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Thanks! Yes, I wish I could still drive the old Porsche, but the arthritis that I now have in my toes really makes that out of the question. I sold the car to a guy in Germany and he shipped the car back to Stuttgart and he's restoring it and painting it back to it's original color, so I'm glad he bought the car, he'll take good care of it!
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Anyway, the gout pain was so severe that the arthritis pain I have now is mild in comparison and I manage with 220mg of Aleve once or twice a day. The colder, damp weather that we're having now in Michigan makes it worse than it was in the summer. My liver enzymes are normal, so I'm happy and glad that the Allopurinol took care of the gout and didn't stress my liver too much (at all).
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I hope everyone else here finds relief, with meds or without! I cannot imagine going any longer with uncontrolled gout, it was hell on earth, but then I really don't have to explain it to you folks, do I?
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Best of health to you all!!
Food doesn't play a role in my gout and yours may. I'm a vegetarian, no smoking, no alcohol, no high fructose corn syrup, very healthy and normal weight and my gout has been getting progressively worse.
My SUA was lowered from 6.5mg/dL to 4.3mg/dL with 300mg Allopurinol a day with no allopurinol side effects. Diet alone didn't do anything for me as far as I can tell…
Start treating your gout and take an active role in controlling your SUA. Good luck!
Thanks for posting this. although I'm on a very restrictive diet and hardly ever eat out, it's good to know there is an item on the Starbucks menu that I could eat in a pinch. Thanks again!
hansinnm,
?? Thanks for the info! The Colchicine made me extremely ill when I took the large dose, so I took the advice of an MD who also has gout and tried 1 Colchicine pill per day and that made me very sick, too. ?I just don't tolerate that medicine well at all, and neither does my brother who also has gout. I'll take my 300mg of Allopurinol and 220mg of Alever every 12 hours for pain when I need it and continue to look for a better way to manage/control this disease. Thanks again!!
I believe Colcrys is Colchicine. I tried it last month and I took 2 the 1st hour, then one every hour after that to a total of 11 pills with no positive effect on my gout pain. The next two days were horrible and I had severe diarrhea and nausea. I WILL NOT take Colchicine again…
Momoy4,
?? Salamat po! I appreciate the information you have kindly provided! My gout flare-up has subsided quite a bit today and I went into the lab to have my blood drawn for multiple tests. My Dr is checking my liver enzymes, kidney function and SUA. I'm going to be seeing a rheumatologist soon and another liver specialist.
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Ltjuggernaut,
?? My SUA started ay 6.5 and while taking 300mg of Allopurinol a day, it is now 4.3 but I still have regular flare-ups and in between flares, I have significant pain. I'm taking Aleve 220mg every 12 hours and that helps. Colchicine made me very sick and didn't alleviate any of the gout pain, so I'm not taking that again. ?
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??Good luck to each of you and thank you for sharing your experience!
Keith (Gout Admin) said:
Ah, yes – good old Gillray. Interestingly, it's a foot only picture, but you just know the guy is screaming.
I love this picture because it explains what gout pain feels like better than I ever could…
Chuck,
?? So sorry to hear about your gout. What is your Serum Uric Acid (SUA) reading? Did the Dr mention Allopurinol? I've been taking 300mg a day, with no allopurinol side effects, and it lowered my SUA from 6.5 to 4.3, but I still have almost constant gout pain with regular flare-ups, so I'm not the “common” gout sufferer, I guess. I take Aleve 220mg OTC for pain, as needed. I only eat fish or chicken once a week, rest of my meals are vegetarian. No alcohol of any kind for over 4 years and no high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).?
??You probably need to see a Dr that knows about gout, many do not. I don't believe that diet hasd much to do with my gout, but your experience may be different. My brother has gout and his attacks are increasing and he had gout before I did, but he's 18 months younger than me.?
?? My brother and I have both tried Colchicine, but the side effects were horrible and it didn't provide any relief. Keep us updated!
This was the best forum I found when I was looking. None of the other sites had nearly the resources, posts, info, etc… That's why I'm here.
Komusta!
?? I've had gout “officially” for about 2 1/2 years, but looking back, I've had it for at least 7 years, but I didn't know it at the time and I attributed my shoulder pain to other causes (sleeping on it “wrong”). I'm still in pain after the acute flare-up has subsided and I take Aleve 220mg every 12 hours, along with my 300mg of Allopurinol, which I'll take for the rest of my life. My SUA went from 6.5 to 4.3 but I still have very frequent flare-ups and then constant pain between flare-ups.
??As soon as my schedule permits, I'll see a rheumatologist for further investigation. I'll go in this Friday to have my bloodwork done for my liver disease follow-up to check on my liver enzymes.
??Maybe I just need to eat more lumpia and asso adobo?
Momoy4,
Your situation sounds a lot like mine. I'm taking 300mg of Allopurinol every day for almost a year, SUA of 4.3 (down from 6.5), vegetarian, no alcohol, not overweight and I have almost constant pain and flares. My shoulder is also involved, but it's mostly my great toe on both feet. I drink tart cherry juice concentrate in my 3 liters of water daily, take vitamins, etc… but the gout will not let go of me. I take Aleve 220mg for pain and the Dr gave me Colchicine (which made me very, very sick), shot of Toradol last Friday (that worked but made me very drowsy. I've got a referral to a rheumatologist, so that's who I need to see next. Keep us updated as to your condition. Thanks and I wish you better health!
