Harry said that gout is not at all funny for people who have it. Other people find it funny because they think it is a ‘rich man’s disease’.
Harry said that gout is not at all funny for people who have it. Other people find it funny because they think it is a ‘rich man’s disease’.
Age at interview: 78
Sex: Male
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The thing about gout is it's funny. It's funny for everybody in the world, expect the person that’s got it. You’ve seen the cartoons in the Beano or the Dandy, where there's somebody sitting in a basket chair and his foot is wound round and round and he's got a bottle of port by the side of the - by the side of his chair, and that is the general perception of gout, that it's a rich man's disease, and if you say I've got gout, they think, "Oh, you must have a lot of money." And that’s the immediate reaction. Then the laughter starts.
It isn't funny for the person that’s got it. It is excruciatingly painful. So much so that if - I used to find that if I thought anyone was coming anywhere near me with the chance that they might touch me or touch my foot, then I would - I would just sort of…"No stay away, stay away, stay away." And the poor dog as we had at the time didn't know what was happening, and people that would come in through the door and you know I'd say, "Sorry, don’t come any closer." And that it was that, that painful that I don't know how you would describe the pain that you get, it's something like having your toes sawn off with a hacksaw without anaesthetic. It couldn't be any worse than that.
People commonly think that gout is caused by eating rich foods and drinking too much alcohol, although this is not the case for many people with gout today. In the past, these lifestyles were often associated with rich people or kings like Henry VIII. The people we spoke to often said that their friends or relatives also had these ideas about gout and made jokes about their lifestyles.
Other people often told Jeff V stories about people they knew who also had gout. They thought his gout was caused by too much red meat and alcohol.
Other people often told Jeff V stories about people they knew who also had gout. They thought his gout was caused by too much red meat and alcohol.
Age at interview: 68
Sex: Male
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People would say, "Well, you're drinking too much red wine, too much red meat." And, you know, it used to be a sign of affluence, but we do eat healthily and don’t drink too much. I've not really changed my lifestyle over the number of years I've had gout, and it seems to be kept in check.
And what were the reactions of other people around you when you found out you'd got gout?
They'd all come up with their own stories, their fathers having their foot out and not getting anywhere near it - because it is one of those pains where you just can’t think about people coming anywhere near it. It's very, very painful. But I know people just made the comments, "You're drinking too much or this, that and the other."
A few thought that gout was a historical condition that people did not get any more. While diet can sometimes play a part in making attacks more likely, for most people gout is caused by a combination of their genetic makeup, their other health conditions, or the tablets they take (for more see ‘
Causes of gout’).
Shirley X thinks there are lots of incorrect stereotypes about gout. She feels this is a shame because it is a serious and very painful condition.
Shirley X thinks there are lots of incorrect stereotypes about gout. She feels this is a shame because it is a serious and very painful condition.
Age at interview: 77
Sex: Female
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The stereotype is there, and it may be quite wrong. I mean, you, you never see pictures of elderly ladies with their feet up on stools and swathed in bandages. It’s always these portly gentlemen, isn’t it? It, it’s, it’s just the, sort of, tradition that’s been handed down, and it’s a pity because gout has become the butt of people’s humour, when really it is quite a serious and painful ailment.
Other people have talked about how they find that quite frustrating, that people don’t really understand how painful it can be. Is that something that you’ve…?
Yes, I, I think so. I think it’s a pity that it has this stereotype, but, actually, you seem to hear more and more these days of people admitting they have gout. Perhaps they kept quiet in the past because it was laughed at and you became the butt of people’s humour.
Arthur wonders why people think that gout only affects wealthy people when it can actually affect anyone.
Arthur wonders why people think that gout only affects wealthy people when it can actually affect anyone.
Age at interview: 63
Sex: Male
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We mentioned earlier about gout being associated with rich men and things like that. What are your thoughts about the fact that gout is often referred to in that way?
