<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Frank Hicks:
Can you be a bit more specific? Are we talking a-kind-of 'Giardia' or 'Tropical sprue' or what. Symptoms more important than name I hasten to add....<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Doctors in Jakarta were not sure what I had. Maybe several things. They referred to the possibilities of Giardia (I was given Flagyl around January/Feb 1999. I also had Giardia twenty years ago after a trip to India.), an unknown virus or bacteria (white blood cell count was not normal), possibly a mild form of typhoid, possibly irritable bowel syndrome, possibly
an unknown parasite, possibly stress.
I was in Jakarta 1990-99 and was in contact with Indonesians with all manner of illnesses, fatal and otherwise (Typhoid, TB, dysentery, viruses, vomiting blood,fevers...)

MY SYMPTOMS:
(As far as I can remember. It's often difficult to remember things like stool colour!)
1997- Suddenly VOMITING CUPFULS OF BLOOD,after green bile came up. Wretching. Endoscopy showed inflamed stomach but no other problems. Stomach looked clear at second endoscopy a few months later. Had not been feeling well for a week or so before I entered hospital. (small amount of blood vomited previous week)
DIARRHOEA lasted several days, until given medication to stop it. Watery, relatively painless, several times a day, explosive.
PERSPIRATION soaked shirt, made me feel chilly, chest and face covered in sweat. No high temperature.
HEADACHE like a hangover, very restless disturbed sleep, drousy, need to keep turning over, bending into different positions.
STOMACH PAIN gradually eased off over a week or so.
Felt better after a few weeks. Doctor thought I'd had a virus or bacteria causing gastritis.

1999- December
DIARRHOEA lasting five days. Watery, green, explosive.
PERSPIRATION made shirt wet, made me feel chilly.
HEADACHE like a hangover. Mainly left hand side of head, neck, face, shoulder.
NO vomiting or stomach pain as far as I can remember.
White blood cell count abnormal. One doctor thought I had mild typhoid. Another disagreed.

1999 February
VOMITED BLOOD. (Endoscopy in UK a few months later showed no problem apart from hiatus hernia)
DIARRHOEA watery, urgent.
PERSPIRATION clothes felt soaked and chilly but no high temperature.
HEADACHE same as before but not so severe.
Given Flagyl on two separate occasions.

1999 March
MUCH GAS FROM ANUS. Particularly in the early and late evening. Evil smelling I think. Feeling of being bloated.
'DIARRHOEA' One or two loose bowel movements in the morning. Very large bulky loose stools
light but not white in colour, I think.
HEADACHE of the hangover type. Helped by bending head backwards or resting.
Feeling of tiredness, like mild flu.
Calf muscles felt sore as if I'd had flu.
PERSPIRATION and soaked clothes and chill with any brisk exercise.
One doctor thought it might be stress.

OTHER SYMPTOMS - I tend to be the Argen.nit type- irritable, nervous, impulsive, liking for cheese and salt. Worse from worry.
I am seen as being quiet and shy and sensitive,(calc.carb?) although I was a school teacher before retiring (I am aged 54 and retired due to the hearing problem called OTOSCLEROSIS). I am sometimes worse after eating fat (carbo.veg?). I don't like cold damp weather.
I am a bit of the Nux.vom type- thin, inclined to be impatient. Hate draughts. I smoke but seldom drink.

PRESENT STATE OF HEALTH- Endoscopy shows stomach is fine (apart from hiatus hernia). From time to time, I still get bouts of-
DIARRHOEA (only one or two morning bowel movements, liquid or very soft, normal colour, painless)
PERSPIRATION with brisk exercise my shirt and face will be soaking
HEADACHE hangover type headache
GAS -lots and lots in evening
I am feeling reasonably fit.
I wonder if the problem is parasites or nervous dyspepsia or a virus or what?
Calves of legs sore, as if I've had mild flu.