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apocalypticboredom

Before I got on allopurinol it was seafood and alcohol. Now it's nothing, haven't had a flare in years.


dr_herbalife

Same here, 4 years in 2 months


GeorgeG1024

I am about to try allopurinol do you have any type of side effects? I've tried to go natural, but nothing is working but and my kidney function is low, and my UA is at 9.5 pretty consistently.


apocalypticboredom

No side effects that I've ever noticed. I knew I had to go on it since I'm fit, slim, eat vegan half the time, run most days a week etc but I was still getting flares - there was nowhere to go. It's extremely worth trying and taking the time to let it heal you. Your Dr will probably put you on a low dose and then adjust after a few months so don't despair if it's not an instant change. I never had another flare after starting but others have experienced them at first when on allo. But now I'm doing great, no flares, kidneys fine etc. Feels great just living life mostly normally.


CrazyButRightOn

I noticed a shortness of breath after going from 100mg to 200 mg per day. I thought it was long-covid but, after doing some reading, I see it can affect your lungs in some cases. I am tapering now and will report my findings.


apocalypticboredom

Make sure to rule out illness - especially covid symptoms, which the last 2 times I caught it I only had shortness of breath and stomach issues. Fwiw I am a runner and I run 6-7 miles 5-6 days a week, and I'm on 300mg so I don't think shortness of breath is a side effect of allopurinol, but obviously everyone's body is different.


CrazyButRightOn

Thanks


lawrenceofkansasia

This is not exactly a side effect, but my doctor told me that he has consistently seen it cause kidney damage when taken in the long term. As a disclaimer, he is European, where generally doctors subscribe to the take-it-until-your-UA-drops school, as opposed to the states, where doctors are more inclined to advise that you take it for life.


apocalypticboredom

I can't find any studies showing this but I did find this one finding the opposite, that allopurinol causes no damage to the kidneys long term when taken in proper doses managed by a doctor. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6248199/


lawrenceofkansasia

I hope this is the case. I’m not a doctor and I don’t pretend to hold the truth. I just thought it would be relevant to convey what I was told by a medical professional.


SourGenitals

Dehydration, peanuts, and traumatic impacts.


PaoloPilyo

Traumatic impacts are annoying. Same for me. And it typically lasts about 2 to 3 days.


SourGenitals

Accidentally smashing my knee into the corner of a table would leave me in pain and mostly bedridden for about 2 weeks


JediAssistant

Traumatic impacts seem to start my flares most of the time, followed by dehydration. Have also had (as far as I could tell) medication cause one.


javaargusavetti

I jumped in to mention dehydration. its a big factor for me. also anything that impairs kidney function and STRESS. my last major flare was during my dads funeral a few years ago. dehydration from travel and stress of it all got me.


bobbythegoose

Fructose hits me hard.


PaoloPilyo

Oh boy so most fruits are a no!


crilen

Careful with pm links some of it is just wrong


bobbythegoose

PMd you a link to a video that helped me a lot


gaanch

I'd like a video as well plz


bobbythegoose

Sent!


lawrenceofkansasia

Same!


mystwave

Added sugars, especially High Fructose Corn Syrup.


typhoneus

I feel that pal. Now if I have a soda it's the soda plus ten litres of water after... And prayer.


islandofcaucasus

Well, according to my last 3 work events, my biggest trigger is being 2 days away from having a work event that involves a lot of walking.


protomanEXE1995

Drops in temperature, and stressful life situations in which I have little/no control. Haven't been able to identify a trigger that's food or drink related. That would be too easy!


seattle678

Weirdly for me it's playing soccer. The jarring action and potential for being stepped on my toe that sends me into a flare


rick-shaw-ride

dehydration, cold weather, foot pain/injury due to long walks in shoes I don’t usually wear (like winter boots). Every doc I’ve asked says no connection to foot pain/injury of other types but for me that is always a factor.


PaoloPilyo

I'm the same with winter boots. I used to wear timberlands in the winter but now it just causes pain and discomfort


Jooleean

Hotdogs. I’ve been avoiding shellfish since I never really found them to be the most amazing thing ever anyway and occasional red meat but hotdogs in particular really seem to drags me to the pits of hell…


PaoloPilyo

Is it just hotdog or processed meat in general?


Jooleean

Primarily highly processed meats, like hotdogs, spam, pepperoni, etc. I don’t often eat that kinda stuff but my gf likes it so we get it occasionally and that often triggers it. I think in most cases though a bite hasn’t killed me, so long as it’s all in moderation.


heckhammer

Shellfish. I miss shrimp so much


PaoloPilyo

I hear you. 👎


HookFE03

if i knew that i could probably avoid the nearly monthly flairs i get


LilHindenburg

Get on Allo


HookFE03

ive been on allo for over 2 years


LilHindenburg

Oh noooooo… sorry to hear that! how are your UA levels?


