I was diagnosed with gout Sept/07 I had a cross country flight. Previously I have had bloodwork that showed that I had high uric acid levels but I never had an "attack" so I was told that it was normal for me and not to worry. About a day after I arrived on the east coast I woke up with a horrible pain and I could barely move. My big toe joint was very swollen. I couldnt even have a sheet on it to cover it I was in so much pain. I went to the ER and was diagnosed with gout. Now I was 26 years old at the time and I am a female and I don't typically eat foods that cause gout. I was also only about 20 pounds overweight at the time. The doctor seemed puzzled. My uric acid level was around 13. I also do not have a family history of gout.

My attacks seem to be somewhat atypical. I will get the primary attack which will last an abnormally long amount of time, usually around 2 weeks even with colchicine, indomethacin and various other treatments that dont seem to work at all for me. Then it sort of subsides into this chronic throbbing pain with a little swelling and it can be like that for around 12-16 weeks and then its settled down and I am fine. During the chronic stage I cannot wear socks or shoes because that is still too painful, I can only limp or walk using the side of my foot, and I cannot bend my big toe back (to stand on my toes) or put any weight on the ball of my foot.

I have tried every treatment I could find from gallons of cherry juice concentrate (the stuff is disgusting) to eating nothing but cherries for days. All fruit fasts, strawberries, avocados, bananas, baking soda, cayenne pepper tinctures, various soaks and rubs and balms, elevating my foot for days at a time, massage, reflexology, accupuncture, getting more exercise and blood flow. I also tried the traditional nsaid meds and allopurinol which makes things worse every time I take it.

Now I am a 28 year old female and I absolutely hate this and its crippling my life. I can't wear shoes or go out for months and have to live like a freak because I have this gout and can't figure out why and nothing helps to either take away the pain or dissolve the uric acid. Also, I don't drink or smoke, get regular exercise, follow a healthy diet, don't have any caffeine (once in a blue moon I might have a diet coke but not regularly and nothing at all during an attack). I initially thought that this was due to me walking around in tight stiletto boots all day and the plane ride after the first attack but after reading a bit more, I am wondering if it could be due to low estrogen levels?

I have always had some hormonal issues. I have hypothyroidism and pcos. My estrogen is lower than it should be and my testosterone higher than it should be. I am not on birth control or anything that would raise my estrogen levels but from my understanding if women get gout, which is unusual to begin with, usually they are postmenopausal. If I understand things correctly, estrogen helps excrete uric acid. So if I were go go on birth control and/or progesterone to balance out my low estrogen, could it help protect me against future gout attacks and more importantly, help get rid of the one I have had since the end of Feb! It is spring and I want to go out and enjoy myself and I still can't wear shoes!!!

Has anyone ever tried anything like this?