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Been reading through many posts, I had a very surprising ‘Might be gout in your ear’ diagnosis last week.
‘I’ve got what in my ear?’
Over the last few years I’ve had these tiny little blisters approximately 10 at a time all over my body, when touched or scrapped become unbelievably itchy they look nothing more than a tiny spot after bursting. At the same time (I thought) I had a couple appear on my right ear they were the same very itchy little blisters but also became painfully swollen red/purple and very hot to the touch.
This has repeated two to three times a year for last three years, I’ve just turned 40, very active, don’t smoke or drink alcohol, never touch coke/pepsi type drinks, not had any beef, lamb or pork for a few years. Eat what I think is a very balanced diet with fruit and veg, drink much more than most people.
To say I was surprised is doing an injustice to the word surprised.
Still waiting for the blood test results to come back, does gout sound unlikely?
Many thanks in advance
Gout is often perceived as an eating disorder, but many things can cause gout. Common things include rapid weight loss, some diuretics and other drugs, some diseases, exposure to metals such as excess iron or lead in the blood. Most common of all is genetics, but this is difficult to detect from family history. Gout is often missed, so our parents might not have been diagnosed properly. Also, genetic traits are known to skip generations.
Blood test results will be a guide, and I hope you will publish them here for further discussion. The true test would be to analyze samples from the blister site(s), but this is a job best left to a rheumatologist. If you do go for such a test, it is vital to analyze samples straight away.
Hi Keith,
Thank you for taking the time to read and answer my post.I finally got the blood work results, everything is showing normal with a uric acid level of 325.
Looking at my diet I have to admit to eating too much tuna and salmon, I’ll have at least one portion a day very often one of each per day.I’m more confused than ever….
Probably should have mentioned that I’ve not been on a diet or lost any weight, I’m 6’2″ and just over 12stone (170Lbs)
300 is the maximum limit according to most rheumatologists. However, one reading does not make a medical history, so you need to get a few test results and see what your range is. 325 is only slightly high, but if this is combined with exposure to cold, then uric acid crystals could be quite high. The more data you have about uric acid levels and body temperatures, the easier it is to diagnose gout. Body temperature is the external temperature at the site of the problem, which is often much lower than the usual temperature test.
Though lifestyle and diet can make gout worse, they are rarely the only factor. Genetics, other meds such as certain blood pressure drugs, high iron are common. There are hundreds of less common reasons.
Where gout is straightforward, a family doctor should be able to diagnose and manage it effectively. Your gout is not typical. A simple solution would be allopurinol to get uric acid down to 300 or below. If that resolves the problem, you have your answers. The preferred option is to find a rheumatologist with good gout experience.
Hi Keith,
Thanks for the reply, over the last few days my other ear has become pretty much the same as my right ear and my left index finger has a warm lump right on the joint.Balls……..
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