Yes, I have gout in the large joint of my left big toe! And it is the single most painful affliction I have had seeing as I have never broken any bones or had any operations (never been in hospital actually).

Yesterday, it was swollen and couldn't bend and I thought I'd knocked it and would go down but after a sleepless night I went to A&E this morning (hobbled there and took 40 painful minutes) and as soon as I took my sock off the nurse said "Gout!". Gave me some anti-inflamatories (sp) and sent me on my way, 40 minutes back home again.

My Dad had it for all his life I knew him so could be genetic flippin' hurts!

Being a northerner, does your diet consist of chip butties, pies, ale and lard? Just a stab in the dark. Try eating some rabbit food.

Cheers

Had me worried for a mo there mate; I thought the 'disease of Kings' was the Syph.

Lay off the port and lampreys and hope you will be well soon.

Oh, thou poor lad. 'Twas but four months ago that I came down with the same disease! The pain, the pain! The mere weight of the bedsheet was too much for the affected organ!

The doctor told me to lay off seafood. But I don't eat the vile stuff anyway! He also told me to stop drinking bottle-yeasting beer. That's when I told him he's a quack and decided to get a second opinion.

Never had it before - or since. At 42 years of age I thought I was too young for gout but apparently I'm about the right age for it to start.

Yeah I read meat, fish and alcohol are not good for it but I have none of those as I cannot afford it!

Heb je echt jicht?

Mace has made it as royalty.

Gout conjures up images of elderly empire types with one bandaged foot on a stool and a large glass of port in hand.

At least it's not Haemophilia or Porphyria.

Toe pain sucks. You never think about how you use them constantly until something goes wrong.

I got it a few times for the first time a couple of years ago. And also in my toe joint. Had to push carts 8 hours on it a couple of times and those were not fun days.

My Dad also used to get it bad. There's also something in tomatos that can bring it on and I love tomatos. I've also heard that dehydration can help and that previous injuries are prone to getting it.

My Dad told me of a medication he used to use that he could give me that knocks the stuff out quick but you'll be crappin' your inerds out all day in the can.

Fruit juice can also be a cause. There has certainly been a real explosion of gout over the last decade. My worst attack was about 5 years ago when I got it in my ankle. Was off work for a month and banged out of my head on tramadol to stem the pain. Was the worst pain I've ever experienced except for kidney stones. I think there is also a genetic disposition to it. My dad, aunt and brother all get it, as did my granddad. All the same side of the family.

You can get a drug called allopurinol which works very well. My brother takes it. You have to take it every day, though, and you can only start it when you haven't had an attack for a while.

About 18 months ago I got serious about my health. I started going back to the gym and really watching what I eat. I've lost about 5 stone in the last year and I haven't had an attack since I started this health drive. Don't get heart burn anymore either.

The only time I've had even the tiniest touch of gout since then was a few weeks ago when I had some lamb. Lamb always seems to set it off for me.

Gout is caused by high uric acid. For instance, I have a bum kidney that acts funky and I get stones formed by too much uric acid hanging around in there. One day 5 years ago my right toe hurt and the next I couldn't walk and had to go to the ER. Hurt so so so bad. Doc told me it was Gout and not surprised based on my kidney issue. Foods such as red meat and fruit juice can contribute. If I were you Mace I'd get my kidneys scanned for stones by those dancing NHS docs I saw on TV last week. If you think Gout is bad, wait till you get as stone. All options for stone removal hurt and should be labeled torture by the Geneva Convention.

Jason

Eén aanval gehad; echt van de een op de andere dag begon het. Kon nauwelijks meer lopen van de pijn. Rare is dat ik redelijk normaal en gezond eet - ik weet echt niet wat de oorzaak was. Gelukkig was het na vijf dagen vanzelf weer weg; ik was op de vierde dag naar de dokter geweest en die gaf me idioot zware medicijnen (zoals vaker in China gebeurt). Terwijl ik nog lag te dubben of ik die moest nemen werd het beter.

(short translation: yes, it was gout; don't know the cause because I eat pretty healthy. Almost couldn't walk anymore. Went to the doctor on day four, he gave me some real strong medicine - much stronger than needed - like they usually do in China. While doubting if I should take the stuff the gout went away by itself on day 5)

The tablets the nurse gave me have really worked and taken the swelling down so I could sleep last night and can move it up and down now but not enough to walk on, still stiff. Keep taking these tablets until it subsides I guess.