Gout Forum - New to Forum
Medical questions     Health forums     MarketPlace     log in    

New to Forum

New Topic  Reply  Ask A Doctor - Offline
Medical Questions-> Health Forums -> Gout -> New to Forum
Medical Questions
Author Message
GoutHurts

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Jan 2007
Posts: 6
New to Forum
Posted: 01-07-07 10:57am

Greetings--i am glad to see there is a forum for gout sufferers.

I am 36 male, started getting attacks about three years ago. Typical case; had an attack in big toe, lasted a day. Had another one nine months later (worse) lasted a day, had another 6 months later (very bad) lasted almost a week. Finally went to the doctor was diagnosed. Was given ibuprofen (500 mg) which did nothing.

I got to the point where I was having an attack every four months. Mainly in my instep, where the pain is viscous!!!

My (former) pcp did not believe in prescribing pain medication (e.G. Vicodin) to relieve gout attacks--he obviously never had an attack. He would typically give me presnodolyne (sp) or some sort of nsaid. These would take effect in a day or two---but still kept me on my crutches and crawling around the floor with drool coming out of my mouth due to the pain.

I had an attack last week on my index finger (first non-foot related attack). It was something fierce. I finally agreed to start allopurin (sp?).

What I wasn't told was that it can prolong an attack if you take it during one. Of course, once the pain left my hand it went right to my foot again.

I'm now looking for a new pcp. One that will give me true pain medication along with nsaids when I have an attack.

Do your doctors ever give you pain pills for your gout attacks? I think some of them don't truly understand the pain. I broke my hand once, and the last gout attack in my hand hurt worse. If they prescribe pain killers for torn tendons, broken bones, etc, why not for something that hurts worse. I feel kind of creepy asking the doctor for pain killers, but I can not function at all when I am having an attack (can't sleep, can't eat, can't even think properly). It's living in true hell.

Sorry to be so long winded. Excuse my french here, but gout sucks!

Look forward to your comments.

Thanks!
|
GoutHurts

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Jan 2007
Posts: 6

Posted: 01-07-07 11:06am

I should also mention a few other things (to be even more long-winded).

I am about 30 pounds overweight (and am working on that). I gave up my absolute favorite food a few years ago--buffalo wings. Crying
or Very sad

i still enjoy a cold beer and am not convinced it precedes an attack. I've had an attack without having a beer in a month. 99% of my attacks occur at night. I've had the odd attack start in the middle of the day. In the three years i've started having attacks, i've had about 20--which is an extremely high amount.
|
JYY2

Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 05 Jun 2004
Posts: 227

Posted: 01-07-07 16:05pm

A few info below:
1) if a gout attack is treated within an hour of the first twinge, it will subside without causing problems. But if you wait for a day or two before treating it, it becomes a war and no medicine works well.
2) you need an effective dosage of a med to work properly. 500 mg (a day?) of ibuprofen will do nothing for a full-blown attack. The recommended dosage for such condition is 800 mg 4 times a day!
3) if you treat the attack with proper amount of an nsaid, or colchicine, the pain will subside. You do not need vicodin, a narcotic which is not anti-inflammatory and can be habit-forming.
4) more info can be found in "emergency gout treatment" section in http://www.Icuredmygout.Org .
Good luck
|
GoutHurts

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Jan 2007
Posts: 6

Posted: 01-08-07 13:50pm

I appreciate your response, and with all do respect have to differ with you regarding "true" pain medication. I have had attacks so severe that the nsaid or steroids took up to a full day until the pain became tolerable. I typically rank the attacks 1-10 based on the level of pain.

Once I had an 9, and received a steroid shot and nsaids. It took about 8-12 hours to get it to a 4.

I don't feel anyone should endure the pain I was in during those 8-12 hours waiting for the steroids/nsaid to kick in. It helps your body fight off the crystals, but the reason one needs help is due to the pain. If someone has gout, they will use their narcotic pain medication very wisely--as it's important to have some on hand.

Thanks again!
|
painfree

Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 14 Nov 2004
Posts: 77
Location: ,
Thanks: 3
Thanked:0

Posted: 01-08-07 14:26pm

For a period of 15 years, I too suffered from gout that attacked overnight, usually in my instep. Every nsaid and alternative medication that I tried began to lose its effectiveness over time. My gout was finally cured right after my sleep apnea was resolved. You can read about my experience and learn why gout results from sleep apnea at www.Freewebs.Com/goutcure< /a> .

The best advice that I can offer to you or anyone with gout is to make sure that you don't have sleep apnea. Over the long term it significantly elevates the risk for so many serious consequences, and the risk of developing those consequences gradually returns to normal after the sleep apnea is resolved.
|
Related Topics
This Forum This Category All Forums
Jump to:  
New Topic   Reply
Medical Questions -> Health Forums -> Gout -> New to Forum



We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health
information:
verify here.