sick everyday

[funnyguy69]

I'm an exchange student in Thailand and I really didn't know where else to turn to.. my host family is convinced that I'm always sick because of the change in weather

Ever since I got here, I've had an upset stomach (abdominal cramps and nausea), and a headache, usually accompanied by light headedness and dizziness every single day. Most days I start out fine, then get progressively worse as the day goes on. I go to bed almost every single night with a low grade fever.

I really don't know what it could be from! At first I thought it was from the dairy, so I cut that out. Then I thought it was from the spicy food, so I cut that out.

I only drink bottled water, and I eat at the same places my host family does, and they do not get sick so I don't really think it can be from the food anymore.

Has anyone had any similar problems? Should I just beg and beg and beg my host family to take me to the hospital? I'm really tired of being sick every single day.

[marcusd]

I am a doctor. Go to a hospital. These arewide open symptoms. The is bird flu back again and it could be this or just too much garlic..though I doubt it. It coukd be ANYTHING but you deserve to have it seen to. Go! Immediately in case it is serious

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[AryanicAristocrat]

Agree, go and see a doctor fast and also do a full blood tests including HIV, etc

[Sceptict11]

I am a doctor. Go to a hospital. These arewide open symptoms. The is bird flu back again and it could be this or just too much garlic..though I doubt it. It coukd be ANYTHING but you deserve to have it seen to. Go! Immediately in case it is serious

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Direct copy from marcusd profile !

"Business man owing Medical Clinics and employing lots of lazy people who want too much money stiopping me retiring early.

Very opinionnated because I worked with Government agencies in the past and life is just one big wheel and we are all going round and round. So when you get aged, you have been round and see same shit different people."

[Loptr]

Lots of people get stomach ailments when traveling overseas. Nothing new here. Go see a doctor, get some meds, then start taking a probiotic to build up the bacteria in your gut. There are critters in the food in Thailand that your gut has never encountered.

[Sheryl]

You should see a doctor.Be sure to document the fevers and tell him exactly how much your temp is along with other symptoms.

You may have a virus of some kind.

[Sceptict11]

Its always best to start at the beginning !

So how old are you ?

male or female ?

Nationality?

Ever been abroad before ?

How long in Thailand and whereabouts ?

Where and what are you studying?

Any previous medical history ?

Taking any medication (including OTC or "alternative" medicines)

How long have you been experiencing your present symptoms ?

All these questions need answering and you also need to see a REAL doctor.

If your host family will not help then ask at your place of study.

If you need further advise then you are welcome to ask but as your symptoms are relatively unspecific this may not be the best place to seek advise.

[malcyx]

ive had some of those symptoms before, cramps n fever n shit .

luckily I was with a lady ive spent a lot of time with n actually cares about

me .Straight to pharmacy get me medicine ..

simple if the pharmacist knows your symptoms ..

Go to the doctor , you don't need your hosts permission 555 .

hope you get well ..

[funnyguy69]

Agree, go and see a doctor fast and also do a full blood tests including HIV, etc

I got tested for HIV about a week ago in school, I'm clean for that.. I'm kind of worried about getting blood tests done in case of getting HIV to be honest

Lots of people get stomach ailments when traveling overseas. Nothing new here. Go see a doctor, get some meds, then start taking a probiotic to build up the bacteria in your gut. There are critters in the food in Thailand that your gut has never encountered.

I've been here for a month and a half though, and my family has already given me medicine that made me feel better for a while.. shouldn't it have cleared up by now? None of my other exchange student friends have the same problem.

Its always best to start at the beginning !

So how old are you ?

male or female ?

Nationality?

Ever been abroad before ?

How long in Thailand and whereabouts ?

Where and what are you studying?

Any previous medical history ?

Taking any medication (including OTC or "alternative" medicines)

How long have you been experiencing your present symptoms ?

All these questions need answering and you also need to see a REAL doctor.

If your host family will not help then ask at your place of study.

If you need further advise then you are welcome to ask but as your symptoms are relatively unspecific this may not be the best place to seek advise.

I'm 18, female, from the US, never been abroad before, I've been in Chiang Mai for a month and a half, I'm studying in a high school here, no previous medical history, my host family has given me zyrtec and some herbal medicine when I told them I don't feel well, I've been sick since I was on the airplane here.

I'm sorry my symptoms are so unspecific, I don't know how much more into detail I could go into.

ive had some of those symptoms before, cramps n fever n shit .

luckily I was with a lady ive spent a lot of time with n actually cares about

me .Straight to pharmacy get me medicine ..

simple if the pharmacist knows your symptoms ..

