Gout :(

[KarenInWA]

Hello everyone,

I take allupurinol 100mg every night, so based on that, why am I suffering from a gout attack right now?  The last time my uric acid was checked was almost a year ago by my primary care doc.  My neph refuses to deal with it.   I have called in to work so I can go to the doctor and deal with this.  I am planning on going up to Canada tomorrow to visiit friends for the weekend.  I am pissed beyond belief.  I HATE this disease, I HATE what my life is becoming, and I miss the "healthy" me whose life wasn't taken over with CRAP.  I last had gout back in 2003, and it kept me holed up at home every other weekend during the summer.  I don't want this to be my life.  I hate making plans, then possibly having to ruin them over something STUPID!!!!  What really sucks is this is a fat mans disease (gout) and I'm a slender woman.  I haven't even had any alcohol since Friday.  Isn't this supposed to be an alcoholic's disease, or the disease of those who eat rich foods?  Shouldnt I have had the benefit of partaking in that at least so that this attack is warranted?

KarenInWA

[lola]

I feel for you, my brother-in-law gets flair ups ever since his last transplant. I know when he gets his it's in his big toe and he can't walk he's in so much pain.....

[Jenabcd]

Oh how I can relate, and I'm so sorry.  I too, am a small person, take the same drug, and continue to get gout on a regular basis.  I have a high threshold of pain, but gout is the one thing that will make me sit and cry.  It's painful and so hard to walk!  I have learned not even to mention it to a couple of people, because they think it's funny and also relate it to an elderly, overweight man...  I'm a small female!  So frustrating.  I don't have words to take it away, but I sure do feel for you!

[paris]

It is one of the most painful things I have experienced.  My neph is the one who diagnosed and prescribes meds for it.  It is directly related to kidney failure --- uric acid creating crystals in the joints.  I don't know why your neph doesn't "deal" with it for you.  That just doesn't make sense.  I am sorry your plans may have to change. I think that is something I have trouble dealing with---never knowing what tomorrow will bring.  I hope you can go to Canada.   

[galvo]

Oh Lord it's painful! Much like you, I also take 100 mg allopurinol each day, yet I got stricken with a gout attack a few weeks ago. My GP prescribed me prednisolone (solone) 5 mg, and I was right after 3 days. BTW, the gout club is not exclusive to fat, boozy, gluttonous old men - anyone can join.

[MooseMom]

Your neph should be severely punished for not "dealing with it."  I had several bouts of it before I started taking daily allopurinol.  I was on holiday in rural France when I got an attack.  I had to pull out my college French on that occasion.  I was given a script for colchichine (sp?), and after I had it filled in the local village pharmacy, I took the first dose.  Alas too late, I decided to read the patient information guide to see how much of it I could understand, and that's when I discovered that the med also included opium.  I kid you not.  We were about to set out to tour the countryside, and I didn't make it out of the village before getting nauseous.  I spent 2 days in bed.  I vividly remember listening to the US v Portugal World Cup match on the wireless while trying not to throw up.  Turns out that in France, they add opium to offset the diahrrea that colchicine can cause.

How's that for a gouty story?

Anyway, I'm sorry you are suffering so much with this.  I've had more pain with gout than with any other malady in my lifetime.  It's a nightmare.

[Sunny]

I am sorry you are dealing with this right when you have plans to go to Canada.
I hope it clears up soon. I had a bout with it last month in my knees and could hardly walk one night. My husband had to carry me to bed (I admit that was the only nice thing about it), and the next day it was so much better. That night, though, I couldn't move at all. I've also had it in my big toe and my right finger/thumb joints. I try to control it through diet, but it's not easy because when you have renal disease it goes with the territory.

[Romona]

Red cherries are supposed to be good for lowering uric acid. All natural red cherry juice is a good substitute.

[RichardMEL]

Yep, very confused as to why the neph wouldn't want to deal with it - it's part of kidney failure!

I had one attack (ironically I was in San Diego at the time) and it was absolutely horrible. That was in 2000. I've been on alopurinol ever since and been gout free (YAY!). I wonder why some still get attacks? that really sucks!

[Savemeimdtba]

So, let me introduce you to the worst time to get a gout attack:

Wedding day

I'm getting married TOMORROW and my gout has decided it's time to act up.. i haven't had an attack in a good three years!  I'm taking Colchachine (whatever that word is) - no opium though I don't take allupurinal 'cause it makes my hair fall out.. but damn!  What an awful time for this $(&#!  Makes me wonder if stress plays a part in it... my last attack was right before a job interview - hmm...

