Upset Stomach Long Term

[Ape1983]

For the last 8 weeks I have been suffering from diarrhea almost every day, mild upset stomach and

gas. It has prevailed every day some days have been worse than others with varying symptoms. Ive been going to the toilet up to 7 times a day.

Obviousely this is causing me stress but apart from that I feel fine I am not dehydrated or fatigued. I was prescribed Metronidazole but this not help.

Can anyone advise a good gastrologist preferabely in Pattaya but Bangkok is okay. Im hoping it is some

sort of parasite that can be treated rather than something chronic like IBS.

Is there such a thing as an IBS specialist in Thailand? I would think this disease is more associated with

Westerners.

Thanks

Jon

[bmore99]

IBS is the diagnosis that means "we don't know what is causing your problems".

Make sure they test you on gluten intolerance. I'm not sure doctors in Thailand are celiac aware, as in the past Thais hardly used to eat any gluten.

It is estimated that only 10% of the people suffering from celiac disease are diagnosed so far. IBS is a frequent misdiagnosis for celiac.

[poanoi]

Norfloxacin always fixed my stomach, 2 pills morning/lunch/evening, you're OK within 2 days.

Richesse yoghurt also soothes the stomach, 1 every morning, but is more like preventive.

[chiang mai]

A simple stool test will likely give you your answers, it's not expensive but go to a decent hospital to have it done.

[Mobi]

I had a similar problem for literally years and and when it got really bad I started on a round of hospital specialists which cost me a small fortune and no definitive diagnosis or cure. They did every test known to mankind and stuck cameras up my bum and down my throat and analysed my stools ad infinitum. They prescribed all manner of expensive drugs - including very powerful antibiotics - just in case - some of which,(not the antibiotics), helped to keep my condition under control but never cured it.

Sure, they identified many problems inside my gut which may or may not have contributed to the problem but no definitive diagnosis.

I remember the specialist at Bumrungrad telling me that a very high percentage of 'bugs' that may be causing my condition cannot be positively identified and I may never be completely cured.

Finally, in desperation I went to see yet another specialist at Bangkok hospital (in Bangkok, not Pattaya) and after reading through my 4inch medical record file from Bumrungrad, told me I had IBS.

Then, for want of anything better to do, I decided to cut out all dairy products for one week and see what happened. Lo and behold the diarrhoea started to clear up and within a short time my bowels were back to normal - something they hadn't been for years. Just to be sure, I tried a glass of cow's milk and within hours the diarrhoea returned.

Ever since then (about 3 years ago) I have been fine and have regular, perfectly formed bowel movements. But even a large portion of ice cream or a latte coffee is enough to set it off again. So I stick to non diary products (soya milk mainly) but I can tolerate a small amount of cheese every now and then.

I have since learned that many men develop lactose intolerance in middle age. It might be brought on by excessive alcohol consumption over many years and I tend to think that this was the case for me, as my stomach remains delicate and I can no longer tolerate very spicy food without the problems returning, whereas before I could eat anything with no after effects.

So before you spend a load of money on doctors, I strongly suggest you try cutting out cow's products for a week or so and see if there is any improvement in your condition

Good luck

Edited April 28, 2012 by Mobi

[jvs]

Do you eat out or make your own food at home? I only ate in restaurant for years and had the same problem,started cooking at home and all ok now.

[Sheryl]

I would suggest you start by seeing a gastroenteriologist and getting a stool exam at Queen Sirikit Hospital in Sattahip. ALso depending on your age and other risk factors, the doctor might advise endoscopy.

If that does not reveal a cause, then trial and error with diet is not a bad idea. I'd start by eliminating both dairy and gluten. If that works then restart one of the two gradually, if it recurs you have your answer, if not then restart the second one and ditto.

If that fails then yes, there are doctors in Thailand specializing in motility disorders. But suggest the above first.

[bmore99]

....I'd start by eliminating both dairy and gluten. If that works then restart one of the two gradually, if it recurs you have your answer, if not then restart the second one and ditto.

You need to test both, as gluten intolerance very often comes with lactose intolerance. Finding out you have a lactose intolerance does not tell you that you are ok with gluten.

[chiang mai]

I've recently gone through something similar to the OP and have explored both gluten and lactose intolerance, I've also been under the care of physician (gastroenterologist) who specialises in motility disorders although this aspect of my treatment and eventual cure was not particularly sucessful (but that's a another story). The cure for me was to loose weight, ten per cent of my body weight which had slowly crept upwards was duly shed and the problem was solved, along with some dietary changes - gluten and lactose intolerance were both something of a red herring for me, as was the need to take laxatives, every single night for three months, in order to collapse the bowel!! Three bl**dy months, can you beleieve it, it was almost like medieval black magic and one step up from from blood letting and he was convinced it was the right thing to do, ha!

[Ape1983]

Thanks for the advice guys some good info there,I'll get the stool test down at BPH. I know they will be dieing to perfom endoscopy in order to bump up the price but I think it best to explore the other options first.

I do have a decent diet, i was running half marathons before this happened and have no family history of bowel disorder.

It sounds bad but I hope it is a parasite that the blood test did not pick up rather than something chronic.

Hopefully BPH can sort me out, they always get mixed review.

[Robroy]

The large variety of responses here suggests that there are many possible causes, & you need to get working on discovering what yours is.

A couple more options to try:

* If you eat at a particular restaurant every day (or from one food source), stop doing so for a few days to see if that's the cause.