Go to the doctor , you don't need your hosts permission 555 .

hope you get well .. alt=wai.gif width=20 height=20>

The problem with going to the doctor by myself is that my Thai isn't good enough for that yet. Thanks for the well wishes though.

[IMA_FARANG]

Yes, go see a doctor.

That's what they are there for, aren't they?

Do you sweat a lot?

If so try to remember that sweat will take salt of your body, and excessive sweating can leave you weak.

Salt is an essential mineral in your body for control of your bodies cells intake of food from your blood, and excessive sweating removes Salt from your body preventing your cells from getting nutrients from your blood.

Therefore you easily get tired and can feel weak all the time,

But the first thing is to go to a doctor and have a proper check-up done.

[Benjie]

Yeah Salt and Potassium (maybe Magnesium) would be my first guess. Do you ever get cramps or muscle twitching?

[Sceptict11]

There are English speaking doctors in Chiang Mia.

Perhaps someone will offer a recommendation or ask at your school.

As your sickness began on the plane it is very unlikely to be some "exotic" tropical disease.

Saying your symptoms were "non specific" was not intended to be a criticism just a statement of fact

Stay away from pharmacies and self medication other than for very simple issues (something your parents would not bother a doctor with)

Hope you find the help you need and recover soon.

Edit

Just noticed this !

"I got tested for HIV about a week ago in school, I'm clean for that.. I'm kind of worried about getting blood tests done in case of getting HIV to be honest"

Are you sure about this ?

Whilst tests are available which do not involve blood they are not "gold standard" and I have not heard of them being used in Thailand or in Schools.

​You are at no risk of contacting HIV from a blood testing procedure undertaken in a Government or Private hospital in Thailand

Edited September 24, 2013 by Sceptict11

[sustento]

I am a doctor. Go to a hospital. These arewide open symptoms. The is bird flu back again and it could be this or just too much garlic..though I doubt it. It coukd be ANYTHING but you deserve to have it seen to. Go! Immediately in case it is serious

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What are your medical qualifications? What's your AHPRA registration number?

[sustento]

The problem with going to the doctor by myself is that my Thai isn't good enough for that yet. Thanks for the well wishes though.

You'll find English speaking doctors in Chiang Mai Ram hospital on the corner of the moat just round the corner from Kad Suan Kaew shopping centre. There are also English speaking doctors at Mccormick. Don't worry about the missionary stuff - it's a good hospital

http://www.mccormick.in.th/mc/eng/mail/contact_form.html

[wolf5370]

I got tested for HIV about a week ago in school, I'm clean for that.. I'm kind of worried about getting blood tests done in case of getting HIV to be honest

I've been here for a month and a half though, and my family has already given me medicine that made me feel better for a while.. shouldn't it have cleared up by now? None of my other exchange student friends have the same problem.

I'm 18, female, from the US, never been abroad before, I've been in Chiang Mai for a month and a half, I'm studying in a high school here, no previous medical history, my host family has given me zyrtec and some herbal medicine when I told them I don't feel well, I've been sick since I was on the airplane here.

I'm sorry my symptoms are so unspecific, I don't know how much more into detail I could go into.

The problem with going to the doctor by myself is that my Thai isn't good enough for that yet. Thanks for the well wishes though.

Clinics here are very good - you will not get HIV from a blood test at a respectable clinic or hospital. It could be an allergy or it could be bacterial (from food etc) - just because the hosts don't suffer doesn't mean you will not - they consume bacteria daily that you do not come into contact at home (and vice-versa) so they will; have resistances you don't. Go see a Dr (you may have to give a stool sample). Many food poisoning type bacteria take time to multiply, so it could have been a day or so before you travelled (or airport food - I once got Listeria from airline food! - many years ago now though).

Being sick/diarrhoea takes nutrients from your system - get some electrolyte drinks from pharmacy (7-11 does Royal-D which is not great - just sucrose and salt and potassium - so get a good one) - and take it regularly - also drink lots of bottles water (2-3 litres a day in this heat). You may also be anaemic.

My daughter was like this a few years ago - she spent the night in hospital (in Chiang Mai - Klaimor ) - an anti-vomiting drug, IV to replace nutrients, iron tablets and some antibiotics (following tests) to kill the bacteria. Next evening she was released (I stayed with her) - good private room and total was less that 5k including a check-up a week later and carry out drugs. Trust the professionals - not us and certainly not your host family (Thais will often try to be helpful even when they have nom idea what they are talking about - try asking for directions one day and see what I mean!)

[danbradster]

I got tested for HIV about a week ago in school, I'm clean for that.. I'm kind of worried about getting blood tests done in case of getting HIV to be honest

I've been here for a month and a half though, and my family has already given me medicine that made me feel better for a while.. shouldn't it have cleared up by now? None of my other exchange student friends have the same problem.

