Ok. I think I'm finally getting my head around this gout thing.
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.
Sunday, 3 March 2013
Wednesday, 27 February 2013
Bring me sunshine
You all remember the finishing credits to Morecambe & Wise, the one where they dance off stage to the tune "bring me sunshine". Well that's how I feel at the moment.
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
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
Sunday, 24 February 2013
Whoop Whoop
Well, its now been three weeks since I last had a carbonated soft drink and its over a week and half since I have had a painkiller and, get this, I haven't had an alcoholic drink since new years day.
Has it been easy? No. It's been one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I have more or less completely changed my diet.
The weight isn't dropping off me though I have shed about 3 pounds in as many weeks but i just feel so much better. I'm sleeping better and I seem to have a bit more energy, and the main thing is I am not in crippling pain.
It goes to prove that the old adage is right. "YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT". You eat shit, you feel shit.
There is still a long way to go dont get me wrong but feeling so much better after this time is only encouraging me to carry on.
Has it been easy? No. It's been one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I have more or less completely changed my diet.
The weight isn't dropping off me though I have shed about 3 pounds in as many weeks but i just feel so much better. I'm sleeping better and I seem to have a bit more energy, and the main thing is I am not in crippling pain.
It goes to prove that the old adage is right. "YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT". You eat shit, you feel shit.
There is still a long way to go dont get me wrong but feeling so much better after this time is only encouraging me to carry on.
Thursday, 21 February 2013
Milestone
Today has been a milestone for me. I have completed a full week, 7 days without a single pain killer. I am not saying that I'm completely pain free, its just now more of a dull ache rather than a throbbing red hot pain that nothing can touch other than the strongest of painkillers.
A week may not seem much, but trust me, after living with this for the best part of twenty years and hardly passing a day without some kind of pain relief this is a massive step forward for me.
All of this is down to changing my diet and cutting out a lot of crap. I haven't had soft drinks for nearly three weeks, only two drinks a day containing caffeine, increase water intake by 2L a day and cutting out processed foods.
My sleep has also improved. I have gone from 3-4 hours per night to 7-8 and I don't half feel better for it..
Also having advice and support from Bert Middleton aka The Gout Killer has been a massive help.
Lets see what the rest of the week brings as the colder weather is on its way again if we believe what the weather men say and that can sometimes make it worse.
See you at the weekend.
Pete.
A week may not seem much, but trust me, after living with this for the best part of twenty years and hardly passing a day without some kind of pain relief this is a massive step forward for me.
All of this is down to changing my diet and cutting out a lot of crap. I haven't had soft drinks for nearly three weeks, only two drinks a day containing caffeine, increase water intake by 2L a day and cutting out processed foods.
My sleep has also improved. I have gone from 3-4 hours per night to 7-8 and I don't half feel better for it..
Also having advice and support from Bert Middleton aka The Gout Killer has been a massive help.
Lets see what the rest of the week brings as the colder weather is on its way again if we believe what the weather men say and that can sometimes make it worse.
See you at the weekend.
Pete.
Sunday, 17 February 2013
Time
Where does it go? Time that is. I can't believe it's nearly three weeks since I last posted.
Well what have I been up to? In all honesty I'm not sure, I seem to have been busy but not done that much if that makes sense?
As posted in my last visit I had to go to Yorkshire and to Yorkshire I went. How come you never have a bloody camera when you need one? You may recall the time my visit was due it had forecast snow and boy did it put some down followed by some very hard frosts.
As I turned off the A1M and split off the Selby road, I took the road towards Sherburn in Elmet which runs in between fields, and there, just as dawn was breaking running across the field was a fox. Its splendid red coat a stark contrast to the ploughed but hard, sparkling white field. A sight and photo opportunity I will probably never get again. The following Sunday I was out on my scooter with the dog and family and it happened again only this time I had my camera with me, unfortunately I also had Lucy aka gob almighty with me - two robins on a branch singing away not 20 yards in front of me.
I just managed to get them in focus in the view finder and Lucy comes along singing along to some crap that she had on her I-pod. Now as anyone may know Lucy is not quiet at the best of times, but now she was oblivious as to what was going on around her as she sang along at the top of her voice. She can whisper over three fields -Wakefield - Huddersfield and Sheffield. She never shuts up, the birds shot off and once again I was left feeling slightly miffed at the missed opportunity.
I got to the point where I was seriously considering packing in work full stop. For a few days it was a case of waking up at half six, struggling to get dressed, you all need to try buttoning a shirt up then putting a tie on without the use of the first two digits, trust me its not easy. A cup of coffee to try and have a boost and then to work, by 3PM most days I had lost all concentration due to the pain and lack of sleep, for just over a week I averaged between two and three hours a night and take it from me after a couple of nights like that it soon starts to catch up with you.
