Friday, August 21, 2009

Ricky's Gout Update

Some of you may have read my post from Wednesday about getting the Gout. I know it's just called gout, but I feel I need to distance myself from the word with an additional article.

So over the last 48 hours I have done hours of research and acted on that research and am happy to say that I'm at about 25% of the pain, swelling, and stiffness level I was when I posted. I have not been to a doctor because:

Symptoms:
  • Severe pain in the toe joint
  • Swollen and shiny in appearance
  • Tender to the touch
  • Unbendable

These are tried and true indications of gout and nothing more.

What were my major risk factors?
  • Sedentary lifestyle (web programmer)
  • Lack of exercise
  • Mediocre monitoring of diet
  • Slightly overweight
  • High alcohol consumption (2+ drinks 4+ nights a week)
  • Low-moderate hydration

So what's helping right now?
  • Lots of water
  • Concentrated, organic cherry juice
  • ...occasionally with a couple t of apple cider vinegar
  • Lots of celery
  • Increase of Vitamin C
  • Baking soda in water to turn the acid knob down from 11

And what must I continue after it is gone to avoid another flair-up?
  • Lots of water
  • Cherry juice daily
  • Vitamin C
  • Exercise daily (and therefore lose weight)
  • Pretty much remove beer and keep alcohol down to 1-2 times a week

And that's the long and short of it: get healthy and keep it away. Not so complicated. Any questions?

3 comments:

Cal's Canadian Cave of Coolness said...

Boy we are all dropping like flies. Take care of yourself brother.

Randal Graves said...

Alcohol to once or twice a week? Yikes. You should get a stand for your computer, you can program while on a treadmill.

Ricky Shambles said...

Yes we are, Cal. Yes we are.

Randal, I think that might just work. And if I can be on the treadmill every day, might be able to jump that beer intake. Perhaps with a treadmill beer helmet?