New gout sufferer

montyw

Hi,

I'm sure I should have posted a quick hello in the 'introduce yourself' section, but I feel the need to post as I have just been informed by my Doctor that I have gout.

Having briefly read about others on the forum I can identify others that are much worse conditions than I, but I'm feeling really down about my diagnosis.

A little about myself. I am a 44 year old male that has always lead a very active lifestyle competing in; swimming, running, cycling and enjoying weight training. I thought I was as fit as a 'butchers' dog

Over the last three years I have had problems with my feet and first diagnosis was plantar fasciitis - but recently the pain in my feet/ankles and knees that was associated with inflammation led to the diagnosis of gout.

I am finding particularly difficult to find out what types of protein I can eat. The reason I ask is that I supplement my diet with whey protein and oily fish such as sardines and tuna. Apparently these are known to aggravate gout in some.

I also supplement with glucosamine sulphate also not recommended for some with gout.

Can anyone advise me on a suitable protein supplement for a gout sufferer?

Many thanks,

Monty

elnafinn

Hi Monty

Welcome to the forum. You do not have to introduce yourself on the Hello section! Anway, there is plenty of time for you to do that should you so wish at a later date.

Sorry to hear about the gout. I bet you don't like that much at all!

It is recommended to drink at least 8 glasses a day - well we all should, shouldn't we, or that is what we are often told. and strictly no alcohol :roll:

Not good on the protein front is it? meat, fish and even beans and lentils, should be eaten only in moderation. You can eat things like tofu, low fat milk products and peanut butter.
Bit of controversy over eggs I think.

Fruit is meant to be good ie strawberries and cherries......

I am sure you know that anyway and I hope others answer your posting with more information.

I hope your weekend goes ok,

Best wishes,
Elna

montyw

Hi,

I really am finding it very difficult to find any information on the types of protein I can supplement my diet with.

As mentioned in my first post I do a lot of sports and I have for some time been supplementing my diet with soy or whey protein. I have been advised to do a couple of things to deal with my gout a) hydrate properly and b) stop the soy/whey protein.

After looking on the web - I cannot find a protein supplement that is suitable for those with gout.

Can anyone help?

mellman01

Hi Montyw I have had gout for around 13 years now get it mostly in my knees and feet, problem was I also have advanced OA in both knee caps and my GP missed it for around 4 years as he thought it was just gout, when I did find out what was causing all my pain the damage was sadly done, look on the up side gout goes away OA doesn’t and is degenerative gout isn’t, I know which I would rather have!.
Bottom line is it will take you some time getting the measure of it but its highly treatable and you should be symptom free within a few months or so.
I can’t help you on diet but the medication that helped me most is Alluprinol ( not sure if it’s spelt right ) I was taking Voltarol/Diclofenac ( not sure this is spelt right either! ) but became allergic to it gave me really bad upset stomach so stopped taking it, some advice I can give you is avoid anything with tannins in, also avoid drinks like cider red wine or anything acidic personally I found these gave me really big problems, a lot of tea or coffee should be avoided tea again contains tannin and coffee is a diuretic so dehydrates you again this is not a good thing so keep your water intake up. Best of luck and remember it just takes time to find out the best way to control it, I would be surprised if you weren’t almost symptom free within 6 months to a year.

woodbon

Hello, I'm sorry you'v got gout, my brother had it and he would be in agony with it, so I know how painful it can be.

As for the diet, could your GP refer you to a dietition who could give you all the right information you need? Our practice has one who come in and takes clinics sometimes, but the GP needs to refer you.
If you ask you GP, he may be able to give you some imformation and leaflets as well as refer you.

Hope you find the help you need and it does you good

Take care Sue

Wonkylegs

Hi Monty,

I asked the Helpline about Gout a few months ago when my mother-in-law suddenly had an attack.

They gave a reply in the 'Chat to helplines' Thread that I will try and find and bump up, but if you either post a thread on their forum page, ring them (number on top right hand side of this page) or email them I am sure that they will be able to point you in the direction of help if there is any info out there for your particular needs.

best of luck!

montyw

Thank you all for taking the time to reply to my thread.

