Kate

Age at interview: 65

Brief Outline: Kate had recent attacks of gout in her hand and knee, although she had similar episodes when younger. The tablets to treat it made her feel ill. She always checks whether tablets are compatible with existing medication.

Background: Kate is married and lives with her husband. She has one son. She is retired, and previously worked as a lollipop (school crossing) warden. Ethnic background/nationality: White Scottish.

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Kate had two incidents in her 20s and 30s when she had ‘crystals’ in her knee, resulting in a lump. She feels that the attack she had more recently, which was diagnosed as gout, was similar to the earlier episodes.
 
When she had the recent attack, which was in her hand and knee, it was so painful that the doctor had to come to her house and she was sent to see a rheumatologist. A blood test confirmed that it was gout. The colchicine tablets she was given made her feel very ill so she does not take them anymore. She has tried celery tablets but they did not work.
 
When Kate has an attack of gout, she does not want to go out or do anything until the pain stops. She does not feel embarrassed about having gout and sees it as ‘just another thing’.
 
Kate has other health conditions, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol. She always checks whether any tablets are compatible with her existing medication.
 
Kate would like more information on the condition, particularly the causes of it.

Kate does not feel embarrassed about gout. She thinks it is ‘just another thing’.

It doesn’t bother me in the slightest. Nothing. No, no. I suffered from depression on and off, have done for over 40 years. And to me, if you got a broken leg you would get it fixed. If you’re depressed get it fixed. So why am I going to get bothered about gout. No, it’s just another thing, no. That’s the way I feel about things. 

Kate says the pain of gout is worse than childbirth.

I know it sounds ridiculous but I forget the pain of childbirth but I do not forget the agony it just… you go... I just go to bed and I’m fine. And I wake up, I was actually shouting to my husband, “you’ve got to help me, you’ve got to help me”. And there’s nowhere you can put it. You know, it’s just terrible. 

Kate did not think she was given enough information about gout.

They don’t even say, “Well that’s you, you’re going to get it for the rest of your life. It’ll come back periodically.” No, they don’t. It’s just, “You’ve got gout, here’s a prescription.” And that’s it. No. You’re not informed. Not, not even a leaflet.

The way that you’re treated it’s just, “Here’s your tablet get on with it”. They’ll name it, “You have gout”. And that’s it. “Here, take a tablet”. You know, but what causes gout, you know, nothing like, “This is the reason that you’ve got it or …” I’ve no idea. I don’t know if they know anything, you know.