Gout
Allupurinol seems to work very well, but of course you have to take it every day of your life.
Some say avoiding booze and certain fish helps. (? Mussels)
Don't know of any alternative medication that works.
How often are you suffering attacks?
Some say avoiding booze and certain fish helps. (? Mussels)
Don't know of any alternative medication that works.
How often are you suffering attacks?
Psychophysiological entity
I'm a gout sufferer and yes, I was given a stern warning to take Allopurinol for the rest of my life.
I didn't know what was causing the pain, but it improved within 24 hours. The next attack was when I was 40. I got off the aircraft, declined a ride in the engineers van and set off across 200 yards of tarmac. I made it 100 yards. Nothing could have made me walk any further. I was off for a week with that one. Finally it was diagnosed.
I tried coming off the med when I was c 48, dunno why. I paid the price...carpet slippers to the pub for a month.
Someone on this forum was kind enough to give me a briefing, and the main point for me was that it had started at age 30. If I understand correctly, this implies that it is primarily hereditary with the diet just making things worse.
For thems in the US, the good news is that one can obtain 'generic' Allopurinol for about $4 a month.
Edit to say that in the UK your GP will have your Uric acid monitored and while I'm here I have a yearly trip to an outfit that offers a detailed checkup (ECG, prostate, various blood factors. ) all for $50.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uric_acid
I didn't know what was causing the pain, but it improved within 24 hours. The next attack was when I was 40. I got off the aircraft, declined a ride in the engineers van and set off across 200 yards of tarmac. I made it 100 yards. Nothing could have made me walk any further. I was off for a week with that one. Finally it was diagnosed.
I tried coming off the med when I was c 48, dunno why. I paid the price...carpet slippers to the pub for a month.
Someone on this forum was kind enough to give me a briefing, and the main point for me was that it had started at age 30. If I understand correctly, this implies that it is primarily hereditary with the diet just making things worse.
For thems in the US, the good news is that one can obtain 'generic' Allopurinol for about $4 a month.
Edit to say that in the UK your GP will have your Uric acid monitored and while I'm here I have a yearly trip to an outfit that offers a detailed checkup (ECG, prostate, various blood factors. ) all for $50.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uric_acid
Last edited by Loose rivets; 19th Oct 2007 at 15:12.
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: The Deep South (Sussex)
Posts: 783
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
First diagnosed with gout at age 30 and placed on 300mg allopurinol daily at age 32. Now in my late sixties and never had a twinge since.
....but can still remember how b....y painful it was!
....but can still remember how b....y painful it was!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: asia
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
gout
I've had 4 serious attacks this year already. On two occasions had to go for injections at emergency at 2am. Have tried Allopurinol, with limited success.
Back to the specialist next week for another try.
Thanks for the info so far much appreciated
Back to the specialist next week for another try.
Thanks for the info so far much appreciated
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Too far from the equator
Posts: 745
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
First attack of gout aged about 43 ( my Dad used to suffer badly ) 48 hours after arriving in KL to work in 92. The surfeit of prawns did not help I am sure , but have now learned to try and avoid getting dehydrated for a start.
I have kept Voltaren pills handy ever since , and pop one as soon as twinge starts. Tried Zyloric on daily basis but this can raise your Uric acid levels if already high.
Came across a feature on gout on the BBC website saying that regular coffee drinkers suffer less so have been doing this and have improved mightily this year. Strangely , I cut coffee out about when gout attacks started !!Thing to remember is that coffee can dehydrate too , so keep that water pouring down the throat especially while flying - the ultimate dehydrater.
good luck.
I have kept Voltaren pills handy ever since , and pop one as soon as twinge starts. Tried Zyloric on daily basis but this can raise your Uric acid levels if already high.
Came across a feature on gout on the BBC website saying that regular coffee drinkers suffer less so have been doing this and have improved mightily this year. Strangely , I cut coffee out about when gout attacks started !!Thing to remember is that coffee can dehydrate too , so keep that water pouring down the throat especially while flying - the ultimate dehydrater.
good luck.
