I feel nauseous – any one had these symptoms - looking for advice please.

[Bill Poster]

I know only too well that a visit to see a hospital doctor should be on the cards, but taking into consideration the current Covid situation and my 175 km round trip to the nearest hospital . I thought I would try treating my symptoms at home  .

 

 

 I have had the following symptoms for over a week now .

 

1. When I first wake up in the morning I feel nauseous , no stomach ache  and do not vomit .

 

2. My faeces is now more soft than in the past ( but not watery or diarrhea looking ) .There are no signs of blood in my faeces and the colouration looks normal .

 

3. My urine colour looks normal

 

4. I seem to be going to the toilet more than usual to defecate.

 

5. I have been experiencing a lot more flatulence than normal.

 

6. My feeling nauseous when I first wake up in the morning will slowly disappear after I have some thing to eat .

 

7. If I stop eating during the day the feeling of being nauseous comes back.

 

8 . I still have my normal appetite 

 

9. I have no other symptoms

 

10. I am not taking any medications or drugs for any other medical conditions.

 

I have been to the local village pharmacy and was advised to try the flowing 

 

A. erfuzide ( Nifuroxazide )

 

B. Carbon capsules .

 

I have taken both A + B for the recommended duration , but my symptoms have not decreased or gone away.

 

I went back to the same local village pharmacy and explained that the past drug ( erfuzide ) did not reduce to take away my current symptoms.

 

The  pharmacy then recommended another option called Coccila   ( Diiodohydroxyquin ) which I have not yet taken .

 

I’m going to give the Coccila a try and see if that improves or helps my symptoms .

 

Just wondering if any one here may have had similar symptoms as I currently have , and if so how were those similar symptoms treated and resolved. Any advice or suggestions on my current symptoms and how to first treat them at home would be most welcome. 

 

 

 

Thanks ????
 

 

 

[actonion]

I have had  similar in the past  until i found Pepto Bismol,  in Thailand its called  "Gastro Bismol", 2 spoons of that   &  a couple of hours later   im fine

[bbko]

If the nearest hospital is 175 kms away it sounds like you are living remotely, if the living conditions are spartan, I'd consider intestinal parasites.

You might get better answers if we knew your age, weight, past medical history, last colonoscopy, last full check-up, family history of digestive problems, etc. Good Luck.

[pseudorabies]

I've had a couple of bouts of this during my previous visits to Thailand and also since moving here.  Years ago my MD in the US had given me Ciprofloxacin (before it was linked to tendon issues in some) to bring with me in case I had any GI issues.  The times I did have trouble it seemed to clear it up for me in a day or so.

 

Keep in mind that the carbon capsules can bind up and neutralize the antibiotic so spread out the time that you take them.

 

If it continues I'd see a real doctor.  Some of the pharmacists that I've encountered have been a bit dim.

[4MyEgo]

30 minutes ago, Bill Poster said:

ust wondering if any one here may have had similar symptoms as I currently have

Sounds like me every now and again and am sure others.

 

Could be a stomach bug, or your digestive tract is taking longer to digest your food, e.g. bloating.

 

What I find helps me is Electrolytes belive it or not, I also take a probiotic yogurt every morning.

[metisdead]

13 minutes ago, SCOTT FITZGERSLD said:

disgusting. why do i have to read it here?

 

Because the topic is in the Health and Medicine forum and the poster is asking for advice.

[JAS21]

A troll post and reply removed. This is the health forum.

 

Hopefully Sheryl will be along with her opinion.

[tonray]

Have a Gall Bladder check.

[steven100]

well you have to go to the hospital and get tests done even though it's a long way to travel. Might have to book a room in town for one night. You can't mess with these things now because of covid. 

[Sheryl]

What the pharmacy has advised makes absolutely no sense and you will do yourself much more harm than good taking these things.

 

There is no short cut and no way to treat this without first identifying the cause, which could be many different things (but is almost certainly not dysentery!).

 

You need to see a doctor (GI specialist) and have some blood work done, among other things. Possibly also an ultrasound.

[watthong]

52 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

Could be a stomach bug, or your digestive tract is taking longer to digest your food, e.g. bloating.

 

What I find helps me is Electrolytes belive it or not, I also take a probiotic yogurt every morning.

