Little known, seldom played: a song about gout.

[Bo Zarts]

Little know fact, Jack. Kris Kristofferson wrote a seldom-played song about gout. I bet you didn’t know THAT. Yep. “Sunday Mornin’ Poppin’ Pills.”

I’m told not to talk about my aches and pains anymore, and I get it. But Sunday morning I woke up with exquisite pain in my big toe. And my post-surgical nerve pain is as bad as ever. I'm beginning to feel like the biblical Job.

Two days later, today - Tuesday, my toe is still swollen and paining me. It is not cellulitis, IMO, so it must be gout. Gout? I’ve never had gout. Gout is for the corpulent Englishman, swilling gin and port, and eating alone at a table piled high with veal chops, pork loin, beefsteak, calves’ liver, and buttery pastries. And three different wines. Right?

OK. Don’t worry, I have a call in to my primary care doc. I’ll cork it on the pain. For now, anyway.

Back to the erstwhile Army helicopter pilot, Captain Kris Kristofferson. Of course, his song wasn’t about gout. But it was the first thing that popped into my head (before poppin’ my Rx’d meds) when I woke up Sunday mornin’.

Even the changed lyrics came quickly. Maybe - well I am an erstwhile musician (hate to use erstwhile twice in one paragraph, but it works best) - maybe I should try song writing. My apologies to Army Captain Kris Kristofferson: helicopter pilot, Airborne Ranger, and singer-songwriter.

“Sunday Mornin’ Poppin’ Pills.”

Well, I woke up Sunday morning
With no way to hold my toe that didn't hurt.
And the pills I had for breakfast weren’t bad
So I had an aspirin for dessert.

Then I fumbled through my closet for my cane
And found my favorite walking stick.
And I shaved my face and combed my hair
And hobbled down the stairs to meet the day.

To quote the late banjo picker, John Hartford, “That’s enough!”




Capt. Kris Kristofferson - Helicopter Pilot and Airborne Ranger
US Department of Defense Photo

[Grasswire2]

1. there is another song with the word "gout" in the title :-)

[EYESORE 9001]

2. I had an uncle with a bad case of gout

I’ll always remember him sitting in an overstuffed chair at my grandmother’s parlor during family gatherings. His gouty foot was always propped up on the matching ottoman, thankfully covered with a white sock. When any of us kids came in the room, he automatically shouted, ‘WATCH OUT FOR MY FOOT!’ He used his cane defensively if anyone had the temerity to come within striking distance.

[DEbluedude]

13. Your uncle could have been my grandfather!

No kidding. Exact same scenario, minus the white sock. I can still see the horror in his face when us kids would walk or run by his chair and I remember seeing that swollen , red big toe. Unfortunately, I was the one kid who inherited the gene. I've been on medication for gout for most of my adult life and I still have an occasional flare-up.

I know this. It is the most painful thing I have ever experienced. I've had numerous broken bones in my life, including compound fractures that did not hurt as bad as gout. I've had it in my toes, ankles, knees and elbows. I've often said that I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy and that got me thinking that inducing gout in a person could be a considerable form of torture.

[greatauntoftriplets]

3. Gout is a form of arthritis.

Here's a list of foods to avoid. https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/gout.html

[rsdsharp]

5. Gout is caused by uric acid crystals in the joint.

[rsdsharp]

4. Having had gout, the magic word is

Indomethacin. It works like a champ for symptoms.

For this who haven’t had it, the best way I can describe it is that’s it’s like pounding on your big toe with a ball peen hammer, and then driving a ten penny nail into your instep about two inches in front of your ankle. And then trying to walk.

[VGNonly]

6. When I had gout,

it was like someone was slowly turning a large red-hot lag bolt into my big toe with frequent strikes with a sledge hammer. I kid you not.

[Tetrachloride]

7. Hot shower or bath

No coffee, no meat.

Water.

More hot water
soaking.

[Bo Zarts]

8. Actually, the Mayo Clinic gout info says coffee is OK

"If you already have gout, drinking coffee may help to reduce your chance of having a flare-up. This is because coffee may help to lower the uric acid your body creates. It may also improve your body's excretion of uric acid." - Mayo Clinic

Other sources that I have perused in the last couple of days (cannot remember enough to cite them by name) say coffee is OK during a flare-up of gout for the same reasons as the Mayo Clinic info in the quotes above.

