Thread: Gout...How to Treat

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

Originally Posted by HermantheGerman

What do you consider uric acid count not high ?

Within mid-normal range.

Don't mean to be a wise guy, but that was not the answer I was looking for.
mg/dl = ?

^Not sure what you're looking for. When the doc tests for uric acid, it gives a number, and a normal range. Example: Normal range is 4.0 - 8.5. My number is 6.6. Just as an example.

Treatment choices depend on kidney function, other health problems, personal preferences and other factors. Patients may need medications to lower their elevated blood uric acid levels that predispose to gout. The goal is a uric acid level less than 6 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).
Diseases and Conditions Gout - American College of Rheumatology
Diseases and Conditions Gout

Originally Posted by Headworx

Arcoxia 120mg

I checked up on these and found they were not compatible with MIL Blood pressure problems. Anyone thinking of taking them should consult a doctor first.

Ice treatment and cherry juice are the two I have plumped for as safe bets. Arcoxia, if it was me but not for MIL...

MIL doesn't drink and never has. I reckon she had shellfish over the New Year, brought up by relatives...last attack was back in October, so it takes a bit to work out what is causing it.

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

Originally Posted by adam03

Step 1 - Get off the booze.
Step 2 - Stay off the booze.

Too bad it's not that simple. I have flare-ups a few times a year, and I don't drink. Neither do I eat trigger foods in excess, nor is my uric acid count high.

But, nevertheless, there I am on my back with an ice pack.

Never been overweight; worked out my whole life. Doctors all agree it's gout; none has an explanation of cause.

Yes, it's not simple at all and every person reacts different.
For all you boozers out there you might be happy to know that even vegetarians who don't drink alc. can get gout.

Originally Posted by Troy

Originally Posted by Headworx

Arcoxia 120mg

I checked up on these and found they were not compatible with MIL Blood pressure problems. Anyone thinking of taking them should consult a doctor first.

Ice treatment and cherry juice are the two I have plumped for as safe bets. Arcoxia, if it was me but not for MIL...

MIL doesn't drink and never has. I reckon she had shellfish over the New Year, brought up by relatives...last attack was back in October, so it takes a bit to work out what is causing it.

If she has gout the best thing will be for her to take allopurinol.
Its cheap.
It has been around for a loooong time, meaning the side effects are none or minimal.
You can easily dose it to the amount you need.
Most important ...it Helps !

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

^Not sure what you're looking for. When the doc tests for uric acid, it gives a number, and a normal range. Example: Normal range is 4.0 - 8.5. My number is 6.6. Just as an example.

6.6 is too high and uric acid is collecting in your body waiting to get triggered
4- 5.5 nothing needs to be done
5.5 - 7.5 most likely needs to be treated or at least monitored

When you have a gout attack, for example your toe or knee, its already too late. The crystals have been activated by alcohol or something else.
When everything is fine (for example no gout attack for months or even years) that doesn't mean your body is NOT SUFFERING from the crystals in your body. They cause slow damage to your kidneys, joints and of course your heart.
Again Allopurinol has almost no side effects but those little crystals do.

Chokdee !

This is one of my favorite gout vids.

Originally Posted by Troy

I checked up on these and found they were not compatible with MIL Blood pressure problems. Anyone thinking of taking them should consult a doctor first.

That's quite odd. It was my Doctor that got my BP and Gout under some form of control at the same time who prescribed Arcoxia.

^^If you read my post, you will note that I randomly selected 6.6 as an EXAMPLE.

I don't recall what I last tested, other than that the doctor said it was fine.

I used to suffer from chronic gout.

I went to Thai and US doctors. They always prescribed anti-inflam (NSAIDs) and pain killers and no info on how to prevent attacks.

I read up a lot. Went to "gout" forums.

Then, here on TD, the poster Kmart (thank you Kmart) told me about baking soda to alkalize the blood.

1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 4 oz. of water after waking up in the AM and before gong to bed at night.

It worked wonders.

I can't say it'll work for everyone, but it work for me and it's worth trying.

I can make the following assumptions:

*I've had Uric Acid blood tests showing very high levels during gout attacks and also blood tests showing normal levels during gout attacks. The latter is not common but can happen.

*I assume that my diet was causing my blood to tilt to acidic on the PH scale as I started to note what I was eating and drinking.

Today, I'm basically gout free.


But it's worth adding that about 2-3 years after I started the baking soda regimen I did start taking 150 mg of Allopurinol per day as an additional measure.

The "dehydration" aspect interests me.

Originally Posted by crackerjack101

The "dehydration" aspect interests me.

Also,

I drink a gallon of water per day. That's technically 3.76 liters. In total, I know I drink 4 liters per day at least.

Hydration and *elimination* is key to preventing and combating a gout attack.

You piss-out the purines when you urinate.


Sip on water throughout the day. Actually, 3.76 liters is not a lot during you entire waking hours.

There is a long-running "Gout Thread" on TD already: https://teakdoor.com/health-fitness-a...ut-thread.html

Also, this site is very good: https://sites.google.com/site/icuredmygout/
-Baking soda recommended to combat blood acidity; but people with high blood pressure or hypertension need to think about this.

