which hospital in phuket ?

[bandos2000]

Hi All

looking for some advice on which hospital in phuket would be best to have a checkup on digestive problems, i have a lot of symptoms of celiac disease, so would need to be tested for this.

cheers

dave

[Sheryl]

Have you verified that your symptoms disappear when you eliminate gluten? As should do that first before investing in tests to rule out or confirm celiac disease. The symptoms of it are common to many other condtions, the distinguishing feature is its causal linkage to gluten ingestion.

Celiac disease is rare in Thailand so you would need a GI specialist who trained and worked in the West for this, which I do not think you will find in Phuket. In Bangkok, would suggest this doctor https://www.bangkokhospital.com/en/doctors/?DrID=761

But as mentioned, don't bother until you have first determined through trtiak and error that your symptos are relieved by avoiding gluten.

Note that there are people who do not have celiac disease but nonetheless feel better on gluten free diets. Recent research suggests their problem is related to a wheat component other than gluten, but as any gluten free diet will be wheat free, it works for them as well. So a negative finding for celiac does not rule out wheat intolerance.

[bandos2000]

thanks Sheryl for the info and advice, i havent as yet tried avoiding gluten to see how i feel, but will give it a try. what sort of time frame would it be before i would notice any changes ? im always extremely tired, even if i get 9 hours of the best sleep possible, i still wake up feeling lousy and no energy, as well i never feel hungry and even if eat a small meal , feels like i ate the whole cow. im working in cambodia for now, but if my probs persist after a diet alteration, i will try to see the doctor you recommend .

[Sheryl]

Do you have other specific GI symptoms? As otherwise what youmention could well be down to the extreme heat. Be sure to get plenty of fluid anf electrolytes. Between the heat and the need to drink so much water, greatly reduced appetite is to be expected.

[bandos2000]

even if i havent eaten for a while, the food feels like it stays in my throat, and need to wash every mouthful down , also lots of heartburn when eating any type of food now.

[Sheryl]

Sounds more like GERD (gastric reflux) and possibly also gastritis.

Which in turn is often due to h. pylori infection.

But more serious gastric pathology also needs to be ruled out as well (upper gastric - this does not sound like a lower GI issue, and certainly doesn't sound like celiac disease).

Given the fatigue and upper GI symptoms should get a blood count (CBC -- in Cambodia they call it Hemogram) this you can do while in Cambodia. Biomed Lab is good. No need to fast first. Suggest if possible you also get a stool test for occult blood there.

If the bloodwork shows anemia and/or if there is occult blood in the stool that would indicate a need to have a gastroscopy, during which h. pylori can be tested for. If no anemia or blood in the stool then there is the option of either gastroscopy or a urease breath test for heliobacter.

Some people opt to empirically treat for heliobacter if they are in places like Cambodia where it is difficult to get the needed diagnistic work up. You can buy the meds over the counter there. Name something like Heliopack - a set of 3 different meds to be taken daily for 7-10 days. The pharmacist at Pharmacie Le Gare or Sovanpich Pharmacy next to Lucky would know, they might also know at UCare. There may be some nausea with the treatment and cannot drink while taking. Improvement would come gradually afterwards, not immediate.

I would not advise self treatment if blood work shows you are anemic or have blood in the stool, but rather to get gastroscopy done in Thailand as soon as practical. But if blood count is OK, no blood in stool and you have no underlying liver or kidney disease that you know of, it is an option.

[mindovermatter]

From what I know, the best hospitals in Phuket are the Phuket International Hospital and the Bangkok Hospital Phuket. Try get a consultation in one of these hospitals and ask for a referral for the best gastro doctor that they could possibly recommend.

[bandos2000]

i have just had bloods, stool , and an ultrasound done in Phnom Penh, nothing abnormal found, im kinda happy that my liver and kidneys are still in good order, but yes next step near end of the month will be a gastroscopy in bkk., Thanks all.