I started to follow a guy in the states, Bert Middleton aka The Gout Killer. Bert was a gout sufferer for 13 years and had three lots of surgery for Tophi, which is product which is basically crystallised uric acid in the joints or on ligaments, and its this that causes the pain. Through sheer will and determination and countless hours of research he has managed to keep his gout at bay and is now letting people know how to do it without pumping yourself full of drugs. Its all about diet and neutralising the acid within your body.
Well I have now been doing this for two weeks exactly and touch wood (I know I am going to regret saying this) it seems to be easing.
I have had no soft drinks for two weeks and I used t drink lemonade at home by the gallon. I now only have two caffeinated drinks a day, one in a morning when I get up and a second when I come home from work. I drink water and fruit juice now whilst at work, my bag that I take to work is now bursting with fresh fruit and I now snack on celery and cherries as these help to neutralise the acid. If I do feel a twinge a drink a glass of water with the juice of 1 lemon on the hour, every hour for four hours. Strangely when lemon juice although acidic enters your body it becomes alkaline. I haven't had alcohol since new years day which although I wasn't a big drinker must be helping.
I will keep on this regime and let you know how it goes.
Until next time.
Pete
Well what have I been up to? In all honesty I'm not sure, I seem to have been busy but not done that much if that makes sense?
As posted in my last visit I had to go to Yorkshire and to Yorkshire I went. How come you never have a bloody camera when you need one? You may recall the time my visit was due it had forecast snow and boy did it put some down followed by some very hard frosts.
As I turned off the A1M and split off the Selby road, I took the road towards Sherburn in Elmet which runs in between fields, and there, just as dawn was breaking running across the field was a fox. Its splendid red coat a stark contrast to the ploughed but hard, sparkling white field. A sight and photo opportunity I will probably never get again. The following Sunday I was out on my scooter with the dog and family and it happened again only this time I had my camera with me, unfortunately I also had Lucy aka gob almighty with me - two robins on a branch singing away not 20 yards in front of me.
I just managed to get them in focus in the view finder and Lucy comes along singing along to some crap that she had on her I-pod. Now as anyone may know Lucy is not quiet at the best of times, but now she was oblivious as to what was going on around her as she sang along at the top of her voice. She can whisper over three fields -Wakefield - Huddersfield and Sheffield. She never shuts up, the birds shot off and once again I was left feeling slightly miffed at the missed opportunity.
The gout oh the goutTo put it mildly this bastard has had me on the edge this time. one ankle and two feet at the same time and as soon as that cleared the forefinger and thumb on the left hand and then within six hours exactly the same on the right hand.
I got to the point where I was seriously considering packing in work full stop. For a few days it was a case of waking up at half six, struggling to get dressed, you all need to try buttoning a shirt up then putting a tie on without the use of the first two digits, trust me its not easy. A cup of coffee to try and have a boost and then to work, by 3PM most days I had lost all concentration due to the pain and lack of sleep, for just over a week I averaged between two and three hours a night and take it from me after a couple of nights like that it soon starts to catch up with you.
I started to follow a guy in the states, Bert Middleton aka The Gout Killer. Bert was a gout sufferer for 13 years and had three lots of surgery for Tophi, which is product which is basically crystallised uric acid in the joints or on ligaments, and its this that causes the pain. Through sheer will and determination and countless hours of research he has managed to keep his gout at bay and is now letting people know how to do it without pumping yourself full of drugs. Its all about diet and neutralising the acid within your body.
Well I have now been doing this for two weeks exactly and touch wood (I know I am going to regret saying this) it seems to be easing.
I have had no soft drinks for two weeks and I used t drink lemonade at home by the gallon. I now only have two caffeinated drinks a day, one in a morning when I get up and a second when I come home from work. I drink water and fruit juice now whilst at work, my bag that I take to work is now bursting with fresh fruit and I now snack on celery and cherries as these help to neutralise the acid. If I do feel a twinge a drink a glass of water with the juice of 1 lemon on the hour, every hour for four hours. Strangely when lemon juice although acidic enters your body it becomes alkaline. I haven't had alcohol since new years day which although I wasn't a big drinker must be helping.
I will keep on this regime and let you know how it goes.
Until next time.
Pete
Sunday, 13 January 2013
Spoke too soon.
Once again the gout struck again on Thursday this week, a slight twinge in the right ankle and on Thursday night when I went to bed I knew that the following morning would mean pain of some kind.
I didn't have to wait that long, come around two thirty in the morning and the pain level was unbearable, not only in the ankle which had been giving me a twinge but also in both feet.
At around three o'clock I woke Anne as I could stand it no longer and I had no pain killers up stairs and I knew I couldn't make it down and back up a flight of stairs. As usual she went for the pills and also brought back a drink and the well used wheat bag without complaint. Following that I got about another hours sleep before having to get up for work.
