Help & Advice Required

[kebabman7]

Before I start I would just say I am not a troll, I've not been active in posting but I do spend alot of time reading posts and I really do not need anyone questioning the sincerety of my post.

For the past three days I've been trying to call my GF but not been able to get through. Then, whilst I'm sat a work, I received a text from her: "Hi james im stay the hospital now stay 1week i have something in my bran can u call now" I got the text 15 minutes before I was due to leave work and to be honest that was the longest 15 minutes of my life.

Once I left work I phoned her and she answered straight away. I have tried to get some more details from her but, although her English is quite good, there are some things that she does not know how to communicate to me. I've managed to ascertain that she was taken into the hospital in Khon Kaen on Monday suffering some kind of blackouts/fits. She had just finished her computer course, and returned home to her small village just outside Ban Phai. When she got home she felt unwell and went to bed. She said she felt hot inside and when she went downstairs to speak to her parents she collapsed.

She said she had another fit in the car on the way to the hospital then again when she was having her head x-rayed. She has told me that her legs don't work good, has a bad headache and has had lots of tests done including having cuts made in her neck, back and leg ?!? She has been given some sort of medication and has been told she will need to stay in for a further week.

As I'm stuck 6000 miles away in the UK I feel totally helpless which is compounded by not knowing what is wrong with her, I've googled for hospitals in Khon Kaen and found one, but the site is all in Thai and theres little point in phoning the hospital as I only speak a few words of Thai. If anyone has any knowledge of the Hospital in Khon Kaen can they please let me know a few things:

1) Do any of the doctors there speak good English? I've asked her to speak to her doctor and ask them to write down what is wrong with her in English so she can text it to me but she said she thinks the doctor dealing with her only speaks a little English.

2) As there is no health service like in the UK the costs are racking up pretty fast, has anyone used the hospital in Khon Kaen and what is it like? She did mention that she may have to go to Bangkok for more tests or treatment so I assume that they must have specialist hospitals there which can treat her condition, whatever it is. How does payment need to be made (ie is it when they are released or can it be paid off later) and do they accept a SWIFT transfer? I've said I will try to send out some money I've saved to help with the costs as her family is not wealthy, they are rice farmers.

3) Is there any farangs/wifes in Khon Kaen that can speak to the doctors to try and find out what is wrong with her? (I know in the UK you have to be a family member to find out anything, wonder if its any different in LOS.) If it is possible I can pm you her name and the room number she is staying in.

4) Is there more than one hospital in Khon Kaen? When I asked her which one she said The Khon Kean Hospital.

She has her family staying with her as its about an hour and a half drive from where she lives, so at least she is not on her own. She does not like hospitals as she thinks there are too many Phi and they scare her. I've tried to comfort her on the phone but when we last spoke she had to go after about 20 minutes as she said she felt sick and had to call the doctor.

I've know her for a couple of years and have stayed in her small house in the village near Ban Phai a couple of times, I do not think this is a case of "buffalo sick" syndrome - she was taken to hospital previously about 6 months ago, she showed me the photo on her mobile phone of her sat in bed in hospital, then she was sent home as they couldn't find anything wrong with her after a couple of days of tests.

I really don't know what to do to find out whats wrong with her so any help would be appreciated.

[ThaiSquire]

Dude,

Not to be alarmist or anything, but the symptoms sound very similar to what I had a number of years ago. Have them check for a brain tumor. I'm serious. I was diagnosed 7 years ago with malignant brain tumor and had almost the same symptoms.

Your GF would need to go to a place where she can get an MRI.

[kebabman7]

Dude,

Not to be alarmist or anything, but the symptoms sound very similar to what I had a number of years ago. Have them check for a brain tumor. I'm serious. I was diagnosed 7 years ago with malignant brain tumor and had almost the same symptoms.

Your GF would need to go to a place where she can get an MRI.

To be honest that was my first thought when I got her text. When I was talking to her about what was wrong she told me the doctor said only 1 person in a million has it, I tried to find out what she has been told ie whether it is something in her brain or some viral infection but she said she couldn't speak the English for what she wanted to say, but did she was unlucky. Shes only 26.

If she does need an MRI scan does anyone know a hospital near to Khon Kaen which can do this? I did a quick google again and found http://www.mrithailand.com/e_index.html which is in Bangkok. I'm assuming the doctors in Khon Kaen will point her in the right direction but it makes me feel abit better if I can help her if there are other choices and recommendations.

