Badrabbit

2 hours ago, bbko said:

Sooo can you answer the following questions or do you only want wild guesses?

 

 

Describe the pain, dull ache? Sharp stabbing? Location; upper or lower, left or right? Constant? 

Anything that makes it worse? Anything that makes it better?

Any other past or current medical problems/conditions?

 

Dull ache which is constant, all around the belly button area left and right, made better by applying Heat, pain killers work most of the time but sometimes take a while to take effect.

No past conditions other than a bad pain I had in my right side which lasted for a few months and went on its own, in the last Yr I have had 2 CT scans which showed nothing, had many X Ray's plus many blood tests, Urine and Stool test all showed nothing, Ultra Sound showed nothing, ECG's normal. All this has been during the last year.

I take 1 Aspirin 82mg per day on the instruction of a Specialist here after I had a minor Stroke about 5 yrs ago.

It feels like it is a burning sensation sometimes hence why I think it is Acid Reflux, Endoscopy should confirm if that is my problem.

I'm not good at describing medical things so hope all this makes sense.

7 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Back in the UK, my father had persistent, recurrent upper abdominal pain, sometimes gnawing, sometimes seemed like a backache but it remained undiagnosed by the family doctor so he was admitted to hospital. Since his age and symptoms suggested cancer or maybe gallbladder or kidney issues, he had a week of ultrasounds, endoscopy and other tests focusing on the lower thoracic and abdomen. All clear so they were going to transfer him to the chest clinic but they were out of beds. So he was set to be discharged to home with an appointment to be readmitted in about 10 days. On the day of his discharge, lying in bed and waiting for the doctor to do the morning rounds and 'sign him out', his descending aorta ruptured; an aortic aneurysm. He lost about 6 units of blood into his abdominal cavity in the 12 minutes or so it took to get him from the general ward and into the operating theater. The emergency operation saw them fit a 4" bit of 'plastic plumbing'. He survived but if it had ruptured at home, he wouldn't have.

 

He was 67, retired and had a history of hypertension that was being managed by prescription medications. He'd stopped smoking maybe 15 years earlier. Not overweight but a sedentary lifestyle and probably not the healthiest of diets.

 

I have recently been notified by the NHS that I am illegible for free Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) screening. I have checked and the main private and some larger public hospitals in Thailand are also able to do this.

That I'm sure would be very very expensive here, my Insurance is 1.2 million so if what you describe happens to me I'm a gonna, let's hope it's something much simpler and less expensive.

2 minutes ago, bbko said:

Describe the pain, dull ache? Sharp stabbing? Location? Constant? 

Anything that makes it worse? Anything that makes it better?

Any other past or current medical problems/conditions?

 

The problem with diagnosing abdominal pain, is there can be so many reasons as there's a lot going on in that area.  All you'll get here are guesses.

Yes I know all I will get are guesses, sometimes a guess can help but obviously not solve, hopefully the Endoscopy will solve the problem if not then Dr wll tell me what to do next.

5 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

If I underrstand correctly you are booked for an endoscopy, have nt yet had it.

 

Wait until you have.

 

Acid reflux will show on endoscopy if present.

 

Have you had an abdominal ultrasound?

Did not have Utrasound this time but have had in the last Year that was clear.

Had Abdominal pain for 7 months 24/7 been to Hospital many times, many tests all clear, Hospital this morning for Blood tests Kidney Function, Liver Function, Pancreas, all good, CBC all good, Abdomin clear.

Booked in for Endoscopy this coming Thursday, what could my problem be knowing that everything is good, I'm thinking it's Acid Reflux(faulty Sphincter valve) if Endoscopy shows nothing then why have I had this pain for so long? What do If all clear?

What is the road sync all about? Anyone recommend where to get quality accessories for this bike in particular Phone holder, is the ADV 350 the same engine and power as Forza?

My UK State Pension plus another  Pension gives me more than 65k per month, what do I need to do in order to use monthly income rather than the 800k in the bank method, both Pensions are from the UK.

Need to go to Hospital for Abdominal pain which I have had for 3 months, thinking the CBC would show if I have a Viral or Bacterial infection plus just showing something is wrong and needs further investigation.

10 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

Lazada,  Shoppee. 

Or where do live would help. 

Phuket

I saw under tray on Lazada, think the sane as Dealer but 3k less.

On 3/30/2022 at 3:26 PM, piston broke said:

i sat on one at the dealers and agree "it's larger than i expected" - Nearer in size to the X-ADV 750 than the ADV 150 - More's the pitty .....

 

no point even thinking about one at the moment though - realistically it will be late June / early July before they are awash in the dealer's showrooms ...

Saw yesterday and wow its awesome, 187k definitely thinking about ordering, dealer said "6 month wait as made in Japan" 

Can anyone give me a link to a shop that sells quality accessories, under tray, engine bars etc dealer prices very expensive, thanks in advance.

