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Hi, Everyone;
This is my latest report, which hopefully will be of help to others.
After my Aug. 4 blood test, which saw my UA go up to 8.6, following which I was prescribed Zyloric 100 mg, my latest test (Sept. 29)shows a drop to 7.2. So far, so good. However, I still have occasional twinges and some tingling, and an occasional “burning sensation” in various places in both feet. These symptoms never last more than a few seconds, and are not painful per se, but…..! Then, a urine test of my pH factor showed 5.5, which is too acidic, so I need to get into the alkaline zone 7.3. If it's not one thing, it's another! The rest of my blood test, which covered 30 items, was near perfect.
One thing I've learned the hard way: No matter what symptoms of whatever ailment we suffer from, they all seem to come upon us suddenly from nowhere, and then take their own sweet time to depart, if ever, especially when you grow older.
To zip2, regarding pricing, I'm a member of a pretty good medical insurance system that only charges me 10% of total cost, whether for treatment, medication or hospitalization. My local pharmacy where I take my prescriptions offered me the opportunity to buy generic medications a few months ago, to which I agreed, so my cost now is even lower than before. Zyloric, for example, has been replaced with Allozym at reduced cost.
Don't know how they cut out the purines in beer, but they've been able to cut out caffeine from coffee and various sugars in a variety of products. All commodities are determined by market forces, so I guess they reckoned there were enough beer drinkers among gout sufferers who enjoyed an occasional tipple, hence they took the gamble and engaged in some R&D. I still enjoy an occasional beer, but never more than one 12 fl. oz can a day, and never more than 2 or 3 a week, and I always follow the beer with a glass of water.
I've learned a lot from this forum and wish to thank everyone for their advice and input. Take care! CHEERS!
Hi, Guys;
Me again! Just thought I'd keep you up-to-date.
I attend a large hospital and my blood test results (now taken once every two or three months) are almost immediately available on their computer system. I went there just two days ago (Aug. 4) and had the shock of my life. The last three UA results showed 8.1, 7.9, and 7.6. Since then I've cut out beer just about 95% (hadn't touched the stuff for 8 days), Ive lost 8 lbs. in the last 50 days (I've now increased my almost daily walks to nearly 3 miles), I've drunk plenty of water (2-3 liters a day) that has eliminated ALL my kidney stones, and I've adhered to a fairly strict diet.
First thing I said to my doctor was: “What's my UA reading?”
“It's a little high,” he said.
“High? I can't believe that (thinking of all my intense efforts)! What is it?”
“8.6,” he said.
I was flabbergasted! I didn't know what to say, and I'm sure my reaction puzzled him.
To make a long story short, he has prescribed Zyloric (100 mg.) to be taken every morning. Zyloric (according to the Internet) contains allopurinol and is made by GlaxoSmithKline.
So it appears that while I thought I was just “suffering” from mild symptoms (just an occasional twinge and a little tingling; no redness or swollen joints), which never gave me any real pain, gout was just waiting to pounce when I least expected it. I have joined the club!
To zip2play, I can't remember when I first had kidney stones. They never gave me any problems so I virtually ignored them. I do remember that they were like orange sand particles, which I sometimes discharged in scores. I recall looking at some photos of kidney stones on the internet to identify them and the nearest comparison were uric acid dihydrates. I never had them analyzed because they never bothered me.
Then something strange happened, possibly when I switched from ordinary beer to 99% purine-free beer. My kidney stones changed to 100% spherical in shape, with a salmon pink colour, though later the colour changed to off-white if I drank a lot of water.
Later, when on serious water therapy, they disappeared altogether.
With my uric acid reading of 8.6, I suggested to my doctor that I stop drinking so much water, but he urged me to continue with it, which I am doing.
Gout is a pain!!!!!!
Hi, Trev;
I've appreciate the advice from this forum, so I thought I'd reciprocate by letting others know about my own situation.
I cannot guarantee that my method will work for everyone, but water seems to work for me. So far, I have never taken any gout medication.
