Got laid off three weeks ago, and have had two gout attacks since

by Bill
(Colorado Springs)

Three weeks ago, due to the economic downturn killing business prospects, I got laid off from my consulting job. Admittedly, the first couple of days, I had a few drinks to shave off the edge, and sure enough a day later, I awoke in the middle of the night with what felt like a sprained left ankle which quickly developed into a full-scale attack which lasted about 5 days. What I found unusual about this attack was that it was resistant to colchocine - which I keep a stock of "just in case".

The following week, I vowed I would be better and not drink and get in excercise to help relieve the stress. Well, after getting off the treadmill one morning, I noticed the big toe on my left foot was throbbing, and sure enough - with in a day it also developed into gout attack #2.

Stress, I think at least in my case, is possibly a bigger contributor than any other factor. At times in the past when I've had attacks they never seemed to follow whatever I ate or drank the few days prior. One of the worst attacks I ever had followed a week where I hadn't had a thing to drink, and ate healthy foods the whole time.