Some Random Life Things

Is it possible to have a minor attack of the gout? Because my right ankle hurts in exactly the same way my left ankle hurt last Christmas, but it hasn't escalated. It just sort of hurts. Of course this time, I've been taking the anti-inflammatory meds straight away. I have also downed an entire bottle of cherry juice concentrate. So maybe that's helping. Oh and I've been drinking water off the charts.

I got Sara Groves new cd. As is usual for me with new cds, I fixate on one or two songs and then move on to the rest of it. My favorites so far are "I Saw What I Saw" and "It Might be Hope" Gorgeous, moving songs. I'll try to listen to the other songs sometime soon.

I'm rather alarmed at the current poll. Not one person likes sushi? I feel depressed.

Oh, and I recently watched Reign Over Me. It's a pretty moving film, recommended to all.

Guess that's it for now...Happy Weekend!

In Appreciation of Cherries

As I mentioned on here before, I got the gout in December shortly before Christmas.

I was one miserable chick. It's not the most common thing for a female of my age to get this dreadful affliction. In fact, 95 percent of people who suffer with the gout are males.

Suddenly, I was reading everything about gout that I could. I was joining online support groups. I was eliminating things from my diet and adding others. I even bought a cane in case of future flare-ups.

In order to rid my body of the dreadful uric acid that leads to gout, I turned to cherries. Lots and lots of cherries. And I was recently delighted and dismayed to learn that a dear friend of mine who is female and a year younger than me also has gout. (delighted because I am not alone, dismayed because she's my friend and I'm sorry she has to suffer as well.)

Anyway, I never really ate cherries by themselves before and now I am quite smitten. I love cherries. And they are so good for you!
If you eat one cup, or approximately 21 cherries you are only consuming about 90 calories, and it's quite a filling little snack!

The only downside is of course that they are a bit on the expensive side. But as anyone who has suffered from the gout knows, there is no cost to great to aid in it's treatment and prevention.

Anyway, I strongly encourage you to consider adding cherries to your diet. It's well worth it. I think they are a highly underappreciated fruit. Most people like apples and oranges. You can find a wealth of cherry recipes here.

Woe is Me

I have a severe pain in my ankle that came to me Tuesday. I woke up and my ankle hurt. I assumed I had injured it somehow, and went to work. I could walk on it, but it wasn't ideal.

And then Wednesday came. I could suddenly not put any weight on my foot. I went to the urgent care center, where they took an x-ray and some blood. I have yet to hear the official diagnosis. But I suspect the gout. If it's the gout, then I can suddenly rest assured of just how special I am, because the gout in women of my age is extremely rare.

I can barely walk. I barely made it to work today, and I'm praying up a storm about how I'm going to leave.

So if you are walking comfortably on two feet today, say a prayer of thanks to the good Lord. You are indeed blessed.