Question to GP Maarten: Alternative to statins?
Since I take statins for cholesterol (first Chlovas 40, now Mevalotin), I suffer from muscle pains in my arms, cramps in my legs and feet. Furthermore, my blood sugar appears to be out of control: where it used to be 120 before breakfast, it is now 170 at best.
I am a man recently 80 years old and reasonably healthy. Usually stay in Isaan/Thailand for half a year and in the Czech Republic (country of residence) for half a year.
More than 14.000 people have contracted dengue fever in Thailand this year, with 11 people dying from the disease, said Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai, chief of disease control.
Question to GP Maarten: Occasional diarrhoea
I sometimes suffer from diarrhea, but this also happens in Belgium. I then take 1 or 2 x some Carbobel, that's solved. I've been in Thailand for 8 months now, also thanks to that virus. My Thai girlfriend pays close attention to what food she prepares and how, but yes, sometimes things go wrong….
Question to general practitioner Maarten: I have diabetes, can I have a blood test in Thailand?
I am 65 years old and I have diabetes 2. I weigh 83 kg and I am 1.78 tall. I take Metformin 3 1.000 times a day, Flecainide acetate 50 mg 1 time, Simvastatin 40 mg 1 time, Gliclacide 30 mg 1 time, Hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg 1 time. I now have a new drug Sitagliptin, but I have to have a blood test in six months.
More and more adult Dutch people (41,5% in 2019, 37,5% in 2014) adhere to the advice of the Health Council: do not drink alcohol or drink no more than 1 glass of alcohol per day. Nevertheless, 6 out of 10 Dutch people still drink an average of more than 1 glass of alcohol per day.
Since 2 weeks I have a lot of pain in my right leg (hip was also right). That pain goes through the whole leg from the top to the ankle. The lower leg feels slightly numb over the tibia and sometimes the knee also feels a bit stiff. Sometimes it feels like I'm going to “crash my leg” and I'm afraid of falling.
Today, more than 1600 Dutch doctors, scientists and other healthcare professionals are calling on politicians, the population and industry to take a stand against the corona virus: Ensure a healthy lifestyle. Being fit reduces the chance of serious symptoms and increases the chance of a speedy recovery.
I know when you get older (I'm 78) you have to urinate more than regularly at night. During the day I drink a lot of water, I stop having coffee around 12 o'clock and I don't drink alcohol. Around 5 am I stop drinking water. At night I have to go to the toilet about 4/5 times, but I don't pee much!
Question to general practitioner Maarten: Complaint system in Thailand for medical complaints?
Can you inform me about the complaints system in Thailand for medical complaints? Is there some kind of medical disciplinary tribunal? I was demonstrably mistreated by an orthopedic surgeon who was not experienced enough to treat me. The hospital that is now handling the complaint itself is not even prepared to have a conversation or discussion. The story is much more elaborate and I think important because it could happen to any farang.
I was surprised to find out by chance that something is not right with the drug Glucophage XR 1000mg. I have been taking this drug as a diabetic for three years but my sugar level just won't come down much to the chagrin of my doctor at Bangkok Hospital in Pattaya. It's a shock every time I get to the cash register to buy this medicine together with some others and pay for the research...... 14.000 baht.
Question to general practitioner Maarten: How can I get rid of my dizziness and headache?
I often get dizzy and especially when I look up with my eyes I also get a headache and this can come on any time of the day for a few days and lately regularly for a few hours and at night it can be a disaster. I'll just go to bed and wait for it to be over.
I still have high blood pressure (average 150/80) Since Triplaxam has 3 ingredients, wouldn't it be better to try another remedy with 1 ingredient that is available in Thailand?
Question to general practitioner Maarten: Question about results of blood test with tumor marker CEA
Just before the major outbreak of the coronavirus, I had my blood tested in a local "prick office" that only takes blood and then sends it to a laboratory in Bangkok, after which you can collect the results after 2 days. The man in question did not speak English which is of any use to me, so I would like to know from you if the result number of 6.75 H CEA is something to be concerned about right away?
A recent article in Reuters (www.reuters.com/) describes that the corona virus binds to an enzyme ACE2 that is stimulated by antihypertensive drugs. I am diabetic (71 years old, HbA1c 5.9, BMI 23.7, blood pressure 116/64, eGFR 99) and on the advice of my doctor I also take Losartan 25mg/day. Before starting Losartan my blood pressure was around 125/80.
When I go to bed, my toes at the top start to tingle. That is annoying and makes me fall asleep after hours. A pillow under the foot end does not help. The tingling subsides late; I don't mind it at night. Massage with cream sometimes helps; the pain sometimes also comes on after a shower, when my feet are still wet.