OMD, someone had to say it! 
Update: I was able to get in right away to see my doctor, and he ordered x-rays, which I got after donating blood at the lab. (These facilities are all in the same building.)
Blood tests:
Uric acid
CBC with differential
Sed rate
Rheumatoid arthritis factor
Antinuclear antibody
He’s leaning towards gout, and the other tests are for autoimmune disorders like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. I’ll keep everyone posted.
Oh good.
I’m glad you’re getting treatment.
Good luck.
I’m seeing doctors almost as much as my elderly cat! Oh, the joys of getting older.
All the labs were normal (I guessed this when the nurse called me) and the x-ray revealed mild degenerative arthritis, which isn’t abnormal at my age. I declined an orthopedic referral, and will continue taking ibuprofen as needed.
So, that’s good news.
FWIW I was told during my acute gout attacks that actually the uric acid level in your blood will go down during an attack (as all the uric acid is conveniently stored as crystals in your toe joint not in your blood 
)
Again I’m not a doctor so take this with a grain of salt
Wouldn’t it be easier for all, you ask your wife?
.
https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-obvious-jokes-some-people-cant-help-but-reflexively-make/
nevermind, I’ll get my socks and show myself out
I must have made some kind of a joke? Was it a funny one? Could you point me in the right direction for an explanation? If it’s Borat, I’m out of luck, not a fan, at all.
don’t read too much into it … I made a joke that didn’t really fire 
Uric acid crystal will show up on an x-ray, which is one reason my doctor ordered them.
My dad had no medical training, and HE could see them on his foot x-rays.
Uric acid crystals may show up on an x-ray, but generally only after a year or more of chronic uncontrolled crystal deposition.
My dad’s sure did. It must have gone over some random threshold to make him have an attack.