New to gout but have been suffering for years!

[siteburn]

Ohhh my... For years now I've blamed my newly discovered Gout on my 90lb German Shepherd. I've always thought that she would get up in the middle of the night and decide to lay on my foot causing my foot to get kinked in a weird position throughout the night. Well, a few days ago, it happened again! With the most intense pain I've ever experienced, I decided to go to the doctor. The pain was located in my ankle/top part of my foot. The doctor took an x-ray and a sample of blood. The x-ray showed nothing and from there, I had to wait on my blood results from the lab. Just got a phone call today saying that my Uric Acid level was 11.5% and that I have Gout! I'm a big drinker and love my meat. Sounds like that's going to change.

As a kid, I had some kidney issues that I think finally caught up with me. These Gout attacks have been happening for about 3ish years (about every 3-5 Months). I'm 26 now and I guess I'm going to learn how to live with this intense condition.

Thanks for the information on this forum and for letting me tell my story!

[Rjm]

Hi siteburn, goodluck with your gout. I'm 47 and had my first attack three years ago, that slowed me down for a few weeks. Ive just had my second one, couldn't walk for a week. I've tried everything and just starting to get on top of it.

[Ihavegout]

Good luck, My first and second attacks were a year ago and I made major lifestyle/diet changes. No meat or fish except for salmon and tuna (Bacon occasionally as I was a major bacon lover and haven't quite been able to give it all up). I have also gone somewhat vegetarian and eat a lot more vegetables, salads, fruits -- and watch out for those soups made with beef or chicken stock. I will cheat once in a while with chicken or turkey, but no gravy.I also gave up beer, though I do have an occasional glass of red wine, or mixed drink.

I have also returned to being a regular blood donor as I have read that there may be some connection between iron levels and gout as well. Drink cherry juice regularly and eat cherries or dried cherries as well.

I have not had any further attacks...knock on wood.... I am trying to control this without medication.

In all, the dietary changes have not been that difficult. I really thought that I would miss meat as I was a confirmed carnivore, but it hasn't been that bad.