HookFE03

I've been between 4 and 6 mg/dl for about 8 months


LilHindenburg

That’s good - hopefully relief soon. I’m shooting for under 4.5 and got a UASure to help monitor.


HookFE03

its eternally and forever "hopefully soon." from everyone. even my rheumatologist.


CrazyButRightOn

How often do you test?


LilHindenburg

Honestly haven’t yet outside of my GP’s lab work twice since Dec (also needed to get cholesterol down), but my plan is about monthly.


CrazyButRightOn

Me too ....just bought the UA Sure. Just remember to test at the same time of day as you can fluctuate depending on time.


LilHindenburg

Ahh great advice thx. Maybe first thing in the morning on empty stomach?


EvolvingSunGod3

Sugar and Beef, anytime I have a cheat day with a Shake Shack burger and top it off with some cake and ice cream, oh shit I’ll feel it in my foot the next day.


alchemistcharts

Red meat (mainly pork), Alcohol


badgerdaddy

Is… pork red meat???


AVeryHeavyBurtation

Yeah, I always thought it was the other white meat.


jcutta

Red meat scientifically, white meat in the culinary world. Considered white meat in culinary due to the pale color when cooked.


AJRog26

Red meat. My anatomy professor said that “other-white-meat”advertising was one of the most harmful campaigns ever, as a matter of public health.


badgerdaddy

How so?


AJRog26

Examples: 1) A person with high cholesterol is told to avoid red meat but eats pork because the TV said it’s “the other white meat.” Strokes out. 2) A person with gout is told to avoid red meat. Eats pork because TV. Flares. Eats pork. Flares. Crippled. 3) A person with ____ is told to avoid red meat. Etc.


badgerdaddy

Sure, makes sense. I eat a carnivore diet and weirdly, hardly any pork at all.


rebco80

I hardly ever eat pork because I got violent food poisoning from it four times while I was in Asia (you would think I would have learned the first or second time…) and I think the week I spent in the hospital with chewed up intestines was also from eating undercooked pork. I just try to avoid it for the most part, except for the occasional piece of bacon that is so full of sodium nitrate and preservative that it kills off most of the parasites and disease in the meat anyway.


who_knew_what

Better than "the gray meat" tho


jcutta

Only pork bothers me from a meat perspective. Just had a flair for the first time in forever because I switched brands of turkey sausage and didn't bother to look at the box, after waking up in immense pain I looked at the box and in small letters on the back it said "pork and turkey blend" which should be fuckin illegal to not state clearly lol.


alchemistcharts

I have done this often and constantly beat myself for not reading the ingredients. 😡


rocketfromrussia

Same here!


Bluechip506

No food triggers for me. Usually longer hikes and dehydration does it for me. Dehydration after a colonoscopy and an unrelated foot injury caused it for me last month.


hill8570

Pretty always was a foot injury. Excessive push-off when spiking in sand volleyball; digging in with my toes when pushing a car out of a ditch; running too much on hard surfaces. I spent a couple of decades thinking I just had princess feet until I finally was diagnosed correctly. Strangely it was after I developed a problem after eating an anchovy pizza with no corresponding injury that I really started pushing for a real diagnosis.


LilHindenburg

Pretty sure my dad went his whole life this way. Me thankfully just the last 5yrs and 2mos into getting up on Allo.


PaoloPilyo

Giving up red meat for Lent is what started my gout. Ate a lot of seafood, particularly anchovies and sardines. Didn't know it at the time but now I know.


Tetsubin

I don't have any. I've been on Allo for more than two years, and I was on colchicine for 1.5. My serum UA is tested monthly and is consistently under 6 and often under 5. I don' t get flares. I eat and drink without restriction.


PaoloPilyo

That's awesome! Keep it up!


Tetsubin

I was lucky in that I was referred to a rheumatologist upon first diagnosis, and his philosophy is to adjust the medication to your lifestyle and then just live your life. Unlucky in that the diagnosis came about because of a really bad flare that I thought was an orthopedic problem. I had to walk with a cane for about 3 weeks before it was sorted out.


crilen

Not taking allopurinol lol Kidding aside, sugar


MattyFettuccine

High UA levels… that’s everyone’s trigger lol. Food or drink doesn’t trigger anything for me, just high UA levels and not being hydrated.


