Profiles

Here, you can find any of the interviews on this site.



Ray

Ray experienced his first attack of gout about 20 years ago in his big toe joint. His GP referred him to see a specialist who recommended that he took long-term medication. Ray takes allopurinol every day and has not had any attacks in the last 12 months.

  • Background

    Ray is widowed and lives alone. He has two daughters. He works part-time as a Tax Officer. Ethnic background/nationality: White English.

  • Age at interview 67
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Ivor

    Ivor's first attack of gout occurred when he was abroad on holiday. He has chosen to manage attacks with diclofenac rather than taking preventative medication. Ivor has about three or four attacks a year but does not feel that these impact on his day to day life.

  • Background

    Ivor is married and lives with his wife. He has two sons. He is semi-retired and works part time as an accountant. Ethnic background/nationality: White English/Jewish.

  • Age at interview 69
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Jeff Y

    Looking back, Jeff now believes that he was experiencing symptoms of gout for a while before he was diagnosed. He has tophi on his ears and hand. He takes a low dose of allopurinol every day and feels that his gout is under control.

  • Background

    Jeff is married and lives with his wife and two daughters. He is retired, and previously worked in farming and as a Night Guard for a bank. Ethnic background/nationality: White...

  • Sex/Gender Male
  • John Z

    John experienced pains in various joints and wondered if he might have gout. His GP did a blood test that showed that his uric acid levels were high. John now takes 300mg of allopurinol every day.

  • Background

    John is married and lives with his wife. He is studying part-time for a PhD. Ethnic background/nationality: White English.

  • Age at interview 43
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Jeff X

    Jeff experienced his first attack of gout when he was on holiday abroad in 2012 and has had three further attacks since then. He wanted to avoid long-term medication if possible, and hopes that the changes he has made to his diet will stop him from getting attacks in the future.

  • Background

    Jeff is married and lives with his wife and daughter. He is semi-retired and works part-time as a Veterinary Surgeon. Ethnic background/nationality: White English.

  • Age at interview 68
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • John Y

    John's first attacks of gout were in his knee. He could not take allopurinol because it made his skin itch. John then saw a specialist who suggested that he took a low dose of allopurinol and gradually increased it to 300mg. John has not experienced any itching and the frequency of his attacks has decreased.

  • Background

    John is married and lives with his wife and granddaughter. He has two children. John is retired and previously worked as a Police Officer. Ethnic background/nationality: White English.

  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Gerald

    Gerald was diagnosed with gout in 1980. He has had around 12 attacks in the last 12 months which have affected his feet, ankles, knees and hands. In the past he took allopurinol, but he has recently started taking febuxostat.

  • Background

    Gerald lives with his wife and has two children. He is retired, and previously worked as a Production Foreman. Ethnic background/nationality: White English.

  • Age at interview 67
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Tony Y

    Tony has an attack of gout about once every three months. Gout has mainly affected his feet, but he has also had attacks in his knee and elbows. He manages his attacks by taking diclofenac, and generally finds that his symptoms are gone within four days.

  • Background

    Tony lives with his wife and has two children. He is retired, and previously worked as a Corporate Banker. Ethnic background/nationality: White English.

  • Age at interview 65
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Ben

    Ben had one attack of gout when he was 30. The symptoms lasted for around two weeks and he was prescribed naproxen tablets. He occasionally gets an unusual sensation in his toe and questions whether it is the beginning of another attack.

  • Background

    Ben lives with his partner. He works as the Creative Director of a media company. Ethnic background/nationality: White English.

  • Age at interview 34
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Eric

    Eric first experienced gout in 1986 at the age of 60, when he was on holiday. Eric has continued to get attacks of gout in his feet every few months. He takes colchicine when he has an attack. Eric has had three attacks in the last 12 months.

  • Background

    Eric is married and has two children. He is retired, and previously worked as a Manager for an energy supply company. Ethnic background/nationality: White English.

  • Age at interview 87
  • Sex/Gender Male