[fredwilson]

Trev,

I'm in the U.S. and I'm 41. 

As for the weight loss…. Yes, I totally agree with you in regards to how much/often.  I originally lost quite a bit when I started and I believe it was due to mostly water weight.  I am trying to stay on the 2-3lbs per week schedule but I have only been doing this by doing the Weight Watchers program.  My plan was/is to start exercising when I physically can (gout attack gone).  I'll have to really keep an eye on my weight and eating so I don't start to lose too much too fast.

I just have to keep telling myself that I didn't get to this point in months!

[fredwilson]

First off, thanks to everyone for the quick responses!!  Now some more info and a plan that I'll need comments on.

As I suspected, my doctor seems to be going a bit crazy on the allopurinol.  I think I'm going to take the 300mg ONCE a day instead of 150mg twice a day for now until I can go see a rheumatologist.

The gynecomastia didn't show until I started taking the allopurinol.  That's what led me to research if it's a side effect of the drug.  The prednisone was only started 4 days ago and is only being taken for a week.  I'm not a weight builder, in fact, I weighed 375lbs about 2 months ago and have started working to get my weight down.  I'm now down to 350….hmmm, could weight loss be a cause of my gout flare up?

I have used colchicine before and it always kicked the gout out in a matter of hours if I took it early enough.  I find that I can usually get to just over 4mg in 6 hours before the diarrhea kicks in.  I have also read that taking a small, daily dose of colchicine during the initial start of allopurinol helps keep the gout attacks away while the body cleanses itself. 

In regards to this current gout attack I'm having, it's now just about gone.  I don't have the constant pain but I can't put full weight on my leg and my knee is still swollen, I can't bend it much more than 45 degrees.  From my past experiences, I'll be ok in a few days.  That being said, I tried the heavy dose of colchicine on the SECOND day of my current attack and it didn't do a thing.

Yes, I have had the classic “toe” on both feet.  I've also had attacks in both feet, knees, and in my right elbow this past Memorial day.  Speaking of my elbow… I've had problems in the past couple of years being able to straighten it out.  Never thought much of it but since being on the allopurinol this seems to have resolved somewhat.  Could this be from the cleansing of the joints due to the allopurinol?

So, how does this plan sound?

1) Continue 300mg allopurinol ONCE a day.

2) Go see a rheumatologist.

Hmmmm…. I guess that's it.  LOL

Thanks again!

[Author]

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