither my Dr nor the things I have read have made me feel overly comfortable so hoped for some solice here 🙂
I am in my late forties and have suffered from gout for about ten years. I have been somewhat lucky in as far as I have suffered one major attack only every three years. By major attack I mean something so painful I have been signed off work. I have had much smaller, less painful attacks in between, but not many and not that severe, just irritating!
My last major attack was eight weeks ago and whilst the main attack has been and gone my foot has remained painful and slightly swollen? so I went to my Dr. He said this was all gout and said I needed to start treatment with Allopurinol. He prescribed Allopurinol together with Naproxen!
My problem is this, in two weeks I am scheduled to fly to Russia on holiday. I have started my Allopurinol regime today with the awareness that it might cause a gout 'flare'.
So? my questions are 🙂
1. If I am going to have a flare due to the Allopurinol regime, roughly how long into the treatment might this occur?
2. If I have a flare, do I keep taking the Allopurinol? I guess this is yes and that's what the Naproxen is for!
3. What are the chances my flare will happen and resolve itself in time for my holiday?? This is my biggest fear, the thought that I have started a treatment that will cause a flare and ruin my holiday!
4. I am also concious of the other possible allopurinol side effects, I guess my final question would be? in very general terms, how quickly do these side effects materialise? Immediately or after a few hours, days? weeks???
I know that any answers to the above would have to be highly caveated? but I would really appreciate any help, advice or suggestions to make sure I get on that plane to Russia on 29th July :-)))))
Nephalion said:
1. If I am going to have a flare due to the Allopurinol regime, roughly how long into the treatment might this occur?
2. If I have a flare, do I keep taking the Allopurinol? I guess this is yes and that's what the Naproxen is for!
3. What are the chances my flare will happen and resolve itself in time for my holiday?? This is my biggest fear, the thought that I have started a treatment that will cause a flare and ruin my holiday!
4. I am also concious of the other possible allopurinol side effects, I guess my final question would be… in very general terms, how quickly do these side effects materialise? Immediately or after a few hours, days… weeks???
I know that any answers to the above would have to be highly caveated… but I would really appreciate any help, advice or suggestions to make sure I get on that plane to Russia on 29th July :-)))))
1- Your guess is as good as my guess. Probably in the first 1-7months.
2- BIG YES! Think of AlloP as dish washing soap that cleans the blood uric acid aka DIRT. So if you are washing a dirty plate then would you stop cleaning it when only 1% of the plate was cleaned? AlloP for life!
3- No one can guess it. Everyone is different. It took me 6 months on AlloP before I was 100% pain free. It all depends on how much uric acid deposits your body already has. My gout symptoms only started 1 year ago in your case you had it for 10 years. If someone was just starting AlloP I would say start it after the holiday and then NEVER stop!
4- I felt bad first few months but some of it could have been due to fear of not wanting to be amongst the unluck minority who can't take AlloP. Tired I definitely felt but it was manageable. Now after 5-6months on AlloP I feel normal. It all depends from person to person. I never felt dizzy or anythign like that….just sleepy.
If you are in the minority then side effects might show up in the first months but apparently they can even show years later (probably the less serious type like rashes and stuff).
browser://dictionarytip/skin/dtipIconHover.png” alt=”” />
Why not ask you doctor to prescribe some colchicne, perhaps 2 a day, to take from now until you return home. It will lessen the chances of having an attack while you are away and if you DO have an attack can be useful for aborting the attack quickly, albeit at a higher dosage.
- Cant speak for others – but I only had a slight flare after two weeks and it last just a couple days.
- Yes, take allop every day whether you have an attack or not.
- Yeah, no one can tell. Thats what the naproxan is for. You should also take some indomethicin in your bag in cas of swelling. (need Rx from doc)
- I got tired at 10pm and slept like the dead for the first few weeks. Had some funky dreams. Unfortunately that went away – it was some of my best nights of sleep in years…
Go to Russia. Have a good time. You can help prevent a flare while you are there by avoiding red meat, shellfish and booze as much as possible. Also watch your salt intake (i.e. caviar) because that can be a trigger also.
Drink large amounts of water to keep your system flushed. That will also help prevent a flareup.
Bring comfortable/roomy shoes in case you do flare up and just be ready to hit the drugs. If you wake up at 5am and feel a twinge – dont wait…take the drugs with a big glass of water.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.