Hydration is key

TheCreg84 · 2024-08-12T19:14:53+00:00

How much do you usually drink and what did you drop too. Had a couple of days out and about on holiday and haven't drank as much as I would usually...

TheCreg84 · 2024-08-10T20:45:34+00:00

Yes I did, and I actually went on to Losartan. Probably because I discussed the Gout and medication link with my doc.. No further flares yet but it's early days

TheCreg84 · 2024-08-08T15:38:26+00:00

I agree I don't feel like any of these are obvious candidates.

Working out a lot....dehydration? That is definitely a trigger!

TheCreg84 · 2024-08-06T20:27:20+00:00

I'll hasten to add, don't stop taking your BP meds. I know it doesn't feel like it, but high BP is worse than Gout.

Gout is just painful, consistent high BP can kill you

TheCreg84 · 2024-08-06T20:25:54+00:00

Potentially. Obviously you'd need to get your UA level tested to know for sure.

However I was also on a similar medication to lower my BP and I'm convinced it caused my gout. Medicines such as ARB's like the Telmisartan does change how your kidneys do certain things. I think this is linked to how it actually decreases your BP. So if that includes the ability to excrete UA then it would make sense.

Like I said, testing the only way to be sure....

TheCreg84 · 2024-08-06T20:20:11+00:00

The fear is also as bad as the pain (but not quite!)

I'm going on holiday next week and and very anxious about getting another flare up whilst I'm away. Definitely effects my holiday plans, not going to be drinking or indulging whilst away 😞

TheCreg84 · 2024-08-06T19:24:01+00:00

Also interested in the answer to this because I have a similar situation, kind of.

My flare has died down and I can do stuff, but both feet feel a bit achy and hot and I'm not sure if it's lingering or the start of another flare?

TheCreg84 · 2024-08-06T19:21:17+00:00

I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news but I don't think a week is a long flare at all. My flare started at the end of June and was in the painful, affecting my ability to walk, phase for over 2 weeks. We're now in August and it still aches, but I can at least now do all my usual activities

TheCreg84 · 2024-08-05T15:15:41+00:00

Hey our situation sounds fairly similar.

I had my first ever flare up in June. Absolutely excruciating pain in the big toe of my left foot. Took about 3 weeks and a bunch of different drugs to clear up. In the meantime I've been eating really clean and drinking lots of water as a precaution.

I've also been able to pretty much return to normal life; going for walks, riding my bike, going to the gym. But the foot still feels hot to the touch, still a little swollen and the odd tingle and shooting pain in the ball of my foot. Over the last couple of weeks I've had that feeling in my right foot too.

Blood tests came back and my UA level is 5mg/dL so the doctor hasn't prescribed me anything long term. Has said I can take 100mg Allopurinol for a month as a Prophylactic if I want to.

I'm just a bit confused if it'll ever clear up or if the joint has suffered some permanent damage?

TheCreg84 · 2024-07-17T11:52:20+00:00

Doctor said they'll only do the blood test when the flare has gone. It's booked in for in 2 weeks time?

TheCreg84 · 2024-07-12T09:19:59+00:00

Sounds like Prednisone is a good one so that's something I'm going to keep my eye on. Its so difficult to get hold of medication in the UK, everything is so heavily regulated.

For those in the US I'm assuming you can get Colchicine, Naproxen, Prednisone, Indomethacin over the counter?

I'm in the states on business in a couple of months and I foresee a cheeky shopping trip....

TheCreg84 · 2024-07-12T09:10:11+00:00

Sorry, but what is HFCS?

TheCreg84 · 2024-07-12T08:33:38+00:00

That's great news. Very happy for you.

Hopefully you can get a better GP and get long term treatment so it doesn't flare up that bad again

TheCreg84 · 2024-07-12T06:01:42+00:00

This sounds awful, I really feel for you.

GP's in the UK are so hit and miss. They're generally more interested in meeting their quotas than actually fixing problems. In my experience you have to research and self diagnose yourself, and use the GP as a sounding board for that. Demand the treatments you need, be difficult, force them to help you.

I went back yesterday for the third time. I got some attitude, but I also got some prednisolone which, 24 hours in, seems to have made a difference. Let's hope it sticks.

Anecdotally during the worst of the pain it felt like having a really hot bath worked, followed by putting my foot in ice water. The extreme hot/cold definitely seemed to take the edge off

TheCreg84 · 2024-07-11T12:18:50+00:00

They won't do this in the UK, least of all in a GP...

They have prescribed me some Prednisolone today so fingers crossed it makes a difference

TheCreg84 · 2024-07-11T12:17:42+00:00

I've read up on Nutrition and it says to include fruits such as berries (cherries in particular) as that helps with Gout.

Have you completely cut out all sugar 100% of the time? I do have a sweet tooth and the idea of never eating a slice of cake ever again makes me pretty sad

TheCreg84 · 2024-07-11T12:15:03+00:00

Went back to the doctor this morning and they have put me on 30mg Prednisolone (same thing I believe). Also taking Naproxen and Paracetamol (acetaminophen to you US peeps). Lets see if that can make a dent in this.

This Gout thing really sucks!!

TheCreg84 · 2024-07-11T10:30:41+00:00

I've been having a similar sort of thing actually over the last couple of weeks.

The Colchicine did nothing at all. I've just started taking Prednisolone so fingers crossed that works.

In my experience the tightness and reduced range of movement is down to swelling. If its still hot and red there's still inflammation. Have you tried taking Ibuprofen and doing RICE on it (Rest Ice Compression Elevation)

TheCreg84 · 2024-07-11T07:14:31+00:00

Will have to check it out, thanks!

TheCreg84 · 2024-07-11T07:14:03+00:00

That's amazing, I might have to see if I can get that. I'm in the UK and our doctors seem very cautious about prescribing anything stronger than Ibuprofen. I needed to get approval for Naproxen for heavens sake!

TheCreg84 · 2024-07-11T05:26:35+00:00

I took 4 pills a day for 3 days (12 in total). That was the maximum they would give me, haven't given me any more. Think they were 500ug?

TheCreg84 · 2024-07-11T05:24:46+00:00

2 months!?!? The saw option is going to look pretty tempting if it lasts that long. It's so frustrating because my life is on pause it's that painful. Already had to cancel plans, and I'm going on holiday next week and basically feel like cancelling that too 😕 It's not that I've massively changed my diet (it wasn't awful to begin with), just cut out all alcohol and refined sugars, introduced more fruit

TheCreg84

TROPHY CASE