Maarten Vasbinder lives in Isaan. His profession is general practitioner, a profession that he mainly practiced in Spain. On Thailandblog he answers questions from readers who live in Thailand and writes about medical facts.
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Dear Martin,
Am a man, 75 years old, living 17 years in Thailand of which 4 years in Hua Hin. Have for 4-5 years, sometimes waking up at night with a dry and burning sensation in my throat. It's been getting worse for a year and a half. Now it is even true that, 1-2 hours after eating, that burning sensation is there again.
At night I take a Rennie, soon after that it's gone. Now that it bothers me most of the day, those Rennies don't work very well anymore.
Did a stomach examination (endoscopy) 2,5 years ago in Bangkok Hospital, found nothing special, everything normal.
Would like to get rid of my problem, therefore my question: can you advise me something that could help? What kind of research should I do, or what kind of specialist should I consult?
Thanks for your answer.
Yours faithfully,
J.
*****
Dear J,
You probably have stomach acid rising. If so, it is easily remedied with Omeprazole 20mg before breakfast. Try that for a month. If it helps, the problem seems more or less solved.
An extra pillow or blocks under the head of the bed can also help.
There are currently wild stories about Omeprazole that it can be dangerous. Those stories are grossly exaggerated.
If it does not work, there may also be a bile problem (for example stones). This can be seen on an ultrasound. Overweight and excessive alcohol consumption can also be a cause.
Of course, it can also be a result of medicines you are taking.
There are other causes, but they are less common.
Yours faithfully,
Martin Vasbinder