I know these are older posts, but I just wanted to pop in and say I have gout. I have been suffering from it for about 4 years now. And I was only 32 yrs old when I first got it. Family history can play a role as well. The problem is if you get gout you usually know for sure know. It hits you like a wrecking ball. The pain can be so intense that just a light blanket on the affected area can cause you to jump out of your skin. I am actually suffering from a gout attack right now and I would rather cut off my foot than to suffer from the pain I am experiencing tonite. They do say it can be from high proteins, animal fats, and high purine foods. Well, I think I am kinda SOL with Atkins. I know this is not a HIGH protein way of eating but I am eating more protein now that I have before. And this is my second attack in a month. Before Atkins I only suffered an attack once every 6-8 months. When you are eating nothing but junk food and carbs your protein intake tends to stay low. The problem with gout also is that in time the attacks will start to happen more often and last longer. The first time I got it was in my big toe on my right foot. For a day or two I was convinced I had broken it. I went to the ER and was diagnosed with it. By the time I got done I couldn't even lift my leg to get in the passenger side of the car without my whole leg going into convulsions of pain. It last almost 3 weeks. THe major pain lasted a week and it took another 2 weeks for the minor pain to go away. That week of major pain, I almost wanted to wear adult diapers because the thought of having to get up to use the bathroom horrified me. Just lowering my leg from the elavated position sent waves of pain thru my foot and leg. Prolonged attacks can eventually lead to permanent damage in those joints. It really scares me to think that I have to go through these attacks again. I lose hours at work and I am not able to do anything at home. If you have any reason to believe you have it, go see the doc. THey will do a blood test to check the uric acid levels. You want all this on your medical records. My doc told me that it could eventually lead me to be on disibility
scares me to think that but if it came down to it, my medical records will show all occasions of gout attacks.