Psychophysiological entity
Any doctors available? I'm confused by this statement.
Zyloric is a brand name for Allopurinol. My understanding of this is that you take this is to reduce your Uric acid level.
However, the specialist will I'm sure, test for the levels in your blood.
One of the main points about Allopurinol is that it takes time to make a change. Starting it again after a break could even cause a flare-up of the symptoms. From memory Feldene (Piroxicam) is or was used for the flare-ups.
Tried Zyloric on daily basis but this can raise your Uric acid levels if already high.
Zyloric is a brand name for Allopurinol. My understanding of this is that you take this is to reduce your Uric acid level.
However, the specialist will I'm sure, test for the levels in your blood.
One of the main points about Allopurinol is that it takes time to make a change. Starting it again after a break could even cause a flare-up of the symptoms. From memory Feldene (Piroxicam) is or was used for the flare-ups.
Aluminum Tubing Inspector
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Costa Geriatrica
Posts: 1,000
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've had one bad attack this year and was prescribed Dicoflax. You are allowed to take 6 per day as and when you want and they work wonders. Any twinge now, I take a couple and it seems to work!
Cheers
HR
Cheers
HR
Psychophysiological entity
Taking a 'fix', may get you going again, but the whole point of taking a drug to reduce uric acid is to protect you from a slew of problems in the long term.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Too far from the equator
Posts: 745
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well , can ANYBODY claim to have been gout-free since they started whatever treatment ? Or is the best we can hope for is that we reduce the number of attacks and /or have a good wheeze for knocking it on the head ? ( Not the toe.....doh ! )
Keep taking the madzi
Keep taking the madzi
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I feel for you. As a long time gout king I know what you are going through. Sticking with allopurinol is hard for the first two years because any attack is made worse by the drug. My advice is to stick with it until you are better and then stay on it for good. I held out for as long as I could before starting on it but I haven't got a clue as to why, I gave up sport, every time I tried to do something I would think about a gout attack and whether it would inconvenience me too much etc etc. Forget all the herbal stuff and get a consultant to get the prescription pad out. I did 400mg a day for a year, now on 300. Doc considering dropping me to 100 cos hardly any uric acid to be found in me at all (alright with me). Got a life now. Best of luck.
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,082
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Is the gout diagnosis definate?
There are other things around that can "mimic" the condition.
Which may explain the lack of response to the gout medication.
Good luck.
PS the idea is to prevent the gout attack in the first place, not treat the attack once it occurs - it is then too late.
There are other things around that can "mimic" the condition.
Which may explain the lack of response to the gout medication.
Good luck.
PS the idea is to prevent the gout attack in the first place, not treat the attack once it occurs - it is then too late.
Join Date: Feb 1998
Location: Formerly of Nam
Posts: 1,595
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Years ago one overnight I pigged out on the thickest steaks while guzzlin gallons of red wine. Hosties got me to me room and shoved me (in a coma) into bed and left (I certainly wasnt fit for anything).
In the late morning (apart from a wompin hangover) my big left toe was sore and aching as hell. Got up and couldnt bloodey walk for the pain - thought Id slept with me toe pushed out of wack. The day wore on and it got worse and I thought I needed crutches! Went to a quack round the corner who said I was sufferin from "rich mans disease". Im not rich so asked what the hell is that? - GOUT!
I thought "gout" was somethin old codgers get in there kidneys or gall-bladder or somethin. Anyway took the meds which got me ok to fly back to base late that night. Since then Ive never mixed meat and booze at the same time and never had an attack since.
In the late morning (apart from a wompin hangover) my big left toe was sore and aching as hell. Got up and couldnt bloodey walk for the pain - thought Id slept with me toe pushed out of wack. The day wore on and it got worse and I thought I needed crutches! Went to a quack round the corner who said I was sufferin from "rich mans disease". Im not rich so asked what the hell is that? - GOUT!
I thought "gout" was somethin old codgers get in there kidneys or gall-bladder or somethin. Anyway took the meds which got me ok to fly back to base late that night. Since then Ive never mixed meat and booze at the same time and never had an attack since.