How soon afterward to do the blood test for best reading?

[darrenbruin]

I saw my (new) doctor 3 days after the attack started. He suspected gout so told me to come in for a blood test in 4 weeks after prescribing Indomethacin for my pain. My attack started on the second toe next to the big toe. After about a week it stopped but moved to the middle of my foot. A week after that it moved to my ankle and roughly 4 weeks after it started the attack is gone.

I purposely delayed the lab test so that it is taken about 6 weeks after first started and 2 weeks after the last pain is gone. Now I wonder if my reading is accurate. That is did I give it? enough time for the uric acid to come back from the joints and raised back to my “regular” level? By the way my lab test result showed a reading of 7.8 mg/dL.

My question is thus: was the timing of my blood test OK?

PS: According to the lab and my doctor, “normal” is between 4.0 and 8.0 so he did not seem concerned at all. After doing research and reading this site I now realize that anything higher than 6.0 is risky and cause for concerns.

[limpy]

The only way the doctor was sure?I had Gout. Was to take fluid out of my ankle joint and have it tested for crystals they finally found them on the second try. My acid level never was that high when ever they tested it. Good luck. Limpy

[zip2play]

Darren,

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That 7.6 sounds?like a?valid reference point and a strong indicator for gout. Your timing was as good as can be.

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But my question is why didn't the doctor take a reading EVERY time you saw him? More information is ALWAYS better than less.

I would never see a doctor for even the sniffles or a broken leg?without asking for a serum uric acid test.

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NORMAL is normal for those who do not have gout. Once you have had an attack anything over 6 mg/dL must be considered improper treatment. This “normal” estimate by your doctor only indicates he is NOT the man to treating your gout.

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