Gout Diet Blog

I went to the doctor today and he told me not to take “allopurinol”during an episode of pain from my Gout. To only drink a lot of waterand take pain medicine. I have read on this site that you shouldstart or continue taking it during a painful episode. So has otherdoctors told you all to take it during an episode?I went off of my allopurinol and changed my diet and my uric acidwent down to 6.2. I stopped eating meat, shell fish, spinach,cauliflower, and mushrooms. So when my doctor and I were talkingabout me stopping allopurinol he said do not start taking it if youhave a painful episode wait until it is over.

Allopurinol is the only prescription drug that I take so it is easy forme to remember how much it costs.

The first time I needed to have a prescription filled I went to Walmart.Makes sense, right? - their prices are better than anywhere else. As itturned out the store I went to was out of it and the druggist suggestedthat I go to K-mart for the best price. It was about $10.

By the time I needed some more a month later K-mart had closed thatstore and sold its pharmacy records to Winn Dixie, a local supermarketchain, so I went to Winn Dixie and the price there was about $11.

The third month I decided to try Walmart again and I was charged about$15. I thought that was a lot but I had already ordered it, I was out ofit, and I didn’t want to have to do any price comparisons.

This time I went back to Walmart and asked the clerk how much it wouldcost. $18. “Prices sometimes go up.” I told him I’ll shop around first.

I called Winn Dixie and the price came up $9 and change. Just to makesure they didn’t make a mistake I called Ekart Drugs and their price was$11 and change.

I called Walmart back and asked why their prescription would cost twicewhat it would be in a nearby pharmacy in a supermarket. The druggisttold me that it is because their drugs are better.

That gave me a good laugh but it also told me a lot about Walmartsupposedly having the lowest prices. Signs in their stores say they willmatch any price but I guess that doesn’t apply to the drug department.

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

o allopurinol does not do anything to the uric acid you already havein your system.

Then why is is effective on gout?

Because it stops the formation of new uric acid. Remember, your bodyis in a steady state of digesting food to make urate and digestingitself to make urate and this urate load is usually handled by thekidney and excreted when it is made. In us gout sufferers, forwhatever reason, and there could be a multiple set of reasons, theexcretion part, does not work as it should. Some people have aelevated rate of making the uric acid, but even these people end uphaving excess uric acid in their system and must get rid of it.

Thus, allopurinol stops the production of new uric acid. It doesnothing for the removal or breakdown of the uric acid you alreadyhave.

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!!!!

My doctor confirmed I had gout about six weeks ago. I am 34 yo andhave binge drinked at least once a week since the age of 22. I alsoweightlift for the last 16 years and weigh a healthy 280 at 6′6″. Mygout started in my right ankle and over the course of three weeksmoved around the same ankle (in and out of pain). During diagnosesuric acid was 9.3. I have had readings of 7.7 and 8.1 since stoppingbinge drinking. Indomethacin did nothing but cause stomach problems,found relief with Ibuprofen 800mg 4x daily. Doc also prescribedcolchicine but I was too terrified to use after reading it was apoison that messed with your DNA at the mitochondria. Why wouldanyone use this stuff?

Now that you have a little history, my doc says to wait until youhave three attacks in one year before starting allopurinol. I havealso read the same info on other gout related sites. He also statesthat allopurinol is not prescribed “lightly”. Has anyone’s kidneyfunction declined or other metabolic changes taken place fromallopurinol? I am worried because my creatinine levels tend to behigh at times from 1.8 to 1.3, average being 1.5 (doc says probablydue to muscle mass). How nephrotoxic is this med? I also noticeArnold says to not wait on taking allopurinol because gout willreturn stronger and more frequent. What should I do? Should I waitor should I tell doc about more attacks so he will prescribe?

could s.o. please explain why it is so bad to drink coffee? Does it doanything bad to the joints when one suffers from gout? Or is it just bad ingeneral?

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.

lowers uric acid levels other than allopurinol?I read sound waves candestroy kidney stones , anyone ever try this on feet?Steroids scareme and i am not a weight lifter.Some growth hormone steroids (fromMexico )are actually taken from dead bodies and injected into healthylive bodies ,scary shit . There are many of you who say diets dontwork ,, But my diet , stress and injury will throw me into anexcrutiating attack . I will mention Chanca piedra (Bhumy Amalaki)once again,, I take it , does anyone else ?There are way too manyfactors to pin point what will work for all and we are alldifferent .I am on a low carb high protein diet ,, with probioticsto regulate my candida buildup.. My Heavy metals are high,, otheressential minerals are low . I havent taken any pain killers at allduring my last attack( who can say this also), At the onset dosed upwith antioxidants, Ate apples , salads ,, water (reverse osmosis)detox teas ,, I noticed i was able to handle the pain,, soaking myfoot in apple cider vinegar made it swell to twice the size , Butstill not throbbing , I felt was drawing out acid ,, still had toendure the rest of attack,, All i know my body is attacking my foot,,Could I have a pseudo gout?I want the crystals out and lower my uricacid without allopurinol.Feel free to bash me if you wish to say “You are setting yourself up for misery”Ive been through it before bymyself ,, But until my doctor is stricken with gout , I dont feelevery thought out of her mouth is some golden nugget.She wasnt evenaware amalgams were 70 per cent mercury, Knew nothing of heavy metaltoxins , couldnt even direct me to a diet that some other web pagedidnt contradict.. So dont quit searching , there is not one cure forall .. the anti venom for snake bites ,, comes from snakes . Dont beso intolerant ,, doctors are merely practicing medicine . I havenever gotten a job “Practicing Carpentry”