It was not just a stomach ache…

Every time K. Sumalee Sangsawang asked her mother, K. Ropia Sangsawang, “what’s wrong?” her mother would answer, “I have a stomachache”. When asked what kind of stomachache, she would reply with “bloating pain”.

For 10 years, K. Ropia was treated for acid reflux, however the discomfort never went away. Two years ago, after a routine health check and finding nothing out of the ordinary, she experienced intense abdominal pain one Friday afternoon. K. Sumalee took her mother to their usual clinic for medical attention, and was told it may be an intestinal issue; to which she received some medication for the symptoms. Early the next morning at 2 AM, her abdominal pain was the worst it has ever been, and she was rushed to a nearby hospital where she received 2 shots for the pain and was asked to comeback for an endoscopy the week after. By 10 AM, her abdominal pain became unbearable. They decided to take her to Vibhavadi Hospital, where they met with Dr. Pusit Vashirakitikul. Dr. Pusit noticed that the abdominal pain was accompanied by fever and pallor, which can be present in cholecystitis, and ordered a CT Scan right away. The 128-slices CT Scan revealed that K. Ropia had numerous gallstones—the true cause of her unbearable abdominal pain. After the inflammation subsided, she received a laparoscopic surgery led by Dr.Chaisit Kupwiwat; as it was a treatment package all prices and duration of stay in the hospital for K. Ropia was clearly informed beforehand. However, being 68 years old with a history of heart disease, the situation was still very stressful for K. Ropia, who has never been admitted to the hospital before, but the medical team at Vibhavadi Hospital were able to put her mind at ease and provided support in all aspects. After the successful surgery, numerous gallstones were removed, to the horror of K. Ropia’s family members—who could not imagine how serious her abdominal pain actually was. Dr. Chaisit mentioned that it was the best decision to have gotten it at that moment, as postponing the surgery may have led to more serious complications that can linger for a long time. He also added that, because many abdominal issues can cause similar pain and discomfort, it is very crucial to go through extensive diagnostic procedures to help find the true cause of the issues. After 3 days in the hospital, K. Ropia was extremely satisfied with the results of the surgery. Her wounds were minimal as it was a laparoscopic surgery, and she no longer had abdominal pains. She can now travel and enjoy life without the need for abdominal pain medication. K. Sumalee would like to thank the medical team at Vibhavadi Hospital for their quick response towards her mother’s condition, as well as all the other staff who took great care of them. The Sangsawang family was very thankful and impressed.