Gout Diet Blog

High blood pressure, hypertension, is associated withgout. Moreover they can actually induce high bloodpressure in rats with high doses of uric acid.

High blood pressure is also associated with heavymetals, particularly Pb. So is gout.

Yet try getting quacks to test you lead levels if youhave either disease much less both.

The immune system is a threat detection and threatassessment system. It is more than just ’self versusnon-self’. For instance, anthrax is certainly not’self’ but is small and simple and is not viewed bythe immune system as a great threat.

Many vaccines are effective only because a large,complex molecule is attached and the immune systemhaving been “hit over the head” learns to treat thelarge molecule and the smaller one as ‘threats’.

What used to be ‘Immunology, Microbiology and GeneralPathology’ in medical school is now usually onehumongous course known as “host defense”.

If psoriasis is viewed solely as a dermatologycondition, little progress will be made. If if isviewed as a cutaneous manifestation of the underlying’host defense’ battle that is being waged, progress ismore likely.

Just as I was unable to get any testing for Pasturellamulticida when I had my intense gout pain, you willprobably be unable to get adequate testing for yourpsoriasis. I actually obtained petri dishes and mediapreparation kits including MacConkey’s Agar Agar and Idid my own testing for P. multocida. My apartment isnot suitable for media preparation or culturing. Iwould have preferred a medical laboratory. The testsare not cheap, it would have been less than twohundred dollars. The doctors would not order thetests. I had to do it myself.

Anyone had any experience of getting gout after being on ‘waterpills’for a number of years?

Gout is a form of arthritis.Gout is a cdd..(crystal depositiondisease). There is usually no mistaking gout for arthritis.Or viceversa.Gout has it’s own symptoms..A true and full blown gout attackis unique.BUT this only applies to early stage gout attacks..usuallybefore any arthritic problems.This is one very good and strong reasonwhy more and more experts like to deal with gout..early on..withdrugs..right now.Deal with this..BEFORE the patient develops otherjoint problems.This waythe gout is basically dealt with/undercontrol..and any arthritic problems can be basically treatedindependantly.Arthritic problems are not usuallysudden/crippling/unrelenting..while gout attacks are not usuallygradual..slow to develop. The problems usually arise when one has had numerous goutattacks..and have not treated them properly..with a uric acid controldrug.The gout attacks may have damaged the joint/area..leading tobasically permanent..unrepairable damage.This is not uncommon.Aperson may then have discomfort..from the joint..because of permanentdamage.Arthritis is known to set in to previously damaged joints.Uricacid deposits are known to attach themselves to a previouslydamaged/rough surface.So we now have a joint that is damaged fromgout..now beset with arthritis..with uric acid deposits..anyirritation from the damaged joint..can call a wbc attack intoplay..while the wbc’s are at it..they may as well..seeing as how theyare there working..get into a bit of a tussle with uric acidcrystals.What basically started as a bit of arthritic pain..can nowbecause of the presence of uric acid crystals end up being a fullblown gout attack.These kind of attacks are extremely difficult foreven experts to deal with.The patient is left sufferring andbewildered..knowing they have not done anything to contribute to agout attack.Often they fiddle around with over the counter med’s forthe arthritic attack..but it won’t go away.Off to theexpert..mayberight to the colchicne..it pretty much only works ongout and is a good test for gout.Sometimes the colchicneworks..hopefully..at least eliminating the gout attack..anddiminishing the pain.Other times..sure the colchicne is dealing withthe gout..but the real problem is the arthritis pain caused by goutdamage.Sometimes another drug..usually a NSAID..often a large dosageis used to deal with the problem.I dont’ agree with thistreatment..because while it is basically an antinflammatory..and cansometimes deal with both the gout and the arthritis at the sametime..this does not deal with the gout..only masking it..

Similar treatments?The medical/scientific community views..prettymuch the genarl viewpoints if you read enough.

Gout can be treated 5-15% with diet..the other 85-95% with a uricacid control drug. Arthritis..diet makes no difference.

At the early stages of gout attacks..and as well as somearthritis..some drugs..mainly NSAIDS will work for both…for somepeople.

I know that drugs are generally not Rx’d during anacute attack but are instead initiated after an attacksubsides.

However, I wonder if the people on this list wouldagree that it is proper to only initiate drug therapyto lower uric acid levels after the second attack ofgout, but not after the first attack of gout?

I find advice like ‘don’t eat too many purines’ useless in anypractical sense; how many is ‘too many’?

Are there any techniqes etc. for self-monitoring of uric acid levelsso that one can monitor the effectiveness of dietary control techniques?

Also, is there any way of working out / measuring what the criticalcontentration is for causing preciptation of uric acid crystals in anyparticular individual?

In other words, how can I adopt a ’scientific’ approach toself-management of uric acid levels. I feel it ought to be possibleto have some kind of daily / weekly metric such as “Today: 70% ofcritical level, yesterday 55%, last week 45%” and so on.