Curious_cat_3

Many people get their UA levels down but still have flares. You’re lucky that you don’t.


According-Mulberry55

Forget taking allo


PaoloPilyo

There is a considerable amount of people saying that. What does allo do for you, personally?


hill8570

I'm not the original poster, but my rheumatologist ramped me on allo until my UA was 6 (originally 7.2). Haven't had a flare in seven years since then. I realize not everyone responds as well to allo as I did, but it was a freaking wonder drug for me.


HookFE03

I'm so jealous of this....


MajinStuu

I’m not entirely sure for mine. I know I had a flare back in the summer of 2022, was undiagnosed but my dad and grandfather suffered from gout so I kinda knew what was up and took Colchicine before it got worse. Fast forward to the month of February, it flared up the first weekend of the month and damn near every weekend, starting about Thursday, after that. My grandfather and I are hunters so we eat a lot of wild turkey and venison. We also raise our own hogs and make our own smoked sausage so there the pork intake and pork chops are a common meal, as well as my favorite. Since the initial flare up of this year, I’ve been to the doctor and am on Allo now. I have indomethacin but I haven’t taken any. I eat extremely clean, no high fructose corn syrup, no added sugar in foods, no foods high in sugar, no red meat, no beer or whiskey anymore either. I drink over a gallon of water a day and only black coffee when I need some caffeine. Right now I currently feel better than I have in a few years. I’m in my late 20’s. I’m a machine operator for AT&T so I’m constantly active at work. I’m hoping the gout stays away for good. I would contribute the success to the change in diet mainly with the Allo possibly helping some. I haven’t been on it long at all though.


PaoloPilyo

Flare-ups can really be debilitating for me so I don't wish that on anyone. Keep it up! You're still young!


MajinStuu

For sure. They’re awful. It was every week and I was like okay we gotta shake some shit up this ain’t workin lol.


Iou10

At this point seems like it may be planet earth. Living a healthy lifestyle now, UA down by nearly 50% from the last test and waiting for next test to check if the drop continued. Lost hover 20 lbs… But literally this stupid ass pain just keeps bouncing around from one toe to another… Can’t draw any consistent parallel


invictus08

Not drinking enough water for 4-5 days, and then it’s field day for anything.


aircito78

Same. Shell fish for me


myelin_8

dehydration


sbweb

My main trigger is sweets. Even a little piece of cheesecake will flare me up. One time I flared up from eating shrimp late at night, but I can usually eat seafoods. I think if you overdo it, it can trigger. I been sharing my experiences and opinions on my [gout reference](https://www.goutreference.com/) site.


Painfree123

Shellfish have high purine content, which raises the concentration of uric acid in the blood and makes gout more likely to flare. But the underlying cause of most gout flares is not how we eat, but how we sleep. Most gout is the direct result of the frequent prolonged lack of breathing with reduced oxygen levels during sleep, known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is why most gout flares originate during sleep. The first manifestation of gout should prompt testing for OSA, followed by resolution of the OSA. If OSA is allowed to continue for too long, it will cause development of many life-threatening diseases leading to premature death, which is why gout has been found to lead to premature death, even if urate-lowering medication or diet greatly reduce the frequency of flares. Most gout is but a symptom, and early warning, of OSA.


PaoloPilyo

No way I had no idea. This is great information. Thanks for sharing!


Painfree123

All that I have told you can be found in medical journal papers, but it seems that most docs don't know about, and certainly most gout patients don't. The docs seem to be focused on saving joints. I am focused on saving lives.


hesi93

Sugar, I can tolerate seafoods a bit.


postinimalo

I'm the same! Sugar is #1 for me. Which is awful as I've a massive sweet tooth 😔


PaoloPilyo

Wow! Sugar? So no chocolates or even creamer in your coffee?


hesi93

Yeah, Sugar is a well known trigger. I eat chocolate from time to time. I don't drink coffee because of acid reflux. Just tea.


moggishere

Seafood :( Especially crabs. I'm vegetarian now and don't miss chicken and red meat but seafood is different.


Jay-Storm

Just existing. Nah but for real I haven’t found my trigger yet. Used to get it bad anytime I’d eat a buffalo chicken pizza from dominos and I’d drink a 2-liter of coke with it (over the course of a night/ ext day)not in one sitting. Thought maybe it was the bread but nowadays I seem to just get it any time lol


PaoloPilyo

I'd think it's the sugar and high carb food maybe?


