My husband is hurting

[sb129]

Actually that website looks pretty good- its products are quite recommended and its won a national prize for emerging business which is encouraging.

 

They ship within NZ for free, so even if I got them sent to me, and then I could send them on.

[way_2_tired]

so sorry, here it is with more appropriate formatting for easy reading.

 

 

What is gout?

Gout is a kind of arthritis caused by uric acid crystals forming in one or more joints. Uric acid is a substance that forms when your body breaks down a substance called purines. This substance normally dissolves in your blood and passes through your kidneys into your urine. In people who have gout, uric acid builds up and can then form sharp crystals in the joint space. This causes pain and swelling in the affected joints.

Who can develop gout?

If you eat a lot of foods that are rich in purines, you may be at an increased risk for gout. Some of these foods are salmon, sardines, organ meats, asparagus, mushrooms and herring.

You are more likely to develop gout if you're overweight, drink excessive amounts of alcohol or have high cholesterol, diabetes or high blood pressure. Men develop gout more often than women. Women are more likely to develop gout after menopause. Gout also tends to run in families (is hereditary).

Medicines that may cause gout include the following:

· Certain diuretics ("water pills") used to treat high blood pressure

· Niacin (a B-complex vitamin)

· Aspirin (taken in low doses)

· Cyclosporine (brand names: Sandimmune, Neoral), which is used to prevent the body from rejecting a new organ after transplant surgery

· Some drugs used to treat cancer

· Pyrazinamide, which is used to treat tuberculosis

What is a gout attack like?

The symptoms of gout may be sudden. They usually start at night, often in the big toe joint (but can also occur in the joints of the feet, ankles, knees, hands and wrists). The affected joint becomes red, feels hot and hurts. The joint hurts more when you touch it.

What should I do if I have a gout attack?

You should rest in bed during an attack of gout. Putting an ice pack on the joint may ease the pain. Keeping the weight of clothes or bedding off the joint can also help. Medicines that you can take without a prescription that reduce inflammation and pain may also help, such as aspirin or ibuprofen (one brand name: Motrin). Your doctor can also prescribe medicine for you.

The sooner you get treatment, the sooner the pain will go away. Your doctor can prescribe medicine to help stop the joint swelling and pain. With treatment, your gout attack should go away in a few days. While having a gout attack, you should also reduce the amount of animal protein you eat and avoid alcohol completely.

What if I don't get treatment?

If you don't get treatment, a gout attack can last for days or even weeks. If you keep having more attacks, more joints may become affected, and the attacks will last longer.

If you have gout attacks for many years, you may develop tophi (say "toe-fee"). These are uric acid crystals that form lumps under the skin. Tophi usually form on the toes, fingers, hands and elbows. You may also develop kidney disease or kidney stones from uric acid crystals that collect in the urinary tract. Over time, even the bone around a joint may be destroyed by gout.

What can I do to avoid gout attacks?

Your doctor can prescribe medicines to prevent future gout attacks. These medicines can wash the uric acid from your joints, reduce swelling and decrease the amount of uric acid in your body.

You should lose weight if you are overweight. If you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes, you should get treatment for these conditions and follow a low-salt, low-fat diet.

Avoid alcohol and foods that are high in purines. Drink lots of water and other fluids, which can help flush uric acid from your body

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[Island Girl]

Actually that website looks pretty good- its products are quite recommended and its won a national prize for emerging business which is encouraging.

 

They ship within NZ for free, so even if I got them sent to me, and then I could send them on.

 

Thank you!! Thank you!!

 

Then the ones being sent here can go the cheapest way possible and can get there whenever!

 

I really appreciate it sb. __

 

I am looking now and will PM you with details.

 

{{{{{{HUGS!}}}}}

[way_2_tired]

allopurinol and colchicine are the two mainstays of gout treatment. I can't remember what specific country your husband is from. I saw you and had written it before and that it was one that one of my colleagues travels to to do her service work. If so, she could probably bring some allopurinol with her when she next travels to the clinic she works in. Your husband would just have to travel to get it.

 

Other than that I would recommend finding out if there is anybody doing short term medical mission work in the country. they could bring it for him. I could ask my short term mission work connection people adn find out if they know anyone who does work in that country.

Docs can bring perscription drugs with them.

[Island Girl]

allopurinol and colchicine are the two mainstays of gout treatment. I can't remember what specific country your husband is from. I saw you and had written it before and that it was one that one of my colleagues travels to to do her service work. If so, she could probably bring some allopurinol with her when she next travels to the clinic she works in. Your husband would just have to travel to get it.

 

Other than that I would recommend finding out if there is anybody doing short term medical mission work in the country. they could bring it for him. I could ask my short term mission work connection people adn find out if they know anyone who does work in that country.

Docs can bring perscription drugs with them.

 

He lives in Tonga.

 

This is also a very sweet offer way_2_tired!!

 

I don't think you don't have PM privileges yet so when they are getting ready to go there - whoever it is -- if they will take some up to date medication with them and perhaps by then you will have PM privileges and can PM which clinic they are going to or where he should go for pick up...

It is just the logistics I am trying to figure out...

 

Again thank you for all of the info and the wonderful offer to help.

