My next doctors appointment isn't until the end of next week. At this time, I'm going to discuss lowering my Allopurinol daily dosage. I've had it mentioned to me more than once that taking 600mg/day seems like more than I may need. It has been suggested in a comment on this blog (a commentor who provides a great deal of valuable and appreciated information), that the high doses of Allopurinol probably help in greatly lowering my UA levels, but also may be prompting the often and severe attacks that I've been going through. After seven months at 600mg/day, I'm ready to try something different. I will discuss this with my doctor to see what he thinks and also monitor my UA levels a bit more closely - perhaps two tests per month to see the effect of lowering the dosage. I'll report back on what we discuss later.
A picture from yesterday. My wife and the dog having some fun. No, I didn't go out on the log! I sat safely on the bank, snapping a few pictures when I could :)
annon.nn said: "I have noticed you are now taking Allo 300 mg bid (2x/day). If it does not help substantially, I would go 200 mg bid, or even 150 mg bid, as long as the UA level is <6.5"
ReplyDeleteNate asked: "so, are you suggesting lowering my daily Allopurinol intake from 600mg to 300mg (and possibly 200mg)?"
annon.nn answers: Sorry I used shorthand.
BID = B.I.D. = bis in die (Latin) = twice a day, and
QD = quaque die = each day.
So, what I meant are: The next step is 200 mg twice a day. Then, if necessary, go 150 mg twice a day, as long as UA level is <6.5".
I agree with you that it is ridiculous to suffer the unending sever attacks just to lower the already low UA level.
BTW, may I ask about your experience in using baking soda when you were in Alaska? What I like to know are: how much BS you took a day, what other meds you were taking with BS, and what results you got. Thanks.
Nate
ReplyDeletethanks for writing
It helps others who are at home racked with a hellish pain to know that other people have this crap
I dont know how you are going to work and being productive
I never missed work in over 30 years of working
until now
I have missed more work in the last 3 months than all of those years
anyway - best of luck
Jim
Anon - Okay, that makes sense :) (my Latin isn't so hot...) I've only been doing the 300mg twice a day for a week now. I'll give it a bit more time and see what happens. I think that going down to 400mg/day may not be a bad idea, though. I'll discuss it with my doctor next week. Thank you! (by the way - are you in a medical profession? Your knowledge is above and beyond most gout patients!)
ReplyDeleteJim - after living with gout for so long, I thought it might help myself and others to write down all the crap I was going through with this disease. So many people have such a lack of understanding regarding gout and exactly what people with gout go through.
When going through a bad attack, getting to work and staying productive at work is extremely difficult. Often, I have no choice, though. I just have to grit my teeth and limp my way in. The pain and suffering is bad enough, but it's all the stares and questions and unknowing jokes from people that really get old. Some days, I am completely unable to walk and can't make it in. It's caused a lot of problems for me since my company isn't all that understanding.
Best of luck to you Jim. I hope you are able to get control of your gout and you feel better.
Anon - forgot to comment on my baking soda use. For about three months, I was taking 1 tablespoon of baking soda mixed with 8-12 oz of water three to four times a day. I would take it 5 to 6 times a day when I was undergoing a bad attack. I never experienced any relief from doing this and it never seemed to help prevent attacks.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteJust to confirm your statement regarding BS (now, what does that stand for again?) Nate: I may not have taken as much as you did, however, I never saw any positive effects.
ReplyDeleteI think all BS did was raise my BP 10 or 20 points higher due to all the sodium in it!
ReplyDelete