I'm going to post a link to this thread in the medical section aswell as it may get missed being in the Isaan only thread.

[Lite Beer]

There are a few hospitals in KK. The best is Khon Kaen Ram. Tele. 04333 3800

www.khonkaenram.co.th

[KK-Mike]

Before I start I would just say I am not a troll, I've not been active in posting but I do spend alot of time reading posts and I really do not need anyone questioning the sincerety of my post.

For the past three days I've been trying to call my GF but not been able to get through. Then, whilst I'm sat a work, I received a text from her: "Hi james im stay the hospital now stay 1week i have something in my bran can u call now" I got the text 15 minutes before I was due to leave work and to be honest that was the longest 15 minutes of my life.

Once I left work I phoned her and she answered straight away. I have tried to get some more details from her but, although her English is quite good, there are some things that she does not know how to communicate to me. I've managed to ascertain that she was taken into the hospital in Khon Kaen on Monday suffering some kind of blackouts/fits. She had just finished her computer course, and returned home to her small village just outside Ban Phai. When she got home she felt unwell and went to bed. She said she felt hot inside and when she went downstairs to speak to her parents she collapsed.

She said she had another fit in the car on the way to the hospital then again when she was having her head x-rayed. She has told me that her legs don't work good, has a bad headache and has had lots of tests done including having cuts made in her neck, back and leg ?!? She has been given some sort of medication and has been told she will need to stay in for a further week.

As I'm stuck 6000 miles away in the UK I feel totally helpless which is compounded by not knowing what is wrong with her, I've googled for hospitals in Khon Kaen and found one, but the site is all in Thai and theres little point in phoning the hospital as I only speak a few words of Thai. If anyone has any knowledge of the Hospital in Khon Kaen can they please let me know a few things:

1) Do any of the doctors there speak good English? I've asked her to speak to her doctor and ask them to write down what is wrong with her in English so she can text it to me but she said she thinks the doctor dealing with her only speaks a little English.

2) As there is no health service like in the UK the costs are racking up pretty fast, has anyone used the hospital in Khon Kaen and what is it like? She did mention that she may have to go to Bangkok for more tests or treatment so I assume that they must have specialist hospitals there which can treat her condition, whatever it is. How does payment need to be made (ie is it when they are released or can it be paid off later) and do they accept a SWIFT transfer? I've said I will try to send out some money I've saved to help with the costs as her family is not wealthy, they are rice farmers.

3) Is there any farangs/wifes in Khon Kaen that can speak to the doctors to try and find out what is wrong with her? (I know in the UK you have to be a family member to find out anything, wonder if its any different in LOS.) If it is possible I can pm you her name and the room number she is staying in.

4) Is there more than one hospital in Khon Kaen? When I asked her which one she said The Khon Kean Hospital.

She has her family staying with her as its about an hour and a half drive from where she lives, so at least she is not on her own. She does not like hospitals as she thinks there are too many Phi and they scare her. I've tried to comfort her on the phone but when we last spoke she had to go after about 20 minutes as she said she felt sick and had to call the doctor.

I've know her for a couple of years and have stayed in her small house in the village near Ban Phai a couple of times, I do not think this is a case of "buffalo sick" syndrome - she was taken to hospital previously about 6 months ago, she showed me the photo on her mobile phone of her sat in bed in hospital, then she was sent home as they couldn't find anything wrong with her after a couple of days of tests.

I really don't know what to do to find out whats wrong with her so any help would be appreciated.

Hello, We live in Khon Kaen and will try to help. I do not post often and will try the PM deal. Send me all the info you have. We have a nurse in the family but not sure at which hospital. KK_mike

[KK-Mike]

Before I start I would just say I am not a troll, I've not been active in posting but I do spend alot of time reading posts and I really do not need anyone questioning the sincerety of my post.

For the past three days I've been trying to call my GF but not been able to get through. Then, whilst I'm sat a work, I received a text from her: "Hi james im stay the hospital now stay 1week i have something in my bran can u call now" I got the text 15 minutes before I was due to leave work and to be honest that was the longest 15 minutes of my life.