It would be interesting to know why that came about. I mean because I’m sure that people of all walks of life have suffered with gout and why it should be identified with people in a higher sort of structure if you like. I don’t really know, I don’t know how that’s developed because that’s complete ignorance, because it’s obviously not true, everybody from whatever walk of…I suppose people in other countries, I suppose it’s a worldwide problem, so it’s just, it’s interesting when you do mention gout because they automatically think you’re loaded [Laughter] which I’m not, but so it’s just a bit frustrating, not frustrating but it’s comical when it’s linked to, you know, being wealthy or royalty or whatever.
Some people felt that their friends and family were very sympathetic and understanding when they found out they had gout. However, they did not always know a lot about it. Carole said that people often don’t know that gout is a form of arthritis. Some tried to educate their friends and family about gout. A few found this worked well, but others felt that people did not believe them. Simon felt that people were more sympathetic and took gout seriously when they could see he was in severe pain (for more see ‘
Sources of support for gout’).
Jeff X found that people reacted in different ways. Some thought that gout was funny, but others knew how painful it could be.
Jeff X found that people reacted in different ways. Some thought that gout was funny, but others knew how painful it could be.
Age at interview: 68
Sex: Male
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People think it’s a bit of a joke, don’t they, really sometimes. And as I say, this is this old business about the old colonels on the wine and you know, on port and brandy and things. It’s always been a bit of a, a bit of a humorous sort of a thing to happen. A bit like piles, isn’t it? When people say they’ve got piles and everyone laughs you know [laughs], and they’re not very pleasant, either. So, yes, so no one, and then the - the odd person said, ‘Ooh, yeah, I’ve had that. It’s pretty painful, isn’t it?’ So, it was, sort of, different reactions, really.
Eddie’s wife was sympathetic and concerned when he was diagnosed, but other relatives and friends found it ‘hilarious’ and didn’t take it seriously.
Eddie’s wife was sympathetic and concerned when he was diagnosed, but other relatives and friends found it ‘hilarious’ and didn’t take it seriously.
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My wife was very worried because she could see what it did to my family, most of my friends thought it was hilarious, as most people do, “You drink too much port, you’ve got rich living.” You see, and I say to them now, “If you mention that I’m afraid you’re going to get a clip round the ear because it’s not funny anymore.” I don’t think it’s funny when people make jokes any more, they don’t understand and it does annoy me, yeah, but no, most of my family didn’t really take it seriously, you know, a lot of people don’t, they think it’s a sort of joke, they see it in the films with a big bandage round a foot and there it is isn’t it, and that’s it. But they don’t realise the pain and they don’t realise it’s not only the foot, it comes in your hands, your knees, your elbows, it can be anywhere and a lot of people don’t understand that.
People often thought that myths about gout were reinforced by cartoons that made fun of rich or well-known people who had it. These images promoted the idea that gout was self-inflicted and, therefore, deserved no sympathy.
Alastair thinks that people are often judgemental about gout and perceive it as a self-inflicted condition.
Alastair thinks that people are often judgemental about gout and perceive it as a self-inflicted condition.
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I think that as a nation, you know, I think we’re quite judgemental and moralistic and just sort of be able to point the finger and sort of say, “Oh, you’ve been overdoing the good life” is something that we quite enjoy doing, you know, I think. And so I guess that’s why it has sort of persisted, you know. There is a sort of moral aspect to it, that you’ve brought it upon yourself sort of thing. So maybe that’s why – I mean, as I say, it doesn’t bother me at all, but…
Some people found it frustrating when others made jokes about gout without understanding the actual causes of the condition and how painful it could be. Eddie thinks it can be hurtful when people make jokes about gout. Several people said that they did not understand why others thought it was alright to make fun of people with gout when they would not do the same about other forms of arthritis, heart disease, cancer or other health issues.
Gerald thinks people often see gout as a ‘joke’ and a ‘rich man’s disease’ because they don’t know anything about it.
Gerald thinks people often see gout as a ‘joke’ and a ‘rich man’s disease’ because they don’t know anything about it.
Age at interview: 67
Sex: Male
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They look at it as a rich man’s disease and that’s what they feel, you know. If you saw gout, years and years ago, there’d be an old man there with his beard and his ‘tash and you know, well to do, with his jacket and he’d be in bath chair with a big cage over his foot. That’s, I think that’s how people look at it now, you know. And they laugh, it’s a joke, you know. “Oh gout, ha, ha,” and that’s how they look at it because it’s never been... Like school, kids in school, I bet 9 out of 10 kids have never heard of gout, in schools. It’s never been talked about in schools. You know, health or nothing like that. So it’s just a laughing subject. You know, my mates laugh at me, you know. They say, “It’s all that money you’ve got, serves you right, like.”
