Another Newbie

[NigelPolitzer]

Just recovering from my first ever attack of Gout. It's the final straw as far as I'm concerned. It's time to change my eating habits, get more exercise and enjoy my body instead of fighting it!

[nteapea]

Welcome to the forum. I am sorry to hear about your health problems I understand that gout is very painful- poor you. We are all trying to achieve that dame healthy lifestyle and everybody is so supportive. There is a newbie link in the pinned posts with lots of helpful information including the Monday weigh in which you are just in time for. I wish you enormous success in achieving your goals

[moreless Administrator 7 stone]

Hi and welcome Nigel

Take a look at the Pinned Posts section, to the right of your screen (bottom, if you're using a mobile) and have a look at the Welcome Newbies thread.

Look at the Topics section beneath that, for posts that could answer any questions you may have. Consider joining any, or all, of our challenges, as they're fun and motivating.

Join us for the Monday Group weigh-in. If you follow, Zest and myself you'll be notified when we post the threads. The latest weigh-in thread can always be found in the Events section, to the right of the home page.

This is the link to today's, so you can strike while the iron is hot!

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

Be active on the forum, as that's where we exchange ideas and get our daily dose of motivation and inspiration.

Wishing you all the very best

[Zest Healthy BMI]

Hi Nigel,

Welcome! I hope you're feeling better after having Gout - and good luck with your plans to change your eating habits and get more exercise - hope you'll join in with the many things going on in the forum, and hope you'll have a great week.

Lowcal

[Cake-Dreamer]

Well done you! I think that actually making the decision to change is half the battle

[kantara71]

That is not good Nigel. As a fellow gout sufferer I can sympathise with you. As this is your first attack can you find out what may have triggered it? I am sure you will do a lot of reading up on the condition now that you have had an attack. It is also an hereditary condition and my two sons, both in their thirties, also suffer.

I cut down on pulses and beer. Both of my sons identified that Peroni beer sets theirs off too! Also since I lost weight I found that I could ease off of the medication but not be able to give it up completely. I take Allopurinol 100mg and that does keep it at bay.

I suggest you go to your GP and ask for a blood test to determine your levels of Uric acid, gout sufferers have a higher level than most, and then take it from there.

It is controllable with both medication and diet, you just have to see what works for you.

Regards - John

[Itsbab]

Hi Nigel and welcome to the forum a lovely informative supportive place to be.

My dad is on medication for gout and about 5 years ago I started having little episodes of it. It came out of no where and after about 5 attacks lasting about 2 days each it went away and so far hasn't returned since. I looked into everything and couldn't pin point a trigger as I wasn't eating anything different. For me it affected my knees/thighs twice but the other 3 times it was my hands and I could actually feel it coming on. My sympathies are with you on this I have never had anything so painful even child birth is preferable. I did start to take Cider Vinegar tablets for about 4 years after and haven't had an attack since. Fingers crossed. If you can find your trigger it will be amazing for you but alas I couldn't find mine.

Good luck I don't want to be a damp squid but my dad has never been overweight and was always active, but hopefully loosing weight will help you. 👍😊

Best wishes Bev

[DartmoorDumpling Restart Feb 2024]

My partner has had infrequent attacks of gout over the last 5 years; he is not overweight and has researched foods containing high levels of purines which increase uric acid levels. The other aspect to note is that if you become dehydrated for any reason, that will make an attack more likely.

We have noted that excessive coffee drinking (which makes you pee more) is also a contributory factor!

Drink more water, watch out for seafood, mushrooms, cauliflower and offal - all can be eaten but only in moderation. The body will normally rid itself of uric acid, a byproduct of the breakdown of purines, but a gout sufferer sometimes has a build up of crystals in the joints if uric acid levels get too high, and there is insufficient water in the body to flush them out.

[feelgood41]

Welcome Nigel

This site is good for shaking off bad habits, I am trying too to shake off biscuits and choc

extra exercise is a good idea