Does anyone know much about gout?

pondering_gal

I have a lot of issues with joints swelling up, usually in my wrists, ankles & knees. I've been to the doctors 3 or 4 times (and spent my birthday there when my knee was more than twice its size), and have been tested for arthritis, which it is not, and xrays done, and nothing was wrong.

My doctor thinks its gout, but apperantly the test is very painful, so I don't know for sure.

I'm not a big red meat eater (I do eat it, not just a crazy amount).

And I have no health insurance for a while, so I just take 4-5 ibprofen when I'm in pain.

I know this is mostly common in older men, so I guess my question is how common is it among younger women?

gingern

I don't know anything about it...other than my Uncle has it!  Helpful!! haha. I'll do some googling.

gingern

Here is an article I found...you don't look like the typical gout sufferer, although maybe if you eat a lot of the vegetables listed at the end it could be...I have no idea.

Edit: Oops...here it is!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-206818/Gout-attacks-young-women.html

 

ddumire

Usually people with gout have red swollen joints that are painful to touch and movement.  They also usually have an elevated uric acid level (just a simple blood test).  It would be unusual for a young woman to have gout.

Have they tested you for other inflammatory diseases like SLE, rheumatoid factor, etc?  It sounds like your doctor wants to do a needle aspiration of the joint fluid.  I would not be excited about that either, but if the other tests are negative it would be helpful in a diagnosis.