Agree. Possibly, I say possibly, a bad bug (bacteria) still lingers in your stomach. First try active charcoal/carbon (7/11 stuff will do) 4 tablets, then next 4 hrs 3 tablets, next 4 hrs 3 tablets. If that still doesn't clear it out (doesn't make you feel better), then try the diet tea Fitne (sold everywhere, just get the plain version),  one teabag before going to bed, hopefully that will flush out the bug in the morning. In the meantime take lots of electrolytes and eat boiled apples and potatoes and cabbage, toast and cake. Regarding yogurt, don't eat any if you are going to drink the tea. If situation doesn't improve in a couple of days then you really need a visit to the doctor.

 

Last year a bad bug wreaked havoc with my GI system. Constantly bloated stomach, stool not coming out (the way it should) for 3 months. Got coloscopy/endoscopy to find really nothing that the docs could point to. Finally it was one single cup of Fitne tea that did the job.

[4MyEgo]

13 minutes ago, watthong said:

Last year a bad bug wreaked havoc with my GI system. Constantly bloated stomach, stool not coming out (the way it should) for 3 months. Got coloscopy/endoscopy to find really nothing that the docs could point to. Finally it was one single cup of Fitne tea that did the job.

I was pretty much the same until I did a little research and what I found was perfect, i.e. we need to feed our gut Probiotics and since that day, I take one a day, 20 baht, low in sugar, e.g. 5 vs 11 so have to know which one to get and the rest is history, I also stay away from Broccoli and cabbage as they are slow to digest and find they do bloat me.

[internationalism]

just on the margin on discussion on GI problems, there is Loperamide (iodin) which was used for SARS 1. 

Being also used for covid and GI problems it sometimes causes. There is research already done.

 

I would think there must be some medical clinic within 10km radius from you home. Even with doctor coming every few days 

[Sheryl]

10 hours ago, internationalism said:

just on the margin on discussion on GI problems, there is Loperamide (iodin) which was used for SARS 1. 

Being also used for covid and GI problems it sometimes causes. There is research already done.

 

I would think there must be some medical clinic within 10km radius from you home. Even with doctor coming every few days 

There will surely be a health center mot too far away. And probably also a small  community hospital within an hour or less. But what he would get at wither of these isn't much better than what he has gotten at the pharmacy.

 

He needs a provincial level hospital or higher and it is possible to be licated quite far from one of those.

 

OP- are you on any regular medications (aside from the things you have tried for this)?

[ChrisKC]

If it were me in your posituon, i would visit my local doctors clinic, you should have one nearby. A proper doctor has better knowledge and can provide blood test and other diagnostics. If he cannot prescribe treatment or appropriate medication, he can give possible diagnosis and refer you to a specialist. That may of course involve that long road trip. Worth it to know your exact situation, particularly if there is urgency involved.

Good luck, hope will find resolution

 

[Bill Poster]

Thanks to ever one for your advice and comments

‘its appreciated. 

 

Bill ????

[BobinBKK]

Try WebMD dot com

[Bill Poster]

On 7/26/2021 at 10:13 AM, Sheryl said:

What the pharmacy has advised makes absolutely no sense and you will do yourself much more harm than good taking these things.

 

There is no short cut and no way to treat this without first identifying the cause, which could be many different things (but is almost certainly not dysentery!).

 

You need to see a doctor (GI specialist) and have some blood work done, among other things. Possibly also an ultrasound.

Well Ive made the long trip to a large hospital and managed to see a doctor ( not a GI specialist but a general Doctor ) .

The Doctor could speak good English so I went over my current symptoms with him. He then asked me to lie on an examination table and proceeded with his hands to press down on areas of my stomach  . He asked me if I could feel any pain as he did the pressing , I told him that I had no sensation of any pain at all any where on my stomach area.

He then asked me to remove my shorts and underwear and he then proceeded to do a rectal examination with his gloved hand . Again he asked me if I felt any pain as he carried out the examination , I told him I could not feel any sensation of pain at all.

 

He then asked me to supply a feces sample . I supplied feces sample and it was sent directly to the hospitals in house laboratory for testing.

