Allopurinol for Gout
Discussion
garyhun said:
For some of us there comes a point where water and cherry juice just isn't enough.
I started suffering gout in my late 20s but it was not until 2 years ago at 48 that I had to go on allopurinol as my attacks were so bad no matter what my diet was.
I'm sure, and I feel your pain,I've been lucky that after some really severe attacks in my late 30's I've been not too bad since.I have been literally religious with water every day since then.I've even been able to introduce a few of the no-no foods back into my diet bit by bit, but appreciate not everyone is that lucky.I started suffering gout in my late 20s but it was not until 2 years ago at 48 that I had to go on allopurinol as my attacks were so bad no matter what my diet was.
So many people assume that Gout is because you are fat, overweight and drink too much - It's nice to be able to read a discussion with other sufferers.
I'm 32 and been having the odd attack for the last couple of years. I have, up to now been able to pin point what has caused it - German Beer and Ribina being the two main causes.
I just had a bad attack a few days ago and am in a boat in Asia so suffering away with no drugs. I'm chucking down the ibuprofen and rattling through the ice machine supply to ease the swelling.
What has changed in my diet? No booze on board and a reasonably balanced diet. All I can think of that has changed is I started having a Berocca tablet per day in one of my many bottles of water - anybody think this could cause an attack? If it's not that it has to be too much English Breakfast Tea...?
My wife is coming out with some gout treating drugs she has taken off a family member (not sure of the type). I will hjave to get to a doctor soon for some blood tests to see what the crack is...
I'm 32 and been having the odd attack for the last couple of years. I have, up to now been able to pin point what has caused it - German Beer and Ribina being the two main causes.
I just had a bad attack a few days ago and am in a boat in Asia so suffering away with no drugs. I'm chucking down the ibuprofen and rattling through the ice machine supply to ease the swelling.
What has changed in my diet? No booze on board and a reasonably balanced diet. All I can think of that has changed is I started having a Berocca tablet per day in one of my many bottles of water - anybody think this could cause an attack? If it's not that it has to be too much English Breakfast Tea...?
My wife is coming out with some gout treating drugs she has taken off a family member (not sure of the type). I will hjave to get to a doctor soon for some blood tests to see what the crack is...
BullyB said:
So many people assume that Gout is because you are fat, overweight and drink too much - It's nice to be able to read a discussion with other sufferers.
I'm 32 and been having the odd attack for the last couple of years. I have, up to now been able to pin point what has caused it - German Beer and Ribina being the two main causes.
I just had a bad attack a few days ago and am in a boat in Asia so suffering away with no drugs. I'm chucking down the ibuprofen and rattling through the ice machine supply to ease the swelling.
What has changed in my diet? No booze on board and a reasonably balanced diet. All I can think of that has changed is I started having a Berocca tablet per day in one of my many bottles of water - anybody think this could cause an attack? If it's not that it has to be too much English Breakfast Tea...?
My wife is coming out with some gout treating drugs she has taken off a family member (not sure of the type). I will hjave to get to a doctor soon for some blood tests to see what the crack is...
Although it's fair to say that dehydration will cause issues in all (most) gout sufferers, the truth is that everyone seems to have a 'trigger' food all of their own I'm 32 and been having the odd attack for the last couple of years. I have, up to now been able to pin point what has caused it - German Beer and Ribina being the two main causes.
I just had a bad attack a few days ago and am in a boat in Asia so suffering away with no drugs. I'm chucking down the ibuprofen and rattling through the ice machine supply to ease the swelling.
What has changed in my diet? No booze on board and a reasonably balanced diet. All I can think of that has changed is I started having a Berocca tablet per day in one of my many bottles of water - anybody think this could cause an attack? If it's not that it has to be too much English Breakfast Tea...?
My wife is coming out with some gout treating drugs she has taken off a family member (not sure of the type). I will hjave to get to a doctor soon for some blood tests to see what the crack is...
garyhun said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
A work colleague's father died of the side effects of allopurinol. Without going into horrific and alarming detail, basically his skin went to hell in a handcart. Once the process had started they were powerless to stop it.
