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[whatashock]

As my name suggest, I am in shock. I was diagnosed with Gout which until Monday I thought was reserved for aquariums. I have read quite a bit through the forums and see the different takes and opinions on causes, cures, etc. I have checked with all of my family and we have no history of Gout, in fact I spent more time on the phone with them explaining what it is LOL when I don't really even know. I can contribute that at least 4 generations back there is know known history of Gout. I also have read that it is caused by Rich Foods, Red Meat, Game Meat, lack of exercise, and I have seen on quite a few posts not sure some think alcohol and some think not so much. Well Alcohol I thought was my only common denominator. Beer to be more specific. I am 43, weigh 205 lbs, I can't stand game meat, I eat Steak or Red Meat maybe 3 or 4 times a month. I almost always have checken breast, trurkey, or fish. I work out 5 times a week with weights since I was 21 or 22. I use the ellipital or 4 or 5 times a week for 30 minutes each session. My downfall I was diagnosed with High Blood Pressure when I was 27 and Prescribed Bisoprolol/HCTZ. So guess what contributed to my Gout. 

Last Tuesday was like any other day, woke up went to gym spent over an hour there, home, showered, and off to office. After work went to a mixer had a handful of beers and went home. When I awoke wednesday left toe felt oddly sore, skipped work out, and took the day off from work. As Tuesday went on, toe got sorer and seemed to start working towards my arch. I napped, watched tv, ate and repeated. By night it pretty damn sore, but I slept decent . Wednesday morning I awoke it was worse, very bad, but I do have a high tolerance for pain so I figured give it another day. That was a mistake. By Wednesday night I couldn't sleep and just the movement of the sheet over that foot was a horror.  Doctor the next day and the rest you know the drill blood test,etc.

I guess my questions are has anybody else in the forum gotten it from HCTZ? If so, did it get any better once you stopped the med? Or is permanent since I already live the lifestyle that I read is suppossed to fend it off. I guess just very confused. Any input would be nice.

Thanks

Down in the Dumps  

[toofast]

Hey, don't feel bad.  I am 42, weigh a bit less (175lb) work out, etc…You and I could be twins….bla bla and was just diagnosed as well.

I never eat red meat (well, maybe once a month)…never eat game meat, etc.

After all my research, I am wondering much like yourself.  Only difference is my BP is normally 125/75

So I bet the HCTZ is not a contributor to gout…can't wait to see the replies.

[trev]

Hey, you 2 🙂 Welcome to the thiazide avoidance group!

There's not doubt that  these class of meds are triggers for Gout. Zip here will testify to that -and I got it from a similar drug. It has gout on the label as a side effect.

I stopped all diuretics this year and my symptoms have eased right off though other factors have also changed 'to the good' to assist in this. No 'proper' attack in over a year.

So ,effects can be backed off, but once you have had an attack you stay vulnerable for ever- due to the genetic weakness getting flagged, by your immune system.

Fot the BP meds- they ALL have side effects like any useful med- and it's usually a case of pick your poison, but for gout the meds are somewhat less broad in their lack of toleration -and people here swear by them, if tolerated. There is always the risk of longterm side effects, but untreated/unmanaged gout is worse for risks in the long term result.

Lifestyle choices can help a lot but the balance is very much an individual thing.

Keeping fit is hard whilst struggling to manage gout – but it will definitely help keep you mobile and cheerful- so stay with it as much as possible while getting a fix on your SUA numbers and gout status overall.

Yes! The pain of gout is not appreciated by the gout free, including most medics, sad to say. Hiopefullyu, this will change with more online feedback showing up.

[limpy]

I have to agree with Trev my MD put me on a blood pressure pill. Then swithed me to one with HCTZ when I was getting kidny stones. That was a few years back. When I started having Gout type pain last year I was taken off the HCTZ and given the same med. without the water pill. But that was two late I guess. Looking back even if there had been a warning on the label that it could give me Gout I probably would have taken it anyway not really knowing what Gout was. Having just had them go in with a metal tube and remove a stone. The pain from the kidney stone was the only thing that I've had that was close to the pain of Gout. But that only lasted till they put me out and went in and got it. Also when I went to see a Rhumatologist to get a second opinoin on my Gout. One of his questions was if I ever had kidney stones? So are kidney stones common with people with high uric acid?

[azasadny]

I'm a vegetarian, no alcohol, at my proper body weight and I have gout, too. Food doesn't cause gout, but some foods can aggravate it, just like sugar doesn't cause diabetes. Read, learn and talk to your doctor. Get on Allopurinol and get manage this disease and learn to live with it. Good luck!

[zip2play]

Don't know how I missed seeing this post.

But YES, HCTZ, and its sister thiazide diuretics is a  cause, if not THE major cause of gout. I am 100% certain that it caused my gout (a decade or more at 50 mg. per day. The drug should be banned for men.

(From the noticed diuretic effect of beta-blockockers, I'm sure they contribute as well so the duo (like the origingal poster) was taking is a recipe for gout.) In that respect gout can be looked at as  largely CAUSED by the entryl-level medical profession, GP's) who prescribe blood pressure medication by rote becasue they are not equipped to do much of anything.

Modestly high blood pressure MAY be a bit of a slight scourge, the proof is light, but after years of experience, I am reasonably certain that TREATING it is a FAR worse scourge. Absent my years of I would not have gout but alas, once you get got you GOT gout…forever.hydrochlorothiazide

Of course, anyone with gout really must get off thiazides…even the boobs with the stethescopes around their necks must agree on this.

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