I have been referred to a rheumatologist for advice on how to deal with gout and what lifestyle changes I need to make; although the referral is likely to take quite some time.

Since my diagnosis I have had 2 flare-ups of really bad gout and I have no idea what triggered them. As I originally posted I break the stereotype of a person who could be at risk of gout. I eat well, exercise (or I was doing) and don't eat excessive foods high in purines or drink lots of alcohol.

I will post what the specialist says when I have had my consultation.

Monty

montyw

montyw wrote:

I will post what the specialist says when I have had my consultation.

Monty

Hi again,

Well it is a little while since I've posted and I promised to let you all know what was said during my consultation... the usual stuff about alcohol, high purine foods and fizzy drinks; all of which I don't partake in!

One area that I was told I must ensure I do, is hydrate with water. This is something I am quite poor at. I have started to hydrate and the gout appears to be under control (at the moment).

I am not sure I can attribute the lack of flare-ups with my water intake, or that I have also started to supplement my diet with cherry and celery tabs.

All the best,

Monty

hileena111

I cant help you with the protein bit of it ...sorry....but the pain....I was advised {not by a doc} It might have been on here to try deep freeze.....as opposed to deep heat.....on my knee and it worked wonders at keeping the pain at bay....and like someone said ...gout will go....arthur wont.

Hileena

montyw

Hi,

Its some time since I last posted and I'm getting really 'down' and miserable with my gout flare-ups. Over the last twelve months I have had numerous minor flare-ups - sufficient o cause me pain, but not bad enough to lay me up.

I now get gout in both ankles and my left knee. My problem is I have been on allopurinol for 4 months and I've not seen any improvement in my condition. For example; I went for a couple of miles walk last week and the day after my ankle joint was painful and it has lasted for a week.

I find now, that I cannot run or cycle - both of which I have been doing for decades Running and cycling was the only way I stayed healthy and sane!

I've stopped all alcohol, cleaned up my diet and hydrate with water and yet no improvement.

Any advice on what to do next as I'm seeing my GP early next week.

frogmorton

Oh Monty

Poor poor you

That is the worst thing having to give up your activities

I wish I could help but I have no direct experience of gout - I only know it is agony

Although as (was it |Mell said last year) he has OA as well and it got missed coz of the gout. Do the joints swell? If so have they ever drawn off any of the fluid for testing?? Just a thought.

Do let us know how you get on at the docs and I hope someone here can help more than me.

Take care

toni x

only49

poor you i know how you will be feeling my dad had gout and he was really uncomfortable with it, he had it in his big toe and he was an active man always busy doing things never sat down, but now as i have OA i know what he must gone through i really would not wish it on anyone, remember we are all in the same boat and all suffering and that alone gives us comfort, if you want to find out any more information why dont you phone the helpline. you will find them very helpful

elnafinn

Bumped up for Chris (Scorpio)

I would call the helpline on Monday. They are brilliant at giving help and advice. The number is at the top of the screen. Many peeps on here have called them and cannot praise them highly enough.

Elna x

montyw

I continue to have a tough time with my gout - although I am not 100% convinced I have gout! The reasons I say this are:

I was put on 100mg/day Allopurinol and went for a blood test and it showed 'slightly' elevated urate levels.

I was then put on 300mg/day and I've had problems with my right ankle and left knee - just general aches/pains and minor imflamtion. I started the 300mg when I had no signs of gout. The gout symptoms lasted on and off for about 8 weeks!

I've recently had a spell convalescing from a non-gout related operation and I have forgotten to take the Allopurinol for about 2 weeks! Very remiss, however, I have not had any signs of gout during this time. I've not even been taking pain relief for the operation.

Something weird is happening here - any ideas?

:?: :?:

frogmorton

That does sound a biot iffy doesnt't it?

You are getting on rather well without it aren't you :?

Will watch and see if anoyne has any ideas...