Friday was tough, as the day went on the pain got more and more intense to a point were it made me feel sick and totally crap in general, all hopes of an early finish were banished when the usual three o'clock Friday afternoon problem cropped up. The tiredness brought on from lack of sleep the previous night didn't help matters.
How I manage to get from the office to the car, never mind drive home is beyond me but I did. As I pulled on the drive I had to sit in the car for around fifteen minutes with the engine running, I was freezing cold, nauseous and had I pain in my feet that I can only describe as somewhere between walking on broken glass and being hit in the souls with an iron bar, and this is before I even put any weight on them by walking.
Once through the front door I didn't even bother going into the living room I gingerly walked upstairs wincing with every step and run a red hot bath, sitting on the side of the bath waiting for it to run so I didn't put any unnecessary pressure onto my already throbbing feet and ankle.
For some reason heat always seems to bring a certain amount of relief so I spent a good half an hour - forty minutes in the bath, hastily dried myself and got in bed, all by seven o'clock on a Friday evening. Rock n roll lifestyle wouldn't you agree?
Saturday morning started slow as I had had very little sleep so I spent the morning watching the usual tripe on tv followed by more tripe. Can I just add at this point that I have never known Saturday evening tv so abysmal. As I tweeted 400+ channels and nothing on!! All day I had to walk with the aid of walking sticks which is not good in a house this size
Sunday wasn't exactly pain free but it had abated a hell of a lot and was now more of a dull ache. At lunch time I got the scooter out and we all took the dog for its usual sit / lie in the mud whilst trying her best to look cute. It was freezing and it had also forecast snow. Once we got back and got a brew inside us it didn't wait long until it started to snow, for the first few hours it didn't stick and then later in the evening it's started to stick to the cars, Brilliant I thought, in general I like snow. It looks good first thing in the morning when there is no signs of humans on it and perhaps only the small marks left by birds, I also like the eerie silence that snow brings when it's first fallen. Peace and quiet. Then I remembered the last phone call I took from work on Friday was to tell me I was in Yorkshire all day this coming Wednesday. Now those of you who know the M62 corridor will know full well it's a pain in the arse in summer but in the depths of winter going over Saddleworth moor it's a nightmare. Already this winter they have had to shut it at Oldham due to the rain freezing causing sheet ice and trucks were not able to get grip going up the incline, even cars were struggling, suddenly my thoughts on this snow changed, checking the weather forecast for the week it looks as if its here to stay until at least next weekend. like I said brilliant.
Lets see what this new week brings then.
Till next time
Pete
I didn't have to wait that long, come around two thirty in the morning and the pain level was unbearable, not only in the ankle which had been giving me a twinge but also in both feet.
At around three o'clock I woke Anne as I could stand it no longer and I had no pain killers up stairs and I knew I couldn't make it down and back up a flight of stairs. As usual she went for the pills and also brought back a drink and the well used wheat bag without complaint. Following that I got about another hours sleep before having to get up for work.
Friday was tough, as the day went on the pain got more and more intense to a point were it made me feel sick and totally crap in general, all hopes of an early finish were banished when the usual three o'clock Friday afternoon problem cropped up. The tiredness brought on from lack of sleep the previous night didn't help matters.
How I manage to get from the office to the car, never mind drive home is beyond me but I did. As I pulled on the drive I had to sit in the car for around fifteen minutes with the engine running, I was freezing cold, nauseous and had I pain in my feet that I can only describe as somewhere between walking on broken glass and being hit in the souls with an iron bar, and this is before I even put any weight on them by walking.
Once through the front door I didn't even bother going into the living room I gingerly walked upstairs wincing with every step and run a red hot bath, sitting on the side of the bath waiting for it to run so I didn't put any unnecessary pressure onto my already throbbing feet and ankle.
For some reason heat always seems to bring a certain amount of relief so I spent a good half an hour - forty minutes in the bath, hastily dried myself and got in bed, all by seven o'clock on a Friday evening. Rock n roll lifestyle wouldn't you agree?
Saturday morning started slow as I had had very little sleep so I spent the morning watching the usual tripe on tv followed by more tripe. Can I just add at this point that I have never known Saturday evening tv so abysmal. As I tweeted 400+ channels and nothing on!! All day I had to walk with the aid of walking sticks which is not good in a house this size
Sunday wasn't exactly pain free but it had abated a hell of a lot and was now more of a dull ache. At lunch time I got the scooter out and we all took the dog for its usual sit / lie in the mud whilst trying her best to look cute. It was freezing and it had also forecast snow. Once we got back and got a brew inside us it didn't wait long until it started to snow, for the first few hours it didn't stick and then later in the evening it's started to stick to the cars, Brilliant I thought, in general I like snow. It looks good first thing in the morning when there is no signs of humans on it and perhaps only the small marks left by birds, I also like the eerie silence that snow brings when it's first fallen. Peace and quiet. Then I remembered the last phone call I took from work on Friday was to tell me I was in Yorkshire all day this coming Wednesday. Now those of you who know the M62 corridor will know full well it's a pain in the arse in summer but in the depths of winter going over Saddleworth moor it's a nightmare. Already this winter they have had to shut it at Oldham due to the rain freezing causing sheet ice and trucks were not able to get grip going up the incline, even cars were struggling, suddenly my thoughts on this snow changed, checking the weather forecast for the week it looks as if its here to stay until at least next weekend. like I said brilliant.
