This past week has been the most gout-free and best I have felt physically in a long, long time. It's just too bad that this period of relatively good health has coincided with an extremely busy work week and another round of cold, wet, German weather. I really can't complain, though. My biggest question right now is, "How long will this period of feeling good last?"
I'm hesitant to get my hopes up too high. On the other hand, I've received some very good advice via this here blog over the past month or two and this may be making the difference in my health. Splitting up my Allopurinol dosage each day and taking low to moderate levels of NSAID's could be the last piece to the puzzle that just may get me back on my feet. I actually really do think that these changes have made a difference. However, I have been taking 600mg/day of Allopurinol for over six months now, have followed a very regulated diet, haven't touched a drop of alcohol, and have basically been inactive 99.9% of this period, allowing my body to rest and recover. I was also reading that six months was the usual time period to expect results from Allopurinol. It just may have taken me a bit longer (and yet might take even longer).
I've had other periods over the last 7 months where I was relatively gout-free. However, this time it feels a bit different. A lot of the aches and pains that I used to get in my joints is almost gone now. I can only attribute this to the Allopurinol doing its work and cleansing out the UA deposits in those joints. My big toes still do hurt quite a bit, but that's more from joint damage than current deposits of UA.
I have many other thoughts running through my head right now that I'd like to write down, but I don't have the time currently. Instead, I'll leave it at this: I feel pretty good right now. I'm not going to rush in to anything. I will take it easy, take it slow and give my body some time to adjust. The most 'radical' I may get is riding my mountain bike on a graded dirt road up the hill from my house for some exercise. If I do experience another attack, well, been there done that. I really hope the worst of it is over, but only time will tell.
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Nate,
ReplyDeleteI am very glad you are doing so well. I am sure you will be fine.
You had a good run of 82 gout-free days which ended on 3/25/10 -- about the time you finished a week of Cyclobenzaprine (CYCL) 30 mg/day. I wondered CYCL triggered the gout attack.
After some research, I am convinced that, most likely, CYCL triggered your gout attack on 3/26/10. Gout is not listed as a side effect of CYCL. But I would be very careful to take CYCL again.
You can report the incident to FDA if you choose to.
(By annon.nn)