Gout

[onthescrapheap]

Gout. Ouch. Recently had New Aortic valve, double heart bypass and Pericardiectomy. Immobilised for 9 weeks in hospital. Have had to learn to walk again. Now I am on my second bout of gout and the pain is unbearable. It’s in my ankle so laid up again - I’m a farmers wife and am not used to not being able to do anything. It’s caused by all the medication I am on after surgery. Anyone have any ideas to prevent another case of it. Thanks in advance

[Hidden]

Ouch alright, I'd put it up there with Kidney Stones and OHS for pain.

GP originally prescribed me Colchicine, but that was replaced with Allopurinol long term. Meds have more or less kept it at bay for 4 years.

Best to contact your GP.

[Doodlebug63 in reply to Hidden]

onthescrapheap and Hidden my husband was the same. Couldn’t tolerate Colchicine (dreadful stomach upset and had to stop) but that was replaced with Allopurinol, which has improved the bouts. I agree speak to your GP and ask if you can have a different medication.

[Hidden]

I had gout once a few years ago and you are right in ouch ! It’s unbearable isn’t it , what I was told is keep the feet up and cut out all soda drinks and red meat , I had it bad for about three weeks, hopefully you will feel a bit better soon x

[Blackcatsooty]

Gout is something you have or not have. The flair ups are the issue. Head19611 has the right medicines,.I got two flairs (or is it flares) a month or so post AVR . Not supposed to use arms, to allow sternum to heal and not able to use Legs due to the gout. A distressing time.

Gout is in your blood for life. Medicines might trigger the flares, but I haven’t had a flare for the last year.

In the meantime, Try keeping your foot raised and place a cold flannel, perhaps with ice, over the gout pain centres.

It will pass soon.

I feel for you.

Colin

[Dralex]

You have my sympathies, I suffered gout in one knee earlier this year, very much ouch! I was being trialled on ticagrelor at the time and this was promptly withdrawn by my consultant as gout is a known side effect for some people.

Just wondering if perhaps you too are on this medication; if so suggest a chat with your GP or consultant.

[MelB51]

I have had gout a few times and I literally cried with the pain and I just couldn’t walk. I was on a course of steroids which eventually ‘cured’ the gout. I say cured but it is not a disease in itself, it is when uric acid crystals are laid down in the affected joint. As I don’t like taking steroids unless absolutely necessary, now, as soon as I feel a twinge of pain, I get my foot up and we treat it with ice packs, bought especially for this purpose! This seems to work and minimises the additional medication! My GP did prescribe me a course of steroids as an emergency supply though, which I have in my medication bag!

[Barle]

You also have my sympathies. I have had gout and it is very, very painful. It is worth having a look at : ukgoutsociety.org/ for advice.

For treatment, I was prescribed an anti inflammatory (Naproxen). I also had to immobilise the joint and and apply a reusable cold pack to reduce the swelling.

The Gout Society have sone useful self help tips to avoid a reoccurrence:

• Drink lots of fluids (e.g. 8-10 glasses of water each day) to prevent dehydration

• Avoid binge eating and drinking

• Reduce consumption of alcohol, particularly beer, lager and fortified wines and also sugar sweetened drinks

• Avoid foods rich in purines particularly red meat, offal and seafood

• If you are overweight, try shedding a few pounds gradually. Avoid crash dieting and fasting as this can lead to uric acid retention by the kidneys

Some people also recommend drinking diluted sour cherry juice, although the science for this is not established. You can buy Montmorency cherry juice online and in health stores. I did this: if nothing else, it made it more interesting to drink a lot of fluids every day!

I wish you well in your recovery.