* I find betaine hydrocholoride (stomach acid) and good bacteria (e.g. lactobacillus) very useful, & always stock up on them when I go back to the West,

* Dairy is the world's equal no. 1 allergen. Its co-equal is gluten grains. Homo sapiens did not evolve to eat either, and some Homo sapiens react badly when they do.

[mommysboy]

I've recently gone through something similar to the OP and have explored both gluten and lactose intolerance, I've also been under the care of physician (gastroenterologist) who specialises in motility disorders although this aspect of my treatment and eventual cure was not particularly sucessful (but that's a another story). The cure for me was to loose weight, ten per cent of my body weight which had slowly crept upwards was duly shed and the problem was solved, along with some dietary changes - gluten and lactose intolerance were both something of a red herring for me, as was the need to take laxatives, every single night for three months, in order to collapse the bowel!! Three bl**dy months, can you beleieve it, it was almost like medieval black magic and one step up from from blood letting and he was convinced it was the right thing to do, ha!

It usually boils down to diet and exercise CM, and working with the digestive system you have. Thailand is a particularly distracting place in more ways than one and it is very difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I speak only as one in the same boat, albeit my problems are in the opposite.

As far as I am aware intolerances are much more likely to produce symptoms such as bloating, foul gas, and the runs. It doesn't sound like an issue in your case.

Exercise increases my motility, which is a bit of a bind in my case but surely a benefit in yours.

Then I would say plenty of fleshy fruit and vegetables, grapes would do the trick for sure.

Porridge is a great balancer for me and I thin k we all can fin our own food that seems to suit us. One trick is to go back to much the same diet and style you grew up with.

Not preaching, in a struggle myself, but getting some resolution to a 30 year issue for me.

[mommysboy]

OP. If nothing much has changed in your diet, then I'd say it is much more likely to be agitation/anxiety than anything else, it's surprising what effect emotions have on the gut. Just relaxing, a mild sedative, and some good binding food might be the best answer. I have noticed with my friends and myself, gut problems cause anxiety, cause more problems, cause more anxiety.

As to food intolerances, from your symptoms I'd guess lactose intolerance is the most likely for sure, as it kind of creeps up on us as we age. Then all those flaming stimulants and additives increase motility.

Porridge is a big stabaliser for me, and mashed potato, toast, fruit with pectin. Red meat too. Curiously Big Mac with fries, bit of an anomally that! I guess we have to experiment.

[freebyrd]

Sounds to me like you may have GIARDIA, a microbe that is resistant to most medication.I've had it twice and each time FLAGENTYL, 4 large tablets taken at one time has cured it., I was recommended this medication by an acquaintance here in Cambodia who had a relative that had suffered for 2 years before taking this medication.

[tropo]

It sounds exactly what I was suffering from in November and December last year. It was a beef tapeworm.

I did a post on it somewhere on the forum if you search. I spotted the proglottids in my stool. You can have them for about 3 months before they start releasing the proglottids.

Other worms could also be responsible for your discomfort. There's a very high probability of getting intestinal parasites in Thailand.

Do you eat rare Thai beef? You can also get pork and fish tapeworms. The pork ones are the worst, but most people cook pork well.

[poanoi]

Norfloxacin probably beat up them as well, i've never seen such potent stop-the-shit-stuff in my life.

It kills Gonorrhea as well btw

Edited April 29, 2012 by poanoi

[bmore99]

Do you eat rare Thai beef? You can also get pork and fish tapeworms. The pork ones are the worst, but most people cook pork well.

I'd say the fish ones (liver flukes) are the worst. You don't notice them and they cause liver cancer. They are very easy to get rid off though with Biltricide. I've been given this medication as a precaution twice already.

[tropo]

I'd say the fish ones (liver flukes) are the worst. You don't notice them and they cause liver cancer. They are very easy to get rid off though with Biltricide. I've been given this medication as a precaution twice already.

I was given Albendazole - a dose of 2 per day in the evening for 5 days. I hope it is gone because I never saw any (dead) evidence of it in my stool.

Edited April 29, 2012 by tropo

[Sheryl]

Giarduia, tapeworms, liver flukes = all entirely different parasites and not treated with the same drug. And none of them are treated by norfloxacin, which is an antibiotic and this effective only against bacteria. Diarrhea can have many different causes. It does not follow that what cured one person will cure another, or will even cure the same person at a different time. Should avoid advising others to take a medication that was appropriate for your condition in the absence of necessary lab tests to s=ascertain the cause was the same.

[tropo]

Giarduia, tapeworms, liver flukes = all entirely different parasites and not treated with the same drug. And none of them are treated by norfloxacin, which is an antibiotic and this effective only against bacteria. Diarrhea can have many different causes. It does not follow that what cured one person will cure another, or will even cure the same person at a different time. Should avoid advising others to take a medication that was appropriate for your condition in the absence of necessary lab tests to s=ascertain the cause was the same.

I don't know if this post was directed at me but, but I wasn't advising what medicine to use for the OP's condition which hasn't been diagnosed. I was merely stating what I used for my condition. Tapeworms are very easy to diagnose at the proglottid release stage. If you see these wriggling in your stool, you know what you have and you know what to take and there really is no need to waste money on seeing a doctor and lab tests most definitely are not required. I even posted some photos of these on another thread.

BTW, Albendazole kills dozens of different parasites, not just tapeworms - of course not all and different doses are required for different parasites.

I was merely offering some advice for people who may eat rare Thai beef and who have tapeworms - and that the symptoms I suffered were very similar to the OP's.

Edited April 30, 2012 by tropo