Stomach problems.

How much water are you drinking?
How active are you during the day/night?

It sounds to me that you are simply dehydrated.

I've had those same symptoms and water cured all.

I drink about 2litres a day. Sometimes about a litre at night. I've tried drinking loads but it never hits the spot. I sometimes think the water is going straight through too much like it isn't absorbing into my body properly. It's definitely the result is like denydration. But the root is definitely stomach related as I always have a stomach ache like the start of eating  some bad fish when your stomach aches then voids itself in liquid whatsits.
When I take some gaviscon it settles down from that acidy feeling. I do keep waking up every few hours and drinking then going for a pee.
Thanks for taking the time to answer anyway.
What about quick formula liquid for rehydration- know anything about that?
Cheers mate.

Have you had yourself checked for parasites?

No I haven't. That's the kind of thing I was wondering about?

What does that entail?

Do you know anything about that? What kind of parasites are around?
Is there a medication to kill it?

Thanks
Darryn

Darryn Spall wrote:

Hi Everyone

I'm Darryn from England. I've lived in central VN for 8 years now. I wanted to ask any other like minded long term expats if they've had or know anything about this problem. I've heard about new travelers getting a bad stomach. But mine sorted itself out for years and seemed ok.
The symptoms are  a bit like diarrhea but there isn't the runny poo- never much anyway - rarely. But a lot of stomach gas and seems like dehydration. Every time I go to sleep I wake up with my mouth desert dry and a stomach ache - not normal dry but vampire sucked dry.  I wake up and drink a lot but when I wake up again it's bone dry again- this goes on many times a night. Sometimes it turns into a headache.. It feels like the beginnings of diarrhea but never turns into it and voids itself. I wondered if there might be some kind of bug present- like  half defeated. Sometimes I'm constipated or do healthy stools less often as the norm. Sometimes it reverts to everyday again for a while. Should I take some antibiotic to cleanse my stomach.
Sorry to burden people with this subject.

Kind regards
Darryn

Have you gained much weight, and/or are you drinking more alcohol than you were previously? Are you diabetic?

You are describing some symptoms that "might" indicate you are experiencing sleep apnea, which becomes worse as weight increases, especially if combined with higher blood glucose levels and/or higher blood alcohol content.

A simple experiment: try not eating or drinking ANYTHING (except water) after 6 PM at night, assuming you then stay awake until at least 10 PM before retiring.

After three nights of STRICT compliance with no intake after 6 PM, you should have a good sense about whether you've isolated the problem.

Good luck!

Mate, just as a precaution, maybe get yourself checked out for diabetes, take the glucose tolerance test

My friend had the same symptoms, it was diabetes.
But perhaps a visit to the doctor would be in order rather than asking for medical advice on a Vietnam forum.
Good luck to u.

Hm hm. If you lived in Ha Tinh where the hospital isn't that good you might revert to a forum. I just wanted to see if any other expats had had the same symptoms. If I werre in England I'd trust the doctors more.

I don't drink alcohol at all or have high blood pressure. I gained about 1kg. I'm 53 and 72kg.
I was checked for diabetes and it was negative- but it does sound like it I know.
I will try that not eating after 6pm.

Someone suggested I should take worm tablets every 6 months- but I never had them in 8 years- tomorrow I'll buy some to be sure. I have a friend here that's a diabetes doctor- so he checks me sometimes. He speaks English. Usually they don't so it's even more difficult.
Oh well- onwards and upwards.

Thanks for everyone's kind answers. I appreciate it.
Regards
Darryn

Sometimes it's better to go to a good hospital and see a good doctor, rather than taking meds that may not be proper.
You're health is your wealth.

Darryn Spall wrote:

Hi Everyone

I'm Darryn from England. I've lived in central VN for 8 years now. I wanted to ask any other like minded long term expats if they've had or know anything about this problem. I've heard about new travelers getting a bad stomach. But mine sorted itself out for years and seemed ok.
The symptoms are  a bit like diarrhea but there isn't the runny poo- never much anyway - rarely. But a lot of stomach gas and seems like dehydration. Every time I go to sleep I wake up with my mouth desert dry and a stomach ache - not normal dry but vampire sucked dry.  I wake up and drink a lot but when I wake up again it's bone dry again- this goes on many times a night. Sometimes it turns into a headache.. It feels like the beginnings of diarrhea but never turns into it and voids itself. I wondered if there might be some kind of bug present- like  half defeated. Sometimes I'm constipated or do healthy stools less often as the norm. Sometimes it reverts to everyday again for a while. Should I take some antibiotic to cleanse my stomach.
Sorry to burden people with this subject.

Kind regards
Darryn

All the old people I know eat little Opium Balls for stomach ailments, they get it from a local Homeopathic/Natural Remedy Hospital  - I live in the Delta Region.  But I had your symptoms about 9 years ago in Thailand, was a non-drinker then, went to a major hospital in Bangkok and was diagnosed with  Diabetes and Kidney stones.............medicine and diet change fixed the diabetes, needed an operation for the Stones..............does your breath smell like it came out the back end sometimes when you burp??   can indicate gall bladder and stones issues..........go to a specialist.

We can offer remedies until we are blue in the face Darryn, you need to get proper medical advice. It could just be a simple fix to you diet, improve your gut flora, or get more fibre into your diet

tunnelrat69 wrote:

All the old people I know eat little Opium Balls for stomach ailments, they get it from a local Homeopathic/Natural Remedy Hospital  - I live in the Delta Region...........go to a specialist.

