Gout - I am fed up and miserable!

[MagicSummer]

I get a gout attack on average every 18 months; it is the most painful thing I have ever experienced! I started a flare-up on Saturday and started taking Naproxen. It does work and is starting to resolve the swelling and pain, but does it make me feel ill!! Tired, stomach pains, diarrhoea, generally grotty - almost worse than the pain itself. Anyway, I just feel miserable and don't want to as it's such a lovely spring day and I wanted to go to the beach with my dog and can't!

Any fellow sufferers here? What tips and treatments can you recommend?

Have you made any lifestyle changes?

Yes, given up red meat, shellfish, mushrooms, game - never drank beer or red wine!

Cherry juice, the concentrated stuff.

@MagicSummer Sorry to hear you’re having such a hard time 😓 my DH has gout (he’s only 30 and very healthy!) and I know just how debilitating it is! What joints does it happen in for you? DH seems to be ball of foot, big toe and ankle. I’ve seen flare ups where he couldn’t wear a shoe for 2 whole weeks 😓

Concentrated cherry juice is supposed to help break down iron acid in the body so could be worth a try. Unfortunately didn’t do anything for DH!

GP prescribed my DH Colchicine which he takes when a flare up starts. Although be warned with this one...it gives DH a HORRIFICALLY upset stomach.

This 7 min video summarise the current research on diet and gout.
nutritionfacts.org/video/preventing-gout-attacks-with-diet/
In the "source cited" tab you will have all the medical papers liste

Read some of the comments under the videos as people share what worked for them

I'm sorry to hear you're in pain OP. My husband has a gout attack about once every twelve months. The latest, in January, lasted for a month and was excruciating at times. He was finally prescribed Alapurinol so we're hoping he's seen the last of it. Doctors were always reluctant to prescribe, I'm not sure why, but it has worked for friends.

Have you talked to your GP about allopurinol?

Cutting out carbonated drinks sometimes helps.

@MagicSummer Just to add...I’m not sure of your age but in our experience with DH, doctors are not at all keen to prescribe long term preventative medication. DH was told he needs to at least 15 years older or having an attack 4 times a year before they’d really consider it!

You poor thing! My mum had several episodes of gout and it's really nasty and painful.

The only thing that worked for her was being prescribed Alapurinol.

Arthritis Action have some advice.

Thanks for all the comments and advice. Sorry for having a moan, but I felt so fed up about it yesterday - slightly better today.

@MM321 - Your poor DH! He's so young too. I am a bit (lot) older and get it in my big toe, bunion joint and on top of my foot, so it makes walking extremely difficult. Can't get my shoes on at the moment - luckily there's nowhere to go! I have tried the concentrated cherry capsules which did nothing, so will give the juice a go. I already have a very sensitive stomach and many food intolerances so don't think I would be able to take colchicine.

@Gingernaut and @Cormoran - thanks will have a look at those sites today.

I will go back to the GP when I am better (if I can get an appointment!) and will ask about allopurinol.

@MagicSummer Hope it eases off for you soon!! It’s so debilitating! Definitely stay away from Colchicine if you have a sensitive stomach 😳