Advice from gout sufferers?

[siugoalie78]

OK - the other day I went to the doctor, thought I must have broken my toe sleepwalking or something. Hurt like heck, but could not remember doing anything to it. Doc said it was gout, and put me on anti inflammatories. Pain has receded, but not fully. The thought of a flare up at WDW really frightens me. DW and I are going in January. It's a real workout without anything physically wrong. Cannot imagine it with gout. I really don't want to get an ecv. No offense to those who need them, but i am a 34 year old otherwise healthy guy. I played lacrosse in college, and used to run 5+ miles a day. If an ecv is the only alternative, then so be it i suppose, but that thought is depressing. Does anyone have any advice? Diet ? Meds? Footwear? Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Also, i hear beer really can trigger an attack. that thought is depressing as well. A trip to epcot just isn't complete without a few beers around the world. Anything to counteract that maybe? I never even knew what gout was before this, and thought only old people got it. Boy was I wrong. Now all i can think is "what a stupid condition to have. what it the point of agonizing TOE PAIN?!?!?"

 

[bradk]

indomethacin as prescribed. or black cherry juice.

 

[DeeDeeDis]

my husband got this a few years ago in his toe also. Make sure you watch what you eat certain foods can really trigger an attack (like dry peas). go on webmd it will give you an idea of what to try to avoid.

I'm sure your be fine but i suggest you take some medication with you just in case it flares up again.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the disABILITIES! board. Hopefully there are people here who can help.

 

[Alphabetsoup]

Too much processed meats (lunch meat, sausage, etc...), seafood, and certain types of alcohol are triggers for me. Essentially you are getting little 'crystals' in the affected joint due to having a higher concentration of uric acid in your system...has something to do with too much purines in your diet.

I find for me, that I get it worse when I have been eating lots of processed stuff, but haven't been drinking enough plain water. My stem shuts down a bit and I don't get rid of the uric crystals ...which then give me pain (always in my big toes). The other night it was soooo bad , even touching the skin was painful.

Aside from watching my triggers and trying to get plenty of plain fluids, I also find that heat helps (in fact, as I type this, hubby is rubbing and gently manipulating my affected toe). I have done Disney with gout in the big toes of both feet. It didn't stop me ) I took tylenol and/or anti-inflammatories with each meal, gave my feet a nice warm soak when we finished at night, and wore the most comfy shoes I owned.

If the pain spreads into the ball of your foot then definitely consider an ECV. i also find that for me, the pain usually only lasts 24 hours, since when I first feel it now, I immediately work to get in more water (or tea) to flush the stuff out, as well as modifying my diet to eat better.

Good luck and have a great trip!!

 

[stampin_fool]

My DH had a bout of this not to long ago and the doctor recommended drinking lemonade. He used to be a big Coke drinker and now only orders lemonade. He had not had a bout with this in over a year and a half. My uncle also had this and started drinking cherry juice (I just recently found cherry pills at a health store for my DH rather than the liquid). My uncle swears by this and hasn't had a re-occurence in several years. Good luck. Ask your doctor for another prescription to take with you just in case, that is what we did last year.

Ronda

 

[siugoalie78]

My DH had a bout of this not to long ago and the doctor recommended drinking lemonade. He used to be a big Coke drinker and now only orders lemonade. He had not had a bout with this in over a year and a half. My uncle also had this and started drinking cherry juice (I just recently found cherry pills at a health store for my DH rather than the liquid). My uncle swears by this and hasn't had a re-occurence in several years. Good luck. Ask your doctor for another prescription to take with you just in case, that is what we did last year.

Ronda

thanks for the tips. I found cherry pills at a GNC store, and bought them, but have no idea how many to take. They are 250 mg black cherry concentrate. Any advice on dosage? Also, I recently moved to virginia and before this had not been to a doctor out here. I went to an urgent care facility for this, but what kind of doctor should I see for it?

 

[dis-happy]

I too read that cherry juice is an anti-inflammatory and good for those having foot problems. Watch out though: so many, many juices on the store shelves say they are cherry juice and 100% juice but they are NOT 100% CHERRY JUICE!!! Read the label carefully. I did find it a brand at Publix and Harris Teeter (same brand, can't remember the name), it's a glass jar with a white label, tastes a little sweet but you get used to it. I also buy dried cherries from Costco and try to eat a handful every day. Hope your feet feel better.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I had a gout attack over 30 years ago, and ever since I have been on Allopurinol 300mg daily. My doctor at the time said I would have to take it every day for the rest of my life, and other doctor's I have had since then have agreed.

The price for a 90 day supply is less than $10, so it is less than my normal copay.

 

[stampin_fool]

I believe that the bottle that I have says 1 to 2 pills 3 times a day. I say start out with the lowest dose and go from there. DH just saw his primary care doctor for the gout and he was able to take care of it. If not a rheumatologist (not sure I spelled that correctly) is the one to go to. They take care of diseases such as arthritis (which gout is a form of) and other auto-immune disorders. Good luck and have a great trip.

Ronda

 

[AJKMOM]

DH has taken 750 mg. of black cherry extract daily for 3 years and has not had a gout flare up since.

 

[justtobeme2]

My dad suffers from this and is on the long term med allupurnol <sp> but I can tell you that if you get the proper medication for flare up your gout will be gone in about 24 hours. I don't know the name of it but within hours you can tell a difference. Ask your doc about that, it's really common. You take like 5 tablets the first day 4 the next, and so on.....be careful though it runs you to the bathroom as your body filters out the uric acid.

 

[FFRSPEC]

My DH had a bout of this not to long ago and the doctor recommended drinking lemonade. He used to be a big Coke drinker and now only orders lemonade. He had not had a bout with this in over a year and a half. My uncle also had this and started drinking cherry juice (I just recently found cherry pills at a health store for my DH rather than the liquid). My uncle swears by this and hasn't had a re-occurence in several years. Good luck. Ask your doctor for another prescription to take with you just in case, that is what we did last year.

Ronda

Thanks Wifey. She is right no beer and no beans. Doctor told me to lay off. He also said to have any red meat that I eat cooked through. I have slacked off on the coke a few times. I know the pain like you foot is in a vise with constant presure. It hurt to do anything even sleep. I brught my pills with me on the last trip just incase of an attack. Also drink lots of water if you can it helps to dilute your urine. This will calm down the atack. Good luck.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I had a gout attack over 30 years ago, and ever since I have been on Allopurinol 300mg daily. My doctor at the time said I would have to take it every day for the rest of my life, and other doctor's I have had since then have agreed.

The price for a 90 day supply is less than $10, so it is less than my normal copay.

That was one of the meds my mom was taking for her Gouty Arthritis. She was also prescribed Colchicine. Her gout was in the form of pimply looking knots on her finger tips, and sometimes stabbing pain in some of her toes. The knots seemed to disappear from her hands after she passed away, but I am sure thinking back that it was because she was swollen from the heart attack and CHF, but I was just glad they weren't visable and she was no longer in pain.

Suzanne

 

[minnie2]

I had a gout attack over 30 years ago, and ever since I have been on Allopurinol 300mg daily. My doctor at the time said I would have to take it every day for the rest of my life, and other doctor's I have had since then have agreed.

The price for a 90 day supply is less than $10, so it is less than my normal copay.

My DH is on this and it is the only thing that helped him.

When we went a few yrs ago the last day his gout acted up and he couldn't walk so he missed our last day at the park. For this trip he is going to try to drink more and watch what he eats better but as a precaution his GP gave him a small supply of the meds he takes when he is having a attack of it.