"Lunch lady Land"

So since heart surgery I have been on many meds. Well my first bout with gout almost brought me to tears. Since I've changed some meds and rarely have issues.

Well today I read about Tart Cherries working wonders to prevent gout. I just returned from the grocery with juice and canned fruit

Anybody else tried this?

Anything is better than the meds I was prescribed.

Mattie-I'll get to the tart cherries in a minute...

I used to have gout outbreaks in my left big toe a few times a year. Couldn't tolerate even the bedsheet touching it, never mind trying to put on socks or shoes. Took little purple pills (colcrys) the doc prescribed until stomach became upset, that would be the end.

Years later, went on BP pills, the kind that are also diuretics, and immediately my elbow and ankle swelled up, angry painful red, warm to the touch...GOUT of the worst kind. Doctor explained that normal people have 6.0 reading of uric acid, mine was nearly 8.5. He said the percentage of uric acid went up because the diuretics eliminated water from my body but left the acid behind, obviously changing the percentages. And it's the uric acid that goes to the joint and crystallizes, causing that unreal pain. It is an athritis condition.

Instead of simply prescribing allipurinole, he had me see a rheumatoid specialist. This guy said my new goal needed to be under 5.0 because I was one of the genetically wired people who's bodies do not eliminate uric acid efficiently. He also said no one could follow a diet that would prevent gout and survive.

He started me on daily amounts of x amount of allipurinol and x amount of colchrys, monitored my acid levels, after nearly a year stopped the colchrys because I had gone below 5.0. Four years later I take one allipurinol pill a day and have had no attacks in that time at all. Plus he said I can eat/drink anything I want, but warned that if i go to an all-u-can-eat shrimp bar and have 40 shrimp, suffer an episode, then I would be an azzhole!

You also need to know that taking the little pill to stop attacks are only treating the symptoms when they become obvious. One must permanently lower the acid to stop the continuous damage being waged by the crystals, even when no pain exists, or face a future of seriously damaged joints.

OK, the tart cherry stuff. I have used the stuff here and there, it does help with inflammation related to gout, but the real stuff is a concentrate specifically from some part of Michigan (northern Michigan?) with a name like Monomoy...i hate to do it but will google it. It could help but will not cure the cause...high % of uric acid.

Hope this helps, so many people stubbornly refuse to accept the daily lifetime pill, preferring to just treat outbreaks, but risking long term damage.

With all due respect to those who have dietary tips, all they are doing is dulling or maybe even eliminating pain. But the damage continues silently if the acid level is not permanently lowered. Unfortunately with gout, no pain does not equal being well. And diet is not the cause, your system's inability to rid itself of enough uric acid is the issue.

I have had no side effects (other than I am handsomer and smarter than before) nor have any of my friends who have also seen this specialist.

I know. I look like that fat king with gout sitting on his throne with a turkey leg in one hand and an i-don't -wanna-know in his other hand.

It's good to be King!

hey!

WTF!

[-x

Sorry KoC, didn't know you were fat.

so what is that in your other hand?

well, I did gain 10lbs this past year dang it!

#-o

any gout?

Thankfully, no.

But now I have to lose 20lbs, instead of 10.

Not sure if all cherries work but I swear by Swanson Vitamins HiActives Tart Cherry.I take 5 capsules a day ........that usually works.If I feel it coming on I'll double dose and drink a bottle of tart cherry juice,can't remember the brand but it's an organic not from concentrate,really good stuff.Someone mentioned orange juice........stay away from it,the purines in OJ are as bad as eating a double plate of shellfish.However tea and coffee are good.Most of the veggies high in purines do not effect me.....even shellfish in small doses doesn't bother me.My Kryptonite seems to be high fructose corn syrup........this crap in all but small doses will light up my gout like the Griswalds on Christmas Eve.I stay away from all soda except for an occasional diet and drink lots of tea and coffee.

swansonvitamins.com is yo friend

Ron, I used to manage the painful episodes too. But now I know that I have this destructive inflammation going on in my body, even when it doesn't hurt, if the acid level is higher than my system can eliminate.

There are dozens of medical, vitamin, and food/drink concoctions that might prevent or lessen the pain, as you said you double up when you get an inkling an episode is near, but none of them cure the problem and the damage continues, just no pain.

Like treating the itch but not the measles.

As long as I take my tart cherry my Uric acid level usually stays below 5.I do have weak moments and suck down a few beers ..........nothing on the market can cure that stupidity.

glad to hear you aren't only dealing with outbreaks.

man, it is an ungodly pain!

And frank you are so right....it is unGodly pain!!!

I'm pounding the tart cherry juice and eating tart cherries. Last night was brutal and today it's just slightly sore. So something must be working.

Oh, and the first thing that you MUST do when you realize you have gout... get rid of all your hack saws!!!

#-o