...drink cherry juice. While that suggestion is merely my opinion based on my own personal experience, I think it has done wonders for me. A few months ago, despite having taken Allopurinol for years now, I started to have recurrences of gout attacks. They were some of the most painful I have ever had but not quite the worst. and they were hitting more joints than ever before. They were coming on every week or two, whereas before the attacks were usually several weeks to months apart. I literally could not go two weeks without having a least one attack and as I said sometimes they came on weekly. Nothing had changed in my diet or my alcohol consumption except that I had imbibed a few beers during hunting season, I had been avoiding beers for quite awhile before that.
So, I cut back on alcohol, cut back on red meats, cut back on certain seafood and hoped that would help. It did not. I saw my doctor who prescribed a larger than usual dose of Prednisone for me and that helped but also probably caused a thrush attack in my throat. I also had to resort to the use of opioids for the pain and got a few days prescription (only 3 or 4 days) of which I still have two pills left - and that was months ago - I took it very sparingly. While the pain from the continuing attacks wound up becoming less severe, I was worried the next one, at any given time, would be worse than the others. My doctor told me that if my situation did not improve or if it worsened, she would switch my gout medication to Uloric. That did not happen!
I have not switched medications. I am back to eating pretty much what I ate before this most recent spate of attacks. I am drinking (even had a few beers while visiting my son in AR - and beer is the worst type of alcoholic drink for the gout sufferers as I understand it); yet, the gout has not returned in over a month now. Maybe this is temporary and maybe not. I think that it is due to one thing I have added to my diet - cherry juice (that is my opinion and not medical advice nor medical information).
I had read on several websites, including respected medical sites, that cherry juice may have (not definitely has but may have) anti-uric acid qualities. The buildup of uric acid crystals in your joints is what causes gout attacks. I had also heard from several folks that cherry juice seemed to perform miracles in helping rid them, or people they know, of the gout or at least of its painful symptoms. So I tried it. I have been drinking it now since at least early March if not late February. Chuck (I hope I have the name right, I am terrible with names) the owner (or son of the owner) of the Hotel Exchange bar (excellent bar) in Geneva, NY told me about the effects of Cheribundi on one of his relatives. He said it worked like a miracle to stave off the gout. He also said it was made right there in Geneva. I checked around some when I got home and found it was available at my local Costco - how could I not try it.
Thus, I started off with Cheribundi which is a mix of tart cherry juice (not from concentrate) and apple juice. When down in AR, visiting Brendan and doing some grocery shopping, I came across Old Orchard 100% Tart Cherry Juice (from concentrate, no other fruit juices are mixed in). I like them both but I like the Old Orchard better due to personal preference of the taste of it compared to the other - and mind you they both taste very good. While I give the edge to Old Orchard because of taste - it also get sthe edge because they make it from 100% cherry juice (even if from concentrate).
Right now, I have a few bottles of Cheribundi on hand because they sell it at Costco and because I have not been able to find the Old Orchard locally. I did find it available, by the case, on the Old Orchard website. So, I just ordered a case. and will be switching back o that soon. With my kind of luck though, I will get the case and almost immediately start having gout attacks again. Of course, sometimes I do have good luck and maybe it really is what has prevented further attacks so far and will keep doing so; I am hopeful.
At the very least, I am drinking something that tastes great even if tart and that goes well with Kirchwasser, vodka and I am guessing will go well with gin and possibly Tequila as well. If I am going to drink while having the gout, I figure that I may as well drink several ounces of the hoped for cure along with my booze. Besides that, I am getting a decent dose of antioxidants and I suppose a few servings of fruit at the same time.
All the best,Glenn B