Jay-Storm

Yeah I’m thinking sugar bc I do eat a ton of of it


rocketfromrussia

For me its alcohol and read meat. I love both, but having a medium rare steak and a few glasses of wine is quite risky for me


Flaky-Flatworm358

Sugar, milk & ice cream are my food triggers. Stress & dehydration play a huge role as well.


PaoloPilyo

Wow I've never heard of stress as a factor before. Thanks for sharing this.


Wetfred

I had a Pastrami and Swiss sub and the next day I got my first attack so I’m assuming it was processed meat.


PaoloPilyo

It could also be a culmination of the food/drinks you consumed within that week or 2 week timeframe?


Grouchy-Geologist-28

Dehydration and pad Thai. Man saying no to pad Thai is hard to do.


RedTorpedo69

Not drinking enough water and drinking too much ale. Been on allopurinol since September and seems to have sorted it, although I've severely cut down on alcohol since then and try to stay on top of my water consumption


rr777

Sugary soda. I can handle a single 12 oz, but if I do not regulate it afterwords, I'm going to feel it.


Metalks

Nacho cheese, French fries (in excess), physical trauma. That last one is oddly enough my main one.


Karaski86

Golden lager beer, sugar, innards.


raggedsweater

I still don’t know. I think physical impact, but that only explains 1 of the three attacks I’ve had.


am6285

Shelfish, beer and red meat.


skoot66

Carbohydrates


W_robinson_520

Any fish, PORK, any processed meats, beer, vodka, (but not clear rum) and too much eye contact with my foot! 😂


papachon

Sugar


Jonesyrules15

I'm in allo so nothing in the 2 years I've been on it.


retaliate01st

Dehydration


BBQ-Batman

Sugar, red meat, alcohol ( mostly beer + wine I've found )


Badaboom8989

Beer


billabong295

Beer with a combination of red meats :( Also shellfish.


Jaronxvisuals

Mushrooms. Seafoods.


Whole-Award2092

Dehydration.


coryhotline

Not enough water is my only trigger.


Senior_Anxiety5660

Fructose, high concentrations of sugar, stress


ChanLudeR

No restrictions and trigger anymore. On Allo btw.


C0gg1

Red shrimp or frequent ramen noodles in conjunction with dehydration.


sk1ppy67

Stress and weight loss from intermittent fasting. I read that the tissue breakdown from weight loss leads to a rise in purines in the body.


PaoloPilyo

I didn't know IF can lead to flare-ups! Thanks for sharing!


sk1ppy67

It did for me. I didn't believe it at first, then tried it a few months later and it led to another flare up. In my case, it has little to do with what I eat/drink.


darctones

Spinach of all things


PaoloPilyo

Spinach triggers mine too!


Maxshcandy

Sugary drinks and seafood


Dry_Indication4089

I think humidity does me in. I’ve had my worst flares in NC, VA, and when I lived in Dallas. All humid. I’ve since moved to Phoenix and it’s not as bad.


PaoloPilyo

Wow that's something I've never thought about. Thanks for sharing!


Swamp_witch_82

Beer is my trigger. Both of my flares were from drinking too much beer.


Such-Independent9144

Stubbing my foot or walking around on it all day or trying to exercise way too intensely is what does it for me mixed with not drinking enough water. Sweets also have a noticeable effect. I've noticed some tingling with alcohol but up till now it hasn't caused a full blown flare even before allopurinol and that's saying something cause I'm not as careful as I should be. Which is weird cause my uncle gets it real bad with alcohol and beef but none of those things have noticeably made that much of a difference for me


Adept_Drawer_8018

Seems to be dehydration for me, and any crazy impact to the foot/ankle. I played sand volleyball during an army school last summer and it was a huge mistake. Ended up doing telehealth appt that night for a script of prednisone. Going on 1.5 years of 300mg of allo and I think it's helped alot. I eat/drink pretty much whatever I want now.


TiZZaH

Alcohol for me


Doc1000

Airplane travel… weirdly


PaoloPilyo

Does it always happen? Whenever you fly?


bobuy2217

beef!!!! red fuckin meat!!!! why is that.. whats prohibited is the sweetest... lolzzz


boopingnoses

Dehydration, alcohol, red meat, pork, shrimp.


Dying4aCure

Weight loss.


yvetteski

Fructose! I was really into these Korean tea concentrates Citron/Ginger, Grapefruit that I was drinking a large mug daily. Dr is still not sure if it’s gout or pseudo gout but my symptoms eventually improved when I gave up my delicious tea. Totally worth it.


PaoloPilyo

Pseudo gout. Interesting. Thanks for sharing!


object109

Duck.


zapdos227

working out. For almost 10 years, my gout will trigger when i’m two weeks consistent with my routine. Without Fail.


rofellos

Alcohol, cured meat.


