Stent operation(Phuket)

[Sheryl]

A simple abdominal ultrasound would be more usual and cost much less.

[NanLaew]

40 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

A simple abdominal ultrasound would be more usual and cost much less.

Thanks Sheryl. Since this could be hereditary or at least common to our physiology, I can always ask them to review the scan results with this in mind.

[Badrabbit]

Heartburn nightmare!! so far its cost me over 40,000bht.  the 3 hospitals that I used did not investigate the cause of my chest pain they just assumed it was heart related, I told each Hospital that I thought it was Acid Reflux(Heartburn) they ignored it! 4 ECG's all normal, 4 blood tests all normal, Stress exercise test, normal, CT Scan with Contrast, nothing found, my last appointment the Cardiologist had no idea what my pain was even though he suffers with Acid Reflux himself. now I have attended a local Clinic over 6000bht for two visits, I still have Heartburn.

I have lost all trust with the doctors and hospitals, I've not slept more than a couple of hrs in the night for over 8 days, I am at a loss how to deal with this, it's taken savings that I really could not afford to lose as every appointment has been as OPD, I'm putting up with it but its changed my quality of life for the worst! 

[Sheryl]

1. You need to consult a GI specialist.  A cardiologist wiol nto know. Unfortunately specialists have tunnel vision.

 

2. Have you yet tried Gaviscon and/or a PPI lile omeprazole? As if these work that tends to confirm the diagnosis (though you still need to be tested for h. pylori)

[Badrabbit]

I have Gaviscon but it says not to be taken with asprin, I can not afford any more OPD tests, I have Insurance which I need to use but my condition is not bad enough to warrant going in as an inpatient, the CT was over 18k, I have read that tests for Acid Reflux are also very expensive. I will put up with for as long as I can, it's not so bad now just very uncomfortable.

[Sheryl]

 Aspirin is contraindicated in people with gastritis and indeed can cause it. Hence people needing to take gaviscon are advised to not take aspirin for this reason. In addition if taken at the same time, the Gaviscon can reduce the absorption of not just aspirin but many other medications.

 

You can safely take Gaviscon a few hours apart fro mother medications, aspirin inlcuded.

 

And if you have gastritis - which needs to be confirmed - you  need to stop aspirin altogether  which means likely need a different medication in its place.

Why don't you return to Dr. Walters and update him on the negative cardiology findings etc. Get his advice on alternative to the aspirin, among other things.

 

Test for h. pylori is not all that expensive. Alternatively, could just treat for it empirically. Discuss this with Dr. Walters.

 

And if the pain recurs, try the Gaviscon to see if it helps as that is important inofrmation.

[Badrabbit]

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

 Aspirin is contraindicated in people with gastritis and indeed can cause it. Hence people needing to take gaviscon are advised to not take aspirin for this reason. In addition if taken at the same time, the Gaviscon can reduce the absorption of not just aspirin but many other medications.

 

You can safely take Gaviscon a few hours apart fro mother medications, aspirin inlcuded.

 

And if you have gastritis - which needs to be confirmed - you  need to stop aspirin altogether  which means likely need a different medication in its place.

Why don't you return to Dr. Walters and update him on the negative cardiology findings etc. Get his advice on alternative to the aspirin, among other things.

 

Test for h. pylori is not all that expensive. Alternatively, could just treat for it empirically. Discuss this with Dr. Walters.

 

And if the pain recurs, try the Gaviscon to see if it helps as that is important inofrmation.

Thanks for the info and advice, who is Dr Walter's? 

[Sheryl]

1 minute ago, Badrabbit said:

Thanks for the info and advice, who is Dr Walter's? 

 

Sorry I had you confused with someone else.

 

(He's a primary care doc at Mission Hospital in Bangkok).

 

Not sure who to recommend you to see in Phuket.

 

 

[xylophone]

On 10/17/2020 at 6:39 PM, Sheryl said:

Gi = gastro intestinal specialist.

 

Pain from gastritis can be felt in the chest and even radiate to the throat.

 

Often the easiest way to tell is to see if antacids or PPI (like omeprazole)  helps relieve the pain when it occurs.

I agree with Sheryl regarding the pain being felt in the chest and up to the throat, because I suffered from reflux for years, which was the reason I took early retirement, as it led to Barrett's oesophagus.

 

I was on omeprazole 40 mg in the morning and once in the evening until it settled down and I gradually tapered off the medicine and now I rarely get an attack, and when I do I have omeprazole and Gaviscon handy. 

[Sheryl]

Gastritis and reflux are actually different conditions (though one can have both)

 

Pain from severe gastritis can be very intense, you can literally feel like you are dying and it is a common differential diagnosis for suspected heart attacks

 

GERD symptoms can also sometimes be mistaken for heart problem

[xylophone]

23 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Gastritis and reflux are actually different conditions (though one can have both)

 

Pain from severe gastritis can be very intense, you can literally feel like you are dying and it is a common differential diagnosis for suspected heart attacks

 

GERD symptoms can also sometimes be mistaken for heart problem

My mistake, I was meaning reflux/GERD because as you say, it can also be mistaken for a heart problem.