Ha ha so I suppose we are all GoutPals now.

the cherries definetly help

Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar(raw, unfiltered)drink 2 tbls 8oz water3 times a day or more also soak your feet in it..... Bing Cherries( lots of them)..... earthclinic.com

It's funny, there are some new gout drugs and investors generally think gout is not a sizable or growing market. But I come here and all I see are GoutPals. Or are we gouties?

Art, you are taking too much naproxen. It has a relatively long half life, if you are taking 440 mg q4h, you best not do it for more than 3 or 4 doses and drink LOTS of water.

There is a large genetic predisposition, but diet can really push you over the edge. There was this one mug I saw every July 5th. He would drink beer and eat ribs in the sun all day and light off his gout. He would come hopping in, I would give him a shot and he was about ready to kiss me on the mouth.

One year I did not see him; turns out he started taking my advice. Drink a pint of water for every beer. "But that will have me spending all day peeing."

That is exactly right

Tobra,
I only took the 440mg q4h for the acute gout attack, when the pain was so bad I couldn't walk! After the pain subsided, I went on 220mg q12h. I'm very cautious about meds because of my liver and we monitor my liver enzymes very carefully. I drink 1gal of water a day and no alcohol at all. I eat a mostly vegetarian diet (no red meat, chicken or fish once a week). I've cut HFCS out of my diet and I am at my goal weight, so I'm actively managing this.

It sure does seem like gout is on the upswing. Could it be related to the increased incidence of metabolic syndrome and fatty liver that also seems to be prevalent?

I was aware that when you start taking it that you can actually flare (my 2nd time on the med).. so I was just "working" through it, but this was still happening after 2 months back on allupurinol. Mine has all been in my right big toe, can't imagine how a shoulder must feel!:(

I have tried some of the changes in diet to no effect, but I'll give anything a go, so I'll try the banana chips and cherrys, sounds appetizing at least!

The factor of future joint damage is of concern to me, anyone been diagnosed with any long term ill effects yet?

Eric

I don't think it is more prevalent, just diagnosed more often.

Serum UA levels are in normal range VERY often in acute attack

Tobra,
Good point! Seems like many guys I talk to have gout, like me and my brother, but they don't tell others about it. They usually don't know their Serum Uric Acid level and usually don't take any preventive meds, just pain meds....

I'm now taking 300-mg of Allopurinol a day for my gout since the last labs showed that my liver enzymes are still low. I'm eating dried tart cherries and watching what I eat and keeping my weight at 180-185 (I'm 6' 1"). So far, so good...

I have seen plenty of late effects of uric acid.

When the cartilage erodes away, I have seen the defect look white, an intra osseous cyst full of it or a gouty tophus(like a big pimple or boil) that erodes through the skin. It looks just like toothpaste. It is bright white, very distinctive looking.

I too have done the diet change, I had already stopped drinking before I had my
1st attack, already drank lots of water, didn't eat much shellfish, hell, I have never been one to eat a lot of anything, and it still flares up, on maintenance meds & other stuff, have to have blood work every 3 months to make sure my liver & kidneys are OK:(
Every morning, my ankles & knees crack like twigs when I move, guess crystals rubbing..

Yea, getting old isn't fun, but sure as hell beats the alternative...

Byron all my joints crack like that in the morning too... That may not be the gout...

The BMX and skateboard crashes did not help either.

BINGO, my specialst informed me of that, and that becides gout, I have a pretty mean case of Arthritis........ Pretty much just worn out thejoints, ot really crashs, but the impact from jumping..
Can you pick me out in the pic??
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1285654060.jpg

There is a new drug for severe gout w/ tophi. Krystexxa I think. I don't know any more. I missed the stock so I lost interest . . .