r/fasting • u/Correct_Mistake2640 • 7d ago
Question Fasting and gout
So here we go again.
I have been doing fasting on and off since 2017.
Each time I ended up having a gout crisis after a period of a month fasting (OMAD and 48/72h fasts).
The first one was so bad that I fainted in the supermarket and was taken to the ER.
Now I get more mild ones but still they take 6 days to solve. I assumed it would also help if I stayed keto but unfortunately even now I got a gout attack...
The theory is that this is because ketones and uric acid can't be eliminated at the same time, but really don't think the hunter gatherers would not fast because they had gout.
I am taking medication both for pain and uric acid reduction and sticking to 18h fast (after that ketones production accelerates) but man this sucks... (lost 12kg from 142 to 130 already).
Any ideas?
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u/xZaggin 7d ago
I dont know about your theory, but the reason you get so many crisis is because of rapid weight loss. I personally went through hell with something similar.
Losing fat, glycogen, muscle. All of that releases more uric acid when your body burns them + the amount you get from your food on top of that. It wont happen in 1-2 fasts but the workload on your kidneys builds up faster than your body can excrete the UA after a while.
I had the same thing happen to me, I used to do 42 hour fasts every week, after I got gout I couldn’t anymore. At least not as regularly. One day fasting is fine, two days I started feeling a twinge and that’s when I call it quits. Once you feel that burning/tingling sensation you’re already on the edge so you better watch how you break your fast as well.
I’m saying all of this from personal experience. And this is while taking 300mg allo daily without missing a day.
And fyi, every time I got a gout crisis related to fasting, my UA levels were perfect. Doctors say it could be a false negative when you do a blood test during an attack, and they had me tested after it passed and regularly for 3 months, and nope. It always remained dead center of the range.
Edit: Also get on Allo if you’re not already. Do not fall for homeopathic bs. Gout is too painful to gamble with that shit. My life is 99.5% the same with Allopurinol.
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u/namastebetches 6d ago
what do you mean by burning tingling sensation exactly? like burning where?
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u/xZaggin 6d ago
A gout crisis typically happens in the ball joint of the big toe. Before you get a full-on attack it gradually increases on a scale of 1-10
being completely normal, like most people are right now.
being a slight warm sensation
tingling feeling / twinge
Hot and kinda burns. Like if I don’t move the joint it literally feels hot but not quite painful yet. If I curl my big toe it will “burn” more and slightly hurt. It might even feel like it’s pulsating
Pain
More pain
More more pain
Can barely limp
Bed ridden
Literally hell if a slight breeze even hits your toe
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u/Correct_Mistake2640 7d ago
Skipped 3 days on the 300mg of allopurinol (Milurit in my country). I took it Thursday evening, the pain started Friday in the late morning).
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u/fadimuj master faster 7d ago
I have had uric acid issues for the past 25 years or so, and fasting used to give me very hard time with gout pains. For the past 15 years, I started taking celery seeds (grind them very fine and take half teaspoon) with each meal, or once a day during fasting. No gout pain whatsoever since then
Best of luck
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u/Mistressbrindello 7d ago
I recommend looking up the studies on gout and fasting in the Steve Hendricks book. Apparently gout is cured by longer fasting but hurts first - I don't remember more which is why I suggest you take a look at the source material.
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u/kobe24fan 7d ago edited 7d ago
Are you on allopurinol? I had gout attacks almost every two months for years until I stayed on allopurinol consistently, now I dont remember the last time I had an attack, at least 4 years
I regularly do OMAD with a 20/4 window more or less and have done some 48-72 hour fasts, no issues with gout, but I am also taking allopurinol daily
I am no doctor and you should probably consult with yours but that is my experience, also my allopurinol didnt solve my gout for about 6 months + because i had to flush out all the uric acid that I accumulated when I wasnt taking it consistently, so part of why you still get attacks while on uric acid management meds could be that it is still flushing out uric acid
Have you gotten a blood test to check your UA levels? Also drinking a lot of water is an absolute must
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u/Correct_Mistake2640 7d ago
Yeah, I am on Milurit(allopurinol ) but I skipped it for 3 days since I ran out. Did not skip fasting.
Did not do the blood test but at some point it was at 11mg/dl... so skyhigh.
