So, anyone here ever had gout? I started getting it when I was 28, due primarily to heavy drinking (first year in law school) and genetics.

Anyway, talk about severe pain! I haven't had an episode for over a year now, so I'm not too worried about it, but you never know when it might pop up and bite you in the big toe!

I am not... but in old times, the wealthy suffered often from the diet they ate. Mostly from eating too much red meat.

Try "Pantothenic Acid" tablets. 100mg once daily. It's a a B-complex vitamin. Vitamin B-5. You should be able to find bottles of 100 for about $5 on the internet. Mine came from Randall's Health Foods, 6235 W. Saginaw, Lansing, MI (517) 323-9186 This is an item you are not likely to find available in local drug stores.

I'm not absolutely sure if what I had was gout... but I am sure that the symptoms disappeared within just two days of when I started the tablets. Neat stuff.

Do your own research... and lay off the coffee right now!

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1977 Mercedes 240D. 4-speed transmission. Windows, A/C, and sunroof: all manual. Medium Red. 204K miles.
1988 Subaru GL wagon. Dual range 5-speed 4X4. Daily driver w/ twin parts car.
1994 Subaru Loyale wagon. 5-speed 4x4
1966 International 3/4 ton 4X4 truck. Ooh yeah!
1952 Ferguson TO-35 farm tractor.
1984 Snapper rear engine riding mower. Just like Forest Gump.
1988 Nimble 20 sail boat
--Older stuff is built better--

I've never been overweight and certainly haven't led a rich lifestyle. I first encountered gout about 15 years ago (I'm 67 now). My doctor at the time asked if I drank much wine and beer. Affirmative, shared bottle of wine with wife for dinners and had a few beers a week. She said switch to the hard stuff. (I know. Many doctors say NO alcohol...) I eliminated beer, wine, organ meats, oily fish. Minimized shell fish, chocolate, rich gravies. Drink lots of water. Some of it with my Maker's Mark, too. Get plenty of exercise. I still enjoy a good steak and don't worry too much about most meals, as long as I remember the above items.

I've been lucky enough to be able to control gout through my diet.
I seem to get a pretty good warning if I get careless and abuse it. If I get a "gout twinge" I drink more water, take Ibuprofin (definitely not Aspirin) and elevate the foot. I've also found that eating canned cherries helps, although some say that it is an old wives' tale. Haven't had a bad bout with gout in several years.

Try a search on Google. Sift through all the advice and use what seems correct for you. Some people need medication, but I've been lucky enough not to.

Cheers,
Wes

Yeah, once I finally realized what it was, I had to make some changes. I use an herbal remedy that actually works. I've only had four attacks;

1.) Left knee, thought I tore an ACL. Doctors didn't even think of gout, I had x-rays, the whole 9 yards.

2.) Right big toe. Holy cow.

3.) Right little toe. Thought maybe I had hammer-toe deformity or something.

4.) Left big toe. The worst ever. I was literally off work for four days.

Realized what I had in attack 3, started herbal stuff, then stopped. Attack four happenned, major changes instituted.

I eliminated alcohol for a while, but gradually brought it back as I will never go totally without it. Started eating differently, etc., lots of yogurt, figs, dates, fruit, cherries, olives, cheeses. Kind of a Meditteranean diet, I guess, without the coffee! I haven't hade a problem for over a year now.

I'll tell you, the pain is excruciating, almost to faint level the last time I had it. No pain relief makes a dent in it, either, unless you're on the Rx stuff, and I don't have insurance right now.

It runs in my family on both sides. I think I'm a victim of royal genes. I just wondered how many on this site may have had it before.

Had one attack last July on the left big toe. Thought I broke it somehow, had the X-ray and the whole nine yard. I thought I was going to die because it hurt so bad. My doctor prescribed me with Colchicine 6 mg, Indomethacin 75 mg, and Endocet 7.5 mg. I was back and walking the next day. I did not change my diet but drink plenty of water everyday. Have not come back since.

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95 R129
04 Infiniti G35.5 BS
10 X204

I had it bad a couple years ago - I figure from all the beer I drink. It would hit in one of several spots in my toes - couldn't walk for days at a time. First doctor at a walk-in clinic gave me indomethacin; it helped with the pain, but the stuff will eat your stomach out. Then I got hooked up with my present doctor; the long term treatment is allopurinol. I won't go into the biochemistry of it, but it in essence inhibits the production of uric acid, which is what crystallizes out in joints and wreaks all the havoc. The beauty of it: that is about all it does. Been around since the 50's, very safe and cheap too. See the doc, you don't have to live with this pain.

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2002 E320 4-Matic
2008 Subaru Outback
2009 Subaru Forester

Oh yea I have been suffering with gout since I was 20. Like others my doc prescribed Indomethicin (for flair ups), and a combo of Colchecin and Probenicid. I take the combo once a day and have not had a severe flair up in a couple of years. This is a pain I would not wish on my worst enemy I too drink regularly and have a somewhat rich diet. I would prefer to take a pill a day and eat and drink what I want to.

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Keith Schuster
2006 E350 98K miles
2013 Ford Explorer 15K miles

Amen to that, brother - giving up all the things I love like beer, steak, shrimp, lobster...well, I just don't know if I could handle that. A pill a day, I'm a new man! Lipitor is the other Godsend he put me on, total cholesterol went from 275 to 141 in 3 months.

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2002 E320 4-Matic
2008 Subaru Outback
2009 Subaru Forester