Gout Pal Interactive

Well, it seems I have gout.  I'm 31, not overweight, and I don't eat the vast majority of the foods listed as the usual causes (like seafood, offal, etc).  I do enjoy a beer or two, but for the 3 weeks prior to my attack I'd only had 3 or 4 beers (although admittedly, I had drank some wine over that period).  My diet is not full of processed junk for the most part, most of my meals are prepared fresh by myself or my wife (we try to eat healthily for the kids), the only thing that I would say is I personally don't eat as much fruit as I probably should.

Anyway, it started a week past Sunday with the big toe on my right foot feeling a little stiff, as if the joint needed to crack or pop back in to place (stupidly, I did try to crack it – in hindsight, probably a very bad idea).  The next day it was a little painful when I moved the joint, not bad, but enough to make me walk slightly unusually.  By that evening, I was in pain.  I didn't get a wink of sleep all night.  I got up early the next morning with a view to soaking my foot and taking some painkillers, determined to go to work.  I then climbed in to the shower, turned my foot the wrong way, screamed like a girlie and nearly passed out from the pain.  I decided it might be an idea not to go in to work after all…

So, I went to the doc's and he took a look, made sure there were no cuts or obvious signs of damage and told me it was probably gout.  I gave a blood sample which came back as “possible gout”.  So, having attempted to digest every article I could possibly find on the subject of gout on the intertubes, I've been lead to this truly excellent site.  This is easily the most informative, yet open minded site I've come across.

I'd been trying to make myself feel better by saying that it could be a one off attack and was probably caused by me being ill for a couple of weeks a few weeks back (is it even possible to be temporarily hyperurecimic (sp)?).  I've now come to the conclusion that that was probably me deluding myself and that I'll be permanently battling with my uric acid levels forevermore.  So, I'm now drinking gallons of water a day, and upping my fruit intake (especially grapes, which I rarely ate before but which I hear is an excellent alkalizer!).

Anyway, I thought I'd introduce myself and say thanks for providing this site.  It's a real gem.  I have a feeling I'll be around a lot over the coming months and years.

Merago,

Here's the scenario. Given just the first attack, try to do what you can with diet…don't dehydrate, stay away from too much beer (spirits better) try to cut down on meat and fish in favor of alkalyzing fruits and vegetables. If you are lucky you won't have another atttack. BUT if you DO have one this years you will want to consider allopurinol.

I hope you never have another attack.

(Remember, the big toe is the MOST likely attack but attacks in the instep  or ankle are quite common.)