Gout (part 2)

[Boomstick]

So as if 2020 wasn't a bad enough year, I've came down with a bad case of gout in my left foot, primarily affecting my ankle. I think it's been 3 years since I've had any real form of gout, but all summer I have been fighting off extremely mild joint stiffness in my toes which could have been the onset of gout. I learned in July on a week long camping trip when I forgot to take my medication that my medication was causing minor flareups, so I didn't take it so I could hike the trails. My mistake was taking it again when I got home. 

 

Fast forward to the third trip - we had a day that was raining pretty decently and we were expecting thunderstorms so we didn't want to take the boats out. So I tried to hike a fairly short trail before the effects of medication wore off and walking on my ankle caused me to hurt my ankle. Now a few weeks later this past weekend, my entire foot blew up. It might be the natural progression of gout, but just hurting your foot can also trigger an attack so I don't really know what happened.

 

It improved enough on Monday where I was able to take the kayaks out with my youngest son (my oldest was sick sadly). I tried to go to a lake I normally shore fished a lot in the past but haven't been out on the kayaks, but all of the places I could get food were closed so I had to go across town for food so I took it to a small pond and caught four fish and the first bass was a good one and made me wish I brought the scale! But just getting out felt good and did wonders for my mood. But it got a lot worse since. It's gotten to the point I have to sleep on the couch and can barely sleep at night.

 

I'm kind of bumming. Despite all the stuff going on this year with Covid and whatnot, jigs being sold out almost everywhere etc, I had more fun this year than I ever had in the past. Getting kayaks was a ton of fun! Then I got a fish finder, and learned a lot on how to use it, and read it and how to turn that into catching fish. My last camping trip was perhaps on the most beautiful, small motorless lake I have ever fished - only 20 acres, but there is so much structure between the shoreline, an island in the middle and fallen trees etc.

 

So I've been watching fishing videos on BR/Youtube, checking the forums a little more and watching TV and gaming a bit more than I normally would since I can't do much else, but nothing else brings me the same peace as fishing.

[DitchPanda]

It's kinda funny that you mention gout...not funny like haha cuz I've heard it's awful..but it's odd you mention it today. Just found out today that a young guy I work with...maybe 25...has a bad case of gout as we speak. Guess his is caused by a kidney disease he has where they won't process uric acid.

[Boomstick]

9 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

It's kinda funny that you mention gout...not funny like haha cuz I've heard it's awful..but it's odd you mention it today. Just found out today that a young guy I work with...maybe 25...has a bad case of gout as we speak. Guess his is caused by a kidney disease he has where they won't process uric acid.

Yeah, a bad kidney function can do it. I've had borderline kidney function but I also had colon cancer at the time which interfered with my ability to digest things. I changed my diet before that was caught as well, and my kidney function was suddenly better than normal.

 

I've largely followed a pescatarian diet for the past few years - I used to get major blowups every 6 months before that. During the summer months when I can camp and grill, I eat some chicken and will rarely eat turkey, but that's about it for meat. I have been drinking my share of beers - but never more than 3 in a day but usually 2. I never had any issues since until they changed my medication, and the issues started almost immediately.

 

Might want to suggest diet changes to your coworker though in case he hasn't looked into it, it definitely does help! Protein translates to uric acid almost directly in most cases, but you can look up uric acid levels in foods as well.

[VolFan]

I have been off and on with gout over the past few years. I had foot surgery 3 years ago that really flared it up. Thankfully mine revolves pretty closely around beer, red meat, and hydration. Mostly beer. Medication didn't help me at all, but not drinking beer, limiting my red meat, and staying hydrated have done wonders.

[Boomstick]

28 minutes ago, VolFan said:

I have been off and on with gout over the past few years. I had foot surgery 3 years ago that really flared it up. Thankfully mine revolves pretty closely around beer, red meat, and hydration. Mostly beer. Medication didn't help me at all, but not drinking beer, limiting my red meat, and staying hydrated have done wonders.

I gave up the red meat entirely but I rarely ever drank more than 3 beers, usually 2 in a sitting anyway...

[VolFan]

I've added red meat back in, but the beer just isnt worth it for me. My last flare up I had a Red Oak Amber at dinner and I could actually feel the attack coming on over the next hour or so - it was pretty definitive. It took a week to get it back down. Maybe switch to White Claws...?

[Boomstick]

14 minutes ago, VolFan said:

I've added red meat back in, but the beer just isnt worth it for me. My last flare up I had a Red Oak Amber at dinner and I could actually feel the attack coming on over the next hour or so - it was pretty definitive. It took a week to get it back down. Maybe switch to White Claws...?

I hate white claws... how about wine?

[VolFan]

You just gotta find what works for you - wine tends to give me a headache.

[Boomstick]

28 minutes ago, VolFan said:

You just gotta find what works for you - wine tends to give me a headache.

I had taken up a liking for certain red wines and sweet riesling earlier in the year. When it got warmer, I switched to beer.