I'd hazard a guess it wasn't quite that simple I wonder how many of the respondents are women? I suffered with gout for years, but happily it's been pretty much under control (thank you, Allopurinol) for several years now. However my wife, who's never had gout before, has just started having severe attacks, in her feet, then her wrist, and now her knee. The Doctor is doing her best to get it under control before starting Allopurinol. but Colchicine didn't work, and she had to resort to high dose steroid, which can bring problems of its own. She's seeing a rheumaatologist next week,and we're hopeful of some help.
Had a flare-up last week whilst on holiday in Belgium, hadn't had one for about 18 months. Luckily mine doesn't seem too bad compared to some here, so can eventually control with diclofenac and not anything stronger, but like others on here, I'm not the 'usual' gout sufferer - mid-30s, not overweight, physically fit. Still, hurts like a b
d when it does flare up, walking is difficult and can't drape a sheet over my feet at night.
For me, dehydration definitely plays a part, the previous few days before the flare-up, I didn't drink enough water and had more alcohol than usual, then the day before only two or three strong Belgian beers, mussels and chips. Seafood doesn't tend to do it for me, so was interesting one poster mentioned Ribena as I had a box of it on the way over in the Eurotunnel and hadn't drunk it for years previously. Will try to keep off it in future if it is a common trigger - certainly preferable to cutting out the beers!
d when it does flare up, walking is difficult and can't drape a sheet over my feet at night.For me, dehydration definitely plays a part, the previous few days before the flare-up, I didn't drink enough water and had more alcohol than usual, then the day before only two or three strong Belgian beers, mussels and chips. Seafood doesn't tend to do it for me, so was interesting one poster mentioned Ribena as I had a box of it on the way over in the Eurotunnel and hadn't drunk it for years previously. Will try to keep off it in future if it is a common trigger - certainly preferable to cutting out the beers!
Highway Star said:
Had a flare-up last week whilst on holiday in Belgium, hadn't had one for about 18 months. Luckily mine doesn't seem too bad compared to some here, so can eventually control with diclofenac and not anything stronger, but like others on here, I'm not the 'usual' gout sufferer - mid-30s, not overweight, physically fit. Still, hurts like a bd when it does flare up, walking is difficult and can't drape a sheet over my feet at night.
For me, dehydration definitely plays a part, the previous few days before the flare-up, I didn't drink enough water and had more alcohol than usual, then the day before only two or three strong Belgian beers, mussels and chips. Seafood doesn't tend to do it for me, so was interesting one poster mentioned Ribena as I had a box of it on the way over in the Eurotunnel and hadn't drunk it for years previously. Will try to keep off it in future if it is a common trigger - certainly preferable to cutting out the beers!
More alcohol than usual,strong beer,mussels and not enough water, was an attack waiting to happen! I feel your pain.d when it does flare up, walking is difficult and can't drape a sheet over my feet at night.For me, dehydration definitely plays a part, the previous few days before the flare-up, I didn't drink enough water and had more alcohol than usual, then the day before only two or three strong Belgian beers, mussels and chips. Seafood doesn't tend to do it for me, so was interesting one poster mentioned Ribena as I had a box of it on the way over in the Eurotunnel and hadn't drunk it for years previously. Will try to keep off it in future if it is a common trigger - certainly preferable to cutting out the beers!
Highway Star said:
Had a flare-up last week whilst on holiday in Belgium, hadn't had one for about 18 months. Luckily mine doesn't seem too bad compared to some here, so can eventually control with diclofenac and not anything stronger, but like others on here, I'm not the 'usual' gout sufferer - mid-30s, not overweight, physically fit. Still, hurts like a bd when it does flare up, walking is difficult and can't drape a sheet over my feet at night.
