Help for newbie

[turkeyspurs]

Hello Friends, I wish I had stumbled across the site 5yrs ago. I started going to doctors five yrs ago to figure out what was wrong with my feet. I went to podiatrist, Gp's, Sports medicine clinics ect. Have had MRI's, shoe inserts, arch supports, special boots to wear among other things. I was diagnosed with achilles tendonitis, sprained ankle, and high arched feet. I was finally diagnosed by a friend of mine who happens to be an orthopedic surgeon. He said nothing comes on that fast and painful except for gout. He prescribed colchicine, 2 .6mg per day. He told me to get a UA test. To my surprise,( 9.7). I have had 4 attacks in the last two months. I have never had an attack in a big toe. Mine are ankles, heels, and once in my right knee and right index finger. My attacks put me in crutches for 2 days. I will ramp up the colchicine as seen on this site. My question is, should I talk to my regular doctor about allipurinol or a dermatologist. I will continue to monitor this site because there is more info here than I ever received from a doctor. Unfortunately my two favorite hobbies are drinking beer while cooking and eating BBQ. Life goes on.

[turkeyspurs]

Sorry, I mean rheumatologist

[beerman]

Either one should be able to discuss the merits of that medication and or prescribe it.

[zip2play]

With a 9.7 to show a doctor, either or a rheumatologist or a GP should be able to see the wisdom of an immediate Rx for 300 mg. allopurinol. Another blood uric acid draw for confirmation is a good idea before you begin the allopurinol because then you will have a good baseline measurement.

There is little room for doubt with foot pain accompanied by an SUA of 9.7.

Like you, my first attacks were 3 day atttaks in my ankle and instep so gout wasn't clear until the Toe from Hell about a year later. My moronic GP claimed a 9.0 uric acid was NORMAL…yep, and he kept his license until he retired to great wealth.

turkeyspurs,

Replace the beer with martinis, Manhattans, scotch, gin and tonic etc.

[turkeyspurs]

Thanks for the reply zip, especially the last sentence. I did have a UA test a couple of years ago and the Dr. said it was normal. Like you, my number could have been high then but I would not have known any better. I will get it checked again next week. From what I have read here, you do not start AP during an attack. This is my third day on crutches. I feel the worst is over and should be able to limp tomorrow. Thanks to this forum, I will be better informed when I go to the doctor this time.

[trev]

Yep, Turk- you and Zip will get along 🙂  

Anything over a repeating  9+ SUA has to be on target for the meds course, even if you don't work earning, or mind restrictive diets- and I suspect neither of these apply here.

Here's hoping that 5 years of medical neglect hasn't left you stuck with a UA backlog to clear out when starting AlloP or similar.

[turkeyspurs]

Thanks for the reply Trev (I think?) I am 58yrs old and have had a good life with no restrictions. I have a wife of 34yrs and three great sons. It is some what depressing to think that now I have to limit some of the things that I love. I have been scouring these pages for answers, from home remedies to diet. Any info I receive here is much appreciated.

[trev]

Well, I'm being more positive than you realise.

Zip does all manner of 'bad boy stuff' after learning well over the years to hedge his bets on AlloP usage 😉

I do maintain though, that  diet can really help if you value a minimal [meds] intervention approach.

Also, it can help with secondary issues like  glucose control, lipid levels etc as well as keeping weight down.

I can get away with a bottle of wine without triggering an attack now- even though my last 'nasty one' was only last year.

Beer…er No!   [or very little].

[turkeyspurs]

Trev, I do value a min med. approach. I have also read on this forum that diet alone can only lower SUA levels by 1 point. If my next test confirms 9+, would you recommend AP?

[trev]

I think better than one point is attainable but bear in mind we're all different. I don't eat meat [20+ years- though small amount of fish]

I've seen 3 points drop without meds, save 1/2 dose Lasix [US] and Losartan BP; meds- help a point or so, too. But this is on daily variables-

I only  *[Kernel]  test weekly- last one 6 ;  highest 8  [Dr.] and lowest 2 @ 4.5   mmmmmm

This @ 5% accuracy. Good enough. It does include the unquantified contribution from *Goutcure capsules- which I think do help  a good amount. * [Goutcare.co.uk]

On my previous open comment- I said you could be pushed in the meds direction on 9+ figures without feeling you had  failied yourself. You would need a meter to test SUA on a diet route and be prepared for the unknown, either way.

Certainly, taking a direct interest is often better for personal reasons and Docs seem quite happy to support this, from my experience- but you know your situation [work demands , home setup & general health] better than me.

[Utubelite]

turkeyspurs said:

Trev, I do value a min med. approach. I have also read on this forum that diet alone can only lower SUA levels by 1 point. If my next test confirms 9+, would you recommend AP?

---

I think it varies from individual to individual. You would soon discover what works best for you.

I tried the diet approach for 2 months, very strict diet approach. Bing cherries, Cherry juice, Celery, Very low purine diet….you name it and I tried. ALL simply failed. My SUA was 9.2.

Started Allopurinol and it worked like magic.

I think, the best approach is to start with Alllopurinol, get the things under control while work on the diet control at the same time. Once things are under control, one can try diet only approach and see if it works.

But as I said, it varies and you will find soon what works best for you.

[turkeyspurs]

Thanks for the replies.

[Author]

Posts