Depressed

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Darrenmh316
Darrenmh316 Posts: 19 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I did really well from May last year to get down from 13 stone 5 to to 11 stone 2 by eating less and playing football

Over Christmas I put on 5 pounds to 11. 7 and have now developed gout possibly from the weight loss which is so annoying. I’m 34 by the way

Now I’m incredibly depressed. I want to shift the 5 pounds and more but I can’t do as much exercise as I want and this gout has got me so down as I loved playing football and weight loss was a motivation to improve

I’m scared I’m going to let go and just balloon again and I don’t want to

Replies

  • vampirequeen1959
    vampirequeen1959 Posts: 196 Member
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    It's natural to feel so low when you worked so hard and it seems to have hit a wall through no fault of your own
    . Has your GP given you any idea how long the acute gout attack will last? My husband had an attack last year and the pain/swelling started to improve after the first week of treatment and he was back to normal by the end of the second week. You need to avoid falling into the bored so snack trap. Have you thought about trying the seated only exercises that you can find online. I know they may not be as energetic as you're used to be at least you'll still be doing some kind of exercise.
  • lucerorojo
    lucerorojo Posts: 790 Member
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    Doesn't gout come from eating too much fat and meats? Has this been diagnosed? What did your doctor tell you?
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,565 Member
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    You don’t need to exercise to lose weight, you just have to eat less
  • perkymommy
    perkymommy Posts: 1,642 Member
    edited January 2018
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    malibu927 wrote: »
    You don’t need to exercise to lose weight, you just have to eat less

    This. I've done it myself. Food has been my biggest issue all along with weight gains.

  • Darrenmh316
    Darrenmh316 Posts: 19 Member
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    I had blood tests and the doctor did a telephone appointment to say yes it was gout and also my folic acid levels (b12) was low so I’m on supplement now. The pain in my toe won’t go though. It’s strange as it’s not excruciating like many gout sufferers seem to say but it’s just annoying everyday and I’m scared it will get worse

    It may just be a low point for me but in my head I’m thinking this is the end of it all for me and just give up
  • vampirequeen1959
    vampirequeen1959 Posts: 196 Member
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    Don't give up. This is a setback but not the end. Can you walk without too much pain? If so, why not do the 10K steps a day. Anything to help you keep active and less bored.
  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,182 Member
    edited January 2018
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    You describe it as 'not excruciating'. It may not be gout. I had a thing develop such that the pad of the heel of my right foot became numb. It's not in pain. It's just numb. I googled symptoms and self-diagnosed ... then asked my doctor. She suggested X-rays. I decided, for various reasons, that the numbness wasn't enough to justify stepping on a path that led to podiatric surgery with all those risks of complication and failure.

    In your case, see a real doctor in person and get a real diagnosis. If your simplest solution is dietary, take it and carry on. Life is a struggle with a real opponent, and your enemy is you. Overcome.
  • Carolane58
    Carolane58 Posts: 5 Member
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    Don't give up Darren, this is just a slight setback. Whilst you are laid up, see if you can find something else that will stimulate you and stop you dwelling on your Christmas weight gain. For example, food plan to ensure those foods that are thought to trigger an attack of gout. Read up about the problem and work out your recovery plan. Just don't dwell on Christmas. Been there, enjoyed it and now move on. Congratulations on your weight loss. I'm sure the football helped but it is not the only factor in your losing weight. Your mind-set played a great part too.
  • jennifer_417
    jennifer_417 Posts: 12,344 Member
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    I can see where it could be scary. The best thing you can do is develop a plan to deal with your new circumstances. That will help you feel like you are more in control of the situation.
  • lucerorojo
    lucerorojo Posts: 790 Member
    edited January 2018
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    About 25 years ago my crappy doctor diagnosed me with gout. I was a VEGAN at the time and was not overweight--I exercised at least 120 minutes per day and was ice skating and doing ballet several times a week. I had complained about a pain in my foot and initially was refused to be seen. I persisted, and when he finally saw me, the doctor insisted it was gout. I KNEW I didn't have gout since I was young, in shape and a vegan, and other than the foot pain, had no reason to have that disease. I had to keep calling and insisting to see a specialist--I had an HMO. Finally, he relented and gave me a referral to an orthopedist, who x-rayed and discovered I had a broken sesimoid bone, a fracture not uncommon in dancers. The PCP never prescribed any medication for me (I would not accept the diagnosis so I guess he did not bother--and ibuprofen wasn't going to cut it for the pain or swelling) and I was offered surgery or wear an orthotic by the orthopedist. I took the orthotic (which in the end I only wore for a year). Needless to say I switched PCP immediately after. He was lucky I didn't sue him for malpractice--I just wanted to get on with my life.

    I'm not saying that your doctor is wrong, especially since you had blood tests. However, I've been wary ever since of doctors diagnosis.
  • charlouiselb
    charlouiselb Posts: 64 Member
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    @lucerorojo You just described my experiences exactly. Classical ballet dancer, gout diagnosed by college doctor as I was on student healthcare. At the time I was vegetarian and eating lots of legumes. Also my dad has gout so they told that’s what it was. I had to stop dancing due to pain.

    Ten years later, I am pregnant, pain starts again. This time I see a foot Dr who takes X-rays. Both sesamoid bones are cracked in multiple places. Doctor explained surgery was worse than avoiding aggravating it. So I wore orthotics & NO heels.

    So frustrated by doctors diagnosing without all the facts.

    @darrenhughes5036 — don’t let gout take your mobility from you. Have you looked at diet, water intake?

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