For me, dehydration definitely plays a part, the previous few days before the flare-up, I didn't drink enough water and had more alcohol than usual, then the day before only two or three strong Belgian beers, mussels and chips. Seafood doesn't tend to do it for me, so was interesting one poster mentioned Ribena as I had a box of it on the way over in the Eurotunnel and hadn't drunk it for years previously. Will try to keep off it in future if it is a common trigger - certainly preferable to cutting out the beers!
Mussels are a notoriously bad food for gout. Add the beer and dehydration into the mix and... ouch!!!!d when it does flare up, walking is difficult and can't drape a sheet over my feet at night.For me, dehydration definitely plays a part, the previous few days before the flare-up, I didn't drink enough water and had more alcohol than usual, then the day before only two or three strong Belgian beers, mussels and chips. Seafood doesn't tend to do it for me, so was interesting one poster mentioned Ribena as I had a box of it on the way over in the Eurotunnel and hadn't drunk it for years previously. Will try to keep off it in future if it is a common trigger - certainly preferable to cutting out the beers!
garyhun said:
Mussels are a notoriously bad food for gout. Add the beer and dehydration into the mix and... ouch!!!!
I know 
Such a pity as moules frites and a strong Trappist beer would be my choice for a death row meal Luckily this last one wasn't as bad as previous attacks, I could still limp around, though for a four day trip to Belgium, I couldn't have any beers for three of them!
At least I know when I start to feel a bit 'gouty' and can head it off at the pass since I had my first bad attack two and a half years ago. For years previous to that, I would wake up after a heavy night with soreness in my toes and think I'd done something like getting them caught in the bedclothes. It was only when that feeling grew into the excruiating, swollen, untouchable, red and white blotchy hell that I realised it might be gout and went to the doctors.
Highway Star said:
garyhun said:
Mussels are a notoriously bad food for gout. Add the beer and dehydration into the mix and... ouch!!!!
I know Such a pity as moules frites and a strong Trappist beer would be my choice for a death row meal Luckily this last one wasn't as bad as previous attacks, I could still limp around, though for a four day trip to Belgium, I couldn't have any beers for three of them!
At least I know when I start to feel a bit 'gouty' and can head it off at the pass since I had my first bad attack two and a half years ago. For years previous to that, I would wake up after a heavy night with soreness in my toes and think I'd done something like getting them caught in the bedclothes. It was only when that feeling grew into the excruiating, swollen, untouchable, red and white blotchy hell that I realised it might be gout and went to the doctors.
rupert the dog said:
As far as I can see, there's no mention on here about the use of cherry extract. I started having horrendous gout flare-ups in my 30's, which continued until a brilliant consultant gave me aa steroid jab in the arse, and then, when settled down, put me on Allopurinol. Like a fool, I decided after a couple of years that I could do without the Allopurinol, as I'd had no attacks. ONCE YOU'RE ON ALLOPURINOL, DON'T STOP! Fatal mistake, back to steroids and start again after an attack that put me in hospital. Anyway, back to the cherries, it was mentioned by another patient in hospital, and I didn't really take much notice. Then a little while later I was in a deli in Aldeburgh, abd these 3 guys about my age (including the owner, a lifeboat man) were discussing gout. Two of them had tried cherry extract, and swore by it. So, I gave it a go - montmorency cherry extract. I can't give you any proof that it works, but after a few weeks, I felt better, and I haven't had even a twinge since, and that's about five years ago. That's all. Might be worth a try for some people.
A massive thank you for taking the time to mention the Montmorency cherry extract. Cava is a trigger for me and my return flight home left me in pain this weekend. As you do in moments of pain, I turned to google and after searching for "Gout Pistonheads" found this thread and, importantly, this post. A trip to holland and barrett, ( http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/cher... ) £16 and 48 hours later, I'm converted.
I'm having 45-60ml of extract in a 500ml bottle of fizzy water, once in the morning and once after my evening meal.
Subsequent searches also uncovered this piece of research from Northumbria University about the effects of Cherry Extract with Gout... https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/news-events...
