Bloody gout again…

[DismantledKing]

Second attack of gout this year; classic presentation of the joint below the big toe. Fucking painful, I’m on Colchicine and I suppose I’ll go on Allopurinol when the attack subsides.
It’s annoying because I know I’ve got a week of this; poor sleep, hobbling around on the side of my foot etc etc.
Anyone else get it?

My husband does. He takes colchicine too.

I presume you are careful with your diet. Do you know what set it off this time?

@Twospaniels

My husband does. He takes colchicine too.

I presume you are careful with your diet. Do you know what set it off this time?

Yep, lost loads of weight too. I was on holiday a couple of weeks ago so had more alcohol that normal and was more dehydrated than normal. I imagine that’s set it off.

Poor dh has had several bouts this year, affecting his knees too. He's been on immunosuppressants since February and it seems to have really increased his attacks but unfortunately none of his specialists can agree on if allopurinol are ok for him to take.

It's horrendous to watch. I hope you're feeling better soon.

@TheCanyon

Poor dh has had several bouts this year, affecting his knees too. He's been on immunosuppressants since February and it seems to have really increased his attacks but unfortunately none of his specialists can agree on if allopurinol are ok for him to take.

It's horrendous to watch. I hope you're feeling better soon.

Thank you. Mine is only in my foot; it must be truly horrible to have it in multiple joints.

Possibly stupid question alert but how can you tell it is gout rather than arthritis? Are the symptoms different, or can it only be diagnosed by a GP? Sore big toe joint here, that comes and goes.

Gout tends to present quite acutely, coming on over a day or so. Very painful for a week or two, then generally subsides. You can have recurrent attacks (tell me about it!), but the joint generally feels ok in between.
GP does need to diagnose it, as it shares symptoms with Septic Arthritis; they want to check that symptoms are not systemic, that you’re not feverish etc.

Thanks @DismantledKing I might have to talk to my gp then. There's something going on with my joints, and I don't know what.

@supremelybaffled

Thanks *@DismantledKing* I might have to talk to my gp then. There's something going on with my joints, and I don't know what.

My husband gets gout and he says it is like someone is crushing his toe in vice, it's excruciating pain. So it's not like 'normal' arthritis. Hope you can get to the bottom of your joint pain, and hopefully it's not gout as it can strike again and again when you least expect it :(