Gout & kidney cancer

We are in the same boat
Jamie1.3cm, We are in the same boat. Last September my GP added Niaspan to my medications for Blood Pressure and too much bad Cholesteral. A week or to later I had a gout attack in my right foot/ankle. I could not walk for a weekend. On Monday I went to the GP and he eliminated a broken foot/ankle by xray and confirmed my Gout by a blood test for uric acid. A week later I saw an ad for Niaspan on TV and after touting its virtues the ad said one of its side effects was Gout. I took myself off Niaspan, not my GP. Three months later in January, 2011 I started seeing a nephrologist. Both my GP and Kidney Cancer Dr. said that was not necessary, but they would not stop me from doing so and would not recommend one to me. Both at the time (when I had the Gout attack) said I could take Advil for a single one time use and that cured the Gout at the time. I needed 2 Drs. to approve for the Advil as we all know that those of us with 1 kidney should not take Advil type drugs. Since seeing the Nephrologist (who also said the Advil was OK for a one time use) he has put me on Allopurinol for the gout and has monitoerd my blood pressure more aggressively. Gout is very definately related to kidney function and probably to a lesser extent to kidney cancer as well. He state that I have Stage 3 CKC (chronic kidney disease). This is measured by a GFR blood test. I believe it goes without saying that all of us Kidney Cancer survivors have abnormal GFR ratings. I am now 67 1/2 years old and the Nephrologist advises I have a 1% chance of Kidney failure in the next 5 years and a 10% chance of having a heart issuue in the next 5 years unless my GFR numbers improve which he believes will occur if I get my Blood Pressure down to close to 120/80. What I have learned from this is that neither my GP or Kidney Cancer gave me the right answers to my problem and that there are somethings you have to do youself.

Best Wishes,

Icemantoo

icemantoo said:

We are in the same boat
Jamie1.3cm, We are in the same boat. Last September my GP added Niaspan to my medications for Blood Pressure and too much bad Cholesteral. A week or to later I had a gout attack in my right foot/ankle. I could not walk for a weekend. On Monday I went to the GP and he eliminated a broken foot/ankle by xray and confirmed my Gout by a blood test for uric acid. A week later I saw an ad for Niaspan on TV and after touting its virtues the ad said one of its side effects was Gout. I took myself off Niaspan, not my GP. Three months later in January, 2011 I started seeing a nephrologist. Both my GP and Kidney Cancer Dr. said that was not necessary, but they would not stop me from doing so and would not recommend one to me. Both at the time (when I had the Gout attack) said I could take Advil for a single one time use and that cured the Gout at the time. I needed 2 Drs. to approve for the Advil as we all know that those of us with 1 kidney should not take Advil type drugs. Since seeing the Nephrologist (who also said the Advil was OK for a one time use) he has put me on Allopurinol for the gout and has monitoerd my blood pressure more aggressively. Gout is very definately related to kidney function and probably to a lesser extent to kidney cancer as well. He state that I have Stage 3 CKC (chronic kidney disease). This is measured by a GFR blood test. I believe it goes without saying that all of us Kidney Cancer survivors have abnormal GFR ratings. I am now 67 1/2 years old and the Nephrologist advises I have a 1% chance of Kidney failure in the next 5 years and a 10% chance of having a heart issuue in the next 5 years unless my GFR numbers improve which he believes will occur if I get my Blood Pressure down to close to 120/80. What I have learned from this is that neither my GP or Kidney Cancer gave me the right answers to my problem and that there are somethings you have to do youself.

Best Wishes,

Icemantoo

Gout question

Icemantoo,

Do you remember if you had elevated levels of uric acid in your blood at the time you were having your gout issue?

Has anyone else with one kidney experienced problems with gout and/or seen elevated uric acid levels?

I've been having some intense pain in my big toe on my right foot the past couple of days. I've never had gout before. I noticed my most recent blood test had a slightly abnormal uric acid level (above normal). I'd never seen it elevated and don't recall anyone here reporting elevated uric acid levels due to having one kidney.

Thanks,

Todd

todd121 said:

Gout question

Icemantoo,

Do you remember if you had elevated levels of uric acid in your blood at the time you were having your gout issue?

Has anyone else with one kidney experienced problems with gout and/or seen elevated uric acid levels?

I've been having some intense pain in my big toe on my right foot the past couple of days. I've never had gout before. I noticed my most recent blood test had a slightly abnormal uric acid level (above normal). I'd never seen it elevated and don't recall anyone here reporting elevated uric acid levels due to having one kidney.

Thanks,

Todd

Gout

Todd, maybe it's worth asking your doc whether there's any merit in trying allopurinol to see whether it gives you the relief that it's mercifully given iceman (gout can, by all accounts, be very painful indeed, sometimes).  

There's certainly a tie up among these compounds, functions and conditions.  Urea level in the blood is a useful part of kidney function assessment (eGFR).  Although urea itself is not toxic, it's converted by the body to uric acid which has a crystalline form that causes a lot of pain when it accumulates as deposits in joints or creates kidney stones (with or without calcium, the more common component).

However, sometimes it's not an easy differential diagnosis from a simple bunion.  I think you and I have had this discussion a long while ago.  I  have a bunion on the same toe as is troubling you and at times it has been painful (especially pushing off the rear leg in the golf drive!)  At one time I thought it was gout but it doesn't seem to be and is now quiescent most of the time.

I don't think you have any cause to make any sinister connections with RCC, although similar considerations apply in respect of sensible diet.

Texas_wedge said:

Gout

Todd, maybe it's worth asking your doc whether there's any merit in trying allopurinol to see whether it gives you the relief that it's mercifully given iceman (gout can, by all accounts, be very painful indeed, sometimes).  

There's certainly a tie up among these compounds, functions and conditions.  Urea level in the blood is a useful part of kidney function assessment (eGFR).  Although urea itself is not toxic, it's converted by the body to uric acid which has a crystalline form that causes a lot of pain when it accumulates as deposits in joints or creates kidney stones (with or without calcium, the more common component).

However, sometimes it's not an easy differential diagnosis from a simple bunion.  I think you and I have had this discussion a long while ago.  I  have a bunion on the same toe as is troubling you and at times it has been painful (especially pushing off the rear leg in the golf drive!)  At one time I thought it was gout but it doesn't seem to be and is now quiescent most of the time.

I don't think you have any cause to make any sinister connections with RCC, although similar considerations apply in respect of sensible diet.

Nephrology Visit

You're right TW.

Saw my nephrologist today. My blood test was normal this time for urea. He looked at my toe and decided it is most likely just a bunion that has recently formed probably from all the walking I did on my vacation. My problem was with the wrong joint, and it wasn't red and hot as it should be for gout. I didn't know any of this before the visit.

I'm a little sensitive since last November. Thinking you're perfectly healthy one day, and then peeing blood and being told you have cancer the next has a very unsettling effect on the mind. Unfortunately I think I've developed a slight case of  hypochondria.

Todd