What I want to know are personal stories with details. If you have gout, please tell me what it is like for you. How long, the appearance, the process, also about your skin, joints, etc.

An example: Mine is in my big toe, but I also have crystals emerging from a place on my outer ear which has been going on for much longer.

My toe looked as if was getting pus but when I moved my skin to expel it, there was no pus at all. A large cap of dead skin popped off to reveal tender red underneath.

Any similar stories out there from personal experience?

After much persistence from me I finally persuaded him to go and see our doctor next week, the doctor is great but I am worried my husband won’t tell him the full truth.  He says the swelling isn’t painful for him but his feet are very swollen, and his big toe looks very red to me and feels warm.

He isn’t overweight and hasn’t had any other problems with his feet, I am worried he has gout and he thinks I am over reacting. If he had gout wouldn’t it hurt?