Gout

Foxhound38

So like the idiot that I am, I procrastinated when it came to buying more Cherry supplements after I ran out - low and behold two weeks later I'm at home from work seriously contemplating sawing off my own big toe such is the pain it's giving me.

The Gout unfortunately kicked in with myself, my father and my brother all starting at the age of 30 like clockwork. A largely male disease (although I am aware the ladies can get it too) I said I would ask here if any of you fellas are similarly effected?

Any tips on managing it when it's in full flux? Cherry supplements are good for keeping it away but it's too late for that now, and I'd really rather not reach for the Difene if I can help it - rips the stomach out of me!

silverharp

no direct experience but from a quick look around, things to try might be Magnesium supplements, cheap and easily available in a health food shop, Epsom bath salt, and a more general one would be to cut out sugar in your diet.

Pawwed Rig

Pop some ibuprofen or else goto the swiftcare clinic to get anti inflammatories. Had it once and bugger me the pain is debilitating.

FishOnABike

Trip to the doctor is the only thing for it I think.

I had one acute attack years ago, it was like someone sticking hundreds of red hot needles in my toe. It disappeared with a course of voltarol retard and luckily I've never have a reoccurrence.

mrmurphster

I've just been told I have gout. Pain has been something else. Hit me 10 days ago and even with difene I'm still suffering slightly. Not got up to much since, except going to and from work.

Never even knew what gout was until now. Wouldn't wish it on my worst enemyðŸ˜

Stigura

Eat Celery.

RocketRaccoon

I got my first flare up about 11 years ago and seemed to get it around the same time every year. Until I realised how to spot when it was about to happen (side of the toe got itchy) and took preventative action which consisted of 1 difene, a glass of water with a tea spoon of baking soda stirred in and then an ibuprofen tablet, it works every time which is great because nobody ever seems to believe just how sore it is unless they've experienced it themselves.

clio_16v

Wrap the affected part of your body in cabbage leaves. Have heard from a few people that this gives relief.

divide_by_zero

My dad suffers really badly with gout and when it flares up he swears by wheatgrass in liquid form. You can get it in powder form and he takes it in the morning with a glass of water.

Calhoun

Go to the doctor they will prescribe anti-inflammatory and can test your uric acide to see where it sits. Really it comes down to diet more than anything else.

My doctor put it to me like this, can either medicate it for the rest of your life or just change your diet.

They should give you a list of what sets it off, you will know yourself what type of foods can trigger it. I personally love orange juice and would replace water with it given half a chance but it so acidity that it combined with other parts of my diet can tip me over the edge.

New Home

OP, this may help.

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=78131338

RocketRaccoon

Calhoun wrote: »

Go to the doctor they will prescribe anti-inflammatory and can test your uric acide to see where it sits. Really it comes down to diet more than anything else.

My doctor put it to me like this, can either medicate it for the rest of your life or just change your diet.

They should give you a list of what sets it off, you will know yourself what type of foods can trigger it. I personally love orange juice and would replace water with it given half a chance but it so acidity that it combined with other parts of my diet can tip me over the edge.

I have no clue what triggers mine. People say its red meat etc, but I've often had flare ups when I wouldn't have had meat in days.

Pawwed Rig

Calhoun wrote: »

Go to the doctor they will prescribe anti-inflammatory and can test your uric acide to see where it sits. Really it comes down to diet more than anything else.

Agree with this. My one flair up was a couple of weeks after Xmas a couple of years ago. In hindsight I fairly made a pig of myself over the period and the gout was like a warning shot across my bough. I tend to take it a bit easier these days.

HandsomeBob

Exercise helps me keep on top of it.

Tried medicating it for 6 months on allopurinol and pretty sure it made it worse. It sucks but if you're thinking seriously about your health then lifestyle change is the only way to go.

Cyclepath

HandsomeBob wrote: »

Tried medicating it for 6 months on allopurinol and pretty sure it made it worse. It sucks but if you're thinking seriously about your health then lifestyle change is the only way to go.

I'm 53 and have been dealing with gout for about 15 years now. I have successfully minimised the number and duration of attacks. Here's what I've learned:

1. Allopurinol is not as effective as Adenuric - try that instead; and yes there is a period of stabilisation for a few months where you might doubt its effectiveness - but stick with it.

2. At the very first sign of an approaching attack (the sharp pain in the joint etc) take Colchicine . it's an extract of lotus flower - but requires prescription and is far more effective than difene.

3. Drink water, lots of it! Dehydration allows the uric acid crystals to concentrate on your joint. This is especially relevant to those with high blood pressure (gout and hypertension often occur together) because some blood pressure medications contain diuretics.

4. Reduce alcohol intake! I've made many lifestyle changes and tried many supplements. None made any real difference except for cutting down on alcohol (especially Beer which contains purines). Weight loss made no difference in my case.

5. If you are exercising, avoid movements that bend the toe excessively or put too much force on it. Mechanical stress can bring on an attack.