6 minutes ago, underthesky said:

You could try adjusting your diet to see whether certain foods/drinks are causing your symptoms. Could be milk, alcohol, coffee, carbs or something else. I've had stomach problems over the years, and giving up some kinds of food has helped me massively reduce the pain. Also in my case, almost any kind of medicine worsens my symptoms considerably, based on the few batches of meds I've got since this problem began.

Yea I have changed my diet dramatically, no Alcohol, Coffee, Fizzy drinks, Chocolate plus many other things, just have to get on with it and keep trying to make it better.

16 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

You are better off than most of us in that you have OPD cover.

 

Claiming the OPD cover is not a big claim and is not going to affect your premiums. And 2,500 would usually cover a consultation at Bumrungrad (but not of course the airfare) if that proves necessary.

 

You had previously said the medication was not doing anything, but now you say the pain has gotten much better. Which is it?  If after taking these meds the pain is better but still sometimes there, that would be consistant with peptic ulcer disease or gastritis and an endoscopy would indeed be wise to confirm, so that duration of treatment etc can be decided.

 

 

It has improved alot since it first started approx 6 weeks ago, the big pain and burning has gone, now it's pain on and off, my Diet has completely changed so I think before my Diet was bad.

Im Going to continue with the tablets I have and go back to the Hospital in 2 months, if its not gone I will have the Endoscopy and go from there. 

You are a Dr I am not, it's very difficult to describe symptoms to someone else, I will get there eventually, thanks to all for there comments, right now the pain has gone thanks to Tramadol 50mg.

18 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

 

As I explained you would have had immediate reduction in pain with the meds if the problem was reflux (anyhow not consistent with your symptoms) or  gastritis.  Waiting 2 more months is not liely to help and, if there is a serious underlying cause, could be dangerous and lead to much greater expense in the long run.

 

A consultation with Dr. Parit would cost about 1,500 - 2,000 baht max (plus of course airfare). And might well save on unnecessary treatments and tests later as he is quite good at diagnosing difficult cases.  One does not have to be "wealthy" or have "loads of money" to afford that, and most of the people he treats do not fall into such categories. Indeed, it is nto the case that "many" people have "loads of money". I certainly do not. But a 1,500 - 2,000 bill is not that.

 

Be aware that trying to save on health care costs can fall into the "penny-wise, pound foolish" category and end up costing you far, far more. I've seen that unfold many times.

 

What sort of insurance policy covers only things that are "life-threatening" and yet at the same time probably "won't cover anything serious"???? 

 

I assume your insurance is hospitalization only (like most of us, me included) so not immediately relevant (except maybe for the endoscopy, which some insurances would cover as a day surgery). But what you say seems very, very strange. The only 1.2 million baht insurance plan I am familiar with is  Pacific Cross Premier Plan. Nothing in the policy restricts it to life-threatening conditions. And the only circumstance I can envision where they wouldn't cover hospitalization would be if the condition was considered pre-existing.

Yes Pacific cross, my OPD is only 2500 per day 30 days per year, its very difficult to explain when you are not medically trained, some days I have no pain at all and feel great then it will return but I can control it with Tramadol 50mg.

Looking at a picture of the human body it seems that maybe I don't have Reflux maybe an infection in the large or small intestine.

When this first started approx 6 weeks ago it was so bad it was almost unbearable, it has got much better now, no more burning just intermittent pain, the last few days and nights have been good, my GF is amazing she tells me "fight it you are a strong man" I'm confident it will go soon.

What I meant about Insurance is that I worry if I make a big claim my premium will increase to something I can't afford the following year so I'll continue paying for myself untill something serious happens then I will have no choice but to use it.

37 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

That in no way suggests reflux.

 

It is also not properly described as "stomach" pain, it is abdominal pain (periumbilical abdominal pain, to be exact).

 

While this region is not near your stomach, sometimes gastritis pain is referred there, however in that the case there should usually have been some symptomatic relief from the meds you are on. Even though gastritis takes time to heal, reduction in gastric acid should lessen the pain. However an active ulcer i nthe stomach or duodenum might still be painful even on meds, and endoscopy is the best way to exclude this.

 

Other possible causes include :

 

Appendicitis, but if it were that your white blood count should be (or become) elevated. How long ago was the blood test? Might be worth repeating it.  Also, should have shown  on CT.

 

Pancreatitis (would be chronic not acute as otherwise you'd be much sicker) - regular CTs can sometimes miss this especially if done early in the disease.  Do you know if serum amylase and lipase were tested (and if so, how long ago?). And how long ago were the CTs?

 

Gall bladder issues (stones, inflammation) can sometimes cause pain in this location but if so would expect to have been visible on CT.

 

A problem with the mesenteric artery causing restricted blood flow - as you are not critically ill, would be of the chronic type. CT will often  miss this , especially if the radiologist was not specifically looking for it.  This is less likely as a cause but can't be totally ruled out as a cause.

 

In terms of what to do, I would suggest proceeding with the endoscopy but to discuss first with the doctor whether it might be wise to make it an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) which is a type of endoscopy better able to identify chronic inflammation of the pancreas.

