I Have Gout~~I Should Have Worn A Condom

OK so the title makes no sense but I did get your attention. My great toe, which does not feel so great today, is swollen, red and hot. I can hardly walk on my right foot. Even the weight of my blanket rubbing against my toe drove me crazy last night.

Funny thing is that last night I was told my Second Life feet were ugly and this morning I have gout. I wish I could buy prim feet in real life, lol.

I am lucky as this is my second bout of gout this year and I have medications on hand to fight it. Especially oxycodone so I can function, lol.

According to the Mayo Clinic; "Gout occurs when urate crystals accumulate in your joint, causing the inflammation and intense pain of a gout attack. Urate crystals can form when you have high levels of uric acid in your blood. Your body produces uric acid when it breaks down purines — substances that are found naturally in your body, as well as in certain foods, such as organ meats, anchovies, herring, asparagus and mushrooms. "

"Normally, uric acid dissolves in your blood and passes through your kidneys into your urine. But sometimes your body either produces too much uric acid or your kidneys excrete too little uric acid. When this happens, uric acid can build up, forming sharp, needle-like urate crystals in a joint or surrounding tissue that cause pain, inflammation and swelling."

My gout is caused by the medications I take to combat my Congestive Heart Failure, Lasix and low dose aspirin.

Gout occurs more often in men than it does in women, primarily because women tend to have lower uric acid levels than men do. After menopause, however, women's uric acid levels approach those of men. Men also are more likely to develop gout earlier — usually between the ages of 40 and 50 — whereas women generally develop signs and symptoms after menopause

Medications are the most proven, effective way to treat gout symptoms. However, making certain changes to your diet also may help.

The American Dietetic Association recommends following these guidelines during a gout attack:

• Drink 8 to 16 cups (about 2 to 4 liters) of fluid each day, with at least half being water.
• Avoid alcohol.
• Eat a moderate amount of protein, preferably from healthy sources, such as low-fat or fat-free dairy, tofu, eggs, and nut butters.
• Limit your daily intake of meat, fish and poultry to 4 to 6 ounces (113 to 170 grams).

Things you can do to help prevent gout episodes if you are prone to get them are:

~Keep your fluid intake high.
~Eat a balanced diet
~Get your protein from low-fat dairy products
~Limit your intake of meat, fish and poultry
~Maintain a desirable body weight

I am going to be cranky for a few days kiddies so if I get testy or insult your favorite human being, in this blog, it's the gout talking. Unless that person is stupid. Then it's me talking, lol.

Randy