Eddie
Eddie has had gout for 30 years. It affects his feet, knees and hands. He has had around six attacks in the last year, and is a member of an internet support forum for people with gout.
Eddie’s first experience of gout was in 1983. His big toe became swollen and he thought he must have kicked it. He was working at the time, and the pain and swelling got worse so he took his slipper to work to wear instead of his shoe, and carried on, thinking that it would go soon. After a week, his wife persuaded him to go to see his GP, who diagnosed him with gout.
Eddie had seen his father and brother suffer from gout, although at the time Eddie did not realise how bad the pain was for them. He feels annoyed and finds it hurtful when people make jokes about gout, because he feels that they do not understand how bad the pain is. Eddie has sometimes felt embarrassed when he is in company and cannot walk very well or struggles to get to the toilet because of an attack of gout.
Eddie has been prescribed various medications to manage the pain of gout, including liquid morphine which made him sick and unwell. He currently takes allopurinol every day, and paracetamol and codeine or ibuprofen when he gets an attack. Eddie feels that his gout has got worse since he retired. While he was working, gout only affected his feet, but then he began to experience attacks in his knees and his hands.
Eddie finds it particularly difficult to walk when he has an attack of gout that affects his knees. He has sometimes been unable to lift his legs to get into bed and has had to spend several nights sleeping in a chair in his lounge. He keeps a walking stick by his bed in case he gets an attack of gout. When he has an attack in his hands he cannot hold things, like cups of tea. He finds that he often feels downhearted, demoralised and lethargic during attacks of gout. He does not feel like doing anything because of the pain, and he finds it difficult to cook for himself.
Attacks of gout also limit Eddie’s social and leisure activities, such as playing golf and bowls. Going out to meet friends is particularly important to him because he lives on his own. Eddie has an automatic car so he can still drive if he has gout in his left foot, but when it affects his knees he is not able to drive or get out and about.
The pain of gout is the worst pain that Eddie has ever experienced, and he describes it being like having an electric drill drilling into his knee. He thinks about gout nearly every day, and also worries that he might be eat something that will trigger an attack. Eddie has made dietary changes and tries not to put on too much weight.
About four years ago, Eddie had a heart attack when he was playing golf. While he was being treated in hospital, he had an attack of gout and was given colchicine. This gave him diarrhoea and sickness, which combined with the heart attack, made him feel very unwell. He has found that the dietary advice he was given following his heart attack conflicts with some of the advice he has read about gout. For example he was told by the hospital to eat plenty of oily fish, but this is not advised for people with gout.
Eddie has found reading information on the internet has helped him to understand gout more, and he believes that this has made him less fearful. He is also a member of a gout forum on the internet. Eddie sends supportive messages to members of the forum, and also finds it helpful and reassuring to be in touch with other people who understand what he is going through. He would like to be able to talk to other people with gout face to face, but does not know of any local support groups. Eddie goes to church regularly, and finds prayer helpful when he gets an attack of gout. He also appreciates being part of the church community.
Eddie has had around six attacks of gout in the last year. He believes that he has learnt to accept the idea of having gout, but does not believe that it will ever be cured. When he has an attack, he reassures himself with the knowledge that it will go after two weeks and he will be alright until the next one. He worries that his gout may get worse as he gets older.