Keith’s GoutPal Story 2020 Forums Please Help My Gout! Your Gout Doctors advice or not?

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  • #3332
    caveman38
    Participant

    I have just returned from my GP confused. After my first Gout attack I was sent for SUA. The results of this showed a UA level of 7.2 and a higher than normal liver reading. I was prescribed Colchinine and after 12 tablets it did the trick.

    I was sent for more blood tests and they showed UA of 8 and again higher than normal liver figures (whatever they are). He is more concerned with the liver than the Gout at the moment. I have to say that some of my problems (if not all) may have been brought on by excess weight I have since lost 10lbs. But during that regime I changed my diet, exercised and sweated a lot more than normal.

    He wants me to have more blood test in 2-3 months and we will see if the liver readings are OK and if the UA is stable. He beleives that 8 is not to excesive and will wait to see if I have another Gout attack before he considers Allo.

    I have confidence in my GP but get confused when I read on these BB's that UA of 8 is too high to accept and that I may be losing valuable Allo time. Any views please.

    #9231
    vegetarianGuy
    Participant

    If it was definitely a Gout attack then yes reading of 8mg/dl is NOT GOOD! For a confirmed Gouty the SUA should be maintained under 6mg/dl for life to prevent gout attacks/ cardio problems/ bone/soft tissue etc damage

    Maybe your GP is worried about putting you on AlloP due to your liver issue? I am not sure about the connection between the two if any. Why don't you ask him why he does not want to put you on AlloP? Is he planning to just ignore Gout?

    You say you lost 10lbs but from what weight? Your current height and weight is what? Age?

    Either way your SUA needs to be brought under control but loss of 2-3 months won't be end of the world. So you could wait two months to see if your liver is back to normal.

    #9232
    caveman38
    Participant

    Either way your SUA needs to be brought under control but loss of 2-3 months won't be end of the world. So you could wait two months to see if your liver is back to normal.

    Thanks VG that is what I wanted to hear. I will err on the cautious side and have a blood test in 2 months and see what the resukts are.

    BTW I am not a big guy, I just put on too much weight over 2 years. I am 59 and weighed 13 St. 3llbs and am now 12 1/2 st. thing is I am small boned and did s*d all for a year or so. Crash diet, lots of exercise and with the warm weather we've had,I sweated a lot. I'm hoping that I brought on most of my problems and with a more moderate regime hope not to have any more attacks.

    Obviousl that is withful thinking but now I have the liver to worry about although TBH I haven't a clue what is the matter if at all. He asked if I drank a lot of alcohol (which I don't) and talked about faty deposits. Too much to take in I'm afraid.

    #9233
    odo
    Participant

    caveman38 said:

    TBH I haven't a clue what is the matter if at all. He asked if I drank a lot of alcohol (which I don't) and talked about faty deposits. Too much to take in I'm afraid.


    http://www.patient.co.uk/healt…..isease.htm

    Cut out the white sh1te(carbs): bread/flour, rice, sugar, breakfast cereals

    #9234
    caveman38
    Participant

    Thanks for the link Odo.

    Your refernce to diet helping this condition confuses my diet even more. Is it posible to have a diet that will help in weight loss, NAFLD and Gout prevention. Should I just eat cardboard?

    #9235
    vegetarianGuy
    Participant

    caveman38 said:

    Thanks for the link Odo.

    Your refernce to diet helping this condition confuses my diet even more. Is it posible to have a diet that will help in weight loss, NAFLD and Gout prevention. Should I just eat cardboard?


    All the vegetables are ok to eat Wink Eat whole wheat rough brown bread if you must eat bread. There is endless healthy non fatty food out there. For example I don't buy any product at the supermarket that has more than 3- 4% fat in it. I also avoid pre packed processed food. I buy fresh and eat fresh.

    Once you develop taste for healthy food then the though of unhealthy food would make you wanna puke. That is how it has been for me for years. Although not everyone is like me Smile

    #9236
    odo
    Participant

    caveman38 said:

    Should I just eat cardboard?


    Only if it's brown cardboard Laugh

    #9237
    hansinnm
    Participant

    caveman38 said:

    …I am 59 and weighed 13 St. 3llbs and am now 12 1/2 st.