I suppose I’m looking for a Gout equivalent of a diabetic’s bloodsugar self-assessment kit.

Is there such a thing? Could there be?

sorry to hear of the loss, Glad you are better,, I swing a hammertoo. Martial arts ,photography, music,surf/state boarder etc .I doall my own repairs around the house(cheap skate).dont ride a bikethough.Yes it is tough putting all the fun stuff on the back burner.It is a personal quest for me to get better(gout Free)blood pressurea little high from gout also. I wish us all luck (every gout suffererin the world )Another question for everyone Where is the lowestpercentage of gout suffers in the world ? I think (if memory serves)that Polynesions have the highest per capita

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.

is there a LARGER component to some people that want some sort ofJUSTIFICATION..camaraderie..turn their gout into some sort of selfrighteous martyr campaign..the misery loves company..and OFTEN goeslooking for it..finding others so that they can ALL sufffer asone..like some brotherhood..oh me and my gout..can’t do that/eatthat/drink that..got gout..gout is acting up AGAIN..

Some people come just a little too well armed..TOO QUICK withtheir rebuttals..almost like they came with ALL “THE” answers..andALL they wanted was someone/group..to agree..CRY IN THEIR BEERtogether..like a little too quick to paint themselves as beingattacked..a little too quick to have their defenses ready.. Shakesperean “The lady doth protest too much”..

I mean..someone that has complained about “Their Gout”..forEVER..they get a ticket for the “A” train..they get shut up..plainand simple..for almost 100% of gout sufferers./they get on thistrain..and it becomes one of..”Now you don’t talk so loud”.. Just logic..you have gout you complain..you take allopurinol..NOWyou have NOTHING to complain about..

I REALLY LIKE..how they have to take a few pot shots..make a fewderogatory remarks..persoanl attacks..AS they leave..”OHHhhOOoo…pleeeze stop that..it sort of tickles..OHHOOooo..I like that..do itsome more…”

AND..SOB sob..I am taking 2 or 3 other members with me..BOOHOO..a few emailed me..

I’ve been doing this gout thing for a LONG time..sure I have hada few emails that were nasty/critical..quit..seen a few at the group..

Take those few emails..the ones soaked with tears..moribund selfpity..loathing? maybe just sheer stubborness..stupidity..oh no I saida bad thing..OOHHHhh bring a fetching wench to spank me..print themon some tissue..have a good commiserating cry..

Me..I’ll take the hundreds and hundreds I’ve received/seen overthe years..from people who have..HAD A NEW LIFE HANDED TOTHEM..thanks to allopurinol..these people GORGING again at the troughof life..

Those emails..they’ll be printed on INDESTRUCTIBLEcloth!..they’ll be SOAKED with LIFE.. PINTS!! of the ol Guinness..quarts of vodka..bottles of the best VIN’..kegs/drums of rum..flasksof whiskey..gallons of gin..there’ll be barbeques..MEAT cooked byFIRE!..chile hotter than Dante’s Inferno..

I’ll help/supervise..we’ll take those emails..we’ll have tugs ofwars..we’ll WRING THEM OUT..AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN..others..ME maywant to lay under the wringing out..we’ll FIGHT! over the last DROPOF LIFE LEFT IN THEM!..

and when it’s over….

WE’LL FILL THE CUP AGAIN!!!!!!!

Gentleman..bow your heads to the others that WON’T join us..WEWILL SHARE THEIRS!!..pity they won’t join us..

Gentlemen:my brothers

RAISE YOUR GLASSES HIGH!!!!

Allopurinol. Allopurinol (Lupurin, Zyloprim) is very effective inreducing high levels of uric acid and may be helpful for patientswith uric acid stones. It should be noted that allopurinol will notprevent calcium stones from forming. There is also a slight risk forxanthine stones with this drug.

The drug’s side effects, experienced by 3% to 5% of patients, includediarrhea, headache, and fever. More severe complications includeblood disorders that may produce fatigue, bleeding, or bruising.About 2% of patients experience an allergic reaction to allopurinolthat causes a rash. In rare cases, the rash can become severe andwidespread enough to be life threatening. Allergic individuals whohad experienced only a mild rash may be able to build up theirtolerance for the drug by undergoing a desensitization process. Thedrug may also increase the risk for cataracts.

Some patients experience an allergic reaction to allopurinol, whichcan be fatal. Because allopurinol reduces uric acid levels rapidly,it may trigger an attack of gout in susceptible people. To preventthis, patients should take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID)for two or three months. One study recommended indomethacin, althoughmany NSAIDs are available. (Aspirin, which is also an NSAID, shouldnot be taken, since it increases uric acid levels.) Patients shoulddiscuss the appropriate drug with their physician.