Uric Acid Meter Accuracy

Easy Touch GU Log

I bought my Easy Touch GU, Uric Acid Meter several years ago. Although, I do not believe it is as accurate and reliable as a test performed at the doctor’s office, I still believe it is a reliable guide that helps in planning menus and activities. 

I purchased my meter from a vendor in Florida a few years ago before they were available on Amazon. Read my previous post on my Uric Acid Monitor. When it first arrived, I used it several times a day. I tested my blood when I woke up, before going to bed, before / after meals, before / after known trigger foods, and randomly during the day. I noticed that my uric acid levels varied through-out the day. It changed depending on, not just what I ate, but what I was doing such as relaxed vs doing sometime of strenuous activity. 

During gout attacks, I observed variances in my levels as well. Although, my levels were higher than normal, they still varied through-out the day. What I found most interesting was that as my gout attack wore on, my uric acid levels went back to the normal range, but I was still in pain. This helped me realize once the uric acid crystals developed in my toe, I had to maintain a low uric acid level for days sometimes weeks for the uric acid crystal to dissolve. If I ate any moderate / high purine foods, it didn't allow the crystals to dissolve as quickly.

I use my meter as a guide. If I think I might be at risk of having gout, I check my blood. If the meter reads that my uric acid is greater than 7mg, I avoid the steak and beer, and have chicken and water instead. If it is within range, particularly below 5mg, I might have a couple of shrimp or a steak but I do not over-indulge. Since Allopurinol does not work for me, I watch my diet and monitor my blood levels. You can read my post on my experience with Allopurinol at Is Allopurinol Good . 

Male : 3 ~ 7.2 mg/dL (179 ~ 428 umol/L)

Female : 2 ~ 6 mg/dL (119 ~ 357 umol/L)

I believe the uric acid meter is worth the investment. I learned a lot about how uric acid works in my blood. My doctor confirmed that uric acid levels can fluctuate. When I compared the results from the meter to the result from the lab, they were not exact but close enough. I purchase my refills through Amazon and find them a bit expensive so I do not test as much as I did in the beginning. There is a bit of a wait to receive the refills so I hopefully that will improve in the future. 

I would enjoy hearing experiences with your Uric Acid Meter. 

Is Allopurinol Good?

I have been reading where lots of people are taking Allopurinol to control their Gout. It seems to work for some people but apparently not everyone. After my first gout attack, like most gout sufferers, my doctor prescribed Allopurinol. He said not to take it during a gout attack but to wait about a week after the attack was over then start taking Allopurinol regularly. So I waited for my attack to be completely done. The pain was gone, the swelling was gone, and I was walking normally. I waited a week and started taking Allopurinol like the doctor told me to do. Within a few days, I had another full blown Gout attack.

Was it something I ate or was it the meds? I stopped taking the Allopurinol, evaluated what I had eaten, and treated the attack. I still did not understand all about purines, uric acid, and trigger foods so I assumed it was something I ate. It did not take long for my next gout attack to I tried again with the same result as before. This time I continued with the daily Allopurinol routine knowing it might get worse before it got better. I continued for another week but no relief so I gave up. I continued to question if I had eaten the wrong foods or if it was the Allopurinol. I may never really know if the Allopurinol was the trigger of those Gout attacks or not. Today, I simply watch what I eat. I know what many of my trigger foods are so I try to avoid them. I am not suggesting that Allopurinol will not work for preventing a gout attack, I am only descriptions my experience with it.

Have you had a similar experience with Allopurinol and Gout? Comment about your experience.

My First Gout Attack

My first Gout attack was in May 2005. My foot had been hurting for a few weeks but I overlooked it as just stumped my toe. The joint below my big toe had become swollen, bright red and HOT to the touch. My ability to walk had become such a chore and the pain was getting worse. I don’t usually go the doctor but my wife finally told me she thought I should go. So after 3 weeks of growing pain in my foot, I finally went to the doctor following the Memorial Day weekend. The first thing he asked was if I had a “Big Weekend”. He wondered if I "drank a lot of beer and ate steak or burgers” over the holiday weekend. Ironically, I hadn’t had any steak or beer this weekend. He diagnosed me with “Gout” or the “Rich Man’s Disease”.

I had never heard of gout prior to this visitor to the doctor. My doctor gave me two medicines that I had never heard of until now: “Colchicine” and “Allopurinol”. Colchicine was supposed dissolve the uric acid crystal causing my gout. I was to take the Colchicine once every two hours until the pain went away or until the side effects started to occur. It only took 3 dosage of Colchicine before the side effects began. I would spend much of the next 3 days in the restroom and the gout pain had not subsided. The “Allopurinol” was a preventive medicine that I was to start when the attack was over. That would not happen for monthly. The following week I was still in pain so I went back to see my doctor. This time he only gave me more education. He told me to watch what I ate and to take “Aleve” or other NSAID for the pain and to drink more water. The pain continued for a few more weeks and was about gone. Then in July, was to go on a summer business trip where I was able to take the family. I wish I had done more research about Gout Triggers. This would become a trip I would never forget.