Ouch I have a really bad case of gout

[DanCa]

So I have finally tossed out all the junk food, got rid of the soda, and kept my new years resolution of working out four days a week. I also finally started loosing wieghted and my foot turns swollen and purple and inflamed ouch.

[Shell Beau]

1. I've heard about gout, but never really knew what it was.

Could you explain?

[DanCa]

2. from wikipedia

Signs and symptoms

The Gout, Cartoon by James Gillray (1799). The artist memorably illustrates the excruciating pain and swelling that are symptoms of the diseaseThe classic picture is of excruciating and sudden pain, swelling, redness, warmness and stiffness in the joint. Low-grade fever may also be present. The patient usually suffers from two sources of pain. The crystals inside the joint cause intense pain whenever the affected area is moved. The inflammation of the tissues around the joint also causes the skin to be swollen, tender and sore even if it is slightly touched. For example, a blanket draping over the affected area would cause extreme pain.Gout usually attacks the big toe (approximately 75% of first attacks), however it can also affect other joints such as the ankle, heel, instep, knee, wrist, elbow, fingers, and spine. In some cases the condition may appear in the joints of the small toes which have become immobile due to impact injury earlier in life and there is poor blood circulation. Patients with longstanding hyperuricemia (see below) can have uric acid crystal deposits called tophi (singular: tophus) in other tissues e.g. the helix of the ear. Uric acid stones can form as one kind of kidney stones in some occasions.

[Shell Beau]

3. Sounds painful!

:hug:

[DanCa]

4. Here's the proper link.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gout
Thanks.

[Serial Mom]

5. I sympathize... had first 2 bouts last year

one in May just as I tried to continue with walking on TM! Laid me up for almost 2 weeks! Dr. gave me naproxen (sp? - prescription Aleve) - it took 4-5 days before it began working. Lunch meat from deli caused it for me (braunschweiger)

second time ate smoked ham from deli and I noticed the flare up within hours
of eating ham for lunch, then again for dinner. This time I took naproxen immediately twice a day and by third day most the inflammation was gone.

different foods can cause it in different people - beer and red wine can cause it also.

Dr. wanted to put me on med (alpurinol sp?) for rest of my life - I backed away from that and said I would first try better diet and see what happens!

[REP]

6. Allopuinol is NASTY

Then again, I'm violently allergic to it and just about every drug used to correct idiopathic hyperuricosuria.

[Schema Thing]

7. Cherries

Were always an immediate fix for my dad. Fresh if he could get them, canned in plain water if not.

[skygazer]

9. I was going to mention this

Cherries are helpful for gout - my SO drinks a glass of cherry juice every evening as a preventative and it seems to help keep his attacks down to a dull roar.

To the OP - I'm sorry, DanCa - I know a number of people who get gout and I'm told it's one of the most painful things imaginable. :hug:

[RevCheesehead]

8. That's not fair!

Have a hug, and feel better! :hug:

[Shine]

10. I'm so sorry, DanCa!!

hang in there, buddy.
:hug:

[CarpeDiebold]

11. Ouch man

Can you take any drugs or do you just have to lose weight and all that?

I'm really sorry about your pain :/ Hope you feel better soon!

[REP]

12. Gout is a Build-Up of Uric Acid in the Joints

Uric acid crystals, actually; weight doesn't really enter into it. There are drugs to manage the uric acid and pain.

[DanCa]

13. Thanks everyone (hugs)

I was just bummed because i started to get my diet on track than this. Ah well if it werent for bad luck i'd know no luck at all.

[LSK]

14. and you think the soda and junk food were keeping it at bay?

Did a doctor diagnose you or are you guessing?

Hope you get better.

[KamaAina]

15. Paradoxically, losing too much weight too fast may have contributed

to the problem. Gout, you see, is caused by a buildup of the byproducts of tissue breakdown in the body (oh crikey, it's dinnertime back East, isn't it?), and rapid weight loss produces well, lots of tissue breakdown.

[DanCa]

16. That's basically what my Doc said.

He also said that I am not twenty one and I can't expect to keep treatting my body like crap and getting away with it. Lots of problems sleeping tonight though.