It's not an immediate cure but after just a couple of days and no more than 4 ibuprofen, the pain has gone from my foot.
You can get a whole load of other stuff direct from Cherry Active - http://www.cherryactive.co.uk/
garyhun said:
You can get a whole load of other stuff direct from Cherry Active - http://www.cherryactive.co.uk/
Gary, which form(s) are you taking?
Glassman said:
Gary, which form(s) are you taking?
When the cherry active no longer prevented my big attacks and I went onto allapurinol I stopped it as it seemed pointless for me.
Hi,
I'm another sufferer here, I've had a good read throughout the previous posts and it nice to know I'm not the only one suffering at what I thought was a young(ish) age, 34 - I've only started suffering in the last 6 months or so and just had my 4th attack, which currently I feel has been the worst with the swelling just settling now after 7 days! It's a frustrating thing as it's quite disabilitating and I'm usually quite active, maybe a little overweight (not excessive).
I've been trying to figure out my trigger, I can't remember my diet prior to the previous attacks, I put it down to dehydration due to cycling too much with too little fluids, I've now changed that, I consider my diet to be fairly healthy, this year I have consumed one bottle of beer, no other alcohol, I try to drink plenty of water 2-3litres a day, we might have the odd fast food/take away treat once in a while - last Friday, the night before this flare up we had Chinese I'm convinced there may have been something in that which was the cause (dishes included crispy seaweed, chow mein, crispy beef, s&s chiken and prawn crackers) my previous flare ups could have followed Chinese meals, I don't know.
I don't want to be relying on medication if I can help it, if I knew the trigger I'd cut it out of my diet, it's just finding that trigger... I don't tend to eat a lot of the foods considered to cause gout, I just wonder if something in the Chinese would cause it or the way they cook it have some contamination into my dishes... Could the flare up occour just a few hours after eating the meal?
I'm another sufferer here, I've had a good read throughout the previous posts and it nice to know I'm not the only one suffering at what I thought was a young(ish) age, 34 - I've only started suffering in the last 6 months or so and just had my 4th attack, which currently I feel has been the worst with the swelling just settling now after 7 days! It's a frustrating thing as it's quite disabilitating and I'm usually quite active, maybe a little overweight (not excessive).
I've been trying to figure out my trigger, I can't remember my diet prior to the previous attacks, I put it down to dehydration due to cycling too much with too little fluids, I've now changed that, I consider my diet to be fairly healthy, this year I have consumed one bottle of beer, no other alcohol, I try to drink plenty of water 2-3litres a day, we might have the odd fast food/take away treat once in a while - last Friday, the night before this flare up we had Chinese I'm convinced there may have been something in that which was the cause (dishes included crispy seaweed, chow mein, crispy beef, s&s chiken and prawn crackers) my previous flare ups could have followed Chinese meals, I don't know.
I don't want to be relying on medication if I can help it, if I knew the trigger I'd cut it out of my diet, it's just finding that trigger... I don't tend to eat a lot of the foods considered to cause gout, I just wonder if something in the Chinese would cause it or the way they cook it have some contamination into my dishes... Could the flare up occour just a few hours after eating the meal?
Any foods high in purines (even veg like mushrooms etc)won't help, nor offal meats, shellfish etc etc.Could even be something particularly spicy. Have you injured or cut yourself recently at all?Any sort of trauma or injury can trigger it, as can stress.I was in your situation age wise, and having an attack every 3 months or so. I pretty much stopped having everything I liked,over the course of the next few years the attacks went, I've reintroduced everything back into my diet and probably not had one for 5 years + now.
They'll deffo be a trigger food for you, it'll click one day .
They'll deffo be a trigger food for you, it'll click one day .
I have suffered from gout for 5/6 years. I am now on Colchesine(?) which seems to have cured/removed it.
My GP has also prescribed Allopurinol. Which, it seems, is now a lifelong thing. Hey ho.
I am now suffering from Policeman's Heel! My GP suggests trying various stretching exercises. I am not sure if they are helping, it is improved, but not a complete cure.
