I also like to ask JYY2 about the BS maintenance dose.

I have used the “take BS for 2 weeks” and “stop for 2 weeks” approach with success for over 2 year with no gout flare ups or any side effects from BS.

I have also tried taking 1tsp BS everyday for 4 months with no side effects either.


Recently I have got my gout under control and took 2 – 2.5 teaspoons of BS for 1 week and 1 - 2 teaspoons since on no medication.

I have also started to monitor the ph of my urine for the first time. First urine and last urine sample of each day.

It appears that 2.5 teaspoon dose (0.5 in morning, 2x 0.5 in afternoon, 1 at night) keeps my urine ph at 7 or slightly above.

When I take a dose below 2tsp (0.5 in morning, 1 at night) my ph dips below 7.

At just 1tsp at night, my morning and night urine ph ranges from about 6.1 – 6.5


This paranoids me a little because I have taken just 1tsp/day in the past and no flare ups at all. At that time I did not monitor the ph of my urine so I cannot make comparisons.

Now I feel compelled to up my dose to 2tsp everyday with no breaks in between to keep my urine around ph7.


I also had a blood ua test taken during an attack and it was 0.51 mmol/L (9.18 mg/dL).

My rheumatologist recommends I go back to Allopurinol soon to bring it back down to 6 mg/dL.

I think my ua level, during the 2 years when I only took BS and no medication, was most likely above 6 mg/dL. Yet, I had no problem.


So my questions for JYY2 and my fellow men are these:

1. How essential is it to maintain urine ph to 7?
2. How important is it to keep ua level below 6 mg/dL

I understand the statistical significance of these but what about the practical significance?

I have a feeling that perhaps the ph is more significant. I'm not sure.

Twentyfive

Just curious what your diet was like during each phase. did it change? also, what is your typical diet when BS is taken? does it give you freedom to eat moderate purrine-rich foods?

Hi Guys
From my reading, I understand that levels of UA have to be kept low if you are to reverse the formation of crystals in the joints.
I am on 600mg Allopurinol daily and have average 4 mg/dl. I will reduce when I get a few months gout free. My lumpy knuckles and ears are back to normal so I assume I am getting rid of crystals.
From what I can gather, above a certain UA level, you accumilate crystals. Below a certain UA level, you lose crystals.
That level probably is different for different people.
I like the BS treatment. It lowers blood acidity. Great for heartburn too haha. I have an over acidic stomach that I suspect affects my blood acid levels. It has not been a miracle cure for me and seems to work better on some that others. Its cheap too.
It does not elevate my BP.
Just my take....

My diet doesn't change. I eat what I like when I don't have gout. However, if I just had a gout attack or feel about to get one, eating seafood, drinking alcohol and consuming fizzy drinks will either prolong the attack or give me an attack.

I hope this helps.

I'm just having a hard time knowing what i'm going through at times. For the past three days I've had twinges and sensations in my feet (toes to arch, to ankle) but the pain is not severe. It feels like I am always about to have an attack but it doesn't fully develop. I'm drinking bs and acv several times a day plus taking vitamin c and crherry juice.

i can't tell if it is because i'm exercising every day or cutting calories because i need to lose 30 pounds. or is this just a case of sensations caused by the dissolving of msu crystals?

Could be different for you. My experience would be that if you were to cut out the BS or other remedies that is effective for you when you have those twinges, an attack will come very soon.

I get those sensation in my foot only after juijitsu but not other excercises. I think it might be dissolving but I'm no expert in this.

appreciate the feedback, 25. To try to assist in answering your original question, my UA is a little over 6 and my ph is over 7. I'm getting twinges but no attacks. But, I was only diagnosed four weeks ago and I'm hoping the twinges are just the dissolving of crystals. It could be that I had a few beers on Saturday and I've been working out hard seven out of eight days.

BTW, have you given up juijitsu or do you just drink extra bs before and after?

The UA level is important but the ph may be more important. Can only speak for myself from analysing more extensively.

Im back to gym and juijitsu now- and hope to stay that way.

According to a book on Gout that I read, having a UA level above 6 can lead to other complications (heart disease, etc) even if you are not havning regular gout attacks, so monitoring your UA level is important. It also said that even a strict low purine diet is only going to affect your UA level by 1 or 2 points, so its likely that some allopurinol will need to be taken to lower the UA level the rest of the way.

My goal will be to both keep my ph around 7, take a (hopefully) low dose of allopurinol and monitor my UA level regularly to keep it under 6.

i've been reading alot about cherries which have been credited with lowering UA. I wonder if they are more effective than allipurinol as some have clamied. Also, if cherries and allipurinol were both used, would the problems facing many gout sufferers be eliminated?

I felt an attack coming on this morning when I had to "two-step" every stair, but i've been slugging cherry juice, baking soda, and vitamin c. the stiffness in my ankle (which always seems to move around my foot to different spots) is nearly gone. Sometimes I think it is all in my head.

I tried dark cherries several times with no miraculous results. I've eaten actual cherries one cup per day over the time the attack was worst and also have a 100% pure black cherry juice concentrate that I've used several times. Now I have cherry juice extract tablets that I've tried. I guess it is too early to tell conclusively, but there really hasn't been a 'magic bullet' so far.

Cherries have indredients that help counter UA, however I'd be really surprised if it was as effective as taking allopurinol. Guess your mileage may vary.