there is hope

[simonp8629]

I had my first gout attack my foot about about 11 years ago (I am now 35) not knowing it was gout I went to a lot of foot DR's throughout the years thinking it was a problem with my flat feet. As the years went by my joints were in such pain at times I didn't know what was going on. After I hit about 30 the frequency of attacks just got worse and worse in my feet, ankles and knees, oh and the occasional elbows. In November of last year my DR did a uric acid test on me and saw that my lever were around 14. He immediately started me on allopurinol. As time went on the uric acid had locked up my right knee and the pain remained in my feet and ankles. In January I had MRI's done on both knees and it showed that I have severe crystal build up on both of them. On January 15th i underwent athroscopy surgery on both knees to remove all the crystals that had accumulated. Even after surgery the pain and swelling did not go away tried going to rehab and it would set me back days in pain after. I lived on crutches for 4 months until I saw my rhumotoligist last week. He told me that allopurinol was a maintenance drug after you had things in control. He got me on cocholine (6mg) and predosone (2-5mg a day). After I got home and took the pills I was feeling a lot better after a couple of hours. After about 6 hours I shed my crutches for the first time in 4 months and walked to the bathroom on my own. Since then I have been able to do things I felt like I could never do. Just walking and getting in and out of the car was such a hindrance before. I know its not the best to take all this medicine but the alternative is not any better. I have to go back in 2 weeks to get my blood rechecked and see what has been going on. I just want to give hope to people that feel like they will never get better, I thought I would never walk again without my crutches. Depression was getting the better of me towards the end of all this. Good luck.

Simon Patel

[tjsbadgout]

wow..you got it young! it is a helpless feeling when you all of a sudden can't walk and do the things you like doing. and the PAIN..unreal... I wrote on another post about depression and then I see you mentioned in it. I'm sorry for you feeling that was but i UNDERSTAND.. It has slayed my ego and esteem. People see me with cane or crutches and couple that with the weight I've lost they think I'm sick ..the sad part is I really changed my life style.. eating right and so on..I keep getting this and since last November its has been brutal.

My wife is a real angel and she got to where she wouldn't go anywhere without me as I couldn't walk and didn't need to be out.. I insisted she go do things with her friends. at 48 I feel almost obsolete ..even now my right knee is just throbbing..

she reluctantly does. I'm waiting on some results as I type. at 48 I feel almost obsolete ..even now my right knee is just throbbing..My uric acid levels were down from a few months ago from over 9 to 6.5 I'm PRAYING that there even lower this time..

I'm a champion poker player and no one knows how upsetting this issue is. it has to get better... best of luck to you..I mean that! keep the faith..

[thurstonb]

@Simon
Just wanted to chime in with my experience. I had gout for many years and it was truly bad. I had periods where I would get it for months at a time. Unfortunately it took a long time to get a proper diagnosis.

Anyway, once diagnosed I was put on allopurinol and told I would be on it for life. When the bottle ran out I got another lot, but after that I never got round to getting any more.

I never got another gout attack.

I no longer believe the "allopurinol is for life" line. Maybe I'm being naive and I'm going to be in for a rude shock one day. But right now I don't believe I will.

@tjsbadgout - Don't lose hope! I know that when I was going months at a time with gout sometimes it would really get the better of me. But I'm living walking proof that even someone with seriously bad gout can get rid of it. Hell it took time, but the changes I had to make were tiny in comparison to the benefits.

Brett

[goutigus]

I had my first gout attack my foot about about 11 years ago (I am now 35) not knowing it was gout I went to a lot of foot DR's throughout the years thinking it was a problem with my flat feet.

i'm in my late 20s and was just diagnosed with gout today. looking back i can easily trace it back a few more years. whatever the reason, genetics or diet or drinking etc, i'm trying to come to grips with how i developed it so young.

[thurstonb]

It's not entirely unusual to get gout at that age. I know a couple of people your age who have it quite bad.

I think the diet of people today is a lot different to what it was 20 or even 10 years ago, and this is having the effect that people are getting things like gout and other problems at an earlier age.

[lawjigga]

Dear Fellow Desi,

Indians have a high chance of gout. The way I was able to solve my gout problem was by losing a lot of weight. I lost around 30lbs and put on a sizeable amount of muscle. Of course, this took around 8 months, and 3 hour gym visits. Its worth it however. I can walk to my car, i don't need crutches and i can eat what i want more or less.

LOOSE weight!



I had my first gout attack my foot about about 11 years ago (I am now 35) not knowing it was gout I went to a lot of foot DR's throughout the years thinking it was a problem with my flat feet. As the years went by my joints were in such pain at times I didn't know what was going on. After I hit about 30 the frequency of attacks just got worse and worse in my feet, ankles and knees, oh and the occasional elbows. In November of last year my DR did a uric acid test on me and saw that my lever were around 14. He immediately started me on allopurinol. As time went on the uric acid had locked up my right knee and the pain remained in my feet and ankles. In January I had MRI's done on both knees and it showed that I have severe crystal build up on both of them. On January 15th i underwent athroscopy surgery on both knees to remove all the crystals that had accumulated. Even after surgery the pain and swelling did not go away tried going to rehab and it would set me back days in pain after. I lived on crutches for 4 months until I saw my rhumotoligist last week. He told me that allopurinol was a maintenance drug after you had things in control. He got me on cocholine (6mg) and predosone (2-5mg a day). After I got home and took the pills I was feeling a lot better after a couple of hours. After about 6 hours I shed my crutches for the first time in 4 months and walked to the bathroom on my own. Since then I have been able to do things I felt like I could never do. Just walking and getting in and out of the car was such a hindrance before. I know its not the best to take all this medicine but the alternative is not any better. I have to go back in 2 weeks to get my blood rechecked and see what has been going on. I just want to give hope to people that feel like they will never get better, I thought I would never walk again without my crutches. Depression was getting the better of me towards the end of all this. Good luck.

Simon Patel