Senior Scribes Opinion...
This letter is to everyone who likes to eat
By Al Bliss 
January 7, 2012 

From a very senior citizen who should know better. 

Functioning with a few health problems in my seventh decade and after twenty years in the Navy and thirty seven years married to bright, strong willed lady who makes sure that each day is interesting (some much more than others), I recently discovered what is a very old medical problem. Over the years, I have considered this medical problem to be limited to fat old F---s who just sit around doing nothing but stuff food in their pie hole. The food always tastes better when loaded with butter and salt and especially when large chunks of meat are involved. I never thought that I would be a potential patient blessed with GOUT. 

On Monday night something new happened after going to bed. The sheets attacked my right big toe. At the time I did not know what to do except keep my right foot out of the covers and it seemed to work.  But - what a surprise when I got up to make a nightly trip to the bathroom. Stepping on that right foot sent an instantaneous message of payment for each step with an amazing demand to use the other foot.  Luckily, Tuesday only had a few items scheduled so that I was able to remain sedentary with a book and the TV thinking that a day of attention/loving care would allow the problem to resolve itself. Boy, was I wrong!!! 

On Wednesday I was able to walk but not conveniently/normally. Only by making sure that just my heel of the right foot supported by weight could I achieve any progress at all. Mrs. Bliss managed to obtain an appointment with our Doctor which was a surprise because the appointment was only a few hours away and I do know how busy my Doctor is. 

The examination and recognition of the problem was rapid and thorough. The results were two prescriptions with a potential third prescription based on a blood test. Immediate items presented to me by my Doctor were an ACUTE GOUT summary page prepared by Dr. Hawley and an eleven page update titled PATIENT INFORMATION: GOUT. 

The reason that I am spending the time and effort to write this document is to share what evidently caused this event [based on what, I guess I should have known] but found out with certainty from the documents furnished.  A review of unusual or maybe just seasonal consumption revealed a number of actions that I will no longer take for granted. The consumption of four pounds of excellent chocolate candy in four days (won on Friday December 23), the consumption of one pound of fresh shrimp over that same four days, the consumption of a pound of raw oysters over Christmas, the consumption of at a half pound of salted nuts January 1 and 2, the consumption of a significant amount of ham followed by excellent ham and been soup Jan 1 and 2, and finally, the consumption of shrimp and mussels at least twice in the week between Christmas and New Years. 

I am guilty as charged of eating too much and now paying for my excess. Is my hope that my experience with GOUT can make you laugh at me but instill a simple message, watch what you eat and if not sure get the PATIENT INFORMATION: GOUT handout and become well informed. 

Happy New Year and God Bless.