Gout - Same foot infection on holiday - 3 years in a row
Discussion
I am on holiday in Central America. All is going well in terms of weather and the tourism stuff.
But for the third year in a row I have developed a skin infection on my foot. It is in exactly the same place each time, on the first joint of my big toe.
This has happened in Japan, Argentina, and now Costa Rica.
I've been to the local pharmacy and have started a five day course of antibiotics. They did the trick of the previous two occasions. I hope they will work again as it is painful to walk.
I never get this condition at home, or when I travel on business.
Can this be a coincidence or do I have some latent condition that recurs on long haul holidays?
I've not been walking around barefoot or indulging in anything unusual.
I'll withstand the usual PH banter of sex drugs and rock n roll. But any useful insights would be welcome.
But for the third year in a row I have developed a skin infection on my foot. It is in exactly the same place each time, on the first joint of my big toe.
This has happened in Japan, Argentina, and now Costa Rica.
I've been to the local pharmacy and have started a five day course of antibiotics. They did the trick of the previous two occasions. I hope they will work again as it is painful to walk.
I never get this condition at home, or when I travel on business.
Can this be a coincidence or do I have some latent condition that recurs on long haul holidays?
I've not been walking around barefoot or indulging in anything unusual.
I'll withstand the usual PH banter of sex drugs and rock n roll. But any useful insights would be welcome.
sawman said:
sounds more like gout than an infection.
ibuprofen is probably more help than antibiotics
I suspect that you are right. It would explain the classic gout symptom of a sore joint in my big toe.ibuprofen is probably more help than antibiotics
I've been overdosing on fresh fruit and juices. Now taking ibuprofen and the antibiotics. Zero fruit and minimal booze for a while.
There are about a thousand exotic ways to get ill down here: Bugs; ants; plants; snakes. And I get gout!
Fruit juice is not a problem, in fact, cherry juice is a natural treatment for gout (glass a day). Orange juice is good.
Things that can cause/ worsen gout are quite surprising actually - eg shellfish, mackerel, salmon, anchovies, asparagus, etc. Anything with purines in it.
There are the usual suspects like red meat, but some things are surprisingly ok e.g. duck meat isn't that bad and neither is cheese.
Yes.... I've had gout and where you have it - a red inflamed big toe joint- is a classic presentation of it. Get some Naproxen ( "super" ibuprofen) ice it and rest it.
Allopurinol is the treatment but once you're on it that's it for life - I follow the cherry juice route and try to avoid too many causative factors and it seems to work for me.
Things that can cause/ worsen gout are quite surprising actually - eg shellfish, mackerel, salmon, anchovies, asparagus, etc. Anything with purines in it.
There are the usual suspects like red meat, but some things are surprisingly ok e.g. duck meat isn't that bad and neither is cheese.
Yes.... I've had gout and where you have it - a red inflamed big toe joint- is a classic presentation of it. Get some Naproxen ( "super" ibuprofen) ice it and rest it.
Allopurinol is the treatment but once you're on it that's it for life - I follow the cherry juice route and try to avoid too many causative factors and it seems to work for me.
Edited by FBP1 on Saturday 24th January 21:39
FBP1 said:
Fruit juice is not an problem, in fact, cherry juice is a natural treatment for gout (glass a day). Orange juice is good.
Things that can cause/ worsen gout are quite surprising actually - eg shellfish, mackerel, salmon, anchovies, asparagus, etc. Anything with purines in it.
There are the usual suspects like red meat, but some things are surprisingly ok e.g. duck meat isn't that bad and neither is cheese.
Yes.... I've had gout and where you have a red inflamed big toe joint is a classic presentation of it. Get some Naproxen ( super ibuprofen) ice it and rest it.
Allopurinol is the treatment but once you're in it that s it for life - I follow the cherry juice route and try to avoid too many causative factors and it seems to work for me.
Thanks for the info.Things that can cause/ worsen gout are quite surprising actually - eg shellfish, mackerel, salmon, anchovies, asparagus, etc. Anything with purines in it.
There are the usual suspects like red meat, but some things are surprisingly ok e.g. duck meat isn't that bad and neither is cheese.
Yes.... I've had gout and where you have a red inflamed big toe joint is a classic presentation of it. Get some Naproxen ( super ibuprofen) ice it and rest it.
Allopurinol is the treatment but once you're in it that s it for life - I follow the cherry juice route and try to avoid too many causative factors and it seems to work for me.
I'm on four 600 mg of Ibuprofen a day. They are working and the joint has not got any worse.
The day before this happened I had OJ and fruit for breakfast, a fruit smoothie, then dinner of king prawns and beer.
That night my joint started being painful I also had a massive nose bleed. Not had one for two years and in the meantime I was on warfarin for six months without any problem. Not sure of gout and nosebleeds are related but there you go.
I am resting most of the day and walking very little. Last time this happened, it was maybe five days to be noticeably better and maybe three weeks to clear. Does that match your experience?
Having suffered with gout on and off over the years I always have a spare course of Colchicine in the meds cupboard.
http://www.patient.co.uk/medicine/Colchicine.htm
Usually a course is 12 small tablets, usually only have to take 1/2 a course to resolve the inflammation. 6 tablets takes about a day to take.
HTH.
http://www.patient.co.uk/medicine/Colchicine.htm
Usually a course is 12 small tablets, usually only have to take 1/2 a course to resolve the inflammation. 6 tablets takes about a day to take.
HTH.
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