I’m Definitely Falling Apart.!

[Naam]

and the colon was completely clear of tumours.

chok dee Mobi!

[Old Croc]

A relief.

Time to give that cabbage juice diet a go to detox your system.

[LaoPo]

Mobi: glad to hear you're not falling apart....

Don't forget to info us about the final doctor's results and cause of you diarrhoea.

LaoPo

[Sheryl]

Great news.

You may alreadty know this, but flagyl can be unpleasant to take, take with food to reduce nausea and whatever you do, do not drink at all or you will seriously regret it (bog time nausea/vomiting). Your stomach has been through enough without that aggravation so be careful.

[Tammi]

Great news.

You may alreadty know this, but flagyl can be unpleasant to take, take with food to reduce nausea and whatever you do, do not drink at all or you will seriously regret it (bog time nausea/vomiting). Your stomach has been through enough without that aggravation so be careful.

That's a relief to get good news! I second Sheryl re not drinking while on Flagyl. My better half did and ended up in hospital with tachycardia. Actually I always found Flagyl OK to take - it was a relief to start feeling better!

[Who, me ?]

Great news Mobi......congratulation....and from now on , CARPE DIEM, huh !! You've been through some close calls recently

Anyway, take it easy,.....and I wish you all the very best !!

Cheers

[Who, me ?]

BTW , Why not changing the thread tiltle to " I’m Definitely NOT Falling Apart.!"

[Beardog]

I am glad to hear their are not penny's on the ice while you are ice skating this time. I hope you have a smooth recovery & eat healthy & stay on top of your health. Glad to hear you are not falling apart.

We would all miss you Mobi

Beardog

Edited April 16, 2008 by Beardog

[SamuiJens]

Glad to hear you are NOT falling apart!

[Pushit]

Ok folks, so here’s what happened.

As ever I got it all round my neck, or more likely, it wasn’t properly explained to me due to the language barrier.

It turns out that I was scheduled to have a “virtual” CT colonoscopy, as opposed to the real thing. I have now Googled this procedure, and it would seem it is a very new procedure that does the job equally well and avoids the intrusive nature of a conventional colonoscopy. They put a tube up your bum, and then pump your colon full of air to expand it and then take numerous CT pictures of the colon and stomach, (back and front), which then put together to form a virtual image of the colon, and show any polyps or tumours. The procedure takes around and hour, and is uncomfortable as your stomach gets full of gas causing stomach cramps, but I guess it is better than having a camera stuck up your inside.

For those who wish to know more about this procedure, here are a couple of informative websites.

virtual colonoscopy

virtual colonoscopy2

After it was finished I asked to see a doctor. They told me my appointment was not until Thursday, which I knew, but I insisted in speaking to someone. Eventually the radiologist came to see me and advised that only the doctor could give me a 100% accurate account of the test. I said: “how about 50 %?), and he said, “OK”. Ten minutes later he had a picture of my colon up on a VDU and showed it to me. He said there was a tiny polyp in the stomach about 3.5 mm which wasn’t causing any problems, and the colon was completely clear of tumours. The stomach looked inflamed, which he suggested was caused by whatever was giving me the diarrhoea

So there we are – I’ll make the appointment on Thursday but in the meantime will start a course of Flagyl.

Thanks to all you who wished me luck, as it seems to have worked.

A load off my mind.

QUOTE (Mobi @ 2008-04-11 14:41:59) *

Well ever since I was discharged from hospital more than 3 weeks ago I have been suffering from severe diarrhoea – like at least 6 times a day, and very watery – in fact after the food is gone, it is all water.

After 8 days the hospital took a sample, and reported nothing wrong.

I consulted 2 doctors in Pattaya and they both prescribed antibiotics.

So as there was no improvement I consulted a doctor at Phya Thai Hospital in Sri Racha this morning. He said that the antibiotics would have cured me by now if it had been ‘microbes’ or whatever. He has booked me in for a colonoscopy and said it might be cancer.