I'm 18, female, from the US, never been abroad before, I've been in Chiang Mai for a month and a half, I'm studying in a high school here, no previous medical history, my host family has given me zyrtec and some herbal medicine when I told them I don't feel well, I've been sick since I was on the airplane here.

I'm sorry my symptoms are so unspecific, I don't know how much more into detail I could go into.

The problem with going to the doctor by myself is that my Thai isn't good enough for that yet. Thanks for the well wishes though.

Either find a doctor that can understand you (shouldn't be too hard in Chiang Mai) or get a friend to go with you to explain the symptoms or get a friend to translate your symptoms into Thai language on paper (or Google translate) for you to show the doctor.

I an not afraid of getting HIV from blood tests. They have used new needles every time I've had one, and new razor blades every time I got a shave at a barber. A blood transfusion would be more worrying than a blood test with new needle.

Zyrtec is an allergy med and the herbs may or may not work. A doctor may be more useful. Personally, I like to look on Google and diagnose myself if possible. The pharmacies have treated me pretty successfully too (for simple things), but if you have lots of symptoms, they probably won't understand the cause.

Being sick since on the airplane is weird, since that could mean the sickness is unrelated to Thailand.

As for myself, in 2 years here I have had diarrhea like 5 times (I guess from too much Chilli or unsanitary food), tree/grass/flower hay-fever, an unknown cause whole body skin irritation for 24 hours, and cold/flu a few times. My local friends have been more sick than me in that time-frame, I think because I avoid things like som tum with fish juice and food stalls that seem unsanitary.

If I had your symptoms for a day or a few, I'd assume food poisoning, stomach being unaccustomed to the food, or cold/flu. But since you've had the symptoms for so long, I have no idea and would see a doctor.

[jombom]

There is an unknown bug doing the rounds here, that causes a fever and a dose of the runs. Also stomach cramps in some people. Seems to last about 3 or 4 days. The bottled water you are drinking is probably RO which means it is low in ions. You will need electrolyte addition, which is available at most pharmacies. However, the advice to see a doctor is the best.

[marcusd]

Mr sceptic... a doctor can and in most cases is a business man.

Just because a profile limits things to your assumptions... the gokden ruleisdo not make judgements based on very limited information...lol

I prefer to keep many things out of the public arena. Anyway you had your fun.

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[marcusd]

Agree, go and see a doctor fast and also do a full blood tests including HIV, etc

 

I got tested for HIV about a week ago in school, I'm clean for that.. I'm kind of worried about getting blood tests done in case of getting HIV to be honest

Lots of people get stomach ailments when traveling overseas. Nothing new here. Go see a doctor, get some meds, then start taking a probiotic to build up the bacteria in your gut. There are critters in the food in Thailand that your gut has never encountered. 

 

I've been here for a month and a half though, and my family has already given me medicine that made me feel better for a while.. shouldn't it have cleared up by now? None of my other exchange student friends have the same problem.

 

Its always best to start at the beginning ! 

 

So how old are you ?

 

male or female ?

 

Nationality?

 

Ever been abroad before ?

 

How long in Thailand and whereabouts ?

 

Where and what are you studying?

 

Any previous medical history ? 

 

Taking any medication (including OTC or "alternative" medicines) 

 

How long have you been experiencing your present symptoms ?

 

All these questions need answering and you also need to see a REAL doctor.

 

If your host family will not help then ask at your place of study. 

 

If you need further advise then you are welcome to ask but as your symptoms are relatively unspecific this may not be the best place to seek advise.

 

I'm 18, female, from the US, never been abroad before, I've been in Chiang Mai for a month and a half, I'm studying in a high school here, no previous medical history, my host family has given me zyrtec and some herbal medicine when I told them I don't feel well, I've been sick since I was on the airplane here.

I'm sorry my symptoms are so unspecific, I don't know how much more into detail I could go into.

ive had some of those symptoms before, cramps n fever n shit .

luckily I was with a lady ive spent a lot of time with n actually cares about

me .Straight to pharmacy get me medicine ..

simple if the pharmacist knows your symptoms ..

Go to  the doctor , you don't need your hosts permission 555 .

 

hope you get well .. alt=wai.gif width=20 height=20>

The problem with going to the doctor by myself is that my Thai isn't good enough for that yet. Thanks for the well wishes though.

Most doctors in chiang mai...I have been to a number of hospitals here... speak english well enough as do reception staff

If you have a few hundred dollars.. go to Chiang Mai RAM hospital. Everyone knows it. Very very high standards in most cases

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