Shitty Diagnosis

[Bower]

You mentioned dieting, this can also be a big trigger for gout, a sudden drop in carbohydrates affects your insulin levels and can bring the onset of gout.
Don't put off the blood tests, if it is gout it may return with a vengeance and the uric crystals that form can cause real damage to your joints.

[alwarner]

Yeah, the point is I don't think I have Gout. I have underlying problems with my foot from ankle surgery.

so treat yourself then! you know better

I am sure the Doc needs to look at the tests, but he probably decided on your history that you were a likely case for gout, having seen queues of similar farang

at least the tests will rule it out and the Doc can think again

He didn't know anything about my history when he made the diagnosis. That's the point.

I'm hardly qualified to treat myself, yet, I was correct that I don't have gout. It's worrying (for me), no?

But you're right about the tests, I will get them done.

[alwarner]

You mentioned dieting, this can also be a big trigger for gout, a sudden drop in carbohydrates affects your insulin levels and can bring the onset of gout.
Don't put off the blood tests, if it is gout it may return with a vengeance and the uric crystals that form can cause real damage to your joints.

Yeah, lost a bit from less booze and a healthier diet.

[Little Chuchok]

^Arthritis? Yeah could be. Given the earlier injury. Gout, no, but that's the one he was pushing.

Could be Arthritis.Gout can also come and go.

My uncle had a study done on him by a Medical School Professor (over 5 years) because of his gout and because I first got it at a young age, he spent many hours describing to me the does and don'ts etc.He was also use by Auckland medical schools to describe the disease from a patiants view point.

The truth is that many Doctors in the western world know bugger all about it.It can be mild and it can be severe.Sometimes asprin works.Some anti-inflammatories work, some don't.I tried them all.Heat works for some people...ice for others.Everybody is different.

Blood test is number one though.

Stress can bring on gout...mental or physical.

pacific islanders and Maori have 5 times more chance of getting it than white people...This is all to do with an enzyme lacking in their blood.

There is also a good chance that somebody in your family has had it.

When you get it really really bad, it is indescribable!! cortisone injections work well. The only problem is they put them in the middle of your joint.

Stopping food that are high in purines is fine.....the problem is that your uric acid levels are probably very high.These foods don't cause the gout, but may be the last straw to break the Camels back....that's why blood tests are so important.

There is also a new gout drug that is being trialled at the moment.

also drink lots and lots of water.

[alwarner]

^thanks for that, I'll get the blood test. Sounds like you've had it bad.