I have been Googling the symptoms on various websites and only the Mayo clinic mentions diarrhoea as a symptom. All the other sites don’t mention it - just constipation or a change in the stool size, and frequency of passing etc.

There are a number of other symptoms, but the only ones I have are diarrhoea, a gassy stomach, and general fatigue. There has been no weight loss, and I can’t detect any blood in my ‘water’, and I still have a reasonable appetite.

Anyone else out there had colon cancer who may be able to reassure me? unsure.gif

And if I have got it - assuming I've caught it early - what is the survival rate? huh.gif

I had symptoms like this, doctor at BKK Christian said irritated bowel syndrome, went on for ages. Then a friend advised that a high fiber

diet may help, especially high fiber muesli at breakfast. It worked and symptoms haven't returned for years. Try changing to high fiber diet.

Good Luck

There you go, lucky guy

[rixalex]

Hang in there m8, I know exactly how you feel right now. I am awaiting a CT scan to exclude a mass that was found nearly 2 months ago on my right kidney. This mass was found after I was admitted to Phyathai Hospital with severe pain in the back and running down my right leg and a blood pressure 120/190. After some urine, blood, ultrasound and MRI scans they found that I have Spinal Stenosis with nerve root entrapment and 2 degenerated discs. I have not been able to walk since that day. It was on the MRI scans that this 'mass' showed up.

Unfortunately I had totally forgotten to renew my health insurance which had expired about 6 weeks prior to my admittance. Phyathai cleaned out my cash reserves with one foul swoop. Now I have just enough to get my wife and I to Europe, To add to all the stress the Italian Consulate has made us wait almost 6 weeks just to hand in the visa application.

The Dr. told me also that it could be cancer, which I would rather not have heard. Ive spent the last 6 weeks in my condo watching my hair fall out from my head and face, unable to walk, and the thought that I might have cancer.

It's not a nice thought at all. Power to you m8, and hope that you get a clean diagnosis.

Good to hear things are looking up for you Mobi.

Lordsux - the pain you must be in I can't imagine. My heart goes out to you mate. Hope you've got a loving wife and family who can help you through these times. Prayers are with you.

[Mobi]

I went to see the doctor yesterday for the official results of my colonoscopy.

He confirmed there were no tumours, but advised me that I had a suppressed? (or compressed, I can't remember which) fracture of my lower lumber region, and I also had hardened arteries(I knew that)

He did not recommend any treatment for either of these conditions.

With regard to the diarrhoea he wanted to examine my small bowel?, but when I mentioned the possibility of guardia or pseudomembranous colitis he then prescribed flagyl, and told me if it was either of these conditions the meds would take care of it.

I've held of starting the course, as today after 4 weeks of misery, I detected a slowing down of the runs, so I'll just wait another day or so and see if I get better without it.

I don't think I'm too impressed with the good doctor.

[Crushdepth]

I can only say, 'take the pills'. Its a fairly mainstream antibiotic and after 4 weeks personally I suspect the risks of *not* accepting treatment are probably higher than eating your medicine. My previous experience with giardia is that I felt much improved within 24 hours of starting the pills, anyway, good luck with it.

Edited April 18, 2008 by Crushdepth

[LaoPo]

I went to see the doctor yesterday for the official results of my colonoscopy.

He confirmed there were no tumours, but advised me that I had a suppressed? (or compressed, I can't remember which) fracture of my lower lumber region, and I also had hardened arteries(I knew that)

He did not recommend any treatment for either of these conditions.

With regard to the diarrhoea he wanted to examine my small bowel?, but when I mentioned the possibility of guardia or pseudomembranous colitis he then prescribed flagyl, and told me if it was either of these conditions the meds would take care of it.

I've held of starting the course, as today after 4 weeks of misery, I detected a slowing down of the runs, so I'll just wait another day or so and see if I get better without it.

I don't think I'm too impressed with the good doctor.

So, he gave you medication after YOU told him that it could be......?