6. If you do succumb to an attack, while you feel it coming on, don't 'walk your way through it'. Immediately take the Colchicine and put your feet up. Elevation, rest, and hydration will shorten the attack.

silverharp

It sounds like a nasty condition, ill go to hell for saying this but when I hear the term a picture of a Georgian era Gentleman with white wig and large show buckles pops into my head. :pac:

norhubarb

Foxhound38 wrote: »

So like the idiot that I am, I procrastinated when it came to buying more Cherry supplements after I ran out - low and behold two weeks later I'm at home from work seriously contemplating sawing off my own big toe such is the pain it's giving me.

The Gout unfortunately kicked in with myself, my father and my brother all starting at the age of 30 like clockwork. A largely male disease (although I am aware the ladies can get it too) I said I would ask here if any of you fellas are similarly effected?

Any tips on managing it when it's in full flux? Cherry supplements are good for keeping it away but it's too late for that now, and I'd really rather not reach for the Difene if I can help it - rips the stomach out of me!

Ask your doctor to prescribe you some "arcoxia" medication that inhibits the pain in the nerve receptors, not to be taken long term but ideal for gout

Stigura

Have ye tried eating celery yet?


Genuinely curious.

Hesh's Umpire

Colchicine is brilliant stuff. Think you'll need a prescription for it though.

shamrock55

Are those cherry supplements any good,I'm in the middle of an attack now and I've taken arcoxia and rubbed in voltorol, been getting 4/5 a year now for last couple of years always in the same big toe,it's a bloody dose tbh

shamrock55

Mines eased a good bit now,but I still can't walk properly,I've ordered cherry and cellery supplements so I'll give those a go,I'm gonna give a good go at keeping this at bay for the future I don't want it coming back because it puts you out of action for days at a time

McCrack

I think alcohol, steaks or seafood or a combination of them excessively over a period of time are triggers

Pawwed Rig

McCrack wrote: »

I think alcohol, steaks or seafood or a combination of them excessively over a period of time are triggers

All the nice stuff then

shamrock55

Feck sake,because I've been walking around on the outside of my foot all wk,I now have a swollen painfull ankle,this is bloody neverending

th283

shamrock55 wrote: »

Are those cherry supplements any good,I'm in the middle of an attack now and I've taken arcoxia and rubbed in voltorol, been getting 4/5 a year now for last couple of years always in the same big toe,it's a bloody dose tbh

The cherry supplements and magnesium are brilliant, maybe it’s because I’m female but I don’t get it in my toe but in my wrists, elbows and shoulders instead. I’ve found that the cherry works even if the flare up has already started. Also try switching to Himalayan or oriel sea salt which are lower in sodium and higher in magnesium than regular salt . Oriel sea salt also offer magnesium drops

shamrock55

I've already ordered cherry/celery supliments just waiting on delivery,don't take any added salt on anything, I must also get some apple cider vinegar and take that on a regular basis too,I'm gonna try everything I can to keep this at bay from now on because it really plays havoc with work/life I just can't afford to be having these gout attacks

shamrock55

th283 wrote: »

The cherry supplements and magnesium are brilliant, maybe it’s because I’m female but I don’t get it in my toe but in my wrists, elbows and shoulders instead. I’ve found that the cherry works even if the flare up has already started. Also try switching to Himalayan or oriel sea salt which are lower in sodium and higher in magnesium than regular salt . Oriel sea salt also offer magnesium drops

Btw do you take the cherry supplements all the time or only when you feel it coming on,and do they keep it at bay

th283

shamrock55 wrote: »

Btw do you take the cherry supplements all the time or only when you feel it coming on,and do they keep it at bay

I take them all the time, it keeps it at bay completely, I’ve had one flare up in three years and that was because I forgot to bring the cherry on holidays with me

shamrock55

th283 wrote: »

I take them all the time, it keeps it at bay completely, I’ve had one flare up in three years and that was because I forgot to bring the cherry on holidays with me

Wow that sounds promising,hope it works for me too

MickH503

th283 wrote: »

I take them all the time, it keeps it at bay completely, I’ve had one flare up in three years and that was because I forgot to bring the cherry on holidays with me

Do you have a good source for the cherry supplements? I got some in Holland & Barrett last week, but I'm guessing there are better deals online somewhere?

Bigus

Be careful with the colchetine and only take as prescribed, otherwise it's a very effective Poison.

I'd second arcoxia , it works like a magic bullet in a short space of time , and dosen't effect the stomach. Again in small doses.

As to diet , I got a bad dose of gout after being in private hospital for a week ,( so no alcohol and no rich foods) and believe it or not, the gout specialist said it was probably from fasting ! He also said the following the latest research , diet changes are not the best way to manage gout because it's genetics which determine whether you get it or not so he recommended the preventative alipurins.

However excessive alcohol consumption will trigger gout.