Gout Forum : My 1st Attach & Its Going On over 6 Weeks
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My left big toe started swelling and burning and stabbing pains woke me from sleep about 3am - roughly 6 weeks ago. Of course it was a weekend so I didnt even try to call a Dr. plus I wasnt really sure what it was…I suffered the next 2 nights & called the Dr & got in about 5:30pm. NP saw me & gave me Indocin, A 10 day Supply With 1 Refill.
She also had on hand my recent Blood test Just happened to be a yearly & said My UA was 11 I took the Indocin & Helped relieve my pain and gradually the swelling went down. 2 days after I stopped The Indocin it came right back so I refilled & took it another 10 days. Again a couple days after stopping Indocin The pain, burning came right back so I called The Dr Again & got in That night. Saw The same NP & she said I needed something stronger * ordered Me to take Colchicine 4x A day for 5 days & get another blood test in 3 weeks then come back & see her. She also told me to stop taking my Hydrochlorothiazide. The 1st day was ok with it but by the 2nd day I was having pretty severe diarrhea ( but she told me that was a side effect) by that 2nd evening I had stomach cramping, Bloating, nausea & low back pains…I pretty much staying in bed the next 2 days & all Of it kept getting worse…after The 4th day I just had to stop taking it…..all those symptoms just kept getting worse.
Soo here I am Last night was the 4th Night So I havent taken a pill at all today…Still have diarrhea but stomach bloating is much better and no more cramps or back pain. My Dr did mention to me a couple times over the past 2 years that my UA level was alittle high….but that was all he said. I was getting a blood test yearly. I thought I saved copies Of Those, But I could Only Find One From Mid 2005 & My UL on it was 7.5
Right now since Ive had one bad month & a HORRIBLE last 4 days & reading some of the posts here…..I'm a bit ticked At the Dr that He didnt try to treat me back In 2005 & let it go all this time. At the very least I'm thinking The Hydrochlorothiazide shouldve been stopped back then.
I just found this forum, figured I should ask opinions. Sorry to be so long but I need help! Should I find A rheumatologist & make An Appt. ( Nice Timing Holiday Weekend) Have To wait for Tuesday. I know theres no DR's here but any opinions are welcomed…Right now no foot pain but im guessing once the Colchicine fully leaves me system The swelling will be back…Wish I had another refill Of indocin.
If you cannot get an immediate appointment with a rheumatologist, visit Emergency Room / Emergency Unit, and try get a corticosteroid injection. This is a very effective short term pain medication that should give almost instant relief.
At the same time try to get test on fluid drawn from the affected joint (arthrocentesis), unless you have already had one.
Keep affected joint wrapped loosely. You need to keep it warm, but not constricted, so avoid tight clothing.
Try ice pain relief treatment. This seems to contradict point about keeping warm, but 10 minutes of ice is OK, as long as you warm joint afterwards.
Gentle exercise if you can. I know this is difficult when you are in pain, but after a few minutes, your body will produce natural pain killers, which helps. In my experience, gout attacks go much quicker when I keep mobile, but…
When not mobile, try to rest affected joint above the heart.
Drink plenty of water.
This approach should keep pain to a minimum.
To prevent further attacks, you must get regular uric acid tests, and formulate a strategy to maintain level below 6mg/dL. Unless your family doctor has special gout knowledge, your best chance is with a rheumatologist.
The medication that you were taking, hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic. Sometimes it is referred to as a water pill. The gout you developed is called “secondary gout”. When a physician prescribes a diuretic, they should be taking in to consideration the uric acid level of the blood. The diuretic can bring on gout which is why it is called secondary gout. When your physician saw the higher uric acid levels, he should have considered switching you to another medication. There is a good account of it at http://community.middlebury.edu/~harris/gout.html. Diuretics are a serious factor in causing gout. Secondary gout hurts just as much as primary.
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