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Blue_true

(31,261 posts)
Fri Dec 20, 2019, 09:50 PM Dec 2019

I don't know whether this is the right forum, but here goes.

I just discovered something that should have been obvious. But my guess is most people have not realized how this aspect of their physiology works. I didn't realize until my capacity to do something routine was almost taken away.

My entire family has a problem with uric acid generation and storage in our bodies. So we occasionally have bout of gout and tendinitis. We control the problem with medication, but I don't like using the prescription MEDs, so I had basically stopped using them for about a year. Then, out of the blue, I had a fierce attack that basically rendered my right knee useless. I am right-handed and pretty much all my attacks are on my rightside, so much so that I have learned to and even do some intimate things with my left hand, because I have learned that the left will always work in a difficult situation.

But this time the right knee was basically incapacitated for around four days. To make matters worse, I had not properly coordinated my Scripts with my new Doctor of about 6 months, an excellent Doctor. So I could not run to the pharmacy to get refills because I had no prescription. So, I was at home movement incapacitated, communicating as needed with key people by phone. I got my Script issue worked out by calling my Doctor's office and talking to his nurse.

What I learned other than that I was stupid not to use my Scipts the way they are intended to work, was that a person seem to start every thing from their dominate side. When I tried to walk I found that I could not easily do so because my right knee was rendered almost inoperable. What I saw is that to start a step process, I always had to move first with my right leg, then pull the left leg past and forward, I couldn't walk any other way. To me, it now seems that a right-handed person always lead with the right leg from a standing position, while a left-handed person leads with the left leg in a similar situation. Like I said, it all should have been obvious, but to me it was a revelation.

During my down time I read up in detail on nutrition, because I suspected that something that I recently ate put my uric acid levels over the critical threshold. I also read up on what I could do regularly to helpless knock the levels down, Vitamin C turns out to be a powerful aid, one can get that through drinking a glass of orange juice each day, or with supplements. What set off my attack? Surprisingly, I think that it was a large batch of "organic" apples that I consumed just before the attack. I don't eat beef regularly because it kicks up my uric acid levels. I think that maybe the organic fertilizer for the apples may have been cow manure, my best guess, and that purines from the cow manure transferred to the apples. Purines are the building blocks for uric acid. I also learned that I need to pay more attention to what I buy, even when the stuff is pricier "health food". I am ok now, I am on my MEDs and they have knocked my inflammation and uric acid levels way down, I can walk again, abeit gingerly, the arc is better though, so I should be fine in another day or so.

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I don't know whether this is the right forum, but here goes. (Original Post) Blue_true Dec 2019 OP
Hope that you feel better soon... Freedomofspeech Dec 2019 #1
I am doing fine now. I had lost my appetite and the inability to simply walk was demoralizing. Blue_true Dec 2019 #2
I am 71 and in pretty good health for an old broad.... Freedomofspeech Dec 2019 #7
I think all of us have a tendency to not see stuff that we don't want to see, that Blue_true Dec 2019 #8
Same to you! Freedomofspeech Dec 2019 #9
Been there, done that... Cornus Dec 2019 #4
Yes, I don't like using pharmas as a first resort, I think that people get into other medical issues Blue_true Dec 2019 #5
Oh my gosh! Alliepoo Dec 2019 #3
Although the situation was demoralizing, I view every event in life, good or bad, as a Blue_true Dec 2019 #6
Get well Jim Riggins Jan 2020 #10
Thanks. I am feeling better now. Blue_true Jan 2020 #11

Freedomofspeech

(4,228 posts)
1. Hope that you feel better soon...
Fri Dec 20, 2019, 09:58 PM
Dec 2019

Glad that are figuring things out...we all need to take care of ourselves.

Blue_true

(31,261 posts)
2. I am doing fine now. I had lost my appetite and the inability to simply walk was demoralizing.
Fri Dec 20, 2019, 10:06 PM
Dec 2019

But I am an optimist by heart, I learned a lot from the situation that I can put to good use during the future.

Thanks, and take care of yourself.

Freedomofspeech

(4,228 posts)
7. I am 71 and in pretty good health for an old broad....
Sat Dec 21, 2019, 12:47 AM
Dec 2019

But I tend to ignore things that I shouldn't. I am in constant denial that that person in the mirror is really me! Peace to you at this time.❤✌

Blue_true

(31,261 posts)
8. I think all of us have a tendency to not see stuff that we don't want to see, that
Sat Dec 21, 2019, 01:02 AM
Dec 2019

is until life pulls us down. Take care of yourself and have a good holiday season and coming new year.

Cornus

(871 posts)
4. Been there, done that...
Fri Dec 20, 2019, 10:36 PM
Dec 2019

I don't like taking prescription meds either. I've been prone to gout attacks for the last 20 years, usually two or three each year and usually in my ankles. I had a really bad attack earlier this year and my doc put me on a daily dose of colchicine. This has prevented another occurrence so I guess it's working and I'll just continue with it, even though I'm anti-drug, but do recognize that many do help.

Blue_true

(31,261 posts)
5. Yes, I don't like using pharmas as a first resort, I think that people get into other medical issues
Fri Dec 20, 2019, 10:45 PM
Dec 2019

doing that.

Blue_true

(31,261 posts)
6. Although the situation was demoralizing, I view every event in life, good or bad, as a
Fri Dec 20, 2019, 10:51 PM
Dec 2019

learning opportunity that I can extract future benefit from, and so will this event be. But it was amazing to see how a pretty healthy body can be rendered almost inoperable, even to having difficulty doing things like sleeping at night, and dealing with the mental anguish of trying to figure out whether the situation is something new and potentially threatening.

 

Jim Riggins

(23 posts)
10. Get well
Wed Jan 8, 2020, 09:39 AM
Jan 2020

I'm sorry to hear about your family's health issues. As someone who had to quit working due to depression, I sort of understand where you're coming from. Good luck.

Blue_true

(31,261 posts)
11. Thanks. I am feeling better now.
Wed Jan 8, 2020, 07:59 PM
Jan 2020

My family has a history of uric acid retention, but it is manageable.

Take care of yourself, depression is a much more serious problem than the one that I have. Stay strong.

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