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I wish the best for you Limpy. Gout is definitely the enemy and can rear its ugly head, time and time again.
For sure, excess weight plays a part in gout attacks. I've been up and down in my weight for over a year, when I had my first attack February 2010. When I put on a few pounds, I really do feel my toe joints ache. My attacks this past year have been very minor, and last no more than a couple of days, thankfully. I was on Allo 100 mg once/day from 2/10 until 4/11 when my doctor increased that to 200 mg once/day, as he said I should have no attacks with a UA level of 4.2. Now,? I have no more twitches, pangs, or aches, and that is either from warmer weather here on the east coast of U.S.A. or from the med increase. Next week my blood work is due.
Not that I'm vain, but as a woman, I wish I could wear some attractive shoes – not high heels of course, but something a little more feminine for special things we go to. I'm stuck with old lady canvas sneaker-looking shoes, either black or white, open heel slip-ons. On second thought, forget that wish. I just don't want any more attacks.
Hello SJ, and Hello Trev, Zip…..and all my other friends on here. YES, I consider you all my friends because you helped me through my initial shock (at 70 yrs. old) February 2010 when I had my first attack. I've been trying to log in for some time now, but unfortunately, my computer is a Windows 2000 and all the innards are also old. It's been a problem. I give up easily. But, we won't get personal here regarding the old innards.?
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SJ……….good luck to you, lady! I'm sure you heard some remarks like I did? 'What? Only drunken old men get gout. You can't have it! '………..(no offense guys). But, SJ, stay off the beer, watch your diet and listen to all the experts on this forum. Let the doctor advise, but check here for the real stuff. Your post caught my eye because you mentioned the gout pain being similar to childbirth. I said that on here, too! So right!
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Since February's 1st double whammy, I've had 3 mild attacks, the last one August 2010. So far so good, and my Uric Acid is now at 4.5, from the original 10.1 last year. I'm still on 100 mg Allopurinol and 40 mg Lisinopril for BP….nothing else, although I have found my fluid builds up about every 4-5 weeks. One furosemide (40 mg) takes care of that, and the bloat flushes away. I don't eat seafood at all, and have 1-2 small servings of lean beef a couple times/month. I never ate much meat anyway, but loaded up on seafood my entire life. Non-fat plain yogurt, lots of fresh fruits, and veggies helped me through this. I keep my freezer full of bags of frozen black cherries, strawberries, blueberries and blackberries. I don't miss my former sugar desserts at all. A small amount of white carbs is o.k. with me, but I gingerly eat small portions (spaghetti, noodles). I'm 12 lbs. lighter, and have had no twinges or pangs of pain in my toes since September 2010. I treat myself to a couple glasses of wine, only for a special occasion. Honestly, I don't miss my old way of eating, because I feel good about myself.
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Hope you all are doing o.k. my friends. I'll try to read back, but so many posts, and so much good information left me WAY behind.
GoutGal (from February 2010)
Hi Limpy. My thoughts are that I'm glad you asked this question. My first attack was February 2010. I've been on 100mg Allo since then, and UA varies between 4.9 and 5.1. I'm on and off Colc, mostly off. But I have always wondered if I should stay on it. My toes ache most days, but bearable. This week my ankles started hurting and my left ankle swells by the end of the day, most days. I started back on Colc last week, 0.6 twice/day and was thinking I'd ask this same question. Thanks for whatever others may suggest.
GoutPal…..GoutGal here!
Congratulations on a wonderful weight loss…… As you may remember, GoutGal is relatively new at this GoutGame, GoutPal
But, I'm pretty convinced that weight loss is something we all should do, along with the compiling and following lists of foods, meds, exercise techniques and other. My “other” is massaging my feet, toes, ankles with Emu oil. Whatever works, huh?
As a Gal, I started out at a hefty 164 lbs. at 5'4″ in February, 2010. Now, I'm 140 and the last time I looked, still 5'4''. No attacks since the major one of the left toe on 2/18/10 a very bad one, the right toe on 4/17/10 not as bad, and a very mild 1-2 day ankle one on 5/7/10. With the help of this Forum I've learned so much. It's a wonderful support group.
Good Job!
David, I'm relatively new to gout, with 2 bouts under my belt, and the first 2/18/10. After I told my doctor how much shellfish I was eating, he said I must now treat that as a food I'm “allergic” to, in ANY form. Very sad, as I just love crabs and shrimp. Last night we had complimentary meals at a local seafood buffet, a very good one! I had a great big green salad and a baked potato, while husband indulged in the shellfish and seafood array. Just looking at all of that shellfish made my toes twinge, Really! I'm resolved to the fact that shellfish is a part of my life I will never enjoy again. The pain is too fresh in my memory.
Thanks to All!
Everything's stable here, no issues, twinges, pain, swelling or other. So far, so good. Stash of Colchicine is securely “socked away” for any future “event”. Very diet conscious though, probably to the point of being obsessed. Can't help myself. First attack 2/18/10, Second attack 4/17/10 and another obsession I have, documenting each attack, meds, plus twinges and what I ate. I feel like this is a game of Hunt and Peck, and not a fun one. The bright side – I have all of you to share this with, and your input has been invaluable to me.
Even though I'm a novice, I've found that water is quite a benefit. It makes sense, flushing the system, and it also prevents me from overeating. My weight is dropping steadily, 1-2 lbs./week and today I noticed my long, slender, normal looking feet. What beauts they are, compared to what they were
– red, swollen, bulging and I could almost see them throbbing –I was on Colchicine for a couple of weeks after my first attack Feb. 18th, the same time the doctor took me off of fuoresmide (40mg). Then, hetook me off of Colchicine, and put me back on fuoresmide because of fluid retention, and as a precautionary measure, ordered a renal test, which turned out fine. After this second attack, he put me back on Colchicine (last night). I see from the leaflet that came with it, that Colchicine decreases swelling and lessons the build up of uric acid crystals in the blood. I took one last night, and one this morning, as prescribed (twice/day) 0.6 mg. I see no difference in my pain or swelling. What benefits may I expect from this drug? I've often read it's a good drug to have on hand, just in case.
I really don't know how anyone can jog, after a gout attack. I guess I'm reading that many do this. It's been 8 weeks since my attack, and I'm just starting to walk more briskly, and even at that, I watch for a pebble, uneven bricks, or a cracked sidewalk, which (I've learned) causes some pain, or turns my ankle the wrong way. And, I've exercised a number of years in the gym, and have fast walked. That said, I understand we each have our own type/area of pain. My hat's off to all you joggers and fast walkers.
We all have choices. I had a skin cancer removed from my face 2 years ago, and 3 months ago had “something else” removed from my face, not skin cancer, though, just skin damage from the sun, the surgeon said. I run from the sun, and really shield myself from strong rays. So, I'm not ready to buy in to the sun's benefits to gout. But if it works for others, fine!
Here's that cherry shake recipe:
1 Cup unsweetened black cherry juice
1 Cup non-fat vanilla yogurt
3/4 frozen black cherries
In the blender it goes and now there's a nice thick milkshake for “us” people.
I also have some pain in my toe area, although it seems to diminish a little each day. My attack was 2/18/10, and it left me immobile for 5 weeks. Just in the last couple of weeks, I've been able to put a shoe on that foot, only after I went and bought new ones with a wide toe area. I guess it takes time, like it did for gout to build up in our systems.
Still recovering from my gout attack almost 7 weeks ago. I'd love to walk a couple blocks and get back to do some moderate exercise, but, when I walk and bend my toes while walking, it's still a little painful in the big toe joint. Since it's warm weather here, now, I'm anxious to get out and become more active. My work involves some walking, but that's not concentrated exercise, say a block or two of steady walking. I'm so looking forward to the results of my blood test to see if my UA declined, due this Friday, and I'm still dropping weight, about 2-3 lbs./week. My gout attack was the worst pain I've ever endured, and I gave birth 3 times. I'm a Nervous Nellie about what I eat, how I walk, and what shoes I wear.
NateA –
That sure was a turnaround, just a day. My question, did you have any swelling? That was my big problem. It's been 6 weeks today, and my swelling in my foot is gone. But it didn't leave until almost a week ago. Still, I prop my foot up on pillows when looking a t.v. and still having pangs of pain now and then, in both feet. The left foot had the gout attack and I'm drinking pitchers of water like there's going to be a drought. My second blood test is tomorrow, the first 5 weeks ago showed a 10 and i've been on 100 mg of Allopurinol for 3 weeks.
Never thought anything about it when I got the first signs, 6-7 years ago. A spider bite? A sprained toe? That's what I thought, and the swelling and soreness lasted no more than 1-2 days.This one was a big wake-up call for me.
Yes, I've noticed I have to keep moving. 2 problems here: I run a business from my home, and use the computer about a half day or more. I prop my foot up under an afghan, which helps a little. 2nd thing, I'm still in bedroom slippers, almost 6 weeks. Can't put a shoe on because I'm scared to death to put pressure on my toe and joint and there's still some swelling on top of my foot. I can walk in bedroom slippers, but not around the block. I went shoe shopping, and nothing feels good. Probably my age doesn't help….69. Don't smoke or drink and have been, otherwise, very healthy and active. Been working out at the gym (for ladies) for 3-4 years. This has changed my lifestyle significantly. But I will work on it!
Trev, your response really means a lot to me, as I feel really alone with this new found problem. I haven't talked with anyone but my husband, and doctor about this, and never heard of, or talked with anyone having gout. Thanks for your suggestions and encouragement. This has been bad, and still, after 5 weeks, my foot swells by evening if I'm at the computer too long. Just had a bowl of strawberries which lifted my spirits some. April 2nd (at close of week 3 on Allopurinol) I go for another blood test, then back to the doctor on April 9th. In the meantime, I'm learning from you all. Thank you again!
Newly diagnosed, and very confused. I don't drink alcohol, maybe a glass of wine at Christmas. But, I've eaten a lot of shellfish, plus salmon. 2 weeks after eating crab legs and salmon, I had a horrible attack in the middle of the night. I'll add, thatday I also was out walking in a snowstorm and got cold feet. From what I've read on here, all No-No's. Actually, I thought I had sprained my foot, even though it started in the toe, my whole foot swelled. Not knowing anything about gout, I never thought of that possibility and went to a poditrist first. He gave me a blood test and it showed an acid level of 10. Painful, Painful! Cellulitis had started up my leg, and my first prescription was Indomethacin (12 days) plus Sulfamethoxazole (only for 4 days). Next visit was to myfamily doctor prescribed Colchicine and Allopurinol, took me off my Niaspan and Furosemide. Then my feet swelled badly and BP went up. Doctor took me off of Colchicine, and I'm back on Furosemide again, and feet are back to normal. I can WALK now! How confusing this has been. Now I'm trying to lose weight…maybe lose 15 lbs. more after losing 12lbs. in 5 weeks. Yes, this started Feb. 20th, and today is the best I've felt, still not perfect. I know this is a book I'm writing, but I really need to talk to people so I can learn more. One site said no bagels, another said bagels are o.k. A blueberry bagel is calling me, and I'm afraid to eat anything. A bowl of oatmeal with Splenda and a little Light & Fit Yogurt (low sugar, low carb) are all I've eaten today. I live in fear of getting another attack, and every once in awhile, I feel pain in my toe joints. Now I'm going back to other posts to see if I can learn more. Thanks for this site. I'm really dumb about all of this.
