Interested in gout

Besides staying on my medication faithfully, there are a few things I do to limit and prevent gout attacks. I have not had a major attack since I started my medication, Allopurinol -- and I've just celebrated my first anniversary on meds. I had two attacks prior to this, one so painful I couldn't even lower my foot while lying on the couch.

#1) STAY HYDRATED!!! Don't know whether or not you can tolerate water, or non-caffienated and non-alcoholic drinks, but you'd better learn to love them now! I try to drink 2 liters of water a day -- though somedays I only make it to do 1. If it's not water, it's other liquids. Avoid alcohol totally if you can -- or only drink it occasionally (socially), NOT daily. Limit caffienated drinks to ONE a day -- whatever you drink to get yourself going in the morning (ONE cup of coffee -- not five). If I haven't said it enough -- avoid alcohol like the plague.

On the hydration thing, I can usually "feel" an attack coming on -- it's almost like an "aura" feeling in my great joints of my feet. They just start to tingle in the joint, with some dull soreness upon palpation (pressing the joint). At this point, it's almost too late, but I've prevented a few attacks from coming on when I've felt this by stopping all fluids except water -- I once drank a liter of water over an hour or two -- and popped a couple of Motrin to alleviate the beginnings of inflammation. When this "feeling" starts, I know I've let myself get dehydrated. As a gout victim for life, DEHYDRATION IS YOUR WORST ENEMY!!! Dehydration leads to gout attacks because the concentration of uric acid in your system is greater -- hydration delutes it in your circulatory system.

#2) FOODS. There are many foods to avoid -- you'll have to research them. Avoid organ meats and anything that contains them, avoid broths or concentrates of meat, spinach, and limit your intake of red meat -- which is slightly higher than the other meats in purines. Personally, I only eat fish and fowl. Limit protein intake -- I only eat two servings of meat a day, and do okay with that. During a gout attack, I go on a protein fast -- I eat NO meat during such, only leafy green vegetables to absorb the uric acid. Also watch your legumes -- which, unfortunately, means a vegetarian diet is really no better for your joints than watching your meat intake.

#) MEDS. Whatever your doctor has prescribed -- get on it and stay on it. Become an expert on that medication! For allopurinol, I know that if I'm having an attack, I have to get off of it until the attack is over, and use colchicine to alleviate the pain. Allopurinol and some other meds can make an attack worse, but do help prevent attacks.

Other points to ponder: Some people really don't take their gout seriously, and don't worry about diet and other things until their joint is the size of a golf-ball. This is pure ignorance! Like diabetes, or any other chronic illness, gout must be managed 24/7 -- regardless of the presence of an attack. YOU WILL HAVE GOUT TILL YOU DIE.

One thing that happens if you don't manage it, is that uric acid builds up in your system creating crystals -- and they do a bit more than irritate your joints. Over time, they can damage your kidneys, and as a nurse myself, the last thing I EVER want to do in my life is be on kidney dialysis! If you love living, and want to live as long as God and/or mother nature intended, watch your weight, stay hydrated, watch your foods, and get and stay on medication!

Good luck!

Jay

<<Subject: Gout Thanks
I have just joined this group and it is a relief to know I am not
alone.Just on 2 1/2 years ago I had my first brush with Gout and wow
was it painful I am currently getting my second attack only this time
I know what it is and start on medication before the attack got to
severe.Could anyone in the group forward diet sheets etc.and any
advise on how they control attacks.All help would be gratefully
received.thanks all for taking the time to read this and have a happy
new year and free from any attacks.
All the best Tony