Diarrhoea

[lime12]

I've been living in Thailand for over a year and was regularly eating street food, I would always be careful and eat simple things like cow pat, kra pow etc (never the Isaan food) and never too spicy. I would get diarrhoea quite often with no real pattern, sometimes for a few days every week for a month, sometimes I'd be fine for two weeks but then get it again. Usually with different levels of severity - sometimes it would just be lose stool but no real discomfort, sometimes I'm sitting at home all day long for a couple of days.

Anyway I decided to do something about it, I visited back home recently and bought lots of wholegrain cereal. My girlfriend has moved in with me and has started cooking (ingredients from tesco) so no more street food. I've been eating sandwiches and simple farang food more often. I always drink bottled water from 7/11.

Despite this I can't really see any improvement. I'm really baffled by what's causing it. Most of my friends don't really have any problems, one of my friends gets it quite often but I don't think as bad as me.

I spoke to my doctor whilst back home and explained to her my problem whilst living in Thailand, she told me to take Imodium.. brilliant. I told her I was looking for a more long term solution and she just told me to just make sure I'm getting a balance diet. So with that useful advice I'm really not sure what to do now, can anyone please offer any suggestions? I'm spending more time in the toilet than living my life!

[thequietman]

Bisto.

Works as a thickner.

Edited June 5, 2012 by thequietman

[BookMan]

Please don't post any photos of stool samples!

[notmyself]

Eat more rice

[pattayadingo]

Heat? IBS? The water - don't take the bottled water for granted. Ice?

It could be many things.

[metisdead]

Nonsense posts have been removed. A person is seeking advice on a health issue, if you cannot offer valid information or advice, don't bother posting.

Moved to the Health, Body and Medicine forum where the OP may find better answers.

[richard_smith237]

Do you walk around holding hands with your Girl-Friend ??? Apparently thats giving many people the sh!ts at the moment !!!

Seriously though - Diarrhoea is a symptom of dehydration, ensure you are drinking enough.

It could be possible that you have something a little more serious, or something as simple as IBS, its best to get checked out properly.

I find the suggestion of a cork ridiculous and quite frankly poor form.... the dangers alone from a pressure build up and misfire pose hazard to anyone nearby. How could you be so reckless thequietman? Now, duct-taping tight the legs of your under-crakers could save potential embarrassment, only for brief (accidental pun) moments...

[harryfrompattaya]

Great News I have been t doing research and only one married to or living with HISO Lady does this happen to

Lucky you

[endure]

Please don't post any photos of stool samples!

[barefoot1988]

irritable bowel syndrome

[BookMan]

Please don't post any photos of stool samples!

...there had to be at least one!

[theblether]

Be paranoid about your hands, that's the start of it. Carry an anti bac gel and always use before eating.

One thing that incences me is the amount of people that don't wash their hands after the wc. At a public wc as soon as you touch the door handle your picking up their filth. Thanks for that. I try to carry a tissue to get me out of the door without touching the handle.

So hand hygiene first, after that chart what foods are causing you movement, fruit, high oil content meals, and spicy food can cause havoc. No doubt others too. Chart what foods are running through you then once you have a pattern then at least you know why it's happening.

When your afflicted, Imodium is excellent, burnt toast too, you prob know about what to avoid eating such as dairy products etc, plus hydrating correctly.

Control what you can control, control your hand hygiene and food storage at home. Outwith that it's pot luck.

[smokie36]

Recommend a trip to the hospital. Take a sample of your stool along with you for analysis. Its not normal to suffer the symptoms you have been for such a long time.

I wish you all the best.

[onionluke]

Be paranoid about your hands, that's the start of it. Carry an anti bac gel and always use before eating.

One thing that incences me is the amount of people that don't wash their hands after the wc. At a public wc as soon as you touch the door handle your picking up their filth. Thanks for that. I try to carry a tissue to get me out of the door without touching the handle.

So hand hygiene first, after that chart what foods are causing you movement, fruit, high oil content meals, and spicy food can cause havoc. No doubt others too. Chart what foods are running through you then once you have a pattern then at least you know why it's happening.