Some people found it embarrassing to talk to others about having gout because of the stereotypes associated with it. Others did not feel at all embarrassed because they knew they had done nothing to cause it. Vic’s great aunts were ashamed of having gout because they were tee-total but knew that people might think they had gout because of drinking alcohol. Other people found it amusing that they had gout when they did not fit with any of the stereotypes about it. (For more see ‘
Everyday life with gout’).
Alan and Sue don’t let it affect them when people make jokes about gout.
Alan and Sue don’t let it affect them when people make jokes about gout.
Age at interview: 73
Sex: Male
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Sue: A lot of people see it as a joke, without realising the implications of the pain, the pain and torture really that you go through with it. It still is the Dr Johnson type of attitude when you have these swollen limbs and bandages and, you know, it’s too much Port, too much Claret etc. Most people have very little understanding of gout and the way it can affect somebody’s body because we’re quite lucky in the fact that it doesn’t affect us that much, but I worked; I had one or two clients when I was working for Social Services who had gout in every single joint, which was red and swollen and for a lot of people, they got very little understanding so it does become a stereotype jokey, “Oh you’ve got gout ha ha ha ha” type of approach, so there tends to be a lot more understanding, particularly I think if you’ve got families who don’t understand it, who might think, “Oh Dad’s been on the bottle” or whatever, which I think could happen.
Alan: Yes, I think there is, there still is quite a perception that it only comes to those who over indulge, both in food and alcohol.
And how does that make you feel?
Sue: I think we’re very resilient really [laughs] so we don’t take any notice of it. We would just make some quip back I think and sort of say, “Well, you obviously don’t know what it’s like then don’t you” or something like that, words to that effect. And when they start to say; we would say, “Oh Alan was in hospital for five weeks and got gout; no rich food and no alcohol”, and we don’t eat a rich diet either, do we, we eat a fairly low fat, high fibre, lots of fresh fruit and vegetable type diet.
Shirley Y thinks it is funny that she has gout and is not a ‘rich man’.
Shirley Y thinks it is funny that she has gout and is not a ‘rich man’.
Age at interview: 78
Sex: Female
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What do you think about the fact that gout is often referred to, or thought of, as a rich man’s disease?
I know, I think it’s funny because I’m not a rich man … I think it’s quite amusing - what goes on in your bloodstream can’t really be the coffers can it? Can’t be all the money in your pockets. No I don’t know, I don’t have a particularly highly charged lifestyle, not at my age. All I do, I mean I like playing Bridge and that doesn’t really … you don’t eat much really, really all it does for you, playing Bridge, is raises your blood pressure.
Simon thinks that the stereotypes about gout are changing because of more recent articles about it in the press. He feels that people now know more about gout and are more aware of it. Many people thought that greater public awareness about the pain and causes of gout was needed. Hazel felt that it would be good if other people knew more about gout so that she did not have to keep explaining it.
Gerald feels frustrated that there are few television programmes or newspaper articles about gout.
Gerald feels frustrated that there are few television programmes or newspaper articles about gout.
Age at interview: 67
Sex: Male
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It makes you frustrated really, because you never, you never put the telly on and see a programme, ‘Gout’. You never, nobody ever talks about gout, do they? Well, I’ve never seen a programme on telly anyway. You know, but you, you go up the hospital when I go up for the clinics, and how many people who do suffer with gout, but it isn’t... You know, if you have an epidemic of measles it’s the first thing on the telly, first thing in the paper or chickenpox, it’s blasted all over the place, but when was the last time you picked a paper up or whatever and you’ve seen gout? You never see it; it’s never talked about. I don’t know why. I mean, years ago, when I was a lad, you never used to talk about cancer. Cancer was never, cancer always used to be the ‘Big C’, and don’t talk about it. But that’s the same with gout, why I don’t know. I honestly don’t know.
Last reviewed December 2016
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