"Michael "Dog3"" > wrote in message
6.121...


<snip>
>
> I *finally* got to see what gout looked like. There was a man at the
> doctor's office with a pair of open shoes on. His right foot looked
> excruciating. I didn't mention it to him because I didn't want to seem
> rude but he offered up that he was having an especially painful episode
> of gout. I don't remember if it was you, or maybe it was Andy, that
> remarked gout felt like someone took a sledge hammer to your big toe.
> Well, that is exactly what his big toe looked like, sort of. There was
> no trauma ie: torn skin, bleeding etc. but the toe was huge and a redish
> purple color. It looked like a big, throbbing bruise. Like a giant plum
> hanging off the ankle.
>
> Michael


I have had several bouts and have a tendency to get them for several
reasons:

Alcohol consumption as well as coffee will dehydrate and it is the
dehydration that causes the uric acid, which is normal to any human system,
to become concentrated and form a crystal usually in a joint in an
extremity. Big toe, ankle, thumb it doesn't matter. Foods that are rich in
purines such as oatmeal, other grains, shellfish, organ meats, will also
exacerbate the condition.

It HURTS LIKE A SOB! The only relief for me was Vioxx which was pulled from
the market. The other relief comes from icing, freezing the area.

In my case some of the other meds I take will exacerbate.

Michael \"Dog3\" wrote:
>
> Bleh... About how long does an episode last? This man was jovial
> even though he was in a lot of pain.

Depends on severity, but not usually more than a few days.
However, that must be followed by several days of an
anti-gout diet. If the pain goes away and you return
to a normal diet too soon, it can flare up again even
worse. Because today is the third day after the warning
sign, I allowed myself a little chicken and cheese.
If I had a full-blown attack, I'd wait a few more days
before returning to regular eating.

Prevention is the key, because the more attacks you have,
the more susceptible you become to future attacks. I've
had attacks since I was a teenager, and after I discovered
what caused them (which I actually self-diagnosed after
learning about gout in biochemistry class in college),
I've learned what to avoid. That's why I almost never
eat eggs.

"Michael "Dog3"" > wrote in message
6.121...

> Bleh... About how long does an episode last? This man was jovial even
> though he was in a lot of pain.
>
> Michael

The episode will last until the crystal is reabsorbed and no longer exists.
There is no rule of thumb. Anti-inflammatory drugs will help but not cure.

Pain meds do nothing more than mask the symptoms.

That's why I say drink water lots of water. It doesn't cure but it helps the
body regain equilibrium.


--
Old Scoundrel

(AKA Dimitri)

Michael \"Dog3\" wrote:
>
> Hmmm... pardon my ignorance on the subject. I just want to avoid getting
> it. Will drinking Pedialyte (sp) help with the dehydration and enzyme
> replenishment?

You want to produce lots of urine. Plain water is best
for that. Water with electrolytes will tend to be
retained, however you could become depleted in
electrolytes if you go overboard drinking lots
of plain water.

They're aren't any enzymes that need to be replenished.

Mark Thorson wrote:
> Michael \"Dog3\" wrote:
>> Hmmm... pardon my ignorance on the subject. I just want to avoid getting
>> it. Will drinking Pedialyte (sp) help with the dehydration and enzyme
>> replenishment?
>
> You want to produce lots of urine. Plain water is best
> for that. Water with electrolytes will tend to be
> retained, however you could become depleted in
> electrolytes if you go overboard drinking lots
> of plain water.
>
> They're aren't any enzymes that need to be replenished.

I just caught this. Michael... you live with a doctor. Why not ask *him*
what he suggests?

"Michael "Dog3"" > wrote in message
6.121...
> "Dimitri" >
> : in rec.food.cooking
>
>>
>> "Michael "Dog3"" > wrote in message
>> 6.121...
>>
>>> Bleh... About how long does an episode last? This man was jovial
>>> even though he was in a lot of pain.
>>>
>>> Michael
>>
>> The episode will last until the crystal is reabsorbed and no longer
>> exists. There is no rule of thumb. Anti-inflammatory drugs will help
>> but not cure.
>>
>> Pain meds do nothing more than mask the symptoms.
>>
>> That's why I say drink water lots of water. It doesn't cure but it
>> helps the body regain equilibrium.
>
> Hmmm... pardon my ignorance on the subject. I just want to avoid getting
> it. Will drinking Pedialyte (sp) help with the dehydration and enzyme
> replenishment?
>
> Michael


Hmmm, an interesting proposition.

First I am not any kind of medical person, therefore what I have to say on
the subject is nothing more than an uneducated opinion.

Pedialyte is used to rehydrate people who for some reason have lost a large
amount of their fluids and therefore it can put their electrolytes out of
whack (medical term). i.e. diarrhea can kill children. IIRC there was a
major campaign in Africa many years ago to teach people to make a simple
salt and sugar water mixture, it saved many many lives.

That is not the problem with gout, gout is caused by an overabundance of
uric acid and the normal hydration or flushing of the system, allowing the
kidneys to do their job, will ultimately help the situation. Please note I
said help not cure. The cure is in finding the cause for the overproduction
of uric acid, and part of that can be diet and intake and output of fluids
or other causes. To read more go to the arthritis website as they consider
it under their prevue.

I don't think you need be concerned, it is not something you'll just catch.
There are usually definable causes. If it helps, I have not had a bout for
many years. If I feel it coming, stiffness, joint pain etc, I stop any
coffee, & alcohol start some AntiInflammatories and start forcing
fluids.That works for me.

Dimitri