I think this encapsulates both the most interesting and best solutions.  Before settling on the Opium Balls, I do think the general consensus is that you need to see a doctor ASAP.  Maybe after you get things under control, you could locate the other prescription.   

Who knew Opium balls were available!

Funny you should say that because when I had an x-ray they were convinced I had a body piercing. Maybe that was a stone they were seeing. They said have i had a kidney operation. My breath does smell sometimes my wife says-unfortunately. They took a drop of blood and tested it and said I wasn't diabetic. That's a bit worrying - but maybe it's better to address that. Is it a bad operation then?
Thanks I guess.

Thanks again everyone.

I thought it could be like some bacteria that only affected foreigners. Like something that kept recurring. Like I kept nearly fighting it off but it was still there. I have a retina problem too which is incurable so it's difficult to travel. It's cone dystrophy- something like macular degeneration. But my wife is coming with me to Hanoi soon so I'll get them to check for diabetes again and the kidney stones.

Darryn
You have a high blood sugar!
Get it checked immediately.
The headache and belly ache is from dehydration!
Not because of the tropics but because of the high blood sugar, your body is trying to get rid of, that's why the water is just running through you. And your urine is almost of white color right?
You have been a diabetic for a while....

Just ask at any clinic to check your blood sugar, do it in the morning before you eat.....
And go immediately on a diet
No sweets, no refined carbohydrates

Hi Racka

It was weird because 7 years ago in England 1 test said I was diabetic. They sid come back and don't eat anything. Then they said no you aren't. But several people said I have the symptoms. I have a friend here is a VN diabetes doctor. He had this like home testing kit and said no you aren't. But I don't eat sweet things much. When i do the dehydration comes on for sure. Maybe by my diet my blood sugar is low so it tricked the test. Or I'm borderline or something. When i go to Hanoi I'll get checked properly.
Thanks for your help.
Darryn

There are three basic tests for diabetes.  Let me give you a layman's description.  One is a home type test as your doctor gave you.  You finger prick in the morning and put it on a strip in a machine.  This is more valuable if you do it every morning over an extended period.  Once does not mean much.  The next level is a Glucose Tolerance Test with fasting.  You have a regular sample taken after a 12 hour fast.  This is probably what you had in England and is more accurate.  The third is the A1C test.  It "measures what percentage of your hemoglobin — a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen — is coated with sugar (glycated)." (Mayo Clinic-see below)  It gives a retrospective picture of about 3 months.  With the direct glucose tests, your body may have been able to as you say "trick[ed] the test" but that defeats the purpose.  The A1C test can level off the peaks and troughs so to speak.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-proced … c-20384643

Also it is not only sweets that can be a problem.  Those rice noodles in your morning bowl of soup or the cơm in the evening meal may be your problem.  I am not diabetic, but marginal.  My wife gives me bean thread noodles instead of rice noodles and a half bowl of rice.

Hi THIGV

Nice to hear from a fellow. I think I'll take the A1C test. Haha. Luckily I have retained enough Englishness to forego the noodles and rice. I normally eat potatoes but I saw on the internet that they are a carb that turns to blood sugar. It said sweet potatoes are better.I'll try that.It says I should give up my bread too- goodbye my love. I heard that beans are good. Broccoli seems to help too- but it's dried up out of season now. Avocados are meant to be good. I'll go looking tomorrow. Do you know which of those weird VN vegetables are good for diabetes?

Thanks for your comprehensive explanation and good luck to you and yours.
Darryn.

Bitter melon (mướp đắng) is perhaps the best know vegetable for reversing diabetes but it is an acquired taste, to say the least.   If you aren't even eating rice, I doubt that you are eating bitter melon.  You may see meat stuffed bitter melon in cơm tấm stalls on the street.  You also can make a tea from the leaves.  If your wife is Vietnamese, she should be able to find the leaves in the wet market.  If not, look it up in Google or Wikipedia and get a good picture that you can bring to the marketplace.  Dry them and make the tea.  You also may be able to find capsules online.

THIGV

Yes she's VN so I reckon she can find it. Thanks pal.

THIGV wrote:

Bitter melon (mướp đắng) is perhaps the best know vegetable for reversing diabetes but it is an acquired taste, to say the least.   If you aren't even eating rice, I doubt that you are eating bitter melon.  You may see meat stuffed bitter melon in cơm tấm stalls on the street.  You also can make a tea from the leaves.  If your wife is Vietnamese, she should be able to find the leaves in the wet market.  If not, look it up in Google or Wikipedia and get a good picture that you can bring to the marketplace.  Dry them and make the tea.  You also may be able to find capsules online.

My first meal of bitter melon was interesting. By my third meal of ground pork stuffed bitter melon it was my turning point, now seek it out and I love it! Can compare to first coffee at age 15... What is this? People like this? Now I cannot go a day without ca phe. And the medicinal purposes are a plus.

A little off topic , but on the subject of local herbal/ vegetable medical remedies, I visited the Mekong on Int'l Children's Day with a charity group. I mentioned to my friend I forgot sunscreen. She says, no problem , I brought some. My surprise when she produced a baggie of local dried herbs. A handful orally and a day in the blazing sunshine, no "redneck" not even a tan. "Coppertone" chemically based sunscreen, my butt.

Hahaha- sounds like smoking behind the bike sheds when I was at school 40 years ago. Bitter  melon. We are going to Hanoi tomorrow so I'll get some while I'm sure we can. I'll let you know.