When I was in my 30’s, I had my first Gout experience. Although I would prefer to forget about that horrible experience, it is something I still remember as if it was yesterday. I was enjoying a meal with friends and sampling the best salmon fillets Seattle has to offer. I can remember enjoying the food and commenting on it while looking out over the pier. Then, suddenly, I felt like a thousand bees had invaded my shoe and plotted a mission to attack my big toe. It started as a tingling, numbing sensation.
Gout Facts
It felt like pins and needles were stabbed into my toe. I tried to ignore the sensation, but it became a terrible pain. I couldn’t get my foot out of the shoe, courtesy of my lunch guests, who were still able eat the delicious seafood. But I could see that my toe was swelling. My big toe was also very stiff and was burning hot. It felt like it was not my big toe anymore, but rather my giant toe. I managed to walk to the car, and then drive home. I tried to pretend that everything was fine, even though I was screaming at the moment.
I would be honored if you have ever had Gout symptoms. I immediately returned to my home and began extensive internet research to discover the demon that had taken my toe at such a bad time. My finger touched the keyboard and I typed in my symptoms. I was diagnosed with Gout by my online doctor. Although I had heard of Gout, I never thought I would be suffering from it. I was shocked to discover that all the rich foods I loved, such as red meat, scallops and shrimp, fish, and foods with refined sugar, were now forbidden from my diet. I refused to accept that and so I went into denial, ate all of the above again.
Gout Symptoms
I won’t reveal what happened next, but I will say that I now have a Bachelor’s Degree in Gout Symptoms from The School of Hard Knocks. My painful experiences have taught me that Gout can affect any joint, but it rarely affects more than two or three joints at once. Gout attacks in the evening and can often peak in 24 hours. I also discovered through trial, error, and research (but mostly through error) that alcohol, such as beer, and red wine, can play a significant role in Gout attacks.
This is because alcohol dehydrates the body and makes it unable to flush out the purines. This causes your body to build up uric acid. Gout can also affect other joints, such as your ankle and knee, foot, hand and wrist. Sometimes, it can even be accompanied by fever. Gout symptoms usually disappear within three to 10 days, and may not return for months. In future attacks, symptoms may get worse, last longer, and occur more frequently.