I am mindful that gout sufferers do not get the help they deserve.
I never understood it until I spent over 5 years learning what the right treatment should be, then fighting successive doctors until I found one that listened, understood, and helped me fix my gout.
I seriously believe that the only way to manage gout is through a good relationship with a doctor who understands gout. But what do you do if you do not have that relationship, or cannot find that doctor?
That is the essence of my gout support services. I seek ways to help you build that relationship with simple basic facts. I realize that gout that is complicated with other diseases or intolerance to gout medications is always going to be challenging. For that, you must consult a rheumatologist who has experience with similar cases.
But “common or garden” gout is very easy to manage. Keep uric acid at 5mg/dL (0.30mmol/L), or below. For the first few months, have a combination pain treatment package that ensures pain-free mobility.
There are choices of treatment, and some people might be able to achieve the target uric acid level through lifestyle changes – but you still have to monitor uric acid levels to make sure. An annual blood test for uric acid is the absolute minimum requirement – but how many doctors insist on it?
I run GoutPal as a voluntary gout support service to help people work with their doctors to fix their gout. It costs money to provide this service, but with the help of some advertising revenue and some very kind and generous donations, we get by. Personally, especially as my wife recently lost her job, I struggle to balance running GoutPal with other pressures to earn money.
Today, I was reminded that people in pain want answers quickly, and I am disappointed that I cannot be available as often as I would like.
I believe there may be a solution to this, though I am unsure anyone will be interested. I have always been reluctant to charge for GoutPal support services, as I have never felt that I had sufficient expertise to justify this. However, I have now realize how well I control my own gout, and how much I help other gout sufferers.
This gout forum will always be free, and open to everyone. If anyone is interested in a more responsive service, I am thinking of offering two paid services:
1. Basic – priority response through these forums with minimum standards policy. I guarantee a maximum response time of 12 hours, with an average response time of 6 hours. The cost is ?10 per month, or $100 per year.
2. Advanced – As above except times reduced to maximum 4 hours, average two hours. Will also include my phone number for voice and text support. Cost is $50 per month or ?500 per year. Limited to 10 people.
Any interest? Any opinions?