Does anyone here suffer with gout?

[Catherine Vincent]

I have it in my foot right now and it is very painful. I was diagnosed with it on sunday when I went to the minor emergency room. The pain medicine that they prescribed for me isn't working (vicodin and tylenol 3). I have been reading the inernet on what to eat and what not to eat but I want relief fast. Any suggestions?

[Khephra]

1. Oh god, yeah

I have it. I'm so, so, so very sorry to hear your news. Gout is a horrible problem to have and misunderstood by many people who don't have it. They simply don't understand the level of pain that goes with the disease.

Stay away from seafood and stress. Not many people know that stress can cause gout attacks, dunno why.

It's usually worse for me during winter. There are times when I can't even put on socks because the pain is so intense. So keep your legs warm, if possible.

Errrr...certain illegal substances can also help the pain. But you didn't hear that from me.

Steroids (shots or pills) can relieve the pain greatly. Try to get your doctor to give you a mild one for when you have attacks.

[Catherine Vincent]

4. Thanks. I will try and keep my feet warm because I haven't.

When I went to the doctor a couple of months ago, they did give me a shot and that helped tremendously. But of course it wore off after a few hours. I may stop by the office in the a.m. for a shot. And you're right, this is very painful. I have always heard of it but didn't know exactly what it was. Now I know. x(

[short bus president]

6. It is actually recognized as the single most painful form of arthritis

known to afflict humans. :D

[Khephra]

10. Great

That's nice to know.

:evilfrown:

[murphymom]

2. Ouch!

I know what you're going through, I have had it also. I seem to remember getting some kind of prescription anti-inflammatory that knocked it out in a few days (sorry, don't remember the name of the drug). For long term, my doctor prescribed allopurinol (sp?) some time ago and I haven't had a flare-up since.

[Catherine Vincent]

7. The nurse that I saw on sunday called it gouch.

She is so right because it does HURT!

[short bus president]

3. Oh, yeah.

I've had it twice. Not for a couple of years now, tho. I forget the name of the pill they prescribe for it - google is my friend - it's colchicine. But you hafta start taking it within hours or a day of onset, anyway, and it'll SHRED yer stomach in exchange for partial relief of the toe pain. But it does make an attack more bearable.

[Sporadicus]

5. While You're Seeing the Doctor...

you may want to get some tests run. Gout is most common among middle-aged men, somewhat less common among postmenopausal women (I'm going waaaay out on a limb here, thinking you're not that old).

The tests could rule out any conditions that may contribute to development of gout: diabetes, kidney disease, or sickle cell anemia. Elimination of these possibilities could go a long way toward easing your mind.

[Catherine Vincent]

8. Yeah, my uric acid level was high from the blood tests.

I have kidney disease so I guess that is common with it. Thanks.

[Grey]

9. I have It,

but only in a mild form, each and every time it flares up, I take Bromelain, from the health food store. I know a lot of people will say it's just faith healing but it has worked each time, over the last 16 years. The first time I took two caplets with each meal ( I used up the first bottle, now I only take the pills for a short time ) and I now stay away from anything with starch. (bread, crackers,spuds, rice etc) I can eat that sort of stuff in moderation but not on a daily basis. I think it may be a kind of intolerance to certain food groups. Just my guess, however.

[Dr.Phool]

11. Cherries

I had a friend who has gout, and he swears by cherries. Eat a whole bunch of them during a outbreak, and eat a few daily.

I've read about this in a few organic medicine books, and it appeared to work for him. And avoid beer-high in uric acid, whiskey's not so bad.