Last UA blood test (May 19) saw my level go down from 7.9 to 7.6. I expressed disappointment at such a small drop, but my doctor said it's better to go down in small increments than large ones, which could trigger an attack.
Luckily, I've only had twinges and some tingling, also an occasional burning sensation in my toes, but it's never been worse than that. I've now been drinking tons of water every day (thanks, Trev, for that tip) and here's my report on it:
I usually drink at least 8 half-pints a day, sometimes more, once as many as 14, but I try to make it at least 8. I used to have kidney stones — many, and almost every day. They were quite small, easy to pass, and never gave me any problem, but kidney stones are kidney stones so something was not right. Since drinking all that water every day, the kidney stones are gone; haven't had one since about one month into the water therapy.
I still drink an occasional beer (85% purine-free), never more than one small 12 oz. can, about twice a week.
Twinges and tingling and burning sensation are all but gone; then just as I congratulate myself that they've gone forever, a slight twinge occurs that brings me back to reality. Gout for me, once you've had it or experienced symptoms as in my case, never seems to go away 100%; it seems to hang around in the background. Just when you think it's gone for good, along comes a twinge as a warning.
I used to take two half-tsp of baking soda twice a day, then cut back to one tsp. of baking soda every 7 or 10 days, but I have found that one tsp. can loosen one's bowels and give one the runs, up to 3 or 4 times a day. so I'm cutting back to one-half tsp following the next twinge.
I am now going on longer walks (three miles) every day; I walk fast for my age (83) and it takes me about 50 minutes. I have lost 12 lbs since January, another 15 to go. BMI is 27.8. Meat intake has been cut 2/3rds; generally, I eat two main meals a day. Breakfast after my early morning walk, small snack early afternoon, then 2nd main meal around 6 p.m. Portions for my two main meals have been drastically cut. I have read that people really overweight should spread out their intake into six smaller meals per day. Our tummy acid can only cope with so much; the remainder turns to fat.
The main ingredient for success in all this is WILL POWER, a commodity in short supply as far as I'm concerned. Oddly enough, giving up my 3 or 4 cans of beer every evening was not as tough as I thought it would be. But, then, gout pain is a very strong persuader.
My daughter works in the lab at a large hospital, and one guy there, about 55 years of age, had severe gout, she told me, and was beyond “repair.” It was so bad, she said, that he was literally crippled, only able to limp across the floor; other days he simply phoned in “sick,” and this guy WORKED IN A HOSPITAL! I was very impressed.
That's one of the reasons why I have tried to stay on a strict regimen: plenty of salads, veggies, especially bananas, blueberries, pineapple, soy milk, yogurt. Gout cannot be ignored. It won't go away on its own, and will inevitably get worse. I HAVE BEEN WARNED!
Am I scared? Yes, I am! Gout can be controlled, but only if you treat it seriously!
Thought I'd share this story with everyone.
Hi, Trev;
Me again! I've decided not to get the Kernel tester. My next blood test is for May 19, and I've already arranged for a test every three months, so that should be enough.
What happened was this. I tried the sodium bicarbonate therapy for 10 days (usually 1/2 tsp of SB twice a day), and the twinges are all but gone — just an occasional tingling — so I stopped taking it. If the twinges return, I'll be back on SB immediately!
The SB was accompanied by at least two liters of water throughout the day, and it seems to work, so thanx for the tip about water.
I've since read up on it, and evidently for some, a bigger intake of water is all they need.
Though I've stopped the SB, at least for now, I'm going to continue with the water. It seems to be the answer. Thanx again!
Cheers, Nick
Thanks, Tophi Terror;
I'm from the UK, too, and we do like our beer, but if real gout pain is as bad as many say, then I'll have no other choice than to give it up. Pity! I'm 83 going on 38.
Also, I'm trying a little bit of baking soda therapy, so that might help.
I don't have full-blown gout, but I feel those occasional twinges are a warning, and prevention is certainly better than cure!
It's quite possible that my knee problem also could be the onset of gout.
Give me a few weeks/months trial, and I'll let you know the results. I'll check out the Kernel meter.
Thanks, again!
Nick
