Gout

I just had my lap rny on 09/17/07.  I am starting to have a gout attack.  I was having some gout issues this summer but it had gone away and now it is being nasty and coming back.  Anyone else with this problem?  Let me know what  a person can do. Thanks Alisa

Talk to your doctor. If you had been on medication for it before you may need to continue taking it but you may need to change the type or dosage due to surgery. Your doctor or surgeon are the ones to help. I haven't really heard much about gout. I looked it up on dictionary.com and it says: A disorder of metabolism characterized by attacks of painful inflammation in the joints, particularly those of the feet and hands. The inflammation is caused by the deposition of crystals of uric acid in the joints. Gout occurs most often in middle-aged men. The tendency toward developing gout is inherited. Stress, fatigue, or excessive exercise are among the factors that can bring on an attack. Surgery and not being able to eat will definetly cause stress and fatigue which could have brought on the episode. I have read multiple studies on obesity and they state that the fatty tissues in the stomach area produce hormones and other chemicals that cause overall inflammation. I had alot of back issues but since I am losing alot of those fatty tissues the pain is much reduced. Perhaps as time goes on the condition will be reduced also. I have no idea of course...just my ramblings. But once again...go to your doctor!!! Even if it doesn't seem like a big deal you should really have it checked out especially so soon after surgery. It may seem like a gout attack and be something else...who knows but a doctor? Good luck with everything. Congrats on your surgery.

Thanks for all the good info.  I called my surgeon and he put me back on colchecene.  It just got worse.  Yesterday I called him and he sent me to the closest ER for some pain relief.  I am glad I was paying close attention.  I told them all right away that I was less than a week post op for gastrci bypass and the first thing he wanted to give me was indocin orally!!!!  I has to educate him and i asked him to please call my surgeon as he has not worked my some one like me before.  He did not ever call my doc, and we worked out a safe option finally.  I still hurt but I can at least get around some on crutches.

Yeah that is a reoccuring problem facing alot of bariatric surgery patients. The problem of our doctors not knowing anything about our surgeries. My primary care doctor is a nice guy, but he wanted me to keep taking huge anti-inflammatory pills right after my surgery. Anti-inflammatory medications will give you ulcers. And you cannot take pills right after surgery even chopped up. I had to go to the ER for dehydration right after my surgery and they wanted me to go home and just drink alot of water. Well with my primary care doctor and the ER guys I had to teach them that my small little pouch couldn't handle all of that. I am tempted to carry around a little picture of the procedure to explain to people! It's awesome that you were your own medical advocate and did not just accept the word of a doctor as the law. We hire doctors, even in the ER. If you don't want their service you do not have to accept it. They recommend things...you do not have to do it. Especially with gastric bypass you have to really double check and make sure that is in your best interest. No one is going to make sure except you. Great job! Sorry your still having troubles but hopefully they will resolve themselves and you can go ahead with a positive experience of weight loss. Good luck with everything.