    …but now I have the liver to worry about although TBH I haven't a clue what is the matter if at all. He asked if I drank a lot of alcohol (which I don't) …


    caveman38, you picked the right member ID since you are still using weight measurements which humans who have left the caves are no longer using or even know any more, except the descendents of the cave people who invaded what is called the United States of America and who (as a so-called advanced industrial society/country) are still using inches, feet, ounces, and pounds, rather than cm, m, g, kg which even the UK has adopted. Don't shoot the messenger, caveman, please! I am actually a peaceful gouty, who only fights gout, but have yet to blow the horn of victory.

    My advice: You need to find out what's wrong with your liver. “…and again higher than normal liver figures (whatever they are). He is more concerned with the liver than the Gout at the moment… doesn't say doodely-doo. You got to find answers to the following questions: 1. What are normal liver figures for a male? 2) Why aren't your figures normal? 3) Why isn't he treating your gout? 4) Is your doc inexperienced and/or incompetent? Maybe some other gouties have more questions to ask!!! In any case, having a liver problem (if you really have one) is one thing, but not treating your gout with a SUA reading of “8”, “liver problem” is NO excuse for not addressing your gout problem.

    I had a liver problem when I was 16 years old (that was 63 years ago). Don't ask me what it was (I had jaundice and whatever else when I was 12/13 during the war). All I remember is that the doctor gave me ultra-sound treatment for about 4 weeks (in his office) and some medication for about 2 weeks and I haven't had a problem with my liver since. I have been consuming alcohol daily since I was a kid and every time I had a physical, the doctor would tell me that I had a slightly enlarged liver. I have been brewing, and of course drinking, my own beer for almost 30 years, and making my own wines for about 10 years with gout enhancing my life for the last 26 years. Everything remained “manageable” with Colchicines and Naproxens, including my flares/attacks, until it became “unmanageable” because neither my doctors nor I had actually started to “manage” my gout, that is addressed my high uric acid levels. To stay with the facts: my first doctor who diagnosed me with gout in 1984 finally put me on Allopurinol in 1996, only to find out that I was very allergic to that med. Then nothing happened until a third doctor (a university med professor to boot) put me on Probenecid in 2000 (after being his patient for 4 years.) Now I am on Uloric since July 8, this year, recommended by the umpteenth doctor since my prof doc's retirement in 2006.

    Just one man's not so humble opinion.

    #9243
    zip2play
    Participant

    I will guess the scenario cavemen:

    You will have a serious gout attack in the next two months becasue of that 8.0. It is both good and bad: GOOD in that it will confirm gout and get you on allopurinol; BAD in that it will hirt like Hell.

    There are so many factors that cause our liver enzymes to go off kilter, many completely innocuous. In reality, probably doctors should avoid the test becasue they usually haven't CLUE ONE what aberrant results mean or what to do about them except to say: “Come in  next month and we'll do them again.”Wink

    #9247
    Mike99
    Participant

    I had my first attack almost a month ago.  My doctor did not check my uric acid level.  When I asked what the result was the nurse told me it was 21.  I did some research and figured that couldn't be right.  I called and asked for a copy of my labs including the uric acid result.  I got a phone call from a different nurse stating they didn't check my uric acid level.  She spoke with the doctor and he said it wasn't necessary, the doctor made a clinical diagnosis.  It sounds to me like they made a mistake and are just trying to cover it up.  Everything I have read suggests that one should have their uric acid levels tested regularly to see how well it is being managed.  Now I have no baseline from my initial attack to gauge how well I am managing my gout.  Time for a new doctor?

    #9816
    azasadny
    Participant

    caveman38,

       Watch those liver enzymes. I'm assuming the AST/ALT are what your Dr said are elevated as those 2 liver enzymes are commonly included in a “liver panel” and generally indicate overall liver health. I have a disease called “NASH”, which is nonalcoholicsteatohepatitis, which I manage by eating a vegetarian diet, no alcohol and my body weight is 185lbs and I'm 6'1″ (yes, we do use the barbaric US weights/measures)! I cannot take most medication, although my Dr agreed to start me on 100mg of Allopurinol once a day and I take over-the-counter Aleve (naproxen) for gout pain. My liver condition has been stable for over 3 years and my biggest issue is now gout. The trick is to control both conditions without doing anything to aggravate the liver. I have found that the “best” way to control liver enzymes and keep them low is not to carry ANY extra weight! Good luck!!

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