One of Brain’s Favorite Foods Causes Him Extreme Pain

I love shrimp. Once a year I make a trip to Red Lobster and enjoy their all you can eat shrimp special. I don't set any world records, but I put down my share of tails before the night is over. I ate nearly 90 shrimp last Friday night. What I woke up to will cause me to never do it again.

I began to notice on Saturday evening that I had intense pain on my right foot, specifically near my big toe. I thought that I must have twisted or stubbed it and just couldn't remember doing it. The pain increased Sunday into Monday and yesterday I had to go to the doctor because I couldn't stand the pain. I thought I had a break in the toe, or at least some sort of fracture. I prepared for x-rays. Instead, when I described my symptoms to my doctor he simply asked, "Have you had a lot of sea food over the past several days?" I told him of my shrimp feast of Friday. "Did you wash it down with some beer?" Of course I did! No x-rays needed. I had Gout.

Gout is a painful disease that is caused by a rise in the levels of uric acid within your body. That acid then crystalizes and settles in your feet or toes. The pain can be excruciating as I can now attest. This is pain that I thought was a broken bone. That is how much it hurts. I can't run. I can barely walk. Sleeping is nearly impossible because if anything even brushes my toe the pain is searing. One of the top causes of gout is diet. Too much seafood and red meat can cause a flair up.

So gone are the days of all you can eat shrimp. I won't miss it too much. But it's another sign that as you get older, your body can't do and handle all that it once could. Shrimp, sleep easy. My toe and I have learned our lesson.