20 July 2010 - Vacation in Italy - a true test of my progress with gout

I had a fantastic time in Italy, spending six nights along the Italian Riviera in the Cinque Terre area.  It was HOT and HUMID, but quick dips in the Mediterranean made the weather somewhat tolerable.  This trip was a true test of how far my battle with gout has progressed.  I didn't go crazy while down there, but did get far more exercise during this time than probably the entire previous year combined and sampled some foods I haven't tasted for far too long.  The Cinque Terre coastline is extremely rugged making for difficult and exhausting walks and hikes even in the five towns that comprise the area.  Once outside those villages, the walking and hiking becomes even more extreme.  And walk we did.  Each morning I woke up more sore than I have been in ages, but I was able to overcome this by starting out slowly each day, working out the kinks and loosening the muscles before embarking on anything too rigorous.  I think 'they' call this getting old!  I'm just happy to report that none of the pains I experienced felt anything like gout, just overuse of underutilized joints and muscles.

Again, I didn't go bonkers with my diet while on holiday either.  I did sample a calamari ring or two, had a few pieces of salami, and even sampled a hamburger while in Levanto (something we usually do when we travel - try a burger in each place we go to see what that place's take on it is - NOT good in Levanto!).  I also did have a few glasses of Chianti and some of the local white wine, the first alcohol I've had in over 8 months.  Although I do plan on re-introducing meat back in to my diet slowly, the alcohol will not become a normal thing for me.  This was a rare occurrence where I felt compelled to try what I've heard so many talk about (and it was good!).

After Cinque Terre, we spent two night in the Brenner Pass area on the Italian side of the border.  It was nice to get out of the stifling heat along the coast and to relax in this beautiful area.  We did do a bit more hiking while there, but nothing too extreme.

Usually after a trip like this, I would expect to have been stricken with an attack of gout by now.  So far, however, not a twinge to be felt in any of my joints.  In fact, I feel more healthy and alive and better than I have in the last year after this trip.  As I posted previously after my last bad attack, I do feel different now.  My joints feel cleaner, I don't feel the impending twinges signaling large or even small attacks occurring which can only mean that the Allopurinol and my strict diet have really been working to cleanse my body.  Am I out of the woods concerning my gout?  I highly, highly doubt it.  I do think that the worst is over, but I will need to be careful and vigilant with my diet and my lifestyle and will have to make sure I do not lapse back in to any bad habits.  I think this is the key.  I can't just proclaim, "I'm cured!" and resume living life as if gout was never a concern for me.  Keep up a good and healthy diet, continue taking the 600mg of Allopurinol along with 220mg of Naproxen per day, continue getting regular exercise, and always remember that I am still living with the disease of gout and always will be.

I'm still not sure about skiing this coming winter, but things are looking better.  If nothing else, I at least hope I'll be able to get out to do some touring.  Downhill may have to wait, but at the rate I'm going, I may be able to go back to enjoying the mountains and the snow sooner than I think.

* a picture I took near Brenner Pass in Italy during an amazing lightning show last Saturday night: