My Profile

Hi - I hate to say "Welcome to the team" because it's not a happy place to be, lol!

As to the Spark Diet, there have been two versions. One is the entire program that you're probably following - the 28 day plan that sends you daily emails and gives you goals to follow. There was actually another full "diet" out there, but I don't see it advertised anymore. It's called the Spark Solution, and got rave reviews for tastiness and results - for two weeks at least - but had fiendishly difficult and expensive menus to follow.

It's always a good idea, though, to start with an existing plan and then test it personally to see how it works for you. Have you considered trying one of the Paleo plans? They are definitely low sugar (at least as far as added sugar) and can be easily adjusted for weight loss. They also usually address other health concerns like exercise, muscle mass, good sleep, exposure to toxins, and stress. I'm a fan of Mark Sisson's "Primal Blueprint" but there is also Loren Cordain's "The Paleo Diet", and numerous other offshoots.

My approximate age and weight at the first occurrence:
55 years, 230 lbs

When and how I was diagnosed:
Thought I broke my toe and went to E/R. X-Ray ruled out break and the E/R doc strongly suggested gout. I haven't been officially diagnosed (yet).

Initial treatment methods:
Nurse taped my big toe to the one next to it (did that hurt!). They gave me a pain shoe and a week of NSAID anti-inflammory medicine.

How many flareups since the first occurrence:
Initial pain has subsided a lot, but not totally disappeared (yet, hopefully).

Pain levels are typically:

My Suspected triggers:

My Known triggers:

Things I've tried - Dietary:

Things I've tried - Herbal:

Things I've tried - Alternative medicine:

Body areas affected:
Big toe, ball of foot.

What has worked best for me:

My typical diet is (Spark diet, low fat/low cal, WW, low carb, vegetarian, vegan, etc.):
I just started with SP. My typical diet before was full of carbs including sugar, some but not a lot of red meat, and very occasional alcohol. Now I'm trying to lose weight following the Spark calorie goals (Is that the 'Spark diet' or is there a specific diet). I'm also trying to minimize my sugar intake and switch to a mostly vegan diet.

My typical exercise or activity level is (sedentary, athletic, moderate, runner, lifter, etc.):
Sedentary

What I'm most interested in getting by joining this team: (latest research information, SparkFriend support, diet and activity ideas, etc.)
I'm interested in all three, but if I have to pick one it would be Diet and activity ideas.

Comments:

Sharon, Woubbie is the foremost authority in the known universe on all things gout. She actively moderates this group and will chime in before long. Bow to her greatness, if your toe pain so allows. We all do.

Gout is known as the disease of rich men and kings. Ditch or moderate the habits that would indicate either. For me, cutting way back on red meat, cheese (not all cheeses, but the triggers have no demonstrable pattern except they tend to be yummy), citrus fruit and other dairy has helped. Increasing water intake has helped. Exercise and weight loss have definitely helped.

When a flare occurs - and they are most infrequent - a course of indomethecin helps the most. I'm on nothing for the chronic, save for dilute cherry concentrate in my Sparky water.

Pounds lost: 28.0

0 35.5 71 106.5

142

My approximate age and weight at the first occurrence: Age 66 Weight about 205

When and how I was diagnosed: Diagnosed at a diabetic check-up when I mentioned that my left big toe hurt. At first she thought it was a bunion but upon examining it determined that it was gout.

Initial treatment methods: Ice packs, foot elevation, and naproxen twice a day for approximately 1 week.

How many flareups since the first occurrence: I have had 3 bad flare ups and many lesser ones that I have warded off with ice packs, foot elevation, and naproxen.

Pain levels are typically: Tolerable for the lesser attacks and horrible for the big ones.

My Suspected triggers: The only trigger I have identified so far is asparagus. Suspected triggers are meats and cranberry juice.

My Known triggers: The only trigger I have identified so far is asparagus.

Things I've tried - Dietary: Drinking cherry juice, limiting meat to 2 - 4 ounces a day, avoiding asparagus (which I love to eat).

Things I've tried - Herbal:

Things I've tried - Alternative medicine: Ice packs, foot elevation, and allopurinol (prescribed by doctor).

Body areas affected: Both big toes and both ankles.

What has worked best for me: Nothing so far...I am just learning.

My typical diet is (Spark diet, low fat/low cal, WW, low carb, vegetarian, vegan, etc.): Spark diabetic diet

My typical exercise or activity level is (sedentary, athletic, moderate, runner, lifter, etc.): I am somewhere between sedentary and moderately active.

What I'm most interested in getting by joining this team: (latest research information, SparkFriend support, diet and activity ideas, etc.) Diet and activity ideas.

Comments: My gout diet conflicts with my diabetic diet, so I need to learn how to control both at the same time.