 

If this fails you would best come to Bangkok, bringing all test results with you (including the imaging on disk) and see this US-trained, US-board certified doctor who is tops in the field:

 

https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/doctors/Parit-Mekaroonkamol

 

You could also come and see him now, but if he then felt endoscopy was needed, it would cost much more to have it done at Burmungrad than it will at Mission.

 

 

 

 

Thanks but I'm not wealthy, I have to try and do everything as cheap as possible, Mission is all I can afford so will persevere with going there, I've got 2 months of tabs, if not better I will do the endoscopy, I have 1.2 Million Insurance but have to try and pay for myself, using Insurance is only for something life threatening( probably Insurance won't cover something serious so it will be goodbye from me, hopefully that will never happen) yes I wish I had loads of money but like many others I do not have.

1 minute ago, Will B Good said:

Omeprazol is one of the most common ones.

Thanks, I've got those and so much cheaper than what the Hospital gave me 3000bht for 2 months, Ome 70bht for a box of maybe 20 tabs.

5 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

You are already on a PPI. The RABEPRAZOLE  is a PPI.

 

Nothing at all to be gained by switching to omeprazole (though it will be less expensive).

 

In addition to already being in a PPIU you are also already on a Histamine H₂ receptor antagonist (Famotidine) which also decreases stomach acidity.

 

In short you are alrewady on maximal medical therapy to decrease acid secretion. If the pain you were having was due to reflux you would have felt better very quickly. That yopu have not, suggests the problem is something different.

 

If the pain is indeed gastric in origin then an endoscopy would indeed be the next step. This will show if, for example, you have inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis) or ulcers.

 

But before proceeding to that please describe exactly where the pain is, as I find that people often say "stomach pain" for pain that is actually elsewhere in the abdomen.

 

Also please indicate where/ by whom oyu are being treated.

 

 

 

The pain is all around my belly button, seeing Dr at Mission Hospital Phuket.

Sometimes the pain goes to my chest but goes fairly quickly.

9 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

I had suspected upper GI bleeding.  The stomach inspection found erythematous gastritis (inflammation) and an ulcer.  6 weeks on Omeprazole and the ulcer has gone and the gastritis is improved.

Maybe I should take Omeprazole as I think it is Acid Reflux.

8 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

I suffered with severe pain due to reflux.

 

I was prescribed a PPI and the pain stopped with 24 hours.

 

Been on them for 12 years now.

What are the PPI called? 

3 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

The procedure is nothing to be scared about, I had one last weekend and even without sedative, just a throat spray, it's perfectly bearable, with sedative it's hardly noticeable at all as my first was but this time I had to drive home afterwards.

Why did you have one and what does it show?

1 minute ago, Will B Good said:

You could have the endoscope done under a general...........worth it to put your mind at rest.

 

Also, God forbid, if they find anything suspicious they can do a biopsy.

Ct scans showed nothing, Dr said there is nothing wrong with you that is life threatening, pain started with burning plus pain so Reflux was suggested by me, so I guess Endoscopy is the next expensive test which I'm sure will show nothing.

2 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

I have had similar and took antibiotics for a few weeks and it went away.

So, what they gave you will treat the symptoms but not if it is an infection.

If it were me I would try the antibiotics for a stomach infection.

But, maybe go back to the Doctor and ask.

I had a Stool test which showed no Infection plus blood and Urine test clear, I don't know what to do next.

I have had Stomach pain for over 5 weeks now, I have been to the Hospital many times, 2 CT scans with contrast, blood test, Urine test, X Ray's etc everything comes back clear, now the Dr has given me 2 months worth of RABEPRAZOLE SANDOZ TABLETS, 2 months of (B)FAMOTIDINE 20 MG, DEANXIT TAB/flupentixol+militiamen tabs, I don't think they are doing anything, what do I do to find out what my problem is?

This is getting me down so much,  do I go for an Endoscopy which I'm very scared about.

Any advice would be much appreciated. 

On 2/19/2022 at 5:16 PM, Sheryl said:

That is an excellent price - but so low, you had better check and see if it includes IV sedation as at that price I suspect it does not. In which case you may have to request it which will up the cost (but is well worth it).

 

I had gastroscopy years ago at Mission Hospital in Bangkok and was shocked to learn upon my arrival that the price did nto include anesthetic and they were planning on doing without it.  (I insisted on it, and it upped the price).

My Reflux is much better today, what can I take daily in order to strengthen the Stomach Valve should another episode occur what are the best tablets and maybe liquid to take,

The Hospital gave me tablets (ITOpride HCI, gaNATon)  50mg, 3 times daily) which he said would make the valve tighter so could I take these daily for a long time.

Thanks.

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

That is an excellent price - but so low, you had better check and see if it includes IV sedation as at that price I suspect it does not. In which case you may have to request it which will up the cost (but is well worth it).

 

I had gastroscopy years ago at Mission Hospital in Bangkok and was shocked to learn upon my arrival that the price did nto include anesthetic and they were planning on doing without it.  (I insisted on it, and it upped the price).

We will check tomorrow when we go to Mission,

Thanks