Got gout? It’s best to be sure of the diagnosis
Contact event organizers to ensure there haven’t been changes to these scheduled events. The Yuma Sun team is working to ensure this list is accurate as of press time, but given concerns with the coronavirus, that could change. The Yuma Sun appreciates your understanding and readership. Share your event information with the Yuma Sun’s online calendar. Submissions are free and follow the same guidelines as What’s Going On. Go to YumaSun.com/calendar.
DEAR DR. ROACH – I am a 76-yearold female in reasonably good health. Around Thanksgiving last year, my left ankle was swollen, red and very painful. I thought it was tendonitis, so I stopped going for my half-hour walks in the morning. Around Christmas, my doctor ran a blood test that showed my uric acid was high. He said I had gout and prescribed Indocin and colchicine. I stopped taking it after a week because of bad side effects – vomiting and dizziness. I took Advil when the pain
Tuesday April 27 FREEDOM LIBRARY ROUND TABLE TAKEOVER
WHEN: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. WHERE: Round Table Pizza, 2544 W. 16th St.
GOING ON: Round Table will donate a portion of all sales to the Freedom Library Education and Scholarship program. Participants must mention the Freedom Library. was really bad, and I drank a lot of water and avoided trigger foods. My swelling has gone down, but the pain still comes in bursts. I have a lot of pain after sitting for a while, and when get up, I limp.
Must I live with this pain, or is there medication that will get rid of the gout? I am concerned that I will not be able to walk. – J.D.S.
What’s Going On
INFO: Contact the Freedom Library at 928-246-2327.
Saturday May 1 NO EXCUSE FOR ABUSE MOTORCYCLE FUN RUN PRESENTED BY FREE WIND
WHEN: Registration begins at 9 a.m., kickstands up at 10 a.m., with lunch at 11:30 a.m.
WHERE: Event starts at Bobby’s Territorial Harley Davidson, 2550 Gila Ridge Road.
ANSWER – Although you might have gout, by themselves an elevated uric acid level and an affected joint do not make the diagnosis for certain. The diagnosis is confirmed by identification of monosodium urate crystals in the joint. A combination of other criteria can make the diagnosis probable, but your presentation isn’t classic. The most common affected joint is the big toe, and gout is seen more often in men. I would encourage pursuing a definitive diagnosis, and a rheumatologist is the expert you should consult.
Another possibility is that you may have more
GOING ON: Be a voice for need – all proceeds from the event will benefit Amberly’s Place and the victims served in our community.
COST: $25 for a single rider, $30 per couple.
INFO: To learn more, text Lets Ride to 928-304-3646, or call 928-373-0849.
Tuesday May 4
FREEDOM LIBRARY ANNUAL than one problem in the joint. Pseudogout, which as its name suggests can be confused for gout, is caused by a different crystal, calcium pyrophosphate. This condition can co-exist with gout, and an X-ray or joint fluid analysis can help sort out what is going on. You may have osteoarthritis as well.
If you had gout for certain, then treatment with a uric acid-lowering medicine such as allopurinol can dramatically reduce risk of gout flares. People of Chinese, Thai or Korean ancestry should consider genetic testing looking for HLA-B5801 prior to starting therapy due to an
AWARDS FORUM
WHEN: 7-9 p.m.
WHERE: The Freedom Library, 2035 S. Arizona Ave.
GOING ON: The organization will shown the film “Ayn Rand and the Prophecy of Atlas Shrugged,” with an audience Q&A to follow. Scholarships will also be awarded to Yuma-area individuals
COST: Free will donations, such as food items for Crossroads Mission or monetary donations to the Freedom Library will be accepted.
INFO: To learn more, call 928246-2327 increased risk of serious skin reactions.
DEAR DR. ROACH – I have a prescription for 1 mg of lorazepam. On average, it takes me a couple of years to get through 30 pills – I’ve never taken more than a fourth of one at a time. I find that this small dosage is very helpful for anxiety as well as insomnia, but the side effect, which is to lose my sense of taste for about 24 hours, is a frustrating experience! I can’t find any record of this side effect and am wondering if you have ever run across anyone else who has this experience. – J.B.
Friday May 7
CINCO DE MAYO
WHEN: 5-10 p.m.
WHERE: State Avenue in front of City Hall in Somerton
GOING ON: This event will celebrate Cinco De Mayo with food vendors and live music COST: Free admission
INFO: To learn more, visit https:// www.somertonaz.gov/ heard of this reaction, and cannot find it reported.
I did find a mention of it in a closely related drug, diazepam, so I am sure it is possible. It is a bit surprising that such a tiny dose can have this effect.
I encourage you to report your side effect to the Food and Drug Administration. You can do so at www. accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/ medwatch/.