Around and a bout with gout

Once or twice a year I get an attack of gout in my foot.

It’s a relatively recent affliction that I put down to a combination of old age and alcohol, although an excess of fizzy drinks may be partly to blame as well.

Other causes are said to include obesity, high blood pressure and eating red meat (I tick all three boxes) but no-one seems to know for sure.

When it strikes gout is extremely painful and sometimes it’s physically impossible to walk more than a few yards until the inflammation around the joint (my big toe usually) has gone down.

Thankfully a year or two back my doctor prescribed a drug that seems to work pretty well. The results aren’t instantaneous though - it takes two or three days to take effect - and during that time you just have to grin and bear it.

Using a footstool to take the weight off also relieves the pain but it’s only temporary because as soon as you stand up it kicks in again.

I mention this because I had a bout of gout this week. It began on Monday, two days before a rather grand drinks reception I had been invited to at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Knightsbridge.

I didn’t want to miss it so I began taking the prescribed drug in the hope I could stop it in its tracks.

Fast forward to Wednesday and although the pain wasn’t what it was on Monday and Tuesday, I was still unable to walk any distance without discomfort.

It wasn’t going to stop me going though so I plotted my journey to avoid unnecessary walking.

I worked out that I could get a taxi from my house to the train station (five miles), catch a direct train to Farringdon in London (72 miles), check into my hotel (which was nearby), then get another taxi to Knightsbridge (a further four miles).

The 40-minute taxi journey to Knightsbridge cost me a few bob but judging from some of my fellow guests it was worth it to avoid the stifling hot Underground and the event itself was great.

It took place in a cool air-conditioned ballroom but outside there was an attractive garden terrace overlooking Hyde Park so on a lovely sunny evening guests enjoyed the best of both worlds.

Btw, I probably deserved this latest bout with gout because at the Forest Summer Lunch I laughed when a guest told me that her husband couldn’t come because he was suffering from gout … in his finger!

Worse, he was at that very moment in A&E.

I laughed too soon and I apologise.

I’m over the worst now, although the dog may have to wait a day or two for his twice daily walk.

Anyway, to all my fellow gout sufferers you have my sympathy. And to those who have only recently joined our ranks, welcome to the club!

Comments

[Pat Nurse]

My husband gets gout in his big toe too and so far only once in his knee. He hasn't had it for a long time now so here's hoping the curse doesn't strike again too soon.

You have my utmost sympathy. I hope yours clears up before long.