[bagodonuts]

I had gout for 4-5 years before I started on the allopurinol.  Went on a strict vegetable diet and used alkaline minerals and wheat grass during my 2nd year with gout.  I felt great, but it was not possible to keep up that strict regimen.  As soon as I went off of the diet I began getting gout flare-ups again.  I have tried everything; chiropractic, homeopathic, diet, herbal, cremes, footbaths, indomethicin, cherry juice, etc…  For me allopurinol has given me the best results.  Gout diets are near impossible to follow, and once I thought I knew what my trigger was, something else would trigger the gout.  I believe that in my case I produce too much UA, and my kidneys do not flush it out fast enough either.  I was having 2-3 flareups a year, lasting a month each.  I am a teacher, and would go to work on crutches and transfer to a wheelchair.  Allopurinol has saved my life in a way!  All of my doctors have been stumped, even my current rheumatologist who seems to be the most knowledgable.  He assures me to stick with the allopurinol and get my UA levels checked periodically.  This is what I plan on doing.

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