As someone who used to get bad Gout attacks some years ago, I did a fair bit of research after the usual shite from Thai doctors regarding; "don't eat chicken, or "anything that flies". Utter rubbish.
I am very fit, play sports, etc, not overweight. Just prone to gout attacks, same as my Dad.
Firstly, you don't even need elevated Uric acid levels to get a gout attack. Crystals form at the joints as white blood cells attack "invading" uric acid, even small amounts can prompt this, depending on your genetic makeup and diet.
Alcohol, especially dark alcohol; whisky, port, brandy, etc (red wine for me) is a massive trigger for gout. Also processed meats; sausages, bacon (sorry), etc.

Some healthy foods like tomatoes (eg) have very high acid content (look at the pH values of foods supplied on the second link). Everyone is different, though booze and processed meats are a common trigger. Different foods also produce different blood sugar spikes in different people, which imo is also related to Gout.
For an attack of gout, I always found Voltaren and Colchicine to be the best reactive meds to stave it off quickly. Allopurinol as a pro-active long term med if you get high Uric acid.
I've been relatively gout-free now for over 10 years, with baking soda and just some small modifications to my diet. Enjoy a few beers at the weekend without any problems now also. As per the other running thread on this page; apple cider vinegar is also a good preventative gout measure, amongst other things.

Do you still do the baking soda diet ?

Originally Posted by rickschoppers

Warning! Baking soda may not be your natural gout cure. It MUST ONLY BE TRIED with your doctor’s approval since this could have many side effects including high blood pressure, headaches, appetite loss, nausea, vomiting, stomach pains and others. Baking soda is high in sodium, so cut down your salt intake as much as possible if taking it. Gout attacks raise blood pressure, and so does excess sodium.
Moreover people with heart, kidney, and liver disease, and appendicitis should not try it, without their doctor's agreement. It is contraindicated with some prescription medicines. Take too much for too long and you could get alkalosis.So speak to your doctor first. It should not be taken when the stomach is too full. An empty stomach is better.

The part about chicken & skin can be read on the internet and purin tables confirm
that it should be avoided.

I have been gout free now for over a year (touch wood) but always have colchicine on standby and take 1 Allupurinol every day which seems to prevent it. Dietary changes have been few other than reducing seafood and chicken which are my triggers. Losing eight has definitely helped

Originally Posted by crackerjack101

The "dehydration" aspect interests me.

its definately a factor, if I don't drink enough water daily, regardless of the weather being hot or cold then an attacks sure to occur, it's strange how hard it can be to drink 3 or 4 liters of water a day yet quite easy to drink 10 liters of beer, probably coz waters boring tasteless stuff and fish fuck in it.

Originally Posted by beerlaodrinker

Originally Posted by crackerjack101

The "dehydration" aspect interests me.

its definately a factor, if I don't drink enough water daily, regardless of the weather being hot or cold then an attacks sure to occur, it's strange how hard it can be to drink 3 or 4 liters of water a day yet quite easy to drink 10 liters of beer, probably coz waters boring tasteless stuff and fish fuck in it.

Have you tried putting beer labels on your water bottle ?

Originally Posted by adam03

Step 1 - Get off the booze.
Step 2 - Stay off the booze.

I am confident that you are thrilled by me suggestion.

adam,

You are INcorrect on both points.

Gout is very complicated.

Also, there are types of booze you CAN have with gout tendencies and gout flair ups.

Not all "booze" is equal.

Originally Posted by HermantheGerman

Do you still do the baking soda diet ?

Originally Posted by rickschoppers

Warning! Baking soda may not be your natural gout cure. It MUST ONLY BE TRIED with your doctor’s approval since this could have many side effects including high blood pressure, headaches, appetite loss, nausea, vomiting, stomach pains and others. Baking soda is high in sodium, so cut down your salt intake as much as possible if taking it. Gout attacks raise blood pressure, and so does excess sodium.
Moreover people with heart, kidney, and liver disease, and appendicitis should not try it, without their doctor's agreement. It is contraindicated with some prescription medicines. Take too much for too long and you could get alkalosis.So speak to your doctor first. It should not be taken when the stomach is too full. An empty stomach is better.

I assume this post by the departed (banned) rick was in the original gout thread.

This again, is another INcorrect assumption, applying a minor remedy to ALL people (like adam did).

No, over-regulated westerners who've grown up with big-pharma and western doctors:

You do NOT need to consult a Dr. to take a 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in the AM and PM in 4 oz of water.

It alkalizes you blood (that's a good thing).

If one has high blood pressure then is *may* be a factor - that depends on how much sodium you take in from other foods, if you are on HBP meds, how much you sweat, what climate you live in, and if you exercise.

Google Gerson Therapy, carn't post the info at the moment.
Worth a look.

Chicken (breast) is the only meat that has alkalyzing properties on any list of acidic / alkaline foods and drinks.
Why would chicken cause Gout? Are we talking organ meat, processed chicken etc?

Originally Posted by Cold Pizza

1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 4 oz. of water after waking up in the AM and before gong to bed at night.

As a starting point, I'd recommend a lot less. I use what I would estimate to be about 1/3 of 1/2 a teaspoon, and only at night, and only a couple nights a week, and it more than does the trick.

But then, I've never had what I would call full blown gout, just some foot soreness that could not be explained by anything else.

oops double post

Originally Posted by UrbanMan

Originally Posted by Cold Pizza

1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 4 oz. of water after waking up in the AM and before gong to bed at night.

As a starting point, I'd recommend a lot less. I use what I would estimate to be about 1/3 of 1/2 a teaspoon, and only at night, and only a couple nights a week, and it more than does the trick.

Why?

But then, I've never had what I would call full blown gout, just some foot soreness that could not be explained by anything else.

Then I presume you don't have acidic blood now gout issues.