Pam - first time "gouter"

by Pam
(Maine)

I've never had gout before...in fact I thought gout was for "old people". I recently found out it doesn't discriminate. I'm 45, a bit overweight but otherwise healthy. I don't exercise every day per say but am very physical on a daily basis with my work. I had a perfectly normal work day last Wednesday, Thursday I woke up with an achiness in the arch of my left foot. I hobbled through the day. Friday morning I woke up in excrutiating pain and inability to walk on my left foot at all. A trip to the ER, an x-ray, blood work, two different pain meds (first one didn't touch the pain)and two doc opinions revealed they "believed it to be" gout. The site of pain isn't typical of gout but my uric acid levels, the level of pain and swelling are indications of gout.

I was sent home with indomethacin for pain and inflammation as well as hydrocodone for pain. Docs orders to stay off my feet for a few days, keep the foot elevated and take the meds on a regular basis. By Sunday, my foot is feeling not 100%, but much better.
To answer the question, does stress affect gout? I'm thinking it does. We are in the process of trying to get custody of my step-daughter, we are dealing with another court case, work related and we are closing on a house on Monday. Coincidence?