[way_2_tired]

Yes, I do believe it was Tonga. I will double check and ask her if that was the country and if they have that medicine at the clinic, etc.

[way_2_tired]

is it against the rules for me to give you my email by posting it? I have one that is on a website anyway as I'm helping to start a clinic in Ghana, and we have a website with contact info for questions.

[Island Girl]

is it against the rules for me to give you my email by posting it? I have one that is on a website anyway as I'm helping to start a clinic in Ghana, and we have a website with contact info for questions.

 

Don't post an e-mail here.

 

I am not sure about a website but certainly do not post your contact details.

 

At least a website isn't personal info. That is why I'm not sure about that. It is for the public after all -- but perhaps not the world - ?

 

Once you get to 100 posts then you will have PM privileges.

So I am not sure when the next expedition will be going but maybe by then you will have enough posts...?

 

Or maybe you could just post the clinic name in Tonga...? I am not sure about it.

 

And way_2_tired - I hope you get some well earned rest!

[Els]

Hey IG,

 

Guess I came across this a little late, everyone's given such good advice already, there's virtually nothing left to add! How's your hubby now -- have any of the suggestions here worked?

 

Just leaving my good wishes and hopes that you'll get the medications he needs.

[Island Girl]

Hey IG,

 

Guess I came across this a little late, everyone's given such good advice already, there's virtually nothing left to add! How's your hubby now -- have any of the suggestions here worked?

 

Just leaving my good wishes and hopes that you'll get the medications he needs.

 

Hi Elswyth. Thanks for popping on and the wells wishes. We can use all we can get!

 

The last time I spoke with him was day before yesterday and he still had it a bit in his feet.

This is the longest attack he has ever had.

 

I am hoping since he had some rice, etc. (all gout friendly foods) to eat for the next couple of days he'll be better by next call day which is today.

 

We try to ration our minutes so they last all month and then we use up the last of them on the last day and just talk and talk until it disconnects us.

 

So I'll post an update after I talk to him!

[Spirit of the Ocean]

Hi IG, just read this this thread and wanted to ask how your husband was doing. I don't know much about gout, but I'm sorry it's affecting him so badly. It must be awful for you as well, not being able to be with him physically. I really hope his visa arrives soon - it'll be better for him in terms of getting better medication and health care as well I'd assume.

 

Do keep us updated on how he is doing. All the very best to you and him both!

[Mei Mei]

Dear Island Girl,

Oh I feel for you that you cant be there to take care of Mr Island when he is now in gout pain. But your lasting concern and advice through all means have been helping him a lot. I hope you can meet him soon and he is able to overcome his sickness to move towards good recovery!!

 

[nittanylion]

I hope your husband take good care of himself. Also, speedy recover.

[Island Girl]

Hey Island Girl -

 

I'm sorry to hear about your hubby. I don't know much about gout but do know that it can be terribly painful. Knowledge is power though, and with all your research and your resources here I hope that you have found some help in dealing with it.

 

I'm coming in a little late and I'm sure this has been discussed in some of your threads but I was wondering if this:

 

http://www.magicjack.com/1/faq/

 

is something that would work for you? I laugh at the commercials but then found out that my friend uses this and it does work. I don't know your circumstances but figured it couldn't hurt to post just in case.

 

Best of luck to you both!

 

Thank you so much for your well wishes.

 

He doesn't have a computer and if he did couldn't operate it. The country did recently get the internet - but with so few having computers it hasn't advanced the country that much.

 

Hi IG, just read this this thread and wanted to ask how your husband was doing. I don't know much about gout, but I'm sorry it's affecting him so badly. It must be awful for you as well, not being able to be with him physically. I really hope his visa arrives soon - it'll be better for him in terms of getting better medication and health care as well I'd assume.

 

Do keep us updated on how he is doing. All the very best to you and him both!

 

Thank you Spirit -

 

He is doing better. He found out a clinic on the other side of the island has been treating a lot of the islanders that have gout and ordered some specific meds.

 

So he did get over there and they gave him what I believe is alpuranol (sp?). I asked him to read the label and all that was written (handwritten!) was "apo 100". So I can only assume.

He is supposed to take it everyday - so that fits with the alpuranol - and he said he was feeling better after one dose.

 

He is able to walk again although still having some pain in his feet.

 

He said he asked them all of the questions he always asks me -- what foods he should eat, etc. and I think they could answer better because they know what is available there. -- HE gets a bit irritated when I try to come of with foods he should eat because so many I suggest he doesn't have access to either at the time or not at all and I always forget.

 

Dear Island Girl,

Oh I feel for you that you cant be there to take care of Mr Island when he is now in gout pain. But your lasting concern and advice through all means have been helping him a lot. I hope you can meet him soon and he is able to overcome his sickness to move towards good recovery!!

 

 

 

Thank you Mei Mei.

 

He is feeling better now. Hopefully now that he has new medication he will not have any more attacks.

 

Bunnies to you too! :bunny::bunny:

 

I hope your husband take good care of himself. Also, speedy recover.

 

Thank you nittanylion.

 

He is taking better care of himself now than he ever has. And now that he has meds hopefully the worst is behind him.

 

 

Thank you to all of you.

[sb129]

Allopurinol is what my dad took for gout- and it worked for him.

Thats great news IG!

 

Good luck with the food thing...