How humiliating! Last night in bed I began to get horrible pains in my left foot; even the light pressure of the duvet was painful. And, today, the National Health website confirms the dreadful truth. I think I have gout! But there is one consolation; it kindly waited to the end of the Triduum to strike. I don't think I could have endured the ceremonies with this!In the meantime, while I accept this for my dreadful sins &c, I am embarrassed to think that (given the traditional—but inaccurate—attribution of overindulgence as the cause) it has happened at the end of Lent, of all times!
22 comments:
Well, God forbid you actually have that, but if you do you're in good company. Ben Franklin was also a "bit gouty in the leg." He consoled himself with wine, women, and song. You'll have to do with two out of three, unless, of course, your mom brings you a toasted cheese sandwich or something. :-D [Sheesh...GOUT... I didn't even know people still got that!]
Father, look at your diet. The acid which causes it, or so I believe, based on my father's suffering and treatment, is found in many items of food, not just wine, e.g. the tomato, the strawberry and offal. Have forgotten which acid. Ask your GP or google it.
Assurance of prayer,
J
Oh dear, Father! This one isn't going to be fun. Prayers.
Not to worry, Hyacinth's diagnosis is that you simply suffer from an excess of good living.
Some people get attacks of gout from eating seafood. Is this a possibility?
I wouldn't jump to conclusions on this. I've had two incidents exactly like you describe, of about 2 or 3 days' duration each time and about a year apart, and convinced myself it was gout. On the second occasion I reluctantly dragged myself along to the quack, who seemed rather doubtful that it was gout (though of course it had subsided by the time he actually saw me); he had no very useful alternative suggestions except to say that "all sorts of things can cause pains in the feet" and that if it recurs I should get an appointment as soon as poss. so that he can witness it in flagrante, so to speak.
But then I have a terrible record when it comes to self-diagnosis. Leave me alone with a medical encyclopaedia and, like Jerome K. Jerome, I will soon convince myself that I am suffering from every disease with the sole exception of housemaid's knee. What was Jerome's doctor's prescription? Ah, yes: "1 lb beefsteak with 1 pt bitter beer every 6 hours. 1 ten-mile walk every morning. 1 bed at 11 sharp every night." Might be worth a try!
Ouch! My late father suffered from gout, also unfairly as he was in no way a trimalchian feaster. You have my sympathy and I would second Jane's advice as to choosing/avoiding types of food and drink.
Father;
the advice used to be to avoid drinking vintage port, riding to hounds, and reading the New Statesman ! Does that help ?
Seriously, though, a purine metabolism is NOT a nice thing to have when it does this to you; the internet will give plenty of advice on what to do about your diet - sadly, nothing useful on how to cure the condition.
Prayers will be offered . . .
My comiserations Father. I do hope you have seen the doctor now as diagnosing oneself from the internet is not recommended by the medical profession unless you happen to be in the middle of Australia and a long way from medical help!
A few years ago I developed the same symptom and surfing the internet came to the conclusion that I had indeed got gout. However I decided to get to the doctor who diagnosed a simple sub-cutaneous infection which responded to anti-biotics. He told me it was not gout at all in spite of the internet information.
Incidentally some years before that incident I found myself in hospital with similar symptoms - the pain was so bad that nothing could touch my foot at all even the bedclothes. I was told that although I had all the symptoms of gout, the tests done there turned out to be negative. It was eventually diagnosed as 'pseudo-gout!'
Jane is right about certain foods affecting the joint in this way. Some foods cause more acid to form than is needed (I believe it is uric acid if I remember rightly) but the belief that too much wine is responsible remains believed by many today.
PS I love the title but please change the accent on the 'a' - a typographical error no doubt!
Yes, a typo. Thank you for alerting me to it, and to everyone for all the kind comments.
Litabo pro te et pro pedibus tuis. Custodiat te et sanet Deus.
Gratias tibi ago. This morning the pain woke me at 2.30, and by 3.30 I decided it was no good hanging on in bed. So I got up and started Matins and Lauds. One particular antiphon struck a chord: Ego dormivi et somnum cepi: et esurrexi, quoniam Dominus suscepit me. I think God must have a sense of humour!
Off to see the doctor this morning. I've had enough of this!
What a fuss! Gout is caused by the build up of uric crystals in the joints of the big toe. They can easily, and quickly, be dispersed with anti-inflammatory pills. See your doctor and ask him to prescribe Arthrotec 50 (diclofenac sodium) modified release tablets. Warning: not for use by pre-menopausal women unless using effective contraception. I hope this does not mean that taking them is opposed to the teaching of l'Eglise.
Peter, there is very little chance of Father miscarrying. Although with those kinds of warnings, you wonder if gout might be preferable.
A bloodtest revealed that I had gout and I have 1/2 an allopurinol tablet a day. I have had twinges since going on the medication but no attacks.
I limped to the doctor on Wednesday, and he gave me some pills which seem to be making things much better. I even managed to drive the car to its MOT test today—somewhat painful, but no longer impossible. So things seem to be on the mend, DG. Thanks for all your good advice.
Sorry—I should have said that the doc confirmed that it is, indeed, gout.
Hope you are feeling better soon Fr..
Geez, GOUT. *sigh* IS there a cure for it? It seems like the pain is being alleviated, but is there an actual cure?
Alas, the only cure is to give up the booze. :(
Just notice this today, Father. I'm sorry to hear about this but I'm glad that you're doing better. I'll tell the Brothers in San Diego.
Post a Comment