Working with Gout

[cybermat]

Hello All

My gout has returned after a few months off, always in the same locations - ankles and feet usually.
The problem I have is that I work about 45 minutes drive from here and then work in a reasonably mobile job.
When my Gout kicks off I need really time off to just stick my feet up but in the past I have had gout attacks maybe two times in 3 months or so, these attacks may only last a short time as the naproxen and allipurinol do help - especially mixed with co-codamol to kill the pain a bit, but non the less even a day off adds on to your sickness record and I have breeched my permittable limit twice now.
The harsh thing is that there is little I can do about it, I mean its difficult to walk downstairs at times due to the pain - even the toilet seems really far away at the height of an attack.
During the winter of 09 I had an attack and was close to breeching my sickness record so went in to work struggled all day holding on to walls etc to move around and drove home narrowly dying a couple of times as I couldn't press the brake or move my feet.

What is the answer - is there one or is it just a case of tough it out.

[painfree]

I experienced the same agony that you describe for 15 years, up until 8 years ago. The answer for me was the diagnosis and resolution of my sleep apnea, which resulted in an immediate and complete cure for my gout. If your gout flares usually originate during sleep, then sleep apnea is strongly suspect. In many cases, allopurinol at 300mg per day after 6 months of use does prevent gout flares from whatever their cause, but then you have to view it as a medication which you will use for the rest of your life. But if your sleep apnea continues to go untreated, then your life expectancy is shorter due to your increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease, or diabetes, or kidney disease, or stroke, or even sudden death.

[popeye53]

i feel for you,but something dont add up.how long have you been on allopurinol and do you take 300mg everyday?when was the last time you had your uric acid level checked?do you eat and drink everything good every day?allopurinol does nothing to relieve a flare,its purpose is to lower your ua level so you dont suffer from them especially the frequency you have been having them.its to bad all our bosses dont have gout,like most people they do not have a sympathetic ear concerning the disease.how about FMLA leave,i dont think they can dicipline you for taking time off as long as you dont take advantage of it.heck,i know people that have FMLA for the most minor conditions.