Once I left work I phoned her and she answered straight away. I have tried to get some more details from her but, although her English is quite good, there are some things that she does not know how to communicate to me. I've managed to ascertain that she was taken into the hospital in Khon Kaen on Monday suffering some kind of blackouts/fits. She had just finished her computer course, and returned home to her small village just outside Ban Phai. When she got home she felt unwell and went to bed. She said she felt hot inside and when she went downstairs to speak to her parents she collapsed.

She said she had another fit in the car on the way to the hospital then again when she was having her head x-rayed. She has told me that her legs don't work good, has a bad headache and has had lots of tests done including having cuts made in her neck, back and leg ?!? She has been given some sort of medication and has been told she will need to stay in for a further week.

As I'm stuck 6000 miles away in the UK I feel totally helpless which is compounded by not knowing what is wrong with her, I've googled for hospitals in Khon Kaen and found one, but the site is all in Thai and theres little point in phoning the hospital as I only speak a few words of Thai. If anyone has any knowledge of the Hospital in Khon Kaen can they please let me know a few things:

1) Do any of the doctors there speak good English? I've asked her to speak to her doctor and ask them to write down what is wrong with her in English so she can text it to me but she said she thinks the doctor dealing with her only speaks a little English.

2) As there is no health service like in the UK the costs are racking up pretty fast, has anyone used the hospital in Khon Kaen and what is it like? She did mention that she may have to go to Bangkok for more tests or treatment so I assume that they must have specialist hospitals there which can treat her condition, whatever it is. How does payment need to be made (ie is it when they are released or can it be paid off later) and do they accept a SWIFT transfer? I've said I will try to send out some money I've saved to help with the costs as her family is not wealthy, they are rice farmers.

3) Is there any farangs/wifes in Khon Kaen that can speak to the doctors to try and find out what is wrong with her? (I know in the UK you have to be a family member to find out anything, wonder if its any different in LOS.) If it is possible I can pm you her name and the room number she is staying in.

4) Is there more than one hospital in Khon Kaen? When I asked her which one she said The Khon Kean Hospital.

She has her family staying with her as its about an hour and a half drive from where she lives, so at least she is not on her own. She does not like hospitals as she thinks there are too many Phi and they scare her. I've tried to comfort her on the phone but when we last spoke she had to go after about 20 minutes as she said she felt sick and had to call the doctor.

I've know her for a couple of years and have stayed in her small house in the village near Ban Phai a couple of times, I do not think this is a case of "buffalo sick" syndrome - she was taken to hospital previously about 6 months ago, she showed me the photo on her mobile phone of her sat in bed in hospital, then she was sent home as they couldn't find anything wrong with her after a couple of days of tests.

I really don't know what to do to find out whats wrong with her so any help would be appreciated.

Khon Kaen Hospital is an accredited hospital, Thailand has a health care system of sorts. We have a family member who is a nurse at this hospital. email me and we will try to help. [email protected].

[kebabman7]

Thanks for everyones help and advice.

I have just spoken to my GF and she was transferred to a hospital in Bangkok last night. Her family are there with her so she has plenty of people around her.

KK_Mike, I have sent you her details by email - thank you for you offer of help.

[citizen33]

Thailand has a universal coverage health care system for the registered population that would in theory provide care up to and including neurosurgery in a super-tertiary hospital, such as one of the big centres in Bangkok. The problem is that one hears stories that patients requiring expensive referrals are steered towards private care and required to pay. However, my guess is that this is more likely to apply to referrals made from primary care than from, say the two big public Khon Kaen hospitals, which have a good reputation. The UC scheme is also known as the 'thirty baht project' (krungan sam sip baht), which refers to the small co-payment (under 50P) that must be made when patients are treated. Since the coup, a review of the scheme has been ordered, and it looks as though this co-payment will go. If your girl friend mentions '30 baht' she probably won't incur significant bills, but obviously switching to private care is going to be expensive.

[kebabman7]

A big thanks to KK-Mike and his wife, I have managed to find out exactly what was wrong with my GF, it was a blocked vein in her brain. She is due to be released in the next couple of days, which is a great relief to me

I'd also like to thank Cuban and the others who have helped me with their advice and input. This forum can work miracles when you need them, I'd have been totally lost without it.

[leisurely]

This will sound like a strange offer, but if she needs anything in Bangkok I could probably take it to her. I live in Bangna. I always feel an afinity to people who have had neuro problems. 12 years ago I had an aneurysm too. PM me if you can think of anything.