Stevo, my father-in-law has been diagnosed with gout for years, but continued to drink alcohol and eat heavy foods, after which he would have major flare-ups. I kept telling him he needed to see a good Rheumy and he is finally taking Celebrex and for some reason hasn't had any problems. Maybe he just had arthritis and not gout. He certainly hasn't changed his lifestyle, but we don't see those huge lumps on his knuckles anymore and his shoes don't hurt his feet.