I had my scan yesterday, and we should know the results when we see Dr J on Tuesday.
It’s been a tough couple of weeks and both of us have felt too fed up to write anything. After an inspiring weekend in the Lakes two weeks ago, I’ve had a series of bad nights, and then my foot started getting more and more painful, so by yesterday I couldn’t walk hardly at all. Our GP had ruled out gout when I asked him, and we accepted it was the result of the diseased para-aortic node pressing nerves. I was also getting more and more tired. If I did any activity, I needed to sleep. We both thought it was the onward march of the cancer and were feeling very low about it.
Chris had been pressing me to see the GP about my foot for some days but I couldn’t see the point. Yesterday it was so painful that I agreed and saw a different doctor in the afternoon. Dr M said it was gout! (What Chris had been saying from the beginning of my foot problems in April). It was a much easier diagnosis yesterday as the foot was hot and inflamed. Dr M also said that the foot was probably infected – which is likely to be why I have been tiring so much.
And since taking the antibiotics and anti-flammatory tablets (treatment for gout) there has been a very definite improvement. So we’re smiling again.
Chris, gout may indeed be genetic to some degree because one’s blood chemistry is of course inherited. As for allopurinal, I have used it effectively to reduce deposits of uric acid under the pad of my forefinger (of all places!), but my doctor advises against constant use of that drug. For gout pain, the naproxen strength per dose should not exceed 500mg, twice per day. I certainly would not take either drug regularly because of risk to kidney function.
Good news Elaine but a bit concerned about the doctor who ruled out gout. I know you can’t name names but it certainly undermines one’s confidence in GP’s – (or some of them anyway)
Hi Jack. I too suffer from gout. Which is why I kept asking the doctor: are you sure it isn’t gout?
When I first started with the attacks nearly 20 years ago, I really looked into all dietary side. But I now think that there may be a genetic component for gout. My father, mother, brother and nephew have all suffered from it. I could but don’t take Allopurinal as a preventative because I can go a long time between attacks – I think my last one was June 2002. I remember it because it was my most recent visit to the Glastonbury Festival, and I was having to hobble around, while playing with my three grand-daughters.
In Elaine’s case – the doctor explained on Thursday – it likely to be where the body is undermined, perhaps by cancer, making it susceptible to other illnesses like gout. Anyway, for the moment Elaine’s foot is much improved and she is able to walk again.
Since I have occasional gout attacks myself, the symptoms that Elaine describes seem (to me at least) unmistakable. My treatment is two tablets 500 mg of Naproxen about 4-6 hours apart, and the relief follows readily. The condition is caused by blood excretions of uric acid crystals, typically in the base joint of a big toe, causing the painful inflammation. If this analysis is correct, a blood test will show elevated levels of uric acid. With Elaine’s super-healthy diet, I’m a bit surprised to see gout showing up.