Bile Taste / Appetite Loss

About a 16 months ago, I visited Thailand. After returning, I developed a strange illness. I lost my appetite and after eating I burped continuously, often for two or three hours. This continued on and off for about two and a half months then disappeared. About the beginning of December, my illness reappeared and I have experienced difficulty on an off since. I now get a bile taste in the back of my mouth on a regular basis, as well. When I visited the doctor he said it was stress and gave my Zantac. (I live in the Middle East and the doctors seem to diagnose stress and give Zantac for most stomach related problems.) Does anyone have any suggestions as to what this is and how I can cure it?

[ppammyy]

SOUNDS A BIT LIKE ACID REFLUX OR HIATUS HERNIA - NOT SERIOUS BUT ANNOYING.

GOOD LUCK

[ahm]

Dear Cancat,

I wanted to reply to you because I have had some similar symptoms since returning from the West of Africa last April. Whilst there I apparently had heatstroke or was dehydrated, and on returning to Europe was told I'd had a severe allergic reaction to the anti-malaria tablets. This was the explanation given for the severe burning I had in my gullet for weeks after I stopped taking them. But I was told that I must also have had a bug which had compounded the reaction. For two or three months after my digestive system seemed to be in a very poor state, feeling nauseous, bile in the back of my throat, constant burping, especially after eating, upset stomach. It seemed to have more or less gone away then some kind of gastric flu in December kickstarted the whole thing again. Burping, (especially as soon as I eat or drink) bile in the throat, get more easily tired (feel jetlagged if I get up very early,)stomach sometimes gurgling crazily - and lightheaded sometimes.

Did you take an anti-malarial and could it be a reaction to that?

Did you have an upset stomach during or after Thailand - ie diahorrea? (as I did)

Have your energy levels dropped at all or have you felt as if you could black out - either due to a sudden rise in stress levels or change in temperature?

Best wishes,

AHM