Lets see what this new week brings then.
Till next time
Pete
Sunday, 6 January 2013
New year, New start
Happy new year.......
Well it's here, the time of year we all dread, the post Christmas new year blues.
Been back at work since Wednesday and tomorrow is the start of the first five day week, I can't say I'm looking forward to it but we must do our bit or so they keep telling us.
As well as the first five day week it will also be the first day of the healthy eating regime!!! As I type this I am looking at two chocolate oranges and a box of maltesers which I received and still have to eat, to be fair I'd give them to the kids but there not big on chocolate and Anne is also doing the healthy bit though she started earlier this week.
As I've said I started back work this week and I can honestly say that I thoroughly enjoyed my time off which may sound surprising but I tend to get bored easily. All in All a good few days of with family and friends, even the kids didn't really annoy me as they were too occupied with their tablets and new games for the Wii and Xbox.
I've also started to read again as I thought it may help me to relax and sleep a bit better at night and to be honest it has done just that, bear in mind I've not picked up a book since my holiday in June, over six months ago. Currently I am totally engrossed in Zen, the Italian detective (you may remember the tv series on BBC1 from a couple of years ago). Can I add at this point that the kindle is the best thing ever invented.
We've started to walk the dog as a family as well this past few days, poor dog doesn't know what's hit her. We only take Poppy the spaniel as Jack (westie) is 14 now and when he walks any distance his legs seem to trouble him the following day so he just goes and the settee and sleeps.
Poppy on the other hand is, how can I say this politely? Brainless. As soon as you let her off the lead she will find either the nearest ditch or muddy puddle, and lets face it there's a few at the moment and lie down in it, so she comes home absolutely caked in mud then gets a shock when we wash her with cold water from the hose pipe. She the flakes out for a couple of hours but if you catch her ball or the front door goes, that's it she's up and raring to go again.
I have gone all through Christmas and new year with virtually no pain then on Thursday it hit me with a bang in my feet, luckily I seem to have brought it under control within a couple of days, that's the trouble with gout it just strikes. Friday night was a struggle to get upstairs but it has eased as the weekend has passed.
Time to set the alarm and look forward to the rabbit food.
Pete
Well it's here, the time of year we all dread, the post Christmas new year blues.
Been back at work since Wednesday and tomorrow is the start of the first five day week, I can't say I'm looking forward to it but we must do our bit or so they keep telling us.
As well as the first five day week it will also be the first day of the healthy eating regime!!! As I type this I am looking at two chocolate oranges and a box of maltesers which I received and still have to eat, to be fair I'd give them to the kids but there not big on chocolate and Anne is also doing the healthy bit though she started earlier this week.
As I've said I started back work this week and I can honestly say that I thoroughly enjoyed my time off which may sound surprising but I tend to get bored easily. All in All a good few days of with family and friends, even the kids didn't really annoy me as they were too occupied with their tablets and new games for the Wii and Xbox.
I've also started to read again as I thought it may help me to relax and sleep a bit better at night and to be honest it has done just that, bear in mind I've not picked up a book since my holiday in June, over six months ago. Currently I am totally engrossed in Zen, the Italian detective (you may remember the tv series on BBC1 from a couple of years ago). Can I add at this point that the kindle is the best thing ever invented.
We've started to walk the dog as a family as well this past few days, poor dog doesn't know what's hit her. We only take Poppy the spaniel as Jack (westie) is 14 now and when he walks any distance his legs seem to trouble him the following day so he just goes and the settee and sleeps.
Poppy on the other hand is, how can I say this politely? Brainless. As soon as you let her off the lead she will find either the nearest ditch or muddy puddle, and lets face it there's a few at the moment and lie down in it, so she comes home absolutely caked in mud then gets a shock when we wash her with cold water from the hose pipe. She the flakes out for a couple of hours but if you catch her ball or the front door goes, that's it she's up and raring to go again.
I have gone all through Christmas and new year with virtually no pain then on Thursday it hit me with a bang in my feet, luckily I seem to have brought it under control within a couple of days, that's the trouble with gout it just strikes. Friday night was a struggle to get upstairs but it has eased as the weekend has passed.
Time to set the alarm and look forward to the rabbit food.
Pete
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