Gout?? - Any recommendations?

[Loukes]

Hi guys

Dont know if anyone can help - Does anyone know anything to treat / prevent gout?

My OH has suffered from this twice. First time he was off for 3 weeks. It wasnt diagnosed as gout that time. They didnt really know what it was. 3 months later it struck again when he was told it was gout. He was off for 2 and half weeks.

his foot has started to hurt again this week....he wont get paid for sick (other than statutory pay) which we will really struggle with -

Does anyone know of anything he could start to take before it hits badly? - or anything he should do on a regular basis to try and stop it coming?

[Puck Bunny]

Mr PB gets gout, he takes Voltorol (prescribed from GP) when he gets a flare-up.

That's the only soloution we've been offered - apart from the lay off the alcohol/fatty food, get more excersise lecture.

[Loukes]

Think we'll have to get to docs quick smart then!!!

D refuses to lay off the alcohol - but also refuses to believe that alcohol is the problem - Dont get me wrong he doesnt drink loads - but he does like to drink on a weekend - and can sometimes have up to 10 can through the afternoon / evening.

He lived abroad for 18months - drank loads and loads every single day and didnt ever have gout. He didnt eat properly in those 18months though - so the fatty / rich foods does make sense cos when he came to live with me he started eating 3 meals a day - meat and vegetables etc - so that does make sense....

Think we'll just have to keep trying with doc - they cant make their minds up as to whether it is gout or not....but the gout tablets worked last time

[Puck Bunny]

The other thing we noticed.. He gets a flare up if he is stressed out

[Loukes]

Funny you should say that! The 2 bouts he has had have been in very stressful situations - but I wouldnt have thought he was stressed at the moment - well, nothing like he has been when its come up before......

I am keeping my fingers crossed that it isnt gout - its just a nightmare - i feel so sorry for him. He wakes up in middle of night screaming in pain - then I get grouchy cos he wakes me up to tell me he is hurting - then he is bored cos he is home all day on his own! Both times he has had to get around on crutches cos he cant put his foot to the floor.....

[Puck Bunny]

If he can't get to the doc's for Voltorol, Ibuprofen is a fairly good substitute, but you must take it as soon as he gets symptoms and as directed on the packet, to build up the drug in his system.

(can you tell i've just emailed him?) :lol:

[Loukes]

when i got home last night he had drunk two 1 litrce cartons of cranberry juice, been taking Ibruprofen and put ralgex muscle rub cream on his feet!!

We read somewhere cranberry can help - something to do with breaking down the acids or something???

He said the ralgex cream helped cos he finds that if he puts something warm on his foot it helps - we have tried him with a wheatbag heated up in microwave before

Thanks for the advice - I just cant bear the thought of having to look after him again. I just feel so helpless when he is in that much pain. I'm sure its a million times worse for him!!!!!!!

[Petrus]

my bubs dad gets gout and he takes medication for it! He finds eating cheese brings it on too, so maybe its his diet aswell as stress?

[iGnome]

Gout is an increased level of uric acid that causes uric acid crystal deposits in the big toe mostly although can occur in other places.
I work as a nurse in urology and the amount of patients that have untreated long term gout that end up with uric acid kidney stones is high.

So, if hubby doesn't want to end up with severe pain from a kidney stone and more time off work, I suggest a trip to the doc.

The preferred treatment for gout is allopurinol. Doctors script only.

http://www.podiatrychannel.com/gout/
not the best of sites, but you'll get an idea.