Any ideas, please?
Or should I start a new thread?
My GP has also prescribed Allopurinol. Which, it seems, is now a lifelong thing. Hey ho.
I am now suffering from Policeman's Heel! My GP suggests trying various stretching exercises. I am not sure if they are helping, it is improved, but not a complete cure.
Any ideas, please?
Or should I start a new thread?
sjc said:
Any foods high in purines (even veg like mushrooms etc)won't help, nor offal meats, shellfish etc etc.Could even be something particularly spicy. Have you injured or cut yourself recently at all?Any sort of trauma or injury can trigger it, as can stress.I was in your situation age wise, and having an attack every 3 months or so. I pretty much stopped having everything I liked,over the course of the next few years the attacks went, I've reintroduced everything back into my diet and probably not had one for 5 years + now.
They'll deffo be a trigger food for you, it'll click one day .
I wouldn't say I eat much offal type meats and never eat shell fish, will have to check the purine levels in the veg I eat. Thinking back to my previous February attack, I did have a takeaway curry (quite spicy) a few days before, also this time round I had a home made (from a paste) mild curry a few days prior also (maybe a link?) also with the Feb attack I'd been out for an unexpected/not fully planned 50 mile ride so maybe my hydration wasn't brilliant (originally planned 25mile) albeit I had 1.5litres of water with me (maybe a bit of dehydration, my original thought was this could be the trigger).They'll deffo be a trigger food for you, it'll click one day .
Maybe I'll have to do a bit of trial and error, see if I can link anything up over the next few months...
tjdixon911 said:
I wouldn't say I eat much offal type meats and never eat shell fish, will have to check the purine levels in the veg I eat. Thinking back to my previous February attack, I did have a takeaway curry (quite spicy) a few days before, also this time round I had a home made (from a paste) mild curry a few days prior also (maybe a link?) also with the Feb attack I'd been out for an unexpected/not fully planned 50 mile ride so maybe my hydration wasn't brilliant (originally planned 25mile) albeit I had 1.5litres of water with me (maybe a bit of dehydration, my original thought was this could be the trigger).
Maybe I'll have to do a bit of trial and error, see if I can link anything up over the next few months...
I was similar to you in age when I had my first gout attack in Nov 2013. Just woke up one morning and wondered how the hell I'd broken my foot during the night in bed! The comments others have made about not even being able to have a sheet on an affected joint over night ring so true. Off work for quite a number of days as couldn't put a shoe on, let alone walk or drive.Maybe I'll have to do a bit of trial and error, see if I can link anything up over the next few months...
After being diagnosed, and treating the acute issue with Arcoxia (sp?), I improved my water intake and kept my fingers crossed (really didn't fancy the idea of allupurinol). Things were ok till Easter 2014. Again, just treated with Arcoxia and it settled down. Then the next major bout was father's day 2014.
At this point, it dawned on me that there was something that connected those three occaisions (12th Nov is my birhday).... Chocolate! I'm not very good at just eating a little bit of chocolate at a time, so with a box of chocs for birthday, easter eggs at easter and a large toblerone at fathers day, in each instance, I nailed way more chocolate in one sitting than was entirely sensible.
Since making that link and being much more sensible about chocolate and generally trying to remain hyrdated, I've not had anything more than the odd twinge once in a blue moon. Certainly nothing like those other chocolate-gate sessions!
As someone else has said above, it really does seem like people's triggers can be quite different.
I just had an attack while out in Sardinia and had no drugs. The local doctor gave me Colchicina Lirca.
A little warning to others - don't take too many as I spent two days running from toilet to toilet.
After the initial overdose, I took one per day and it fully cleared up in 3 days.
I'm just waiting for my body to refill with food now.
A little warning to others - don't take too many as I spent two days running from toilet to toilet.
After the initial overdose, I took one per day and it fully cleared up in 3 days.
I'm just waiting for my body to refill with food now.
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