[Closed] Any gout sufferers in the house?

Watching this with interest after my 1st attack this summer!

Xora- it’s a bugger isn’t it. Probably passed down from previous generations in my case. Don’t drink much alcohol but when I do it’s binged and I think that’s the trigger.

A delightful inheritance...not! Flares up about once every five years or so.

Ibuprofen, plenty of water, cherry juice and more water helps flush it out.

It helps if you can start the ibuprofen at the first hint of an onset, I find.

Indometacin three times a day as long as required, but no longer than necessary, to handle an acute attack. Not good for the digestion though.

allopurinol once daily to prevent any acute attacks.

both to be taken with or after food

I get it a few times a year , only in my big toe joint but chuff me its painful .

Normally take Naproxen but this last flare up I've been on Colchicine .

A mate of work has had it. He kept up his ale consumption, but reduced bread (suffers from mild gluten intolerance anyway) and fruit juices..apparently citrus fruits can cause it. Not had it since.

A friend of mine drinks concentrated cherry juice every day and swears it keeps his gout under control.

Had my first attack about 5 years ago, have had two subsequent major attacks and a few grumbles since then, the very definition of misery.

I've basically given up ale almost completely :sobs:, generally cut booze down, when I do drink I stick to spirits with the occasional glass of red with food have tried lessen my flesh consumption.  Find that not getting an attack in the first place is much much much better than treating it when it does come. Take a high dose vitamin C daily as a preventative

When it does come I hit the naproxen, hit the cherry juice, have tried all of the above except the treatment drugs oh and tried cider vinegar - bleurgh.  Find that as hot as you can stand it foot baths (it affects my big toes mainly) offers a bit of relief and seems to move the attack along a bit quicker.

Loads of things you can do to avoid or reduce frequency of attacks, mostly relating to diet.

Worst triggers for me are shellfish and beef (high purine content) and bottle conditioned ale.

Other contributing factors include injury, like stubbing a toe, or dropping something on my foot.

But by far the most obvious cause, in my case is dehydration.

Basically you need to find what's causing your's, and either cut it out or reduce it sufficiently. Unfortunately it usually ends up being the item of food and/or drink that you'll miss the most.

I very rarely get attacks. I went through a phase of having some bad ones where I could hardly walk, but identified that eating lots of red meat seemed to be the common factor for these.

I have reduced the amount of red meat I consume and haven't had a really bad attack for 5 years.

I've never taken any anti-gout medication and still consume plenty of ale.

I've been taking Allupurinol daily for the best part of 40 years.  No obvious side effects, although I do sometimes worry about the long term effects. Then I remember what a gout attack was like and stop worrying.

But by far the most obvious cause, in my case is dehydration.

This +1

That's one of the biggest triggers of mine.

Smarts doesn't it - dicolfenic worked best for me but they seem to prefer giving naproxin

Have a look for gout diets on line there are some surprising things that can be triggers then I think its a case of stay as hydrated as possible

I always used to try & work through it if I had a flare up starting but it seems stopping moving and putting your foot up is best. The first thing is to get the inflammation down.

It’s less painful today but still feeling it. Usually I can take something straight away and it never fully comes out but this has just dragged. I think my trigger is dehydration and binging beer - and I’ve done both on the same day recently.

Naproxen is evil but works well - though less effective this time for me. Though my prescription is 2 a day with food. Seems low.

oh and where do you get concentrated cherry juice? I found some cherry juice drink and mixed it with bicarb but i guess it’s not quite the same.

High dose Vitamin C and keeping hydrated seems to help prevent attacks.  Also cut down on red meat. Enough to get me off of Allipurinol.

Try tiger balm when the pain starts.  I'm allergic to NSAIDS so any other non-drug tips out there for calming down an attack?  Anyone used CBD oil as an alternative?

But by far the most obvious cause, in my case is dehydration.

This +2

First attack followed a summer camp where I largely "rehydrated" with ale and refuelled with grilled meat.

Holland & Barrett for cherry juice - cherryactive online

Anyone used CBD oil as an alternative?

No but THC is a good pain dissociative.  High CDB strains of the flower are recommended to treat inflammation so I guess CBD oil should work too.

I used to suffer with occasional attacks until last winter. Suddenly I was getting an attack every other week which really cut down on my ability to walk around and cycle etc.I have a very mixed diet so couldn't immediately see a diet change that would help.

I used to go straight to Naproxen but following a kidney scare related to Naproxen I am now on Allopurinol every day.

Seems to be a safer bet than dealing with it when it arrives !

Warm freshly squeezed lemon juice Every morn, and a tea spoon of Apple cider vinegar (with mother) before my Tea, hth 😉

Im not alone...

Experienced this for first time 8 weeks ago-never felt pain like it .Triggered by being dehydrated.

Diet is fairly healthy but I do like a beer or two

Used Diclofenic and Colchicine in acute phase .Started taking cherry capsules as suggested they may help

Acute pain/swelling lasted about 7 days ,still grumbling away though

Had some bloods done urea high,so going to have repeat bloods done if still high may have to go onto Allopurinol which I wouldn't have a problem with as long as I never experienced the pain again.

Also a gout sufferer. Beer and especially IPA is my main trigger so reduce my intake. I can sometimes feel it coming on with a stiffening of my left big toe and if lucky enough to notice the onset it plenty of water and plain food. If I get the gout then it takes up to a week to clear taking Naproxen. The biggest problem is trying to get some sleep when you do get it as any slight pressure on the toe, such as the quilt, and you're woken from your sleep with a jolt so leaves you mentally exhausted from sleeplessness.

My previous boss was convinced you took a Naproxen tablet and all was well again. Glad I don't work for that knob jockey anymore.

Thanks Gee-Jay, I'm off to Holland n Barrett.

Anyone go in for Bicarb with any effect?  Bicarb and cherry juice has been recommended.

Diagnosed last Christmas after having quite a few flair ups. Apparently it’s a genetic inherited condition in my case.

now on allopurinol once a day (started the course in the summer) and still get attacks so also have colchicine to lessen the pain (plays havoc with my stomach though)

I’v Made a conscious decision not to eat red meat as that was definitely a trigger and have gone tea total as well. Exercise certainly helps, as it also does to help control my blood pressure.

Never ever had it until the summer (July)...boy, found out what pain was that week !

Fortunately I have not had any attack since...it seemed to hang around for ages but nothing since August really. Back on the same diet, eating the same red meat, drinking the same beer, keep on thinking I must have imagined the attack...

Kind of just waiting for it to come again, or put it down to a one off that was the most painful thing I have ever had.

Aware this doesn't help the Op in any way at all, but just wanted to share my experience !

Dai if your still getting attacks on the allopurinol  you  should see GP about upping the dose 300mg-600mgs in severe cases.

FYI - going on holiday triggers gout for me, almost irrespective of diet, I believe this is quite common so worth making sure you are well hydrated when travelling but also staying off the obvious stuff like red meat & booze on holiday

Bicarb and cherry juice has been recommended

Not heard about bicarb before.  I guess not bicarb and vinegar though 🙂

have gone tea total

Didn't know tea was a trigger too!

I first had gout around 5 years ago. Then it gradually got more frequent until it was happening every 2 months.

At first I thought alcohol or coffee was the trigger but it turned out it was pork. So I've cut out pork products from my diet except for a bacon sandwich occasionally and  I've been gout free for over 2 years.

It's important to find out what is triggering your flare up and try to reduce whatever is causing it.

Just keep popping the pills isn't going to cure it.

Yes. Don’t know what  causes it, but thankfully not had a flare up for about 3 years.

Thanks for sharing Iancity1

Its bloody hard to pin it on one thing if you've a varied diet, dont binge-drink etc., but in my case its highly likely to be increased or binged alcohol consumption and the consequential dehydration.