|
My first gout attack happened when I was 32. It started with a swelling at the big toe of my right foot. Gout is a caused by the formation of crystal from uric acid in the joints of the bones. This is due to excess uric acid in the blood, which occurs because the body creates the uric acid faster than the liver can remove it. I went to the chemist who game me some tablets for the gout. I don’t remember what the tablets were called but they worked. 6 months later I got another gout attack. I went to the doctor who prescribed Colgout to relieve the swelling and Zyloprim as a gout preventative. Take 2 Colgout tables is what the doctor said and boy did it give me major diarrhoea. . |
|
|
Colgout works by preventing the formation of the crystals. From then on I have taken at most half a tablet at a time. The other tablet, Zyloprim is an allopurinol which causes the body to produce less uric acid. I found that this does not work very well for me and even though I take a tablet every day I still get gout attacks What I have had to do is change my diet. Eat less foods that are high in purines, especially red meat. For some reason beef seems to affect me the most but every now and again I would eat some red meat but am sure to take some Colgout afterwards. Drinking alcohol can also cause gout, I remember someone telling me it was because alcohol dehydrates you thus causing higher levels of uric acid in your blood. On the opposite side, be sure to drink lots of water as this dilutes the uric acid in the blood. I met someone one day who told me that drinking a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with water would prevent my gout, so I tried it. It tastes terrible so what I do is mix it with some cordial. I went without taking any tables for 8 months before I had another gout attack. The gout was by the joint between my foot and ankle. Every one thought I had sprained my ankle. There is no cure for gout and it is thought to be mainly hereditary so I guess it is something we have to live with and deal with as best we can. |
|