Well done for not needing pain meds for your opp :shock:

Love

Toni xx

montyw

Yes it sounds totally crazy... may be I'm a freak of nature :shock:

But seriously, I was getting knee pain and having physio, and getting no relief. My ankle was painful too.

Stopped the gout meds by mistake and had no sign of gout and no pain or mobility problems. My diet hasn't changed and my lifestyle is just about the same.

Weird!

frogmorton

When you seeing the Doc Monty?

Think I would be asking for a second opinion or at least for his/her revised opinion.

Love

Toni xx

montyw

I'm seeing him on Monday and being asked for a referral to a specialist.

elainebadknee

Hi There

Just a thought - my mum got gout as a result of being on high blood pressure tablets for a long time....Not sure if you take any or not....Just a quick quote...

Elaine

montyw wrote:

Hi,

I'm sure I should have posted a quick hello in the 'introduce yourself' section, but I feel the need to post as I have just been informed by my Doctor that I have gout.

Having briefly read about others on the forum I can identify others that are much worse conditions than I, but I'm feeling really down about my diagnosis.

A little about myself. I am a 44 year old male that has always lead a very active lifestyle competing in; swimming, running, cycling and enjoying weight training. I thought I was as fit as a 'butchers' dog

Over the last three years I have had problems with my feet and first diagnosis was plantar fasciitis - but recently the pain in my feet/ankles and knees that was associated with inflammation led to the diagnosis of gout.

I am finding particularly difficult to find out what types of protein I can eat. The reason I ask is that I supplement my diet with whey protein and oily fish such as sardines and tuna. Apparently these are known to aggravate gout in some.

I also supplement with glucosamine sulphate also not recommended for some with gout.

Can anyone advise me on a suitable protein supplement for a gout sufferer?

Many thanks,

Monty

montyw

I do take Lisinopril 10mg/day - I'll ask the Doc to look into this too!

Thanks.

montyw

I had more blood tests done and a moderate/elevated urate level... the Docs are still saying I have gout.

I have gone quite a few weeks without my 300mg/day allpurinol and I've had no signs of gout.

Now something even more crazy has happened.... as I said no pain in my feet or knee and then BANG I woke up this morning with an inflamed foot directly under my ankle bone. The pain is bad but not extreme. There is heat around the ankle and the pain is localized to a 1 inch area!

Man this is driving me crazy not knowing what is causing these episodes.

If anyone can tell me how to post a picture - I'd show you what is going on.

montyw

Okay - I'm back again... with more confusion over my 'gout'... although I'm still not 100% convinced it is gout.

I've been put on 400mg/day of allopurinol and I'm still on 100mg/day lisinopril.

I've had a flare-up in my right foot for over 10 days, although the symptoms were pain under the arches of me foot and over the top of my foot and under the lateral side of my ankle.

No matter what I do in terms of diet i.e. low purine intake, 2-3 ltr of water per day and no alcohol, I still get a painful foot.

All my Doc seems to do is take urate levels and increase my does of allopurinol.

I am at a total loss as to what to do next and I'm getting really fed up.

frogmorton

Hi Monty

so this one is STILL going on?

Are your urate levels up then?

and have you had any x-rays done?? Just a thought as i can't beleive thinbgs are still at stalemate for you :???:

Love

toni xx

montyw

frogmorton wrote:

Hi Monty

so this one is STILL going on?

Are your urate levels up then?

and have you had any x-rays done?? Just a thought as i can't beleive thinbgs are still at stalemate for you :???:

Love

toni xx

Yep still going on.

Urate levels dropped to 450 μmol/L. Had MRI and x-rays and all clear!

Getting really fed up with it all, as pain has now migrated into my right hip. Due back on Tuesday and need to talk tough with my Doc about this dragging on.

frogmorton

Monty

You have to have frank discussions with the doc - honestly!

Did the MRI include the hip though??? bet it didnt. and can gout travel that far up?

You must be totally fed up with it all by now :evil

Thing is there is such thing as dual diagnoses...

Love

toni xx