35 year old woman with 2 gout attacks in 13 years

by Rita
(Honolulu, HI)

Aloha,

So glad to find this site. I had my first (extremely painful, red, hot and swollen) gout attack at age 21 in 1997. I thought I had kicked the bed with my toe and it was just sore. I had no idea what gout was but I had a co-worker with a history of it who knew exactly what it was when he saw it. I could not understand why I had it. I don't believe there is any history of it in my family as none of them seem to know what it was either. I don't eat a lot of foods on the "gout" list but I had been on vacation and thought maybe I over indulged a bit. It went away (eventually) with medication and I have not had any attacks...until now, 13 years later!

I had the same "kicked the bed" feeling and knew exactly what it was as that pain is too hard to forget. I am coming off a 20lb weight loss over the last year and am not overweight. I still don't eat the foods known for triggering gout so I can't understand why again this happens. I went to the doctor right away and got the anti-inflammatory meds. Even the pharmacist questioned me when I picked up the medicine...she asked "do you have gout?" with a very bewildered look on her face.

I guess I could say I have had stress lately...nothing I can't handle but daily stresses get to you from time to time. I can relate to a lot of what other posts have said...I am drinking a lot of water with this attack and wonder if that has something to do with this one being more on the mild side.

I just hope I don't end up with chronic attacks as this is just the worst pain ever...and I have had a child. :)