Any tips on Gout

Reduce your consumption of foods high in purines (especially red meat, beer, whiskey, and whatever you discover is a personal trigger), stay hydrated, pay attention to whether over the counter medications or vitamins cause flare ups. There are plenty of websites that explain how gout works and how to reduce symptoms with diet. I had it a couple years ago as a normal weight woman, and did not have the option to treat it with a daily medication. If you don't have frequent episodes, a dietician might be a better option than medication. Good luck at the doctor!

i take colcryx for something similar and it works well but otherwise I do try and follow what I found on WebMD

food and gout

As you are undoubtedly already aware, certain foods such as red meat and some seafoods can trigger or exacerbate the symptoms of gout. Also alcohol, particularly beer, tends to be a bad trigger. I would suggest dropping these from your diet, at least until your symptoms subside, and then add them slowly back into your diet.

And, on the subject of diet, is there something you might be eating/drinking more of lately that might be a causative factor? One pint too many when you are out with your chums? These are things to consider when looking at your fight against gout. And you know it doesn't play fair!

Next, you don't indicate your height but, if you are under 6ft, then 16st/225lbs might be a bit too 'generous', especially if you are not well-toned and don't have a lot of muscle. 16st might be amazing if you are rock solid but, for the average guy, perhaps 14/14.5st/195/200lbs might be a better target?

This might not be a fair question with a gout flare-up but, what kind of exercise are you doing? If you are normally running, and your gout won't let you do that just now, consider biking. It'll help take some of the stress off the foot/feet. And lifting, crunches, etc should be included in your weekly regimen regardless as these are things that will help build muscle and, as an added bonus, ultimately help you burn more fat.

So... bottom line: If you are a meat-eater, cut back on red meats and seafood (think fowl (chicken, turkey, duck), lamb, and pork (yes, pork!!)); if you drink alcohol - STOP! (at least for now, and lighten up on it on the whole (beer has lots of sugars and empty calories. In other words, it'll just MAKE you gain weight in addition to making your gout worse.))

I know gout can be a real (very literal) pain and it makes it difficult to do a lot of things you normally would do. But, unless you conquer it and learn your own, personal, triggers, it'll keep coming back. And the more it comes back, the more likely you are to have recurrent flare-ups. So, get on top of it now so it doesn't destroy your life later!

OH! And, Learning how to eat right now to prevent things like gout and high cholesterol will help you to teach your future children to do the same so they don't have to live with these maladies when they become adults! Do it for yourself. Do it for those you love. It's just the right thing to do.

Good luck.

DeguelloTex wrote: »

I absolutely, positively cannot link link my episodes to any food at all. Even with the advantage of having logged all my food, there's just nothing consistent about it.

If you are not an alcohol drinker and other dietary factors have been ruled out, the likelihood is that your body simply produces more uric acid than it can readily process and eliminate. Sorry about that. Although, even for that, modifying your intake of the aforementioned red meats, seafood, and alcohol can help to reduce the incidences of gout. And, the more frequently you have flare-ups, the more likely you become to have more episodes in the future.

DeguelloTex wrote: »

When I feel it start, I take some indomethacin. This nips it in the bud and it never fully develops into the crippling ball of pain fiasco that it used to.

Indomethacin, common brand name Indocin, is in the NSAID group of drugs and, as you are undoubtedly aware, should be taken sparingly. We continue to learn more about these drugs and their side effects and it is not always good. Also, some people have terrible reactions to NSAIDs or they simply don't help. (Although herbal/organic alternatives have proven to be helpful in some patients who cannot take NSAIDs.)

Ultimately, every human body is as different as we are alike. That's why medicine is called a 'practice'. What works for one may not work for another. We try this treatment, then that treatment to see what works. Frustrating for patient and doctor alike.

ReeseG4350 wrote: »

DeguelloTex wrote: »

I absolutely, positively cannot link link my episodes to any food at all. Even with the advantage of having logged all my food, there's just nothing consistent about it.