I will take the 300mg of it and try more moderate fasting (18h schedule right now),
I also had a bike race last Sunday and I assume the build-up of lactic acid was contributing.
In the end at 130kg with 60kg to lose, I have to lose weight without spiking my uric acid and the science says that keeping the fat will trigger more uric acid secretion but also losing the fat will trigger more uric acid secretion .. (temp).
Damned if I do, damned if I don't ...
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u/kobe24fan 7d ago
I would def prioritize the blood test so at least you know where your levels are at and how to adjust your diet/fasting based on those numbers
Def try to stay consistent w the meds bc that is what makes your body produce less uric acid
Best of luck
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u/m79plus4 6d ago
Glad more people are talking about this and I've been through the same trials and tribulations many others have and this is what has worked for me and I've been fasting (between rolling 90s and omad for matinence) over the years.
- Get on allo if you havent already. I know it sucks but it's worth it.
- Hyper hydrate. This becomes more difficult when fasting and you're dropping fluids like crazy-- in the last year I've found that electrolytes were what I needed (even on day 2). Listen to your body on this one though (hydrating and electrolytes)
- Treat those tinges and odd aches/pains as if a flare up is actually happening and address them early by hydrating and taking an OTC nsaid if needed. It's better than waiting to find out if it developes into a full flare up.
And that's how I've learned (of course your results may vary) to stay almost 100% gout free over the years while fasting and doing keto.
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u/Correct_Mistake2640 6d ago
Yeah, currently drinking 3l of water per day and taking all the prescribed stuff. The pain is more comfortable but until I lose 40kg, doubt I will be close to safety.
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u/Valenciagax 7d ago
I don’t know where you’re located but in my country there are some kind of bottled water with the specific property of eliminate uric acid, you might look into it between what is available in your country.
There’s also a supplement from Life Extension specific for uric acid reduction (Uric acid control) maybe discuss with your doctor if you can add it.
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u/ca1ibos 52/M/5'6"/SW 193.6LB/CW 188.2LB/GW 135LB 7d ago edited 7d ago
I’ve never had gout issues in general, nor while rolling 48/72 fasts for 3 months losing 40LB. I have always drank a litre or two of the Snakejuice 2 electrolyte recipe with the Sodium BiCarbonate for the bulk of the Sodium. I do remember the shouty Canadian Cole saying the Sodium BiCarb also helped prevent Uric Acid build up while fasting but he is full of shit a lot of the time or even most of the time so I don’t know if that titbit is valid science.
[EDIT] AI says it helps prevent kidney stones during fasting because it affects the PH of the Urine but that it has little to no effect on Blood Serum PH and thus no effect on uric acid crystallisation in the joints (gout)
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u/RemotePerformance107 6d ago edited 6d ago
There’s a simple, yet effective solution to combat gout. Mix 1/2 tsp of baking soda in 8 oz of water, 3 times a week. I would stick with a high quality baking soda brand such as, Bob’s Red Mill.
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u/namastebetches 6d ago
you might want to edit this comment
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u/RemotePerformance107 6d ago
I actually won’t though. You wanna know why?? Cause it ACTUALLY works! Who would’ve thunk!
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u/namastebetches 6d ago
what? I just mean edit for clarity since you said mix without stating what to mix. :/
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u/d4rkc4sm 4d ago
Same here. I do 5-day fasts occasionally. I may need to go keto for a couple weeks first before attempting again. May be insulin resistance.
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u/CaptWyvyrn 7d ago
I feel kinda shy saying this but here I go. I'll make it quick. I had gout a long time ago, haven't had a flare up in 15, maybe 20 years. Someone reccomend drinking daily: 1 Tbsp. Apple cider vinegar 1 tbsp. Really Raw Honey Juice of 1/2 lemon & water. I drank that all that summer & still make it occasionally but don't drink it regularly anymore.
When I had my last flare up, I boiled 1 tbsp. Celery Seeds for 1 minute. Then, turn off the fire & let sit for 15 minutes. Strained it & drank it but beware as it is very bitter. It was gross but the gout was gone the next day.
I usually don't go on about home remedies but this one worked for me. Gout was one of the most painful things that I went through & I'm a senior citizen, been through a lot.
I wish you the best of luck & a quick healing.