Pattaya International vs Bangkok Hospital

[ozimoron]

I think I need to go to a hospital today. Can anyone recommend which is better for treatment and fees? Pattaya International vs Bangkok Hospital.

 

My symptoms are severe diarrhea, nausea but not vomiting, mild fever, night sweats, stomach cramps. After  week it's only getting worse. I will possibly need to be admitted so I'm interested in the fees for that. I don't have medical insurance.

[EVENKEEL]

I recently had surgery at BHP, just a Dr follow up checkup afterwards is 2000 thb. 

[ozimoron]

Just now, EVENKEEL said:

I recently had surgery at BHP, just a Dr follow up checkup afterwards is 2000 thb. 

Did you need to be admitted? If so, how much per night.

 

[EVENKEEL]

1 minute ago, ozimoron said:

Did you need to be admitted? If so, how much per night.

 

I stayed one night, sorry I don't know the price. Insurance paid. Will say they have nice rooms.

[Swiss1960]

I would recommend Pattaya Memorial. In my view, they have the better general doctors to investigate things as you describe. In BPH or Int, they'll send you from specialist to specialist and accrue costs...

Once you get a diagnosis from Memorial, it's still time to go