Hi Jacqui Ann

Thanks for your reply and of course all the others as they were all helpful but I have never associated Hydroxyurea with gout before and Jacqui you are right! I have just googled it and read about the increased levels of uric acid Hydroxy can cause and that you really have to keep your fluid levels up. I have been on it for a couple of years and knew about drinking plenty of water but now I know why! Its funny that the doctors do not stress this even more when they put you on Hydroxy. Anyway I am going to up my intake of water and see my doctor in a couple of weeks for the routine blood tests etc. I have read that gout is common in the big toe but it also affects fingers and elbows, of which both are tender at the moment.

Thanks again.

MM