Edited by: SHARON632 at: 3/21/2013 (17:39)

current weight: 235.0

245 221.25 197.5 173.75

150

My approximate age and weight at the first occurrence: first attack at 64, weight 145

When and how I was diagnosed: 2 weeks ago during annual physical

Initial treatment methods: diet

How many flareups since the first occurrence: 4

Pain levels are typically: noticeable

My Suspected triggers: alcohol, red meat

My Known triggers: none for sure

Things I've tried - Dietary: hydrate, limit red meat and shellfish, limit alcohol, drink cherry juice

Things I've tried - Herbal:

Things I've tried - Alternative medicine:

Body areas affected: fingers, one toe

What has worked best for me: don't know yet, only trying diet for the last 2 weeks

My typical diet is (Spark diet, low fat/low cal, WW, low carb, vegetarian, vegan, etc.): Spark diet, limit meat

My typical exercise or activity level is (sedentary, athletic, moderate, runner, lifter, etc.): moderate

What I'm most interested in getting by joining this team: (latest research information, SparkFriend support, diet and activity ideas, etc.)- latest info, the internet is so contradictory,

Comments:

Edited by: WOUBBIE at: 3/2/2012 (20:00)
June's FlyLady Habit: Drink your water!

•January – Shine Your Sink
•February – Declutter for 15 minutes
•March – Get dressed to shoes
•April - Make your bed
•May - Move!





current weight: 201.0














232


217


202


187



172













Page: 1 of (1)







Thread URL: https://www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/team_me
ssageboard_thread.asp?board=-1x21344x4
6873194

Review our Community Guidelines










Home | My Tools | Resources | Community | Blogs | Healthy Recipes | About Us | Announcements | Store | Help Desk

Popular calorie searches:Vocelli Pizza Pasta Diablo Pasta calories | Vocelli Pizza Chicken Pesto Pasta | calories in Vocelli Pizza Meatball Marinara Pasta | Vocelli Pizza Gourmet (Large) Buffalo Chicken Pizza calories | Vocelli Pizza Gourmet (Large) Chicken Alfredo Spinaci Pizza | calories in Vocelli Pizza Gourmet (Large) Deluxe Pizza | Vocelli Pizza Gourmet (Large) Chicken Rustico Pizza calories | Vocelli Pizza Gourmet (Large) Chicken Spinaci Pizza | calories in Vocelli Pizza Gourmet (Large) Garlic Spinaci Pizza | Vocelli Pizza Gourmet (Large) Chicken Pesto Pizza

Food Versus Food: Burger King Chicken Tenders (4 pieces) Versus Taco Bell Spicy Chicken Crunchwrap Supreme Burger King Chicken Tenders (4 pieces) Versus Wendy's Spicy Chicken Sandwich Burger King Chicken Tenders (4 pieces) Versus KFC Colonel's Crispy Strips (3)



Copyright SparkPeople, Inc. 2012, All Rights Reserved | Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | About Our Ads

Free Diet | Calorie Counter | Pregnancy | Weight Loss Forum Archives | The Spark Book

SparkPeople, SparkPages, SparkPoints, SparkTeams, SparkDiet, SparkAmerica, SparkRecipes, DailySpark,
and other marks are trademarks of SparkPeople, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
SPARKPEOPLE is a registered trademark of SparkPeople, Inc. in the United States, European Union, Canada, and Australia. All rights reserved.

NOTE: Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy update on February 8, 2012




Featured Today




My SparkFavorites


Quick Links
















Hide Toolbar

Tell a Friend!

My age at the first occurrence: 41

When and how I was diagnosed: Thought I broke by toe while asleep in bed. E/R x-ray ruled out a break; did a blood test and there I was. (It's a way funnier story in person).

Initial treatment methods: Indomethecin for flare-ups.

How many flareups since the first occurrence: anywhere from 3 to 6 a year.

Pain levels are typically: moderate if I'm paying attention and jump right on. Severe if I have the audacity to ignore the first pangs.

My Suspected triggers: cheese mainly, red meat, alcohol (beer particularly), maybe shellfish

My Known triggers: cheese

Things I've tried - Dietary: lessening cheese, increasing water, lessening red meat

Things I've tried - Herbal: GNC cherry tablets

Things I've tried - Alternative medicine: GNC cherry tablets

Body areas affected: usually big toe, sometimes other parts of foot (ball), recently heel

Any tophi present:

Pounds lost: 28.0

0 35.5 71 106.5

142

Copy and paste this "template" into your reply and then just fill in what applies to you. It doesn't matter if you're wordy or concise, just please answer as many questions as you can. I think it would especially be helpful for new team members to be able to quickly compare their experiences with others struggling with gout.

I'd like to keep this particular topic rather bare bones, so please try to keep chatty replies here to a minimum (other than asking for clarification on an item). The whole rest of the forum is wide open for chat and interaction. I'm thinking that this should be more like a database.

My approximate age and weight at the first occurrence:

When and how I was diagnosed:

Initial treatment methods:

How many flareups since the first occurrence:

Pain levels are typically:

My Suspected triggers:

My Known triggers:

Things I've tried - Dietary:

Things I've tried - Herbal:

Things I've tried - Alternative medicine:

Body areas affected:

What has worked best for me:

My typical diet is (Spark diet, low fat/low cal, WW, low carb, vegetarian, vegan, etc.):

My typical exercise or activity level is (sedentary, athletic, moderate, runner, lifter, etc.):

What I'm most interested in getting by joining this team: (latest research information, SparkFriend support, diet and activity ideas, etc.)

Comments:

Edited by: WOUBBIE at: 3/2/2012 (21:01)