First Attack

Posted , 6 users are following.

Experienced my first ( and I hope last!) attack of gout right out of the blue last Wed. evening.No sleep at all that night. Foot was so painful. By morning a bit better but hobbled all day. Saw GP Thursday and she confirmed my suspicion. Cannot take anti inflmmatories but was offered Piroxicam gel which I used three times.By Friday pain all gone and felt better than I've felt for some weeks. Today felt fine.

I read the dietry no noes with sadness. I love mushrooms, shellfish, asparagus and, interestingly ( maybe ) had indulged in all of these twice in days prior to the attack. I also read contradictory advice re alcohol. I take good care ( actually measure ) not to exceed latest recommended levels but do enjoy a scotch in the evenings.

I do realise from reading other posts that I have not much to complain about but am wondering just how careful I need to be re food and drink if I am to avoid another attack. There is such a thing as quality of life to consider.

Would be grateful for all comments/advice/experiences

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • Posted

    Wow you were lucky. My first attack was 22 days a go and still hobbling around seen Dr 5 times in that time.
  • Posted

    Well Betty

    First the good news. Many people have just one attack of gout and it doesn't reoccur. Indeed until you have had two attacks in 12 months doctors don't consider you have gout. If you just keep up your ingestion of water, you may be okay. Indeed, as a woman you have a much higher chance of not getting a second attack than men.

    I note that you are taking Piroxicam (I assume for arthritis). My first thought is - could you not apply this to your foot to reduce swelling? My second thought is Piroicam produces

    decrease in urine output or decrease in urine concentrating ability --- this in itself could easily cause gout so I suggest you discuss this with you doctor.

    If you start to get gout regularly it may be advisable to take a urate lowering medication in which case my experience is you can pretty much forget the dietary restrictions in my experience.

    Good luck and good health.

    • Posted

      Sorry misunderstood about the Piroxicam gel - reading too quick.

      Never heard of it being used on gout but it's a good idea.

      I've never used rub on Ibufren gel either - that's probably a good idea too. Anyone tried it?

  • Posted

    In my experience there are no rules, even doctors seem to disagree on what's worse. I'm pretty good with wine and used to drink beer until Coeliac but spirits are deadly. I've pretty much given up all the foods over the years but like to keep my slack for a drink now and then (wine), Hopefully this is your one and only. I take Colchisine for a bad attack but it generally takes a couple of weeks to kill it off. I would say just cut back a little on everything and see how you go for a year or so. I've been told that every subsequent attack starts in the same place and that it is invariably as bad or worse than the last but this isn't necessarily true. Yeah, maintaining quality of life is tricky.

    • Posted

      It is not the case that every attack starts in the same place, although 60% of first attacks begin in the big toe (podagra). I personally have experienced attacks beginning in both feet (I mean different ones), or starting in the thumbs (that hurts).

      (One thing I forgot to say to Betty - definitely cut out of your diet high fructose corn syrup, fructose (except in natural fruit), fruit juices (inc natural fruit juices) and as much sucrose as possible.)

  • Posted

    Hi, sorry to hear, but, also sorry- there is no quality of life with gout attack. Drink and eat what you like versus pain - sorry - what you like has gotta go. Good luck, go to rheumatologist, hope drugs work for you.
  • Posted

    Yup, agree fructose is the worst, in everything, gotta go. Weird, I know.
  • Posted

    My advice is to start with a plain diet then introduce other foods slowly to try and pinpoint your triggers.
  • Posted

    For those of you who live near a Kroger chain. The brand "simple truth" has no HFCS in any product.

  • Posted

    Many thanks to everyone for the helpful replies.

    Looking at my diet which, on the face of it, looks pretty good I'm surprised I've survived so long ( 85years! )without a previous attack.

    No takeaways. Always cook from scratch. Plenty of fruit and veg. Permitted limits of alcohol. Never been overweight. ( 5 ft 4/ 8 stone 10 ) Still grow much of own veg. Make my own bread  I feel indignant that Marmite, prawns, asparagus, orange juice, mushrooms have turned on me.

    I wonder how many other healthy eaters out there are storing up painful uric acid chrystals?

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