And, what if those medicines doesn't help ?

The other thing which worries me is that he didn't send you to someone else to check your heart condition since you have hardened arteries...

Do you take high fiber capsules or anything else that 'binds' the food, once eaten ? Like Psyllium Husk fiber capsules....?

LaoPo

[lordsux]

Nice to hear some good news today. Hopefully I will get a similar diagnosis.

This thread has strengthened my belief that you shouldn't worry about what you may have. Stress and anxiety will only aggravate any illness.

[Crushdepth]

Self diagnosis on the internet is a sure recipe for a nervous breakdown (Not that free diagnosis from Thaivisa members is much better )

[Tammi]

It'a a long time since I had giardia but I seem to remember that there could be a period of feeling better but then diarrhoea and gas came back worse. Floating stools and rotten egg smell farts.

[LaoPo]

It'a a long time since I had giardia but I seem to remember that there could be a period of feeling better but then diarrhoea and gas came back worse. Floating stools and rotten egg smell farts.

Have a nice dinner too

LaoPo

[Mobi]

I went to see the doctor yesterday for the official results of my colonoscopy.

He confirmed there were no tumours, but advised me that I had a suppressed? (or compressed, I can't remember which) fracture of my lower lumber region, and I also had hardened arteries(I knew that)

He did not recommend any treatment for either of these conditions.

With regard to the diarrhoea he wanted to examine my small bowel?, but when I mentioned the possibility of guardia or pseudomembranous colitis he then prescribed flagyl, and told me if it was either of these conditions the meds would take care of it.

I've held of starting the course, as today after 4 weeks of misery, I detected a slowing down of the runs, so I'll just wait another day or so and see if I get better without it.

I don't think I'm too impressed with the good doctor.

So, he gave you medication after YOU told him that it could be......?

And, what if those medicines doesn't help ?

The other thing which worries me is that he didn't send you to someone else to check your heart condition since you have hardened arteries...

Do you take high fiber capsules or anything else that 'binds' the food, once eaten ? Like Psyllium Husk fiber capsules....?

LaoPo

You've got it in one - a bad doctor.

He knew that I have hypertension and am a diabetic, and he puts down everything to my long term diabetes and blood pressure problems.. He has no idea whether my blood sugars are stable, and ditto for my blood pressure. I take a whole team of meds to keep my BP as stable as possible, and I mainly manage to keep my blood sugars at acceptable levels by frequent blood sugar tests and insulin injections. But he didn't even ask me about this.

I have a cardiologist in BKK and will be seeing her soon for my annual check up, but again he didn't ask, or care.

So he starts off by telling me that he suspects cancer, then puts my problem down to pre- -existing conditions, and then accepts my own diagnosis of the cause of my diarrhoea, and prescribes flagyl which I was told about on this thread weeks ago.

Sometimes I really despair, and I don't know what i would do without Sheryl to guide and advise me.

[SamuiJens]

MOBI, ISN'T IT POSSIBLE to get another doctor, since yours sounds like a med. student!! By the way, GOOD LUCK!

[Mossfinn]

Did you see This in the UK news today Mobi, not sure what Diabetes you have, so this is purely for interest only.

Glad to hear you are on the mend, even with a rather suspect Doc.

Good Luck

Moss

[Spee]

Sometimes I really despair, and I don't know what i would do without Sheryl to guide and advise me.

Mobi,

I'm glad to hear the results from the scan were negative. I suspected from reading the earlier threads that it was probably a stomach or intestinal disorder. But I would suggest not stopping there.

I'm not a doctor, but I would suggest getting a full blood work-up including liver and glucose measurements. At a minimum, this will help to rule out other things with internal body functions. Or, god forbid, it may show something that other scans haven't picked up and you can get some treatment. You may want to get the bloodwork done once a month for the next 2-3 just to be sure that everything in your blood is consistent and stable.

