Paid helper for medical recovery?

[ASEANTraveler]

I am newish to Thailand on a long-stay visa.  I am in generally good health.  
 

However, it is possible that in the future, I might have a small inguinal hernia repaired done here — in Bangkok.

 

My question relates to someone to help me recover post-op.  I have no adult children or family here.  It is also highly unlikely that I would get married or have a girlfriend in Thailand.  And finally (????), I tend to be an introverted person, so I likely would not have a circle of friends to help me.  
 

Therefore, if I need a short term stay-with-me helper for a week or two, is that possible here:

 

1) Do the hospitals have a list of paid helpers (I imagine Thai women), who they can set you up with to help you with bathing, toileting, wound care, etc.?

 

2) Approximate cost for these services?

 

[scubascuba3]

There was a Thai lady advertising as a care giver a couple days ago in Pattaya, maybe she would consider Bangkok. If you want her facebook details let me know. She posted 2 ads one said 20k a month depending on situation

Edited October 13, 2022 by scubascuba3

[DaRoadrunner]

I hear that nurses get 15,000 / month. Offer one 20-25,000?

[Sheryl]

You certainly will not need a nurse. In fact unless your daily routine involves heavy lifting I don't see why you would need a helper of any sort. You will be fully ambulatory on discharge from the hospital (including able to climb stairs)  with the only limitation being slight soreness that will gradually resolve, and a restriction on heavy lifting. You won't be up for jogging, and you may move a bit slower than usual at first due to soreness, but will certainly be able to handle bathing, toileting etc yourself after a simple hernia repair. The only "wound care", if any, would be changing a gauze and you can easily do it yourself.  More commonly  a waterproof dressing is applied and no need to change it, just remove it altogether after a few days. They may  have you come back to the hospital for suture removal.

 

But if you want to hire someone, any one will do, does not need medical training. Who cleans your living quarters, do you have a maid or housekeeper? If so ask her if she'd be willing to stay for a few days (1-2 weeks makes no sense at all). Or just put the word out where you live (apartment/condo management, guards etc) ask at local shops etc.

 

You may find this references useful in understanding the post op situation for this very common surgery:

 

https://herniaspecialists.com/hernia-surgery-post-operative-instructions/

 

 

[ASEANTraveler]

Thank you to all for the replies.  To scubascuba3, thanks for the specific mention of the person on Facebook. Appreciated, but no need right now, as my post was more about my own future planning than any immediate planned surgical needs.

 

The theme of everyone’s replies was basically the same — ask around/tell people what you are looking for, etc.  I’ll give it a whirl..

[Lorry]

8 hours ago, DaRoadrunner said:

nurses get 15,000 / month

That was in the last millennium

[DaRoadrunner]

14 minutes ago, Lorry said:

That was in the last millennium

Nope, Bumrungrad two years ago. Thailand's most expensive hospital was only paying nurses 15,000.

[DaRoadrunner]

I would add that your biggest problem in Thailand is ensuring you find a doctor who knows what he is doing!

[Lorry]

8 minutes ago, DaRoadrunner said:

Nope, Bumrungrad two years ago. Thailand's most expensive hospital was only paying nurses 15,000.

That's nurse helpers, not nurses. Big difference. A nurse helper has no education whatever and gets more or less minimum wage.  A nurse has a degree. 

In Bumrungrad, as in most hospitals here,  they wear different uniforms. 

 

2 years ago, at the height of covid lockdowns, Bumrungrad didn't fire any staff. But there were no more medical tourists (Arabs etc). So a lot of staff had their working hours and their salaries cut considerably.

Maybe that explains your impression. 

[lopburi3]

As said there is no rush out of hospitals here - should not need but if you do there are professional services available at about 1k per day by trained nurse helpers here in Bangkok (training/cost dependent on needs).  Should be able to find with google.  Also hospitals may have nurse available for extra work as you mentioned.

[internationalism]

Experienced nurses at top private hospitals got up tp 80b per h. 
my friend at some private hospital on suk 42 gets only 40b as a senior nurse, training new staff in admin department. Works usually 18h shifts, longer then before covid - that because of virus testing procedures and minimising risks of getting virus into wards.  That means she can sleep part of her working hours. She can also get easily several days holidays at time, but needs to be on phone, to solve any problems at work. 
If anybody needs her service, i can pass contact to her. 
My wify has some experience as a helper and is also able to work. 
In thai hospitals if requesting single room, you have to bring your carer with you. And it has to be female - as i have read on my hospital website.
 I had to chose a common ward this year, because my wife didn't want to stay. She would have to pay some 2k for pcr testing at each time when coming to inside ward. 
 

Personally, for simple operation I would chose a governmental hospital and try to stay there as long as possible, to fully recover and just in case of any complications. Beds are from 800b, plus nursing charges from 400b, plus food from 400b. That way you avoid visits as outpatient, which is time consuming if you need to do daily antibiotic drips etc
 

 

Edited October 14, 2022 by internationalism

[LosLobo]

I can support Sheryl's advice that you would not normally need any help around the house following an inguinal hernia operation.

 

I recently had an the "open surgery" version of the operation and had no difficulty coping alone and I am elderly and not particularly fit.

 

The only advice I can give is have pain killers available although I only needed paracetamol and some constipation meds to ease any toilet strain.

 

I normally do my own cooking and shopping so for convenience's sake I organized a week's supply of mainly frozen dinners and other needs beforehand. 

[Sheryl]

6 minutes ago, LosLobo said:

I can support Sheryl's advice that you would not normally need any help around the house following an inguinal hernia operation.

 

I recently had an the "open surgery" version of the operation and had no difficulty coping alone and I am elderly and not particularly fit.

 

The only advice I can give is have pain killers available although I only needed paracetamol and some constipation meds to ease any toilet strain.

 

I normally do my own cooking and shopping so for convenience's sake I organized a week's supply of mainly frozen dinners and other needs beforehand. 

 

Yes, constipation is important to avoid as straining will be painful. You can buy Senna capsules at any 7-11 and they work very well. Also stock up on prunes.

 

Thai hospitals keep patients longer than do Western ones. In the west a hernia repair is often a day surgery. In Thailand they will usually keep you 2 nights, sometimes 3 -- the extra night especially if you are requiring more than paracetemol & NSAIDs for pain as Thai hospitals do not like to discharge people on opiods.

 

And indeed, as above poster says -- one would not normally need a helper at home after an inguinal hernia repair. You are already fully ambulatory in discharge and able to bathe, cook, eat, toilet etc unaided.

[Lorry]

3 hours ago, internationalism said:

Experienced nurses at top private hospitals got up tp 80b per h. 
my friend at some private hospital on suk 42 gets only 40b as a senior nurse,

40b per h is minimum wage in Bangkok.

There is some mistake here. 

You are right about the shifts.

[brianthainess]

You would not need a full time carer, at most 1 or 2 hours a day. to maybe clean room and only for a few days, local government clinic can dress wounds if needed. Rest is all you would need.

[internationalism]

19 minutes ago, Lorry said:

40b per h is minimum wage in Bangkok.

There is some mistake here. 

You are right about the shifts.

that's what she told me.

But I am not going to question her.

Possibly she gets closer to 80b, but wanted some pity on her hard work.

 

[LosLobo]

Come on!

What grown single male does household cleaning on a daily basis.

 

I suggest that if you are generally tidy, leaving it a week is not an issue, in most cases.

 

Perhaps you should never have left home and mom if it is a problem!

 

Usually as Sheryl said most wound dressings are waterproof. So unlikely any redressing will be required.