If you are not an alcohol drinker and other dietary factors have been ruled out, the likelihood is that your body simply produces more uric acid than it can readily process and eliminate. Sorry about that. Although, even for that, modifying your intake of the aforementioned red meats, seafood, and alcohol can help to reduce the incidences of gout. And, the more frequently you have flare-ups, the more likely you become to have more episodes in the future.

DeguelloTex wrote: »

When I feel it start, I take some indomethacin. This nips it in the bud and it never fully develops into the crippling ball of pain fiasco that it used to.

Indomethacin, common brand name Indocin, is in the NSAID group of drugs and, as you are undoubtedly aware, should be taken sparingly. We continue to learn more about these drugs and their side effects and it is not always good. Also, some people have terrible reactions to NSAIDs or they simply don't help. (Although herbal/organic alternatives have proven to be helpful in some patients who cannot take NSAIDs.)

Ultimately, every human body is as different as we are alike. That's why medicine is called a 'practice'. What works for one may not work for another. We try this treatment, then that treatment to see what works. Frustrating for patient and doctor alike.

Yeah, except for the fact that my episodes changed not one iota from when I drank a lot of beer and tequila at tailgates to when I didn't. Or when I mostly went away from red meat to chicken during my weight loss. I thought I was clear that nothing in my diet, despite knowing exactly what was in my diet due to my logging, could be shown to be different prior to episodes than when I didn't have an episode. If not, I'm making that clear now.

And, no, medicine isn't a "practice" because human bodies are different. Medicine, like law, is a "practice" because the word derives from the Latin "practicus" and Greek "praktikos" which mean "concerned with action or business" and "practical."

woodhouse_j2 wrote: »

I am 35 years old and have previously had gout only twice in the last 6 years. A couple of weeks ago it came back again i have only just got rid out it and i think i can feel it coming on again. Im booked in with the doctor today but the most frustrating thing is i am probably fitter and weigh less now than any time in the last decade. I have gone from 284lbs to 243lbs in the last 4 months but know i still have 15-20lbs to lose to get to my ideal weight. Just wondered if anyone has any tips of suffers with this condition, i can put up with it if its once every 3 years but twice in 1 month is a bit concerning.

■■■I've been there and you need to be aware of the foods that cause it. I got mine through excessive protein and veggies high in purines while doing Atkins many years ago. I've switched to ketogenics because it's high fat, moderate protein low carbohydrate. This has a severe case of diabetes in remission right now without any gout worries at all. But it's important to stay well hydrates too in order to diminish gout. Dr's can prescribe medicine too thst lowers uric acids greatly while providing antioxidant benefit too...■■■

woodhouse_j2 wrote: »

The doctor prescribed me with colchicine and basically went through most of the things mentioned above about diet. I am on ramiprill medication for high blood pressure and this could be another factor contributing to gout. Thanks again for all the comments everyone.

careful of the side effects
well, one main one. I avoided it by my rhuemotalogist said I was the only one. it can cause very loose stools

tincanonastring wrote: »

finny11122 wrote: »

tincanonastring wrote: »

finny11122 wrote: »

There is only one cure . You got to chop your feet off . Just kidding. Check out Dr Mercola videos on gout. Very good advice

Dr. Mercola is never an appropriate referral for good advice. The man is a profiteering quack who preys on the fears of the medically ignorant.

http://www.quackwatch.com/11Ind/mercola.html

He seems legit. Ill take a closer look at his work and see whats his story. So much info these days , its hard to pick the best advice.

I mean, it depends on your tastes. If you would like your medical advice based on sounds science, I would avoid him. If you're the kind of guy who thinks seeing a chiropractor for an ear infection is the proper course of treatment, Mercola's your man!

hahahaha . that gave me a good laugh

I have gout and it is probably the worst pain I have felt. I am on allipurinol and for flare ups indomethacin.

I have found nothing in my diet that triggers the attacks. I rarely drink and rarely have red meat. So I'll just keep chugging along taking the meds the doctor told me too