Odo,
?? Thanks for the advice. Pretty soon I'll be existing on wind and water!! I'm hoping that by getting back down to 180lbs, I'll be able to reduce the frequency and severity of my gout attacks…
I've been taking Tramadol (Ultram) this weekend after a big gout flare and the Dr gave me a shot of Toradol (Ketoralac) on Friday and it makes me dizzy and extremely tired. I could sleep all weekend, but it does knock the pain down effectively. I'm taking 50mg every 6 hours and I won't take any more unless I really have to because of the grogginess issue…
On the advice of my liver specialist, I've been taking 1500mg of Vitamin C every day, along with my healthy diet, no alcohol, vegetarian, etc… and my 300mg of Allopurinol (SUA is 4.3) and I still have very frequent and severe gout flares.?
I also drink tart cherry juice concentrate regularly, all to no avail… I wish I could find something that works for me like the Bob Lurner did here!
My worst gout attack was last July and it was ?80 to 90 degrees outside. My attacks are slightly more prevalent in the colder months, but I have some really severe attacks during the warmest weather. I'm an oddball, I know…
My wife and I were just talking and we made some observations. I have checked my “gout history” notes and have noticed that although my weight ranges from 185lbs -200lbs, the gout attacks seem to occur more often at the heavier weight (during the cold MI winters) than at my lighter “summer” weight when I'm also getting more physical exercise. So, I'm making an effort to get back to 185 (or 180) and I'm at 190 right now. My long-term goal is to stay at this weight and stop the fluctuation and see if this helps. It also seems that my gout may have started ?when I was 40 (ten years ago), so that the damage done may be more significant that I thought.
At 40, I had several issues that I simply attributed to age that may in fact have been the early onset of gout, I'll never know for sure, but it sure seems likely.
Joe and Gouty95,
??I agree that diet may play a role in gout, but at least for me, there isn't a link. I can and have had attacks while eating a vegetarian diet, no alcohol of any kind and drinking 3 liters of water a day with tart cherry juice concentrate mixed in it. I do not eat a single thing on the “high purine, foods to avoid” lists. I have checked my “gout history” notes and have noticed that although my weight ranges from 185lbs -200lbs, the gout attacks seem to occur more often at the heavier weight (during the cold MI winters) than at my lighter “summer” weight when I'm also getting more physical exercise. So, I'm making an effort to get back to 185 (or 180) and I'm at 190 right now. My long-term goal is to stay at this weight and stop the fluctuation and see if this helps.?
?I wish you both the best, I know how challenging this is!
BTW, I forgot to mention that my SUA results are from the lab, I do not test it myself. My last readings were from February of this year. My Dr doesn't want me to take more than 300mg of Allopurinol a day, I asked yesterday. Thanks!
hansinnm,
?? Thank you, you have made some very good points! I don't ever want my comments to be misconstrued as “medical advice”, just simply trying to explain my gout experience and read about others and what they have experienced. My liver Dr did check my kidney function and all is normal there, but the rheumatologist may want to check kidney function again when I get to see him.
??What may make my experience with gout “atypical” is my liver condition and I always keep that in mind. My brother's gout experience is different than mine also. He had one attack, then several years passed before subsequent attacks. His Dr had him try Colchicine and he didn't tolerate it well at all, just like me. His Dr didn't want to try Allopurinol and didn't get my brother's SUA drawn.
??I'm just frustrated that I'm suffering with this even after modifying my diet, weight and drug regimen. I'm doing everything that I know how to do and it doesn't seem to be working.
??Thanks again for hearing me out and sharing your experience. I wish you good health!!
On 300mg a day of Allopurinol, my SUA went from 6.5 to 4.3 without any allopurinol side effects. colchicine made me very sick and didn't do anything for the pain, so the Dr referred me to a rheumatologist. I strongly recommend that Allopurinol for you and I hope it lowers the SUA for you as it did for me. I also have a liver condition so the liver specialist was very cautious about the allopurinol and atarted me on 100mg, then bumped it up to 300mg a day when it didn't elevate my liver enzymes. Good luck!
I'm so sorry you have gout while young. Mine started several years ago and I'm 49 now. I recommend that you actively treat this disease, much as diabetes should be actively treated. Lifestyle changes, meds and regularly scheduled Dr visits and SUA levels, etc… For me, I'm a non-drinker, almost 100% vegetarian, not overweight, etc… and I still have gout symptoms and flare-ups, even while taking 300Mg of Allopurinol a day and my SUA is 4.3. so, what I'm saying is that you really need to get a good Dr who knows about gout and treat this disease so you don't get any worse! Good luck!!
Gentlemen,
?? Thank you for the posts and good info.
I'm also having an acute gout attack right now and my SUA is at 4.3 ?My Dr is as confused as I am. I've been talking 300mg of Allopurinol for about 9 months now and I'm in almost constant pain from gout in my great toe on each foot, mostly my left foot. Because of a liver condition (NASH), I'm not able to take most meds, but the Dr gave me a shot of Tramolol yesterday and 1pm and I felt sleepy until 9pm. I'm trying to just take 220mg of Aleve every 12 hours to hold off the pain.?
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I tried Colchicine last month and it almost killed me! My brother also has gout and he can't take Colchicine either. The Dr doesn't want to increase my allopurinol, she's sending me to a rheumatologist for further evaluation.
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My increased liver enzymes are related to my diagnosis of NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis). The way I got my liver enzymes (AST & ALT) down from 400's to low 30's was to drop about 20lbs (from 200lb to 180lbs and I'm 6'1″ tall), remove all red meat and alcohol from my diet, remove all HFCS (high fructose corn syrup), REALLY watch what I eat and increase my intake of green veggies and fruit, only eat chicken or fish once a week.?
I've been living this lifestyle for about 4 years and right now I'm at 190lbs, so i need to drop 10lbs, which is fairly common for me after the winter, since my activity level is reduced during the winter and increase in the spring/summer.
I also take vitamin C, D and E supplements per my Dr's recommendation and I drink tart cherry juice concentrate very regularly. The Dr (liver specialist) is adamant that I check with him before doing anything different than this regimen because it has successfully lowered my liver enzymes. The only other signs that my liver enzymes are up is chronic insomnia and a “feeling of dread” that I had when the enzymes were elevated. We think the liver condition and gout may be related but we really can't run the liver panel whil I'm in the throes of a gout atack because the inflammatory process throws the lab results off.
?Why would our gout be flaring up even when our SUA is low? I understand that you can have pain when you start Allopurinol, but I've been taking it for quite awhile now and it seems to be working to lower the SUA. My SUA was 6.5 prior to the Allopurinol and is now 4.3
If you sense that I'm a bit upset, disappointed and confused, it's because I truly am. I'm doing everything I possibly can, but the gout will not let go of me. My family Dr thinks the gout may be related to my liver condition because she has never had a patient with gout respond like I have…
Thanks for letting me rant…
I'm also having an acute gout attack right now and my SUA is at 4.3 ?My Dr is as confused as I am. I've been talking 300mg of Allopurinol for about 9 months now and I'm in almost constant pain from gout in my great toe on each foot, mostly my left foot. Because of a liver condition (NASH), I'm not able to take most meds, but the Dr gave me a shot of Tramolol yesterday and 1pm and I felt sleepy until 9pm. I'm trying to just take 220mg of Aleve every 12 hours to hold off the pain.?
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I tried Colchicine last month and it almost killed me! My brother also has gout and he can't take Colchicine either.
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Why would our gout be flaring up even when our SUA is low? I understand that you can have pain when you start alliopurinol, but I've been taking it for quite awhile now and it seems to be working.
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Sorry, didn't mean to hijack this thread.
I tried the Colchicine regimen last Friday and I started with 2 x .6mg at 2pm, followed by 1 x .6 each hour until midnight. No relief from pain and no side effects until early the next AM. The Colchicine kicked my butt (literally) and I had severe nausea, abdonimal cramps, fever and diarrhea for 24 hours and still no relief from gout pain in my toe!
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A Dr that I know suggested that I take 1 x .6 Colchicine daily with my Allopurinol instead of the way I tried to take it last Saturday, so I've just taken my 1st daily dose.
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I spoke to my brother on Sunday and he also has gout and he tried Colchicine and had the same experience I had. His gout is getting worse and he'll be asking his Dr about Allopurinol. I asked him what his SUA is but he didn't remember what it was, mine is 4.3, down from 6.5 when I staerted on the 300mg of Allopurinol.
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I'm taking 220mg of Aleve (naproxen) for the near-constant pain in my toe, but this is getting old!!!
The Dr wants me to start on Colchicine, so I'll be taking it this weekend when I get home. Months after starting Allopurinol and with my SUA at 4.3, I'm having pain in my toes. Very frustrating!
I'm having another attack right now, although it's not nearly as severe as my previous attacks. My SUA is at 4.3, so I am extremely frustrated. I have a call into my liver specialist so I can ask him to put me on Colchicine. I'm taking 300MG of Allopurinol a day and I thought i was beating this, but apparently not!
Zip2play,
?? Thank you! My last attack was July of 2010, and it lasted for two weeks or so. I was in pain for the 1st two months after starting the 300mg of allopurinol. I can still feel twinges in my toes and shoulder, especially after physical trauma (banging my toe on something, etc…). I can live with minor pain and twinges, just not another acute attack! Thanks again.
I have found that my liver enzymes (AST and ALT) are significantly elevated during an acute gout attack. The 300mg daily Allopurinol I take has not raised my liver enzymes, which is very important to me as I have NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis) and I MUST keep the enzymes down. I do this with a “no alcohol, no high fructose corn syrup, low fat, no red meat, chicken or fish once a week” diet that I've followed for over 3 years. I keep my weight where it should be (I'm 6'1″, small frame, so I try to stay below 190lbs. This seems to work for me…