I've been treated for leukemia in the past, but have luckily been ok for most of the last 8-9 years. But some recent bloodwork showed a few things that weren't quite right. As it turns out, it is nothing major, but rather something to keep an eye on.

You should want the same thing from your bloodwork, either confirmation that everything is stable and you can rule out several things, or there is something to keep an eye on. If there is something irregular going on, god forbid, it should show up in the white count, red count, platelet count, hemaglobin or lmphocytes.

I just went over the big 5-0 and am starting to feel like a borderline geezer. In my mind, I'm just as young as I ever was, but my body tells me a different story. My pride and how I feel says there is nothing to worry about, but as we get older, we just need to check more things to be sure.

Above all, don't despair. There are so many other positives in life to think about. Modern medicine is a wonderful thing. Fifiteen to twenty years ago, people were dying from things that can now be treated with a high degree of survival.

Chin up, mate! And best of luck!

Edited April 18, 2008 by Spee

[Sheryl]

Mobi,

I suspect that things have slowed down as a result of not eating prior to the colonoscopy...it gave your GI tract a bit of a rest. Suggest you stick to fluids and boiled rice soup (with meat, veggies added) for a while. That standard Thai remedy has its advantages. It is easily absorbed by an inflamed GI tract. As I'm sure you know, you will have to monitor your blood sugars carefully when making any change in diet like that.

I still think you'd best take a course of either flagyl or tinidazole (fasigyn). Personally I'd go with the tinidazole as it is a shorter course of treatment. (@ Gm--4 tabs -- one day then 2 tabs once a day for 5 days). With either drug, don't drink or you'll get very ill.

If this does not work and symptoms persist another possibility that would account for the stiomach irritation -- altho it does not usually produce so much diarrhea -- is heliobacter pylori infection. But I suggest proceeding on the assumption that it is giardia or C. Difficile first.

I also think you'd best stick to doctors in Bangkok, as annoying as it may be to have to trek up there. I live about the same distance from Bangkok as you do and believe me, I make the trip when I need medical care...tghe only thing I go to a local doc for is a 50 Baht "medical certificate" for my visa extensions!

Lastly, as Spee said, you should get a comprehensive physical check up. Get a copy of the colonoscopy report (and CD or film, if available) to bring with you.

Hang in there, you'll get better.

[Mobi]

Thanks Sheryl.

I am definitely going to BKk either this week or next week and I won't leave until I've seen all the specialists.

[Crushdepth]

If you ever decide to take the pills or randomly just get better anyway, please let us know. You are driving me nuts

[disgruntled]

Not all Doctors are A students but we sure want them to be.

Sounds like things are improving for you Mobi. Good luck resolving your health problems.

[Mobi]

If you ever decide to take the pills or randomly just get better anyway, please let us know. You are driving me nuts

Sorry for driving you nuts - it wasn't my intention

I thought I was "randomly getting better" and I'm certainly much better than I was, but my bowel movements are still not what they should be so I'm going to take Sheryl's advice and start the Flagyl today and see what happens.

I'm now resolved to go to Bangkok next week to sort out my sleeping/diabetic/coronary/prostate/glaucoma problems next week, and if the diarrhoea hasn't gone away, I'll have them sort out that as well.

I might be in for a long stay

[Mossfinn]

You are driving me nuts

This might Help

Good Luck

Moss

[Mobi]

Day four of my flagyl treatment, and no better. If anything a bit worse. Very bad diarrhoea this morning - 4 or 5 times.

I'm now into my sixth week of this pesky thing!

My diabetic specialist is arranging for me to see a gastroenterologist??!! next Wednesday at Bumrungrad.

[SamuiJens]

Day four of my flagyl treatment, and no better. If anything a bit worse. Very bad diarrhoea this morning - 4 or 5 times.

I'm now into my sixth week of this pesky thing!

My diabetic specialist is arranging for me to see a gastroenterologist??!! next Wednesday at Bumrungrad.

GOOD news, and I hope you all the luck to get better soon!