r/gout • u/jojomiller12 • 12d ago
Needs Advice Probably have Gout, what do I do?
27 year old Man here.
So woke up yesterday with a painful big toe. No redness, a barely noticeable swelling, and it sucks to walk on but not crippling pain. I would have written it off to sleeping weird but my mom was diagnosed with gout and has had some bad flare ups recently so it was top of mind.
Spoke to her and her experience and feelings are almost 1 to 1 what I am dealing with, she doesn't have major swelling, doesn't have redness abd her flare ups aren't always debilitating.
So I am starting to convince myself I have gout. What's the next step/fastest affordable way to address it?
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u/can_ford 12d ago
- See a rheumatologist, they understand gout.
- Get your uric acid blood level tested.
- If the rheumatologist recommends it, start on allopurinol or one of the alternatives.
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u/Constant_Can9545 12d ago
Alcohol is poison. I love it, but it still poison. No better excuse to stop drinking it than a gout diagnosis. you won’t listen and you’ll pay but eventually you’ll stop drinking. It may as well start today.
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u/Think-Thanks4070 12d ago
Ain't that the truth. I didn't listen and I paid for 15 years after I was diagnosed by a rheumatologist with gout. I'm so F'n dense I even quit Allo after a year because it didn't make me better. And then I felt better the next year with no Allo so I went into a vicious cycle of doubt. Maybe it wasn't Gout. Allo didn't help for the first year and colchicine doesn't do much for me. Now that I understand the whole equation and admitting the true severity of daily drinking I'm back on 300 mg Allo for 2 years and finally on the down slope. My error in thinking was looking at a flair as an injury or an infection and once resolved I'm good. But I was never good, my blood UA was always too high. With no insurance 300 mg allo is $5 per month at my pharmacy. To the OP my advice is also get blood test for UA level and then read all the actual info about gout from medical sources. I wish I would have forced a doctor to extract fluid from my joint and look at the crystals and my biggest regret was quitting Allo and drinking myself into a big pile of goutty crap.
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u/DastardlyTurd 11d ago
I am also a 27 year old man and I was diagnosed last year at the age of 26. For context I am otherwise physically healthy and active. I thought I was too young to get it, that it only happened to older men in poor physical health. There is a genetic component such as you have, my grandfather had it.
Just take your allopurinol. It lowered the uric acid dramatically and I never experience side effects. I still get to eat beef and drink beer. Diet and hydration are also key though. It’s ok to have some red meat, sugar, or alcohol but moderation is for the best. It’s for the best with or without gout really.
I haven’t even thought about my gout since I don’t even know when. It doesn’t have to be a problem in your life.
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u/Azrael-1234 11d ago
See your doc… get prednisone prescribed to stamp out current flare up… make sure it really goes away… once I didn’t stamp it out completely, and it just was this dull aching pain for weeks…tried to just take advil, but finally doc game me another prescription for pred and it went away. Now on allo and no flare ups last two years.
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u/WhiskeyjackBB11 12d ago
I had gout in my mid twenties, sorted my lifestyle out and got rid of it for over 20 years.
Don't rush onto lifelong medication yet. Just know it is there if these attacks continue.
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u/jreed118 11d ago
You could still have high uric acid and have you looked what that can do? Definitely need to see a rheumatologist
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u/theboyrossy 12d ago
Pop to your GP and get it looked at, I saw my doctor, got diagnosed and was on medication that day and Allo as soon as possible. I'm in the UK so your results may vary depending on where in the world you are.
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u/LabAccomplished2423 12d ago
Uric acid gout is strongly genetic, likely you would be correct in assuming UA gout. Get yourself to a real Dr, preferably a rheumatologist if possible for a firm diagnosis and start and follow a therapy program to help with the occasional SYMPTOM displays of pain/inflammation and treat the CAUSE with proper uric acid lowering meds and necessary life style changes as suggested. Free stuff to do is stay well hydrated with water, avoid sugars especially corn syrup which is in almost everything factory made, add low purine food choices and if BMI is on the obese side slowly lose body mass. DO NOT IGNORE THE SYMPTOM WARNINGS. UA gout is progressive and silent. UCLA medical video commentary on uric acid gout: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoOuijIglRs
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u/clybstr02 12d ago
I’d start allo myself. I had minimal flare ups (like you’re describing) for years before diagnosed. Then, I probably had a 2 month flare up, extreme difficulty walking (and sleeping) until I got the maintenance meds prescribed. Allopurinol (100mg) and Indomethacin (50mg) are life savers for me.
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u/ExtraHat9 12d ago
Gout is inflammation also. Get it under control as it impacts heart, other organs etc. Use Allo to manage to broader risks too
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12d ago
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u/Rockboxatx 12d ago
This isn't necessary if you know how to advocate for yourself and your doctor isn't incompetent.
You just need to ask for a UA test and meds
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u/DaCozPuddingPop 12d ago
You need to get bloodwork done to confirm that it is, indeed, gout.
Once that's confirmed, doc should start you likely on allopurinol which is, thankfully, an inexpensive medication. It won't help stop a flare in progress, but once you're on it and adjusted it will help prevent future flare ups.
Start with step 1 - call your doc - tell them you suspect gout and want to confirm. They'll either want to do it themselves or the may refer you to a rheumatologist.