Gout it out

Well, this wasn't what I was intending to write about today... But I think I may have gout. Argh.

We had a fundraiser at our church Saturday night - not for the church, but a non-profit somewhat affiliated with the church (kerithbrook.org). Anyway, Jane and I (and Carrie) help out, and my part is less working and more to drinking and mingling (or something like that). The event is a 60's-70's themed party, and one of the drinks is "Tang Bang." It consists of - Tang mixed with sweet wine. I also had a few or more beers throughout the day and night.

I ended up falling asleep in the recliner, and when I woke up in the wee morning hours and went to go to bed... I couldn't walk! The pain in my left foot was like something I've never felt before! Somehow I stumbled into bed, but that didn't ease the pain any. I had no idea what had happened. My first thought was I'd broke my ankle. Then I thought of the person I'd heard about who rammed a needle into their foot and didn't know it. My mind almost had me convinced their was a giant needle going up through the bottom of my left foot toward the ankle bone.

I did not lay in bed very long and got some ice and headed to the couch. I feel kinda wimpy, but I swear this was possibly the worst - or at least most acute - pain I think I've ever felt in my life.

I spent the rest of Sunday inspecting, soaking, icing, and hobbling around the house. It was/is a very localized pain, sort of on the side of my left foot below the ankle joint almost to the bottom of the foot. It hurts to touch, yet oddly enough it doesn't hurt anywhere around it - like a broken bone or something might feel.

Of course, I did what anyone would do in such pain... I got on google. It sure sounds like gout to me. I drank more sweet stuff and beer than usual. I also vaguely remember something like this happening once before under similar circumstances - though apparently I didn't blog about it. So I'm blogging about it now.

It was still very painful again last night. I got up during the night and took some more ibuprofin and put my compression sock back on. It was a long two-block hobble from my parking spot to work this morning too. At least it doesn't hurt when I'm just sitting in a chair anymore.

I actually have a routine doctors appointment next week that I need to reschedule anyway, so I plan to call today to see if I can maybe get in earlier. I've also thought about seeing if I can borrow the wheelchair from the physical therapy office in our building. I probably won't... but it's nice to know it's there.

Other than putting a mild damper on my running for a week (hopefully it's only a week), I suppose it's just something I'm going to have to be aware of. It's also another good reason to cut down on alcohol and red meat.

Nothing but fun times here, folks. If it ain't one thing, it's another. But I will survive.