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Suggest Remedy For Persistent Stomach Pain, Decreased Appetite And Chest Pain

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Posted on Wed, 18 May 2016
Question: Hello,
I recently traveled back to the states from Thailand and got very sick at the airport and during my flight home. I felt better once I arrived home, but my stomach is still upset and I still have a slight headache, chest aches, and am shaky. I haven't vomited since Saturday, but I also don't have much of an appetite. My partner started to have similar stomach ache this morning. I have this constant stomach ache feeling like I am starving even if I have just eaten a snack not too long ago. One doctor said it might be dehydration because I was so sick on the plane ride.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
A few suggestions, along with a few queries of my own ma'am

Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.

Thank you for writing to us.

I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. Symptoms of headaches, chest aches and heart burn, and feeling shaky can all be attributed to dehydration for which I recommend the following:

+Avoid fatty food
+Avoid oily food
+Avoid alcohol
+Avoid smoking
+Avoid fried food
+Avoid spicy food
+Drink plenty of water (at least 3 litres per day)
+Purchase an ORS (oral rehydration solution) either in the powder (sachet) form or the liquid form from any medical store or grocery store; or you could also get your hands on any energy drink as well which will have all the electrolytes you have been losing
+Stick to a liquid diet
+Stick to a bland diet

As for the stomach upset, this is most probably due to a stomach infection and will have to be treated, and is also the cause for the dehydration. I would recommend a visit to a doctor for a stool analysis and/or a blood analysis to confirm/rule out the infection.

I would also like to ask:

+Did your partner travel with you to Thailand?
+What did you eat or drink around 2-6 hours prior to the appearance of your symptoms?
+You mentioned that you had not vomited since Saturday; but prior to this, how many times did you vomit?
+And did you have lose stools? And do you still have them?

I look forward to hearing from you in order to help you further. Please do not hesitate to write to me about anything, I am always here to help.

Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shoaib Khan (3 hours later)
Thank you for the response. My partner did not travel to Thailand with me but has been around me since I returned on Sunday morning. Before i felt sick i ate Ramen at the airport, then a few hours later had a four hour flight which served a small noodle dish and fruit. I started to have an upset stomach during the end of thag flight. From there I had a three hour layover where I had diarrhea and vomit. Finally, I had my 11 hour flight home where I vomitted about 4 times. I felt a lot better after the flight and that night when I got home. I even ate regular food and had a drink. I have had vomit or diarrhea since, but my bowel movements are irregular and my stomach aches. Ifs the ache that you feel when you are very hungry. Its tight. After i eat a snack i feel full right away and the ache is back 30min-1 hour later.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (10 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Possibly indigestion, but contamination should not be ruled out

Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.

I am suspecting the Ramen at the airport to be the cause for your symptoms, a possible contamination in the Ramen or any drinks that you had along with it. But seeing you did throw up a number of times, I guess most of the contaminants are out of your system.

But seeing that your partner is also having similar symptoms, I suspect 2 things:

1. Its just a coincidence, and ate something contaminated at home itself
2. Possibly because he came in contact with food or drink that was contaminated by your hand (contact is called faeco-oral transmission)
3. He had something that you brought back from your trip that you also had

But here are my suggestions:

+Drink plenty of fluids
+Avoid a solid diet for at least 10-14 days, preferably a liquid diet
+Have bland food
+Try to get your hands on some probiotics, either from a medical store or any grocery store
+Take antacids which you are comfortable with (e.g. omeprazole, ranitidine, pantoprazole, etc.)
+Avoid spicy, fried, fatty, oily food

Your stomach aches and irregular bowel movements are purely because your digestive system is still in its recovery mode, and you should not consume anything that can aggravate or irritate it. So stick to a bland, fresh, liquid diet; and the above listed suggestions and I am sure that with time you shall surely recover. But if at all your symptoms prevail even after 5-7 days, then write back to me and we may have to initiate antibiotic coverage then.

Hoping and praying you enjoy a rapid and complete recovery.

Best wishes.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Shoaib Khan

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 9409 Questions

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Suggest Remedy For Persistent Stomach Pain, Decreased Appetite And Chest Pain

Brief Answer: A few suggestions, along with a few queries of my own ma'am Detailed Answer: Hello ma'am and welcome. Thank you for writing to us. I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. Symptoms of headaches, chest aches and heart burn, and feeling shaky can all be attributed to dehydration for which I recommend the following: +Avoid fatty food +Avoid oily food +Avoid alcohol +Avoid smoking +Avoid fried food +Avoid spicy food +Drink plenty of water (at least 3 litres per day) +Purchase an ORS (oral rehydration solution) either in the powder (sachet) form or the liquid form from any medical store or grocery store; or you could also get your hands on any energy drink as well which will have all the electrolytes you have been losing +Stick to a liquid diet +Stick to a bland diet As for the stomach upset, this is most probably due to a stomach infection and will have to be treated, and is also the cause for the dehydration. I would recommend a visit to a doctor for a stool analysis and/or a blood analysis to confirm/rule out the infection. I would also like to ask: +Did your partner travel with you to Thailand? +What did you eat or drink around 2-6 hours prior to the appearance of your symptoms? +You mentioned that you had not vomited since Saturday; but prior to this, how many times did you vomit? +And did you have lose stools? And do you still have them? I look forward to hearing from you in order to help you further. Please do not hesitate to write to me about anything, I am always here to help. Best wishes.