So, I drink exactly 14 ounces of black coffee every morning: no sugar and no cream. I sip slowly; and in my 14 oz. insulated mug my coffee lasts me a couple of hours.

Cherries are good for gout, and they are in season. And they are also very effective in helping with my opiod-induced constipation (TMI?).

I'm drinking copious amounts of water every day, and night. But that was also because of doctor's orders in the post-op discharge instructions.

Waiting for doc to call (it will probably be his NP, but that's totally OK).

[Tetrachloride]

12. i cannot agree or disagree regarding coffee

The diuretic effect may be indirect. My gout occurs occasionally. Anecdotally speaking for myself, I suspect a weak connection.

[Zorro]

17. Try Montmorency tart cherry juice

I order it by the case from Amazon, and mix it with tonic water.

[Vinca]

9. I had a bout of it a few years ago and I've been on medication ever since for a high

uric acid level in my blood. I always thought it was mostly a thing in men - my dad was miserable with it - but it got me, too. The big toe was so painful I hobbled around on crutches for a few days. At least now I can sing a song about it if it ever acts up again. Hope you feel better soon.

[Totally Tunsie]

10. Of course, "everyone has their own taste"...

Have some madeira, m'dear. You really have nothing to fear.
I'm not trying to tempt you, that wouldn't be right,
You shouldn't drink spirits at this time of night.
Have some madeira, m'dear. It's really much nicer than beer.
I don't care for sherry, one cannot drink stout,
And port is a wine I can well do without...
It's simply a case of chacun a son gout
Have some madeira, m'dear.

[marked50]

11. The Kris Kristofferson thing is really neat.

The Photo is a great rendition of earlier times for him. A fan of course.

Gout has been a great part of my life. Not that I would wish it on anyone, but learning so much about it and those around me that have helped.

Early extreme pains, searching for help, connection to those also affected, wise advise, focus on diet effects, gathering things from nature ( juniper berries, dark cherries, friends with their holistic concerns) and so many friends concern.

I tried it all and final just gave up to the simple addition of Allopurinol.

Had engaged in Indomethacin, too. When I noticed an extrusion of white from my toes in one of my many episodes on gout pain I went to a podiatrist. He said they were called "tophi". What in the ...? From uric acid crystals. On Allopurinol for the last 5 years. Heard about side effects and that's why the avoidance. No gout for the last 6 years.

Thanks for the Post Bo Zarts.

[panader0]

14. Sorry about the gout. Jeannie gets it from shellfish and it is immobilizing for her.

Black cherry juice is what she uses.
But I thank you for your info about and photo of Kris K. I never knew.

[flotsam]

15. Allopurinol is for prevention

once you have a flare up I've found 2 methods to clear it out-either colchicine or a 15 pill regimen called a prednisone taper. Over 5 days the dosage drops 5-4-3-2-1 which I found very effective.

[Bo Zarts]

16. Yesterday at 1:38 PM flotsam posted this .. I was seeing my doctor's Nurse Practioner at 1:38 PM.

The NP prescribed a "Medrol Dosepak" (methylprednisolone 4mg) - actually the generic version - which I started this morning. In two months, when my yearly wellness checkup is scheduled, a serum uric acid test will be included in the regular panels (assuming the gout flare-up has cleared). Depending on the results of the serum uric acid, Allopurinol will be prescribed for prevention of any future gout events.

Dang, flotsam! Were you in the exam room with us? Are you a MD, PA, or NP? Or a gout sufferer? You hit the nail squarely on the head.

And I can't believe that you posted this at the exact time I was sitting in the exam room with the NP, as she outlined a treatment plan that matches your's exactly. Que the Serendipity Singers!

[flotsam]

18. Hey Bo...

Maybe just lucky, but I am both a past EMT and a cranky old man with gout. If I got it right I'm betting it has more to do with the latter than the former.

[Bo Zarts]

19. Thanks, flotsam

I'm no EMT, but I'm a cranky old man!