The doctor at BPH who did my post-annual medical debrief recommended that I should get myself some Albendazole although the results of the stool sample didn't indicate any infestation. The curious thing was the Upper GI abdominal barium meal examination. Usually this is over in about 10 minutes with minimal fuss. However, this year the operator had me moving about while she took loads more 'pictures' of my abdomen and eventually I was referred back to the x-ray department for an abdominal x-ray.

The final analysis indicated the following impression, "Complete intestinal malrotation with spiral appearance of 2nd part of duodenum (probably volvulus) and high position of cecum in the right side of abdomen. No intestinal obstruction is seen." This apparently isn't cause for concern but I was surprised that I was recommended to take a course of Abendazole after the fact. Was this because they were unsure of what was observed or, maybe it's because they reckon after 18 years in Thailand, I must be eating the local food so better make sure?

Anyway, the upshot is that I will get rid of the excess middle-aged spread since it probably didn't help with the GI scan. Reading up on intestinal malrotation indicates that this is something that happens in the womb so how they 'missed' it in every other medical exam I have had both here and overseas is a bit of a mystery. Anyone diagnosed with the Intestinal Malrotation care to contribute their experiences?

All I can say is that it seems to be common practice for Thais to de-worm themselves twice a year with Albendazole. This is what I was told at a big pharmacy. They come in 6-packs to be taken 2 per night for 3 consecutive nights.

They are a good de-wormer, but if you go to the drug website you'll read that different parasites require different doses - some for up to a month, so the "normal" dose given here would only be partially effective in removing parasites. To kill a tapeworm requires 5 consecutive nights x 2 tablets.