I woke up Saturday and had pain in my left foot, by my big toe and the ball of my foot. This must be something to do with running, I think. I ice it all weekend, it is not getting better.
Today I gave in and went to the doctor, a new doctor. I miss my old doctor, she was great but she moved to a new town 3 hours away. So I tried yet another new doctor at her old office.
I had already Googled my symptoms and came up with Metatarsalgia or a sesamoid injury.
Apparently the doctor went to a different medical school than I, she diagnosed GOUT!
Gout is an old man's disease. How could I have gout? I took her blood test and went to the xray (in case she was wrong and I really do have a fracture), filled my old man prescription to treat old man's gout and returned home to Google.
What are the risk factors for gout?
Obesity, weight gain, alcohol intake, high blood pressure, abnormal kidney function, and certain drugs can promote the development of gout. High dietary intake of rich foods that contain purine (e.g., cream sauces, red meat, sardines, liver, scallops) can increase the risk of gout.
A. Obesity:Yes, I need to lose a few pounds but who doesn't, I don't think I would call it obesity.
B. Weight gain: see exhibit A
C. Alcohol intake: Like more than other people? Or more than usual? Could you be more specific?
D. High Blood Pressure: I have VERY LOW blood pressure, always have.
E. Foods: I eat chicken, fruit, veggies, chocolate and ice cream.
I also learned that 90% of all gout cases are either men over the age of 40 or post menopausal women. I am not a man. I am not a post menopausal woman. 328 days until I turn forty and I have old man's disease.
Really, what was she smoking? I can't possibly have gout. And yet that was the diagnosis. So I sit back and think, well if McMommy could have a goiter, perhaps I can have an old man's disease.
I am patiently waiting for the call that the doctor was wrong, I should stop taking the gout medicine and they would like to bring me into their practice as my Google symptoms skills are superb.
9 comments:
Wow, I didn't know people got gout anymore. My husband says it's still very common, though I have no idea how he knows that. Feel better!
Gout? For real? Did she explain WHY? It just seem so odd!
OMG! I have a friend who has the GOUT!? And I'm still only thirty! I sometimes confuse gout with gangrene. Glad you don't have that.
Between this gout and your political score, I'm not sure that we can still be friends...Benito. :)
I'm sorry. If it really is gout, I have heard that cherries (fresh ones) work really well, and so would real cherry juice.
I think gout is a build-up of the uric acid from urine and it forms crystals in the joints, usually in the toes. For some reason not all the acid is being disposed of in the urine.
I'm sure you could ask your Dr. for more advice on how to treat it, but this is what I remember about it from a friend a few years ago that had gout.
HA!!!!!
Welcome to the "I have a gross diagnosis" club!!!
I feel so...so...NOT ALONE NOW!!!!
Wheeeeee!!!!!
My dad has gout. And he fits all the risk factors. It is pretty awful, so I really hope that you don't have it. I second Heather's recommendation for the cherries. I tried to get my dad to try it but he wouldn't try any herbal remedies. It's cherries for goodness sake!! Not herbs! Good luck!
I always google my pains before going to the doctor and then get all disappointed when they don't agree with me...I mean come on, it is Google...Google knows it all! I have on occassion been correct in my "guess" and that makes me feel super smart.
Oh well, whose to argue with the doc...I guess they usually know best.
Hi there, I'm Hillary's sister-in-law and have really enjoyed reading your blog. About a year ago I was playing soccer and at the end of the game my left foot (big toe area) was swollen and in so much pain I could hardly walk. After a few days I decided to see a doctor and was also diagnosed with gout. I thought it was so ridiculous because I was a 22 yr old female with zero of the risks! I ignored the diagnosis and dealt with the pain until it finally went a way a week or two later. I never went back to that doctor...
Good luck! :-)
I love your blog! It is so entertaining. Hope the doc was right, not sure if those other two sound any better!!! lol
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