 

The feces sample took 45 minuets to undergo testing and the results were sent directly to the Doctor . I went back to see the same Doctor who then told me that feces sample test results came back as normal and no underlying issues were found .

 

The doctor on reading out the normal feces sample test results , said that my current symptoms may be due to something called - Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) . 

 

The doctor then prescribe the flowing drugs . ( a 2 weeks supply )

 

A. Metoclopramide ( 10mg ) 

B. Simethicone ( 80mg )

C. Omeprazole ( 20mg )

 

The doctor then made an appointment for me to go back and see him again in 2 weeks time.

 

I asked the Doctor , when I go back to see him in 2 weeks time and should I still have the same symptoms after taking the prescribed drugs for a 2 week period , what would be the doctors next recommendation . The Doctor then told me that his future recommendation would be for me to have an endoscopy ( camera down my throat ).

 

I have had a quick internet look at the drugs the Doctor prescribed me, and at first glance those prescribed drugs seem to only be used for relieving the discomfort of my symptoms .

 

I have a gut ( excuse the pun ) feeling that I will be returning back to see the Doctor in 2 wees time and I will be telling him that my symptoms are still the same .

 

The cost of consultation with the Doctor , the laboratory testing and prescribed drugs came to a total of 539 Baht .

 

 

Thanks 

 

 

[Sheryl]

When you return ask about basic lab work (metabolic panel) and possibly ultrasound. I would also suggest you see a GI soecialist. Which hospital did you go to?

 

And on a routine basis, are you taking any medications?

[Swimfan]

Maybe start with a stool test for potential parasites or bacteria. Ask for a PCR test if available. As some parasites are cyclical and can take multiple samples to get a correct diagnosis and false negatives are common. It sounds like it could be a mild case of giardiasis. But always best to test first rather than taking a stab in the dark approach to treatment. 

[JensenZ]

4 hours ago, Bill Poster said:

Thanks to ever one for your advice and comments

‘its appreciated. 

 

Bill ????

I would recommend the consuming of probiotics (I make and drink my own kefir). If that doesn't make you feel better in a few days, you have to get tests. It could be one of your internal organs playing up (liver and kidney function tests at the very least) or something as serious as bowel cancer. Make the trip.

[JensenZ]

21 minutes ago, Swimfan said:

Maybe start with a stool test for potential parasites or bacteria. Ask for a PCR test if available. As some parasites are cyclical and can take multiple samples to get a correct diagnosis and false negatives are common. It sounds like it could be a mild case of giardiasis. But always best to test first rather than taking a stab in the dark approach to treatment. 

I agree that intestinal parasites are a strong possibility. I got tapeworms from eating rare beef in Thailand, and it made my bowel very irritable. I don't eat pork, but pork tapeworms are even more destructive.

[LongTimeLurker]

5 hours ago, BobinBKK said:

Try WebMD dot com

Funnily enough when I try that website I can never find anything that relates to the symptoms that I actually have.

 

So I reckon I must be suffering from unique disorders that medicine has never yet discovered.

[dj230]

On 7/26/2021 at 9:52 AM, tonray said:

Have a Gall Bladder check.

I was going to say the same, sounds like a gastrointestinal issue, could be liver, gallbladder, pancreas, stomach, intestines, etc. But I’m not a doctor

 

 best to see a doctor or hospital 175km isn’t too far for your health, I had a 100km round trip just for my visa extension earlier today 

[Bill Poster]

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

When you return ask about basic lab work (metabolic panel) and possibly ultrasound. I would also suggest you see a GI soecialist. Which hospital did you go to?

 

And on a routine basis, are you taking any medications?

 Thanks Sheryl ,  I am currently not taking any drugs or other prescribed medication . The only thing I am taking are sleep aid pills called ‘’  Melatonin ‘’ which do help me sleep at night time .
 
 The hospital I attended is called ..

Suranaree University of Technology Hospital (SUTH) Nakhon Ratchasima.

 

I was very impressed by the whole experience , which was very professional and well organised and not expensive.

 

I’m wondering what I should do if after I take the 3 prescribed dugs for the recommended 2 week period , and my current symptoms have disappeared by then . 

