Anybody have experience with gout?

[avebury]

The doctor thinks that I might have it with my left foot - bummer. I read an article on 10 things to not consume if you have gout. My problem areas are soda ( ) and fish ( ). I might have to give up my yummy Sam's Club fresh squeezed OJ because fruit juices aren't great for it. Oh, and drink lots of water which I usually do as the summer heats up.

On the bright side, my blood pressure went from pretty close to having to deal with it because it is way too high, to normal. That was a pleasant surprise. I have managed to remain the one person in the family to avoid high blood pressure and stay of the meds for it.

[Purveyor]

1. I had it really bad about 6 six ago in my right big toe. I resorted to the internet to find

remedies and the simpliest one I found without having to buy anything was the baking soda with water one.

IIRC the dosage was something like a tablespoon of baking soda to 8 ounces of water.

For me, I amazingly started to feel relief within the hour of drinking the nasty stuff.

Google "gout and baking soda" for the details.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. I have one, maybe two gouty toes...

I just take a small dose of colchicine which controls it. It's expensive but after the pain I had, this drug is worth it to me. My doc didn't mention any dietary restrictions.

Good luck!

[gratuitous]

3. Cherry juice

I have occasional bouts, very painful, in lower joints. Bad enough when it's a knee, really bad in a toe. Knocking off a quart of cherry juice in an evening works wonders within hours. The brand I buy is R.W. Knudsen, but the key for me is 100% cherry juice, not some ersatz blend or reconstituted stuff. Kinda spendy ($7 or so for a bottle), but a lot less than going to the clinic.

[ChromeFoundry]

4. The problem is most likely not with the foods you are eating

They may contribute to the problem, but your body is not getting rid of the uric acid levels quickly enough, and they are crystallizing in your joints. The crystals are in the shape of small needles, causing inflammation and tissue damage. The single best thing you can do is drink more water. You may think you are drinking a lot - it is probably not enough. After about a month after your symptoms of the attack are gone, get your uric acid levels tested. They need to be below 5.8. If they are higher, your doctor will most likely want you on Allopurinol - daily. The second best thing you can do is exercise when you are not having a flareup. Limit the foods that are known to cause problems. You don't have to cut out all of the foods on the list - that is probably an unrealistic goal, just be sensible and don't wash down 5 lbs of liver with a 2 liter of Coke. As the summer heat approaches, don't ever let yourself get dehydrated! that will certainly cause crystals to form and could cause another flareup or worse, kidney stones to form.

Some people have had success with Apple Cider Vinegar (the kind with the floaty stuff in it when you shake it, like Bragg's). celery and celery seed can help reduce swelling. A glass of 100% Cherry, Tart Cherry or Black Cherry juice can help your body dissolve and eliminate uric acid from your blood.

If this is your first flareup, don't worry too much. Simple changes to your diet and lifestyle will probably take care of it. If you have more than two major flareup in a year then you may want to look into medications to help you out.

You mentioned you "might" have gout. Your recent bout must have been pretty minor. Usually a good flareup is swollen, hot and red, and feels like someone lodged a screwdriver into the center of the joint of your big toe and is twisting the screwdriver in an attempt to pry your toe from your foot. There usually is no question that it is gout related. If the thought of a surgical or DIY-at-home toe amputation didn't cross your mind, you didn't have a major attack.

Best of luck!

[rurallib]

5. I have lots of experience

Thanks to my Mom - it's an inherited disease as I understand it.

When I quit drinking the bouts of gout went to about one mild one a year.
Since we quit eating meat they are pretty much gone.

there is a small used to be cheap pill called alopurinol that pretty much keeps it away. I think it is alopurinol. Either that or colchicine.

I tried the cherry juice, but it never worked for me.
What would help clear it up for me was onions.

I could always tell it was coming on or going away by the smell of my pee, due to the amount of uric acid going out.

And OMG was it painful - had it in both feet, knees ankles of course and even an elbow once.
Never heard soda was a problem.

[PufPuf23]

6. Cherries and cherry juice.

My Dad had it in age and supposedly there is a genetic component.

Also it tuned out he was on a blood pressure med that had tendency to gout as side effect.

I got the cherry juice concept from him and I buy Knudsen's black cherry by the case.

I thought I was getting twinges several years ago and that was when I first got supply of Knudsens.

Fall before last I spent a long weekend in immense pain - just horribly bad - impossible to get around bad - heart beat throbs bad - and thought I had an infection as red swollen lower left leg.

It was gout. Had to use crutches for a weak.

Dr put me on Allopurinol and never a true outbreak again but sometimes twinges so I like cherry juice anyway and drink lots of water.

[bigwillq]

7. I hope you feel better.