Can any body give me any suggestions about gout?

jamesbuckley

Hi, Im a 22 year old male, about 5 months ago I started having attacks of gout that were pretty much constant (only a day or two between attacks), I was prescribed naproxen and took that. After about 6 weeks of the attacks they stopped but I started getting pain in all of my joints, as my urate level was still high the doctor prescribed allopurinol, this has made no difference to my pain, but after a month the doctor says that my urate level has lowered a little, so to wait another month and see again. I take tramadol everyday and all day to try and manage the pain from all my joints but even when the pain is reduced im so tired all of the time, I do not drink any alchohol and havent for over a year, neither am I a proper beefcake, i'm also a vegetarian and have been for all my life so red meat is not in my intake. I am really at a loose end and not sure if my gp takes me seriously because I have left university because I could not cope, moved back with parents and somedays cant get out of bed. If anyone has any suggestions or a better understanding of the reasons behind this or their own stories i'd really appreciate to hear from you.
Thanks
James

tkachev

Hi welcome James,
I may be wrong but it could be you have another form of arthritis as well as gout as you have pain and fatigue in varios joints. It would be worth checking this out with your G.P.
So sorry you have had to leave uni. If you get the pain under control I hope you will be able to resume your course.

Elizabeth

dreamdaisy

Hello James, I reckon tkachev is absolutely on the right lines. Although gout can affect joints other than toes (my husband has just had a bout that involved his right big toe and the tip of his right middle finger, it cleared in about five days with diclofenac) to be as affected as you are would indicate to me some form of inflammatory arthritis, especially if the current meds are not helping that much. I think it best for you to compile some notes about what has been going on over the past few months and go and see your GP. He may well recommend you have a blood test to check your inflammation markers and for as possible rheumatoid factor (RF). Tiredness is an indication of an arthritis-type flare, though coping with any amount of pain on a long-term basis is tiring in itself. I think I am right in saying that gout is an auto-immune disorder, as are many forms of arthritis. I wish you well and I hope you are able to glean some information, if not an answer, from your doctor. Let us know, please? DD

tkachev

Yes and if your GP doesn't take you seriously then you need to change GP. you may need different meds as well as your current ones.

Elizabeth

jamesbuckley

Thanks for your responses . I am still confused about what to do, this is because while my inflamation markers were high before taking the allopurinol after a month or so they were not but the pain was still the same. I think the best choice for me may be to go and seek a second opinion privately as im concerned that leaving seeing my gp for month gaps might be doing permenant damage to all my joints, as well as this I have not had a proper attack of gout for months, its just pain and tiredness. Still I need answers soon, ran to the bottom of my funds so had to claim for employment support allowance, worst day ever . Thanks again for your responses and hope improvements are made for everyone all round

dreamdaisy

Oh James, this is sounding more and more like an inflammatory-arthritis-type problem. Please consider going back to your GP and asking him to do some blood tests: if you are running short of funds at least he is free. Let us know how you get on. DD

frogmorton

Hi James

l think the time has come when you would be within your rights to ask the doctor if you could see a rheumatologist.

If you are suffering this much 'they' should be looking into your symptoms further.

I suggest a couple of things:

the first is to do one of our 'lists'....what is happening for how long and what affect it has on your life, ability to cope etc. Makes the info you give to the doc clearer

The second is to take someone with you when you go to the docs...they are less likely to fob you off and also may think of something you have forgotten.

Love

Toni xx

hileena111

Hi James
Yes I thinkyou should be asking for a referral from your GP to a rheumy.
As for gout....I did have it in my knee one time and the thing that really helped was deep freeze...fantastic ....although for everthing else i have its heat it responds to.

Love
Hileena

skezier

Hi James,

I agree it would be best for you to see a rumo and as soon as possible.

they have the expertise to find out what i going on with your joint and determine the best way to help you.

if you want to go private then please see a rumo cus as well as the expertise they also have access to better and more thorougher blood tests as well. hang in there and i hope you can be seen soon. Cris x

dingbat77

James

I had severe Gout attacks in my big toe on my left foot and was referred to a Rheumatologist, like you dont drink he gave me Allopurinol which stopped the attacks , if you are taking this and you still are getting gout as has been said likely you have other forms of rheumo as this medication kills the uric acid crystals that cause it.

Get referred and get the blood work done , mine showed I had other Rheumo isues going on and joints were swelling and I am now on methotraxate as well , which isn't ideal as cocks up your liver but have no real rheumo pain only the osteo.

I suppose I'm lucky I took out private health care years ago so no problems getting to see specialists but my consultant also works at my local NHS hospital , so can't see why your GP doesn't refer you as most hospitals will have one if not a whole department.