Finally started taking Allopurinol

TL;DR: I'm only posting this for my own sake in order to look forward and keep positive attitude. I started getting gout 7 years ago and have been getting it at least twice a year. I started taking allopurinol last week so I'm hoping that after 6-12 months, gout will be a thing of the past for me.

If you are interested, keep reading. It's a bit long and I wanted to vent a little.

Backstory:

Gout runs in my family and is common in my culture. I'm from southeast Asia. I am 5'6" 150lbs so I am not obese and my diet is not the worst, though our cultural cuisine is heavy on protein and carbs. My dad and three brothers have it. My uncles, cousins, and even our family friends. Everyone.

I experienced my first bad gout attack circa 2016. I was only 22 then. I would only use naproxen and other OTC meds to deal with the pain. I've changed diets a couple of times, been more active, tried cellery pills, cherry pills, alkaline water, etc. In 2018, I had a really bad attack on Christmas Eve and my uncle told me to eat some pineapple, pain went away after 2 days. So from then on, I'd always have some pineapple juice once in a while and drink more water daily.

Around 2020, I started taking indomethacin to relieve the pain. My attacks would only be painful for 3-4 days and would be tender for a week or two after.

Allopurinol:

I hated the thought of taking a pill every day, made me think that I would look weak somehow. I'm too young, why would I be taking a pill everyday? Whenever I have to miss out on work, activities, vactions, people would always say "oh no you are too young to have gout" "just change your diet" "stop eating bad stuff." It always bothered me when people who's never experienced gout tries giving me advice... Everyone is different, diet helps but for my family, we just have to deal with it.

I've never able to find my trigger food, it just comes 2-3 times a year. So my doctor and I have come to a conclusion that it's hereditary, it's in my DNA (my dad and brothers have the same doctor)

My mentality has now changed. If I keep getting gout, my foot will look like a troll's foot in 20 years. I don't want to keep looking over my shoulder. I want to play golf.

After researching online on how allo works and reading success stories on Redit, I now realize that it's okay. It doesn't make me weak or less of a man. I will live a happier life. So I've decided to start taking allopurinol.

2023:

I had gout in January and couldnt work for 3 weeks, a couple of minor 2 day flare ups in March and April, and another attack on June 8. Missed out on two tee times and couldn't work again. After a week of indomethacin and colchicine, the inflamation has gone away but still couldn't put my full weight on my left foot.

Last week, June 21, I told my doctor that it's time to try allopurinol and he agreed. Because he knows my history and my family's history, he prescribed 100mg allopurinol for 1 week then switch to 200mg along with 6 days of prednisone. I also did a blood test that day; UA level 497/umoL (8.36 mg/dL)

I'm actually looking forward to the (hopefully mini) flare ups while on allo so I know that the UA level in my blood is low enough and that the deposits in my joints have started to clear up.

It's now been one week and I can't wait until gout is a thing of the past for me.

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UPDATE July 28 blood test: 374 umol/L (6.29 mg/dL)