[Quickfeet]

my neph didn't know much about gout. she sent me to a joint specialist. I take 5mg of prednisone and a new med called uloric. narco for the pain.

[MooseMom]

So, let me introduce you to the worst time to get a gout attack:

Wedding day

I'm getting married TOMORROW and my gout has decided it's time to act up.. i haven't had an attack in a good three years!  I'm taking Colchachine (whatever that word is) - no opium though I don't take allupurinal 'cause it makes my hair fall out.. but damn!  What an awful time for this $(&#!  Makes me wonder if stress plays a part in it... my last attack was right before a job interview - hmm...

OK, I think we have a winner...

[galvo]

Hey, savemeimdtba, Congrats and best wishes!!

[Romona]

So, let me introduce you to the worst time to get a gout attack:

Wedding day

I'm getting married TOMORROW and my gout has decided it's time to act up.. i haven't had an attack in a good three years!  I'm taking Colchachine (whatever that word is) - no opium though I don't take allupurinal 'cause it makes my hair fall out.. but damn!  What an awful time for this $(&#!  Makes me wonder if stress plays a part in it... my last attack was right before a job interview - hmm...

Best Wishes to you. I hope you have a beautiful day for your wedding.

[KarenInWA]

Oh Kristi!! I am SO sorry you're having gout at this time!  That's terrible!!!

I went to the walk-in clinic at my primary dr clinic.  They have all my med records, so they know everything about me.  I was prescribed prednisone - 50mg for 2 days, then 40, 30, 20, 10, all for 2 days.  I am happy to report that my gout was reduced significantly by the evening, and I am back to normal today!  I woke up and could walk to the bathroom!! And wear shoes!!!  Whoo hoo!!!!

I didn't want the cochicine because I'm afraid of side effects that may keep me in the bathroom.  I had been on prednisone for gout before, and it worked then.  As long as it's a short course, I don't mind taking it.

Best of luck on your wedding, Kristi, and may gout be gone so you can concentrate on your wonderful, happy day!

KarenInWA

[monrein]

Stressful events have preceded both my attacks of gout and both were treated with an increase in my daily prednisone...I take 5 mg daily and they upped it to 30 mg and down by 5mg every day for 5 days till back to 5 mg.  Worked really well and avoided having to start on yet another regular med.

[pdpatty]

I had gout attacks from the time I was in my early 20s until I went on hemo 4 years ago. I cannot take alopurinol . The last attack around 2004 was treated with the steroid packs.

I had attacks in my toes ,ankles,fingers and hands. The pain was so bad but now I do eat the food that can cause it and so far,have not had another attack. I can only thank dialysis for it.

[tito]

I had a very painful gout attack about 8 years ago, at the start of my kidney failure - although my very incompetent primary doctor never told me about any relationship. He put me on allopurinol, but I take 300 mg/day and have never had a problem since. Could it be that 100 mg is too low a dose? I have read that 300mg is the normal maintenance dose.

[Quickfeet]

300 is the normal dose, but Kidney patience are usually given 100.

[paul.karen]

   What is Gout?

All i can figure out is it effects your feet.......And it causes alot of Pain.

Glad your better Karen.
Congrats kristi Hope your day went well 

[texasstyle]

From what  I understand Gout is a build up of Uric acid. The acids turn into little crystal like things that can be sharp and very painfull that work/embed their way into your tissues.

[paul.karen]

Thx
TS

[pdpatty]

The pain feels like you have shards of glass in your joint.
My joint would get a blackish red and swell . There would also be a fever in the joint. Sometimes the fever and swelling was so bad that my skin would peel off after it was over. You cannot even stand the sheet to touch you or if it is in the hand,you don't dare hang it down. It would just throb,the pain was that intense.

[RichardMEL]

yep, I could barely walk on my foot when I had the attack, and it lasted for well over a day (I think some antiinflamitory drugs which helped). It was one of the most painful things I've ever had.....

[clappedout]

Hiya..like you i am on daily allipulinol and I still suffer gout attcks in the toe ankle and knee..and it can be really painful. Lately I have been prescribed Cochicine which I take when I feel a "gouty" like pain and 9/10 it halts the gout in it's tracks. This drug can have some adverse side effects tho which involves running to the bathroom a lot . Maybe this could help you..... steve x