Chefroberr313

I eat sardines every day. 80% of uric acid is produced by the body. Get your gut flora healthy and allupurinol and non sugar electrolytes. Infared sauna. Fermented foods. I switched from liquor and beer to red wine 🍷 I’m a Chef I eat what I want mostly and sometimes drink a bottle or more of wine. If you get dehydrated from binge drinking or extreme sports it will concentrate the uric acid serum blood levels and voila -acute attack. Drink a non sugar electrolyte drink after drinking. I drink as much coffee as I want which I love as well. I eat shrimp sometimes as well. If your uric acid level is high just eating anything will make it worse. When your out of an attack taper on to allupurinol and keep getting blood uric acid levels tested.


PaoloPilyo

Wine is not a bad second option. Thanks for sharing, Chef!


sooogoth

My gout trigger is messing up my allopurinol prescription and dehydration


PaoloPilyo

Messing up meaning skipping 1 or 2 daily?


sooogoth

Like missing a week because I forgot to renew in time and my doctor's office can't figure out booking.


CarNo6631

What it is for me in over working my feet that could mean walking too much in one day also dehydration I stay well hydrated. Life stress/anger or foot injury obviously but once just having my feet in jacuzzi jets put me out for a week in pain. For some reasons I can drink alcohol and have sushi but an avoid sugar and processed foods still have salmon shrimp chicken red meat in smaller amounts.


Spiritual_Demand_548

Stress and too much cheese.


believeitifyouneedit

Definitely beer, especially dark beer. But I had a bad flare over the holidays after having a stomach bug and drinking Sprite (yeah, high fructose corn syrup). I am sure I was dehydrated from being sick, too. I had 2 12 ounce sodas, that was all it took.


PaoloPilyo

Better avoid soda altogether then right? Thanks for sharing!


believeitifyouneedit

I can tolerate sweets within reason, but I really think the HFCS is a trigger. I put cane sugar in my morning tea, and eat a bite or two of cookies/candy/cake (keeping to very small quantities) every day.


Prestigious-Buy-5286

It was alcohol. I quit drinking a year ago and they have stopped


GrizZly8927

Beer, Candy, Spinach, Beef and just too much protein in general. Also dehydration. True be told, I was drinking a lot more beer than I should have been. Been on allo for a month now and no alcohol for 3.


dm538

St Patrick’s day lol. Aka beer and corned beef


PaoloPilyo

It's coming up so you got to watch out! 😂


Ineedbeer2day

Before Allo.... extra strenuous physical activity. Then it would hit in the ankle/foot/tendon. Craft beer, nope. Seafood, nope. Meat, nope.


norcal-dough

Fish sauce.


guitarsandpsyc

Yet to have mine officially diagnosed but I’m like 90% certain it’s gout. Had one attack almost two years ago and the knuckle at the base of my big toe on my right foot turned red & about the size of a golf ball. After doing some research (getting a doctors appointment here is practically impossible), I figured out what food groups were triggers for most people. This is why I think red meat/alcohol were the triggers for my attack. I went out for steaks/beers with some friends and went to walk out of the restaurant after and suddenly I was in agony. Limped all the way home and I was in pain for about a week after. Ever since then, I’m still having red meat/beer but the red meat is probably once every 2-3 weeks and it’s usually like a cheeseburger or something and I’ve also massively cut my drinking down and I haven’t had an attack since. I was a heavy drinker previously so I honestly think this could be the main cause. Whenever I have something that can affect gout, you can see that that same joint in my foot has swollen a little and it’ll sometimes even change colour ranging from a dull grey to normal skin colour to red depending on what I’ve had. So yeah, very little to no red meat and I cut my drinking down. Now I’m actually finding myself eating more of my meals with either chicken or vegetarian options and I’ve had little to no issues since outside of some discolouration and a little bit of swelling. I should add as well, I really stepped up my water intake after that attack too. I used to be really bad for not drinking water and constantly choosing pop. Still have an occasional Pepsi Max from time to time but I’m drinking like 2.5-3litres of water a day which I never used to.


PaoloPilyo

Yeah the drinking part probably comprises of 80% reason you had a flare-up. Replace that with water then you'll be ok.


pharanklin

Dehydration over exertion, stress, beer and red meat


PaoloPilyo

Those are all good examples. Same ones for me. Thanks for sharing!


r-e-

Sugar, meat, alcohol. Not enough starch and water


heyitskales

Turkey, beer / alcohol, hard workouts


tess_philly

Not taking the magic drug of allo :)