 

If my symptoms after taking the prescribed drugs do disappear after the 2 week period , would it be necessary to ask the doctor to further investigate my symptoms. Or could it be that the prescribed drugs are only masking the symptoms and the underlying problem may still exist .

 

 

Thanks.

 

 

 

 

[Sheryl]

1 minute ago, Bill Poster said:

 Thanks Sheryl ,  I am currently not taking any drugs or other prescribed medication . The only thing I am taking are sleep aid pills called ‘’  Melatonin ‘’ which do help me sleep at night time .
 
 The hospital I attended is called ..

Suranaree University of Technology Hospital (SUTH) Nakhon Ratchasima.

 

I was very impressed by the whole experience , which was very professional and well organised and not expensive.

 

I’m wondering what I should do if after I take the 3 prescribed dugs for the recommended 2 week period , and my current symptoms have disappeared by then . 

 

If my symptoms after taking the prescribed drugs do disappear after the 2 week period , would it be necessary to ask the doctor to further investigate my symptoms. Or could it be that the prescribed drugs are only masking the symptoms and the underlying problem may still exist .

 

 

Thanks.

 

 

 

 

The drugs prescribed are entirely treatment of symptoms.  You would need to know if the symptoms are gone without the medication to know if whatever it was has cleared up.

 

Nausea can have many, many causes. If it was just a viral infection then in 2 weeks time (actually less, given that you already had this for a week) it should be gone of its own accord.

 

if it is still present then a search for underlying causes, beyond what was already done, is indicated starting with blood work and possibly an ultrasound

[IraqRon]

2 hours ago, LongTimeLurker said:

Funnily enough when I try that website I can never find anything that relates to the symptoms that I actually have.

 

So I reckon I must be suffering from unique disorders that medicine has never yet discovered.

stop the coffee in the morning.

[Bill Poster]

18 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

The drugs prescribed are entirely treatment of symptoms.  You would need to know if the symptoms are gone without the medication to know if whatever it was has cleared up.

 

Nausea can have many, many causes. If it was just a viral infection then in 2 weeks time (actually less, given that you already had this for a week) it should be gone of its own accord.

 

if it is still present then a search for underlying causes, beyond what was already done, is indicated starting with blood work and possibly an ultrasound

So me taking these new prescribed drugs as they are only designed to treat the symptoms of my current stomach issue are only going to possibly mask the real underlying issue . So when I return to see the doctor in two weeks time and my currents symptoms have disappeared and the doctor then does not prescribe and further drugs . I then return home and wait to see if the symptoms once again return.

 

If my symptoms do come back then I return to see the same doctor and request further investigation including the tests you outlined .

 

Am I on the right track

 

Thanks

 

 

[VocalNeal]

No nausea but have had a bloated stomach. If you toes go numb let me/us know.  

[bamboozled]

For years, I had severe diarrhea immediately after eating anything at all. I went for check ups in this regard, had 2 colonoscopies, and had stool sample tests, at 3 different times in 3 different hospitals, Chiang Mai Ram, Rajevej in Chiang Mai and Bumrungrad in Bkk, and nothing was ever found. This included allergy tests at Bumrungrad, if I remember correctly. It was considered IBS, as well, but I wasn't really convinced of that. I tried various diets and what not on my own but nothing worked. At some point, I got a tenacious ear infection which kept coming back even after taking different antibiotics prescribed by the hospital. Finally, after coming back a third time, I was prescribed Ciprofloxacin. It got rid of the ear infection for good....and also cured my chronic diarrhea. Boy, I never fell in love with an ear infection like I fell in love with that one, let me tell you!

My point is not that you should take Ciprofloxacin, necessarily, but that even multiple tests and check-ups might not pinpoint the problem. My conclusion had been that the stool sample tests did not find the bacteria that was ailing me. But in writing this, I suppose I cannot conclude that it was a gut bacteria that was causing the problem. I can only say that when I took the Cipro, the diarrhea stopped. I don't recall what they tested for but these days you hear a lot about C. difficile popping up and I don't think that was something that was checked; I'm not sure Thailand 5 years ago had that on the radar. I believe Cipro is one antibiotic that is used to eradicate that bacteria and so, well, I sometimes think that was perhaps what was ailing me. Anyhow, that's my story and perhaps it can help you.

 

Cheers and good luck, Bam