Low carb diet - could it have given me gout?!

[GhostOfAWasp]

I'm not saying I have gout, it could just be a sprained ankle, but it hurts like buggery and came on a week ago for no discernible reason. Saw a nurse this morning who mentioned gout (although did point out that it was unlikely!) but now I've started wondering. I've been eating a low carb (vegetarian) diet for almost three weeks and I'm wondering if there's a connection - could it be gout? Or does it take way longer to get it than that?

I thought you tended to get gout from excess red meat, alcohol, and offal?

Yeah, that's what I thought too, but he said something about diuretics, which made me think, and I had a quick google (shoot me, this is why I try to NEVER google anything) and the two were linked. Apparently a build up of uric acid (high levels of it in eggs, nuts etc) can cause gout?

Yes

Would have thought it was a bit unlikely in 3 weeks .

God that would be embarrassing if that's what it is. Could it really come on so quickly?

It can be quick as it depends what your levels of uric acid were like when you started the diet

Crap. Just read this (must step away from Google!) and wondering whether I ought to go and get a blood test or something?

It would only give you it if predisposed

I'm really hoping not. I don't eat red meat, am not particularly old, or terribly overweight and have very little in common with Henry VIII.