Ouch!

Gout is such an ugly word. I suggest that it be called "inflamed hammered toe". That would be a more accurate way to label the type of ailment I have - again. This is only the second time I have experienced the excruciating pain that comes from having gout - which feels sort of like my toe joint has been hit by a hammer and has swollen up until it is stiff and painful to touch. The sheets on the bed hurt, let alone shoes. At least this time around I knew what it was and went to the doctor before it got that bad.

The doctor told me I should cut down on eating large amounts of red meat and drinking alcohol - the two most common causes of gout. Then he grinned, knowing that I never drink alcohol and I told him I don't afford red meat other than hamburger and then not in large quantities. So evidently my body doesn't flush the uric acid it produces. Why? Who knows.

At least it is fairly easy to treat with medication. But now I find that once I've had a bout, I will likely have another within 2 years (yep, right on schedule), and then more and more frequently. Nice, huh? Oh well. Thank heaven for medication!

Swine Flu

It got me! Yep, after being sick for two days, I went to the doctor on Tuesday (6/30) and tested positive for Type A Influenza. Anthony tested negative, but since he had all the same symptoms as I did, the doctor treated us both, prescribing Tamiflu. The test was quick and painful. The nurse took the swab that looks like the one they use to test for strep and stuck it so far up my nose I thought she hit my eye! Man was that painful. Anthony kept backing away from it, that may be part of the reason he tested negative - maybe she didn't get a good test.

The doctor said this is a flu that acts more like a really bad cold - it's mostly in the head and chest, complete with head and body aches, fever, congestion and a really bad cough. I was flat in bed for about 4 days and felt like I had been run over by a truck with alternating chills and fever. I tried not to breathe too deeply so I wouldn't cough too much. After a couple of days on medication, I started feeling much better. Anthony is still not feeling well (but he didn't take his medicine for a couple of days because it made him throw up).