GOUT !! (ouch)

anyone had any problems with gout. I am 5 weeks post op (roux en y) I had one bout last week that the Doctor treated with prednosolone dose pack. Gone in three days. Finished the dose pack and the gout is back. I think the problem is the high protein diet I am on. The staples of my diet are beef, chicken and eggs. I have a doctors appointment the afternoon at 2:00 PM. any suggestions or comments greatfully appreciated.

Hi Stu sorry to hear about the gout I know it is very painful....hopefully your doctors can give you some relief and tailor your diet to your problem I am from waterbury living in prospect now and I just remembered there is a support in waterbury that meets twice a month. I usually get an e-mail when there is a meeting. when I get some more information I will E-mail you good luck with the gout angel

Stu, found this on the web. http://aolsvc.health.webmd.aol.com/content/article/83/97832.htm

Hi Stu, Boy, oh Boy, am I with you here! I am a long time sufferer of Gout. In fact, it was one of the primary reasons I gave the surgery so much thought in the beginning. Although I defy the "norm" of those usually afflicted with gout, (I'm younger, female, and was never a big drinker), it has (had) continually paralyzed my life with acute flareups. Before surgery, I was able to control it better with diet, avoiding shellfish, booze, and rich foods high in purines. I experienced it the first time after surgery about 2 weeks out. Woke up with the ache and throb, sure signs for me. My surgeon treated me with an anti-inflamatory that I had at home already, instructing me to quarter it with a pill crusher and take with applesauce. I had to do this for about a week. Next, I had it again and began the Prednosone prescribed by my primary. Like yourself, it kept returning after the dose pack ended. When I was finally rid of it for about a week, my primary began me on a high dose of Allopurinol, designed to rid the body of excess uric acid (causes gout). I had a uric acid level and liver/renal function tests done beforehand, and my uric acid level was 14.7, FYI: average for a non-gout person is between 3.0-7.0, and this was when I was NOT experiencing an acute episode. Our post surgical protein based diets add uric acid. Not too much we can do about it, so talk to your M.D. about starting a preventative. The only "catch" is that you cannot start the preventative while experiencing an acute episode. There is another one out there too, besides Allopurinol, I think it starts with a "C", but there are a lot of side effects (I'm told, nevert tried it). You will most likely experience several more flare-ups even on the med for the first month or two, that is expected, so stock up on Prednisone! All sulfer based drugs like this are digested in the kidney and liver, so your MD should run a baseline and repeat levels every 6 months (I only have one kidney so mine is checked every three), as well as checking your uric acid levels. When I had mine checked after three months, it was down to 4.3, thank goodness! And my shoe size shrank 2 sizes once all the extra fluid left me! Believe me, I know how painful it is. Stick with it, drink lots of water, and hang in there Anne