Gout and possible Tophi

[Williamsmum]

Hi there everyone

I am posting about my husband.

He gets gout attacks periodically (which he has managed until now with diet and exercise, only getting attacks when his routine is messed up and he accidentally eats more gouty foods than his exercise allows for, if that makes any sense!).

He also developed a strange rash last summer that has got worse over time - it looks like inflamed insect bites on his arms and legs, worse by the elbows and knees and spreading up and down his arms and legs.

The GP thinks the rash is tophi and has put him on a course of Naproxen, he says to lower his uric acid levels. After 5 weeks on Naproxen he had another blood test which shows the uric acid levels have dropped and he has now prescribed colchicine to take alongside the Naproxen with another blood test after a week, again the doc says this is to lower uric acid levels.

Does this sound right?

I have been googling, looking at the drug inserts and NICE guidelines, and it looks like the Naproxen and Colchicine will help manage gout pain but have no effect on blood uric acid.

I'm also concerned that we don't know the spots are actually tophi as my husband hasn't had any kind of swab or biopsy done on them.

From what I've read, he only needs to manage uric acid levels if the spots actually are uric acid deposits and we don't know for sure what they are....

Has anyone got any experience of this?

I am wondering if my husband should ask for a hospital referral?

Which department would he need for gout and possible tophi?

Thank you!

[Heacdwrecked]

Hi I have had Gout and know how incredibly painful it can be. I eat almost none of the foods that contribute to Gout yet, I have been affected quite badly by it in the past.

I stopped drinking alcohol six months ago and thankfully have only had one bout in that time. I stopped taking antinflamatories in January as I was undergoing surgery and was advised to do so and that is what caused the Gout bout on this occasion. I have not had the spots. I would ask for a referral I think a Rheumatologist is the person you would visit for this. I was given a preventative medication which I do not take I prefer to sort it out myself. I hope it gets sorted out soon.

Take care

[savanna1]

I had a gout attack oh the pain I sympathize with anyone who has had an attack my dr prescribed me allopurinol 100mg to lower my acid eight month ago and touch wood I have been fine then I noticed a dry patch of red skin just above my ankle looks very painful but isnt can get itchy but I think I have tried every cream on it and its still there went to skin clinic she said oh its dry skin I could have told her that anyway waiting for second opinion just wondering if anybody else take this medication and had an unexplained rash