Gout

[Tilly2]

My husband had a blood test a week ago because the GP suspected he might have gout. The doctor has spoken to him today confirming that this is the case. All my husband said to me was that the GP had said don't eat crab meat or any other shellfish. Also if it gets worse, he might need to have preventative medicine.
Would the doctor have said anything else? My husband is not very forthcoming when discussing medical things.

[ojread2]

Shellfish is high in uric acid
It's a build up of crystallised uric acid that causes gout. It's also in pork and beef though

[Tilly2]

Does he have to stop eating pork and beef then?

[Sqad]

I am a bit confused her Tilly.
Is he or is he not suffering pain NOW. If that is the case then your husband will need treatment...NSaids or colchicine etc.

Diets for gout....GOOGLE them, but basically avoid high protein foods.

Not sure what the doc means by "preventative medicine."....diet?

[tenrec]

My OH takes Allopurinol for his gout. And avoids shellfish.

[ojread2]

No
I'd do what sqad has suggested
Google gout diet or diet for gout and you'll get a good selection of ideas on foods
If it 'gets worse' surely preventative medicine won't be suitable? He should be taking that before he gets any worse I would have thought

[Tilly2]

No, sqad. His big toe was very painful a couple of weeks ago but he was just told to take paracetamol and ibuprofen. The swelling and the pain have now subsided and in fact he is now outside playing football with the dogs.
I assumed that the 'preventative' medicine might need to be taken if he has it again.
We have googled it and found some useful information. There was something about not being able to take a certain medicine if you were actually having an attack. I take it that it comes and goes.

[EvianBaby]

My grandad had gout but ignored it until he needed to have his big toe removed. Years after he would always still slap his leg as if trying to get feeling in it, but he never realised he was doing it. It was very odd.

[Tilly2]

Blimey, Evian. That's put the wind up me!

[EvianBaby]

Don't worry, that was probably about 60 years ago and like I said, cos he just ignored it.

[Sqad]

Evian,,,,that doesn't sound like the result of gout........just my opinion.

Tilly.....fine, follow the advice of the information that you have found.

[Tilly2]

Thank you all.