When your afflicted, Imodium is excellent, burnt toast too, you prob know about what to avoid eating such as dairy products etc, plus hydrating correctly.

Control what you can control, control your hand hygiene and food storage at home. Outwith that it's pot luck.

The oil will flush you out like a , ripped hydraulic hose .

[thequietman]

It sounds much like IBT irritable bowel syndrome. are you stressed or eating too much spicy foods ?

The only other thing I can think off is the sheer heat and change in temperature here in Thailand as opposed to the UK.. Because of the temperature here, you may just be melting.

[sirineou]

If it makes you feel any better, you are not the only one,

I Usually suffer from similar, symptoms,

I know it is not the heat . because most of the time I live in Florida, and I don't have this problem there.

I think it is the food, because if I eat Thai cooking from my wife to excess ,which I love, I get get loose stool even when I am in Florida, switch back to western food and I am fine.

When I get loose stool, I can see the undigested, chilies and basil in it.

Also I used to like these flavored yogurt drinks they sell at Tesko, then I noticed that soon after i drunk one I would get light stomach pain, and I would have to go to the bathroom and have a loose stool movement, so I guess the yogurt drink acted like a diuretic for me..

I think some of theThai foods might have a similar affect on you. Perhaps it is the fish sauce.

if you find a solution to your problem please make sure to update this thread, you are not the only one with this problem..

[smokie36]

Recommend a trip to the hospital. Take a sample of your stool along with you for analysis. Its not normal to suffer the symptoms you have been for such a long time.

I wish you all the best.

Could be a bacterial issue or viral, blood tests might reveal more. Or as others have said IBS. Only one way to find out!

[tropo]

Seriously though - Diarrhoea is a symptom of dehydration, ensure you are drinking enough.

It could be possible that you have something a little more serious, or something as simple as IBS, its best to get checked out properly.

Diarrhea is not a symptom of dehydration but it can cause dehydration.

The OP has IBS. He needs to find out what is causing his IBS. IBS is a symptom of a problem.

I had pretty much the same problem for months last year until I discovered a beef tapeworm. Killed tapeworm - problem solved. Tapeworms are just one of a whole host of intestinal parasites common in Thailand - there's a good chance you've picked one up if you've been here awhile - especially eating off street carts.

I would also look into gluten sensitivity. Do you eat a lot of dishes with cooked coconut, like curries (green, yellow, penang)? - they were a big problem for me when I came here - had me shitting all the time and always within 30 minutes of eating the curries.

You may want to try kefir - a powerful cultured milk (pro-biotic) to get your intestinal flora healthy and balanced.

Edited June 5, 2012 by tropo

[mommysboy]

It's a good idea to take anti-worm/parasite medicine as a start. It's just a couple of tabs and readily available over the counter.

Food intolerances most likely. And wheat grains and milk (lactose products) are 2 major causes.

Good bulking foods for me are porridge, fruit, apples, bananas, spuds, toast and whole grain rice.

[cdnvic]

See a doctor and let them diagnose it. This kind of thing can dangerously dehydrate you, and only a proper medical assesment can give you the correct diagnosis.

[tropo]

See a doctor and let them diagnose it. This kind of thing can dangerously dehydrate you, and only a proper medical assesment can give you the correct diagnosis.

This is what a doctor back at home told him (from the OP):

"I spoke to my doctor whilst back home and explained to her my problem whilst living in Thailand, she told me to take Imodium.. brilliant. I told her I was looking for a more long term solution and she just told me to just make sure I'm getting a balance diet."

He'll get better advice here.

[loong]

I'm not able to give any advice on medical issues, but I would think that you have a more sensitive stomach than most.

Not wishing to be rude, but is it possible that your girlfriend is no better informed regarding food hygiene than the street vendors?

Does she wash her hands with soap after using the toilet?

Is your kitchen clean?

Is the same knife and board used for cutting uncooked meat and food after it is cooked, or salad vegetables.

Is food left out for too long unrefridgerated?

[BigJohnnyBKK]

I actually advocate less hygiene rather than more, stress your immune system to make it stronger. But if you have Bangkok Belly for more than a few days in a row, get it checked out. Could be bacteria, virus or fungal, so don't take any antibiotics or other treatment until it's been specifically identified.

I highly recommend BNH"s tropical diseases and gastro specialist unit. I had to go back with fresh samples twice, but they did finally identify the pathogen. Turned out to be a bug I picked up in Cambodia, apparently not present in Thailand, but the course of the right targeted medicine put me right within 2 days, after three weeks of misery.

However most of the time it just passes.

8-)

[klubex99]

I had the exact same thing as you for 18 months.... The Opening post could have been written about me.

18 months of it, and I went through my regular foods, and every week i left out something totally till I tracked down the culprit.

It was IBS brought on by chili. Simple as that... I have cut out ALL chili and anything spicy and have not had the squits for 6 months.

[tutsiwarrior]

yeah...it may be IBS and best to take a stool sample to a lab on the doctor's recommendation and then have the doctor (who is used to dealing with westerners with similar problems) review the resulting report and to comment...

I find things to be diet related; when I drink alcohol I have a healthy appetite and then the bowel movements are regular and solid (and pleasureable; ain't nothing like a good shit...)...and then when I abstain and don't drink alcohol I have no appetite (mostly V8 vegetable juice and plain yogurt) and then the trouble starts; either constipation or runny shits and then I can't go out as I have to stay near the toilet as when it comes it's like a freight train and then incontinence becomes a problem...

I'd say talk to a doctor who has experience with dealing with these problems with westerners...yer 'garden variety' thai doctor would say: 'whaddaya complaining about??? people around here have these problems alla time...'

not to say that all thai doctors are worthless...I was pissing blood once and went to see a local thai doctor in our little town and he asked a few questions and then x-rayed my abdomen which showed an obstruction in my uethera...and then he said not to worry and that the obstruction would pass out eventually...and he was correct and I was impressed...he was a local chinese fellow who was very confident and reassuring...when ye got blood in yer piss ye start to worry...

[endure]

See a doctor and let them diagnose it. This kind of thing can dangerously dehydrate you, and only a proper medical assesment can give you the correct diagnosis.

This is what a doctor back at home told him (from the OP):

"I spoke to my doctor whilst back home and explained to her my problem whilst living in Thailand, she told me to take Imodium.. brilliant. I told her I was looking for a more long term solution and she just told me to just make sure I'm getting a balance diet."

He'll get better advice here.

He'll get better advice here from a Thai doctor who's aware of the local conditions. As he didn't tell us where 'back home' is you can't really expect his doctor back home to be conversant with health problems in Thailand.

[mommysboy]

See a doctor and let them diagnose it. This kind of thing can dangerously dehydrate you, and only a proper medical assesment can give you the correct diagnosis.

This is what a doctor back at home told him (from the OP):

"I spoke to my doctor whilst back home and explained to her my problem whilst living in Thailand, she told me to take Imodium.. brilliant. I told her I was looking for a more long term solution and she just told me to just make sure I'm getting a balance diet."

He'll get better advice here.

He'll get better advice here from a Thai doctor who's aware of the local conditions. As he didn't tell us where 'back home' is you can't really expect his doctor back home to be conversant with health problems in Thailand.

IBS is IBS whether it is in Bangkok or Bradford.

But I guess it would be sensible to have a stool test to eliminate other causes, as IBS is diagnosed when all other causes have been eliminated.

[ripstanley]

Do you drink a lot of beer. I found that when I changed beers my diarrhoea stopped.

[tropo]

Turned out to be a bug I picked up in Cambodia, apparently not present in Thailand,

This was funny. A bug which doesn't cross borders.

[tropo]

IBS is IBS whether it is in Bangkok or Bradford.

But I guess it would be sensible to have a stool test to eliminate other causes, as IBS is diagnosed when all other causes have been eliminated.

We already know he has diarrhea-predominant IBS. The point is that he needs to find out the cause of his irritable bowel, and in this case most likely some pathogens or parasites.