Cause and effect
In my case, the cause is heredity. Too many males in my family havesuffered gout for too many generations for this not to be strongevidence that genetics plays a role.
The effects of this gout are directly linked to behavior/consumption in my case. Though I do occasionally get the “attackout of nowhere”, there are things that are 100% guaranteed toprovoke an attack. (By attack I mean one or more joints that are soswollen the skin shines like chrome, are apple red, and radiateenough heat to warm a tortilla, that sends jolts of pain up my spinewith every heartbeat).
I am absolutely going to get a gout attack withing 24 hours ofconsuming virtually any quantity of beer, wine, or oysters. I haveproven this to myself time and time again, because I love all ofthese things and it was HELL to give them up (especially OystersRockefeller washed down with Shiner Bock). I refused to accept theloss of these divine treasures, so I went back, time and again- eachtime with the same result- A nasty gout attack. Sometimes I willnow take the maximum dose of colchicine and “purge” myself with tonsof pure water for a day or two in advance of a planned “OysterRockefeller treat” or a “two day drunk” just because I love it somuch it is worth the effort. It makes my wife nuts- she just can’tunderstand why I can’t just exist on bread and water and be happy.
I can and do keep my gout pretty much in check with dietmodification and colchicine. As stated in previous posts, I WILLget on allopurinol in the next few weeks, and hopefully be able toindulge my passions more frequently again.
Many of you in this group are far more health conscious than I am.I would literally rather live a shorter life gout free than a longerlife managing it. I have no problem consuming narcotics, NSAIDS,colchicine, allopurinol, steroids, whatever in whatever quantity ittakes to alleviate my symptoms. For me it’s not the quantity oflife, but the quality.
I am at peace with my abstinence from beer and wine- I’ll neverconsume either again. I’ll make that concession. But I will NEVERgive up cheesy foods, oysters, shrimp, chorizo, steak, or curedmeats. I am a cooking school graduate with a passion for rich food-it is part of who I am.
As usual, I got long-winded in my post and point, which is DIET IS AFACTOR at least in “triggering” attacks in my case.