Do I have gout? I'm a woman in mid 30's & not sure. Please someone help?

For the last 7 or 8 years I have been getting periods where I have intense pain in my feet & ankles. It then moves to my knees, hands, wrists, elbows & hips. It only happens about every 2 years & will last for about 2-3 months. All that time doctors have been telling me it's in my head & I'm depressed. I recently had a dr check me for lupus (neg), rheumatoid arthritis (neg), diabetes (neg) & others (all neg). Then they checked my uric acid & it was 37. I thought normal was 0-20. The dr now says maybe gout. My dad has gout & also my sister. She was diagnosed with gout when she was in her early 30's (I'm 35). I thought gout only lasted for around a week & only affected your big toe. I'm so tired of the pain all the time. It's like walking on broken glass. I am waiting to see a specialist in this area. Does this sound familiar to anyone? Any ideas on what it could be & what I can do to stop the pain (without huge amounts of painkillers!)? I live in remote oz with not many ulternatives.

I have read that 100% cherry juice (unsweetened) helps dissolve gout crystals. Or else eating 20 or so cherries a day. Be warned though the cherry juice is unsweetened and is extremely tart. You should feel relief in 2 weeks with 8 ounces of juice or 20 cherries a day. Do a Yahoo!! Search of "gout and cherries". I hope this helps you!!

Not sure but My Dad lost both his legs to Gout & Diebetes
Good Luck

This sounds like classic gout symptoms. I've had it off and on since my son was born when I was 37. It is caused by uric acid crystals collecting in your extremeties and joints so your toes and hands hurt the worst and your toes, ankles, elbows, knees and hips are also affected to one degree or another. It can cause permanent arthritis in your joints over time.

My doctor is treating me with allopurinol which takes a couple of months to work and can cause gouty symptoms for the first month or two that you take it. I'm just getting now to where it relieves the symptoms a bit. My hands don't hurt so much and the feeling is back in all my smaller toes and getting there in my big ones.

Contrary to popular opinion, its not due to rich food, but due to purine found in meat, certain fish and turkey. It also runs in families so you're a prime candidate if your dad and sister have it.

Good luck!