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I would just like to echo Barrys post. My story started about 8 years ago, I had my gout misdiagnosed by my GP for about 5 years, cortisone injections etc….. Luckily I saw a locum on one trip who sent me to the hospital to see a Rheumatologist who was amazed I had never been tested for gout ( a reason to never look at your GP as someone who knows everything as they don’t..i could go on and on this subject, another time maybe….. )
My uric acid level came back extremely high and she put me onto Allopurinol straight away ( cant thank her enough ). I still had a few attacks over the next year but they became less painful and so i carried on. I couldn’t walk properly as my knees an ankles were so sore due to previous attacks and probably tophi. Two years further on, I am still on Allo and my uric acid is within safe levels and haven’t had a single attack…I now run between 5km and 7km in the gym 3 times a week ( i would have given my last penny to have been able to do that 5 years ago when i was in the most immense pain) I drink beer( lager) about 3 times a week and ashamed to say above the safe guidelines and eat whatever I want. So if anyone is thinking about not taking Allo can i just say that it has basically revolutionalised my life, i am now an active 48 year old who has aspirations of attempting a half marathon this year and a full one on my 50th year. A massive massive thanks my Rheumatologist and the Locum….you have made a miserable pain ridden guy so incredibly happy. PS a big thanks to Gout Pal who I followed once I found it was gout…enough to tell my GP I was going to take 900mg not 300mg ( after the initial test period) for a while and told him that I wouldn’t take no for an answer..he relented…and then after 900mg I decided to try 600mg ( GP warned me about side effects “pffft” )…then I..yes I decide to go to 300mg. Best of luck to you all…my best advice is1) Don’t believe everything your GP says….I never will again
2) Demand to see a Rheumy or failing that ask for a Uric acid test “just in case”,if you think it could be Gout.
3) Don’t believe 300mg Allopurinol is the optimum dose…that’s rubbish.
Apologies if its long but I would hate anyone to suffer like I did due to a GP misdiagnosis.
I got Gout when i was 39, im now 46, I got to a stage where i couldn’t walk properly , and tried every diet fad out there. Eventually after reading this website I got my doctors locum to send me to a rheumatologist and she put me on allopurinol, well after a year of small attacks and one large one and taking 700mg a day I have now been gout free for a whole year. Oh and i still enjoy my beer and prawns, mushrooms….in fact I can eat anything. Go and see a rhuematologist….it took me 5 years to get to see one and it has COMPLETELY transformed my life. oh yes…i was at the gym yesterday and did my first running session for 6 years !!!
As a quick note….A big thanks to you Keith and this site as it gave me all the ammunition I needed to “coerce” my GP into giving me more allopurinol…Thanks again
Having had gout for 6 years it may help someone to see what happened to me. GP never diagnosed my gout, he gave me cortisone injection into a gout inflamed knee which did nothing . Luckily for me a locum was in attendance at my next visit and seeing i was in pain and had been having pain in many joints ( both ankles, knees, elbows, finger joints , oh and lumps on fingers, earlobes and elbow) she thought it may be RA !! I was scared then …but she booked me an appointment at the hospital…saw the rheumatologist who said “Have you never had a test for gout ? ” ….NO….she was absolutely amazed. She gave me a blood test and i was 647 from memory and she put me onto allo with a review in 6 months….went to 300mg went down a bit but not to below 300….I had to argue with the GP to up my level to an eventual 600mg allo, to which i added anothe 100mg to make sure…he opened his book and said Oh ok 800mg is the top dose so ok 600mg ( do you think he understood gout ?? !!!! ).
It has taken a full year with Allo and Colcochine to stop the attacks, and reduce tophi. I have now been attack free for 8 months and my rheumatologist has discharged me and said come back if I have any more problems with my GP concerning gout.
That rheumy has literally saved me from having a life of being in pain, before I would have given over every penny of my savings to get my life back to normal.
Oh and my Uric is now 247…no bumps…happy days.
SEE A RHEUMATOLOGIST is my adviceI will second that..i had my first attack in my left ankle….then my right ankle …and i didnt know what it was until 5 years later ( 1 month ago) uric acid 10 and i go back for an update on tuesday..then i will TELL the doctor what dose of Allopurinol i should be on. By the was t that Colcochine is brilliant for stopping an attack..i have had two “early morning wake up calls” and popped a couple of them and then one an hour later and the pain dies away…fabulous..
I am in the same position, i fnd it hard to stand and walk as it is painful on my feet …my knees only bend to 90 degree so i go down the stairs one at a time…currently trying to get my uric down from 10 so i will let you know how i go….i imagine i have tophi in myh knees and feet …..BUT..yep u need blood tests to make sure its gout then get on the Ally
