Goutypete
Everyday life of living with gout
Tuesday 7 April 2015
Things are changing
Wednesday 28 May 2014
Foot
The weight of the duvet tonight is unbearable.
Sleeping with one foot sticking out of the bed so not only does the foot now throb its also cold.
Not good, not good at all.
Monday 26 May 2014
Pray
Do you believe in something higher, an afterlife, a creator of life?
I suppose what I am trying to say is are you religious, do you have a God? I can say I'm not big on the religious front but I do believe there is something or someone greater. With the kids being in brownies and guides we have been going to church a few times a year more than what we did.
If you suffer from gout do you ever, when alone quietly ask the three questions:
Why me?
Please make it stop.
Take me away from all of this please I can't take any more.
I must admit that in the past few months I have asked all three a number of times, especially at times like this. 2am in the morning and one joint or another screaming in pain with no way of getting comfortable and having to be up in less than five hours.
Just thought I'd ask the question as it makes you think.
Speak soon.
Pete
Sunday 11 August 2013
Relax, it's under control
Tuesday 5 March 2013
Screaming in silence!
I came home from work tonight, sat on the edge of the bed and wept!
I don't mean the bucket loaded outright bawling, more the I've had enough and I can't take this shit no longer.
At this point you may think I'm referring to work but I'm not, I'm referring to the sheer agonising, searing pain that is in my left elbow at present.
If you read my last post on Sunday you may recall the start of an attack, well Monday morning I got up dressed and ready for work in not a lot f pain but a dull ache, that was until I got in the car and tried to change gear.. I got to the end of the road and had to turn back, I simply couldn't take it.
No problem as I signed on at home and got comfy for a day working at the dining room table, I had everything I needed, laptop, drinks, fruit and phones. Bid farewell to the kids and the other half as they set off for their day at school and work respectively. By this time it's 9am and the ache is turning painful so I thought nothing for it but painkillers. At this point I am a couple of days short of three weeks without the need of painkillers of any kind.
I took indometacin.
Ask anybody who takes this prescribed drug and it is the spawn of the devil himself. The first half hour I was fine and then I started to feel really nauseous. You may ask why them then? Simple, they're the only thing I've found which works.
I managed to complete a full day doing work and got a lot completed but I felt like shit until late into the evening.
Nothing else for it I had an early night but felt ok and the pain had dissipated. This morning I got up and drove to work no problem. Had lunch and then the ache started again, by half past three I was rubbing the elbow to try and ease the pain thinking only an hour and half to go.
At ten to five I got the call - meeting at five o'clock but don't worry it's just a quick ten minutes.
Ok I thought ten minutes but by this time this elbow is red and hurting like hell. The ten minute meeting finished at twenty past six.
I packed my things and drove home in silence which for me is rare as I love listening to the radio on the way home, it helps me to unwind, luckily the traffic was clear so not many gear changes needed.
By the time I walked in the house I had to be helped off with my jacket and the weight of the shirt sleeve on my elbow was agony. I hastily ate my evening meal in silence and came upstairs because I didn't want the kids to see me, I sat on the bed and wept.
Because someone isn't cased in plaster or using a wheelchair etc doesn't mean they're not physically hurting!!!!
I have suffered with this for over twenty years now and it has never ever got to me like today and the reason for this is because due to the change in diet etc over the past month I thought I had finally turned a corner as I hadn't had a bad attack then this comes along and pole axes me.
I still truly believe that I brought this on myself on Sunday as not having any fruit or anywhere near enough hydration but I will persist with my battle against the dreaded gout.
It may look as if the above is all one big moaning session and maybe it is but if more people are aware of gout the more we can understand.
As the saying goes 'you live and learn'
Pete.
Sunday 3 March 2013
Getting to grasps
I've had quite a good weekend, but now, this evening as I write this post I have a dull ache in my left elbow and from previous experience, that's one of the worst places for an attack not that there are any good places.
For the biggest part of today I have been out and admittedly my water intake has been very low and my caffeine intake quite high, gallons of tea and a couple or three shots of espresso courtesy of Mr Starbucks.
Too most the intake of caffeine may not seem a problem but there is an ongoing argument regarding this within gout circles at the moment. The current census is that if you are a regular coffee drinker then it does not have an effect on gout but if, like myself you only occasionally have coffee it can have an adverse effect and bring an attack on.
Now in the mainstay I drink tea which as you may or may not know when added to water has a much lower caffeine content than coffee and there lies my problem, my weakness is a the occasional cup of good quality ground coffee, I can't stand this instant shite (I also hear you ask then why do I drink Starbucks if I like quality coffee!!!) so today I had a double shot in a latte and a single shot espresso linked to the fact I've had very little water today and you go do the maths.
I've also had no bananas or cherries this weekend and through the week I have been going through these by the pound as they work magic in neutralising the acid in your body.
So looking back, I may be starting an attack but I have brought this on myself and from this I will learn. I am currently sat here on my third glass of water with the juice of one full lemon, one more to go before I go to sleep (it's recommended 4 glasses on the hour every hour each with the juice of one lemon)
So tonight I will read until my final glass and hope that that does the trick. Tomorrow we start phase two of the healthy eating, and that's to get rid of some weight, I am already feeling better but I think that if I can loose around half a stone or a little bit more then I will feel great.
Catch you all later in the week.
Pete.
Wednesday 27 February 2013
Bring me sunshine
As of tonight I am two full weeks without the need of pain killers, to say I'm happy about this is an understatement, I'm ecstatic. I nearly had a bit of a wobble in the early hours of this morning when I woke up with a pain in my ankle but with the help of a well placed warm wheat bag it was ok when I woke up.
Not only have I managed without prescription drugs but also the ones you can buy over the counter,you can not wipe the smile of my face. To add to todays happy mood I received a message from a friend who had just passed her driving theory test this morning, I was made up for her.
I've also noticed the weather is picking up and it staying lighter a bit later each evening. Great that means spring is finally on its way and I wont feel so bad about eating all this salad, not that I'm complaining a few sacrifices made and I'm feeling great, well when I say great I mean a lot better that what I have been doing this past twelve months or so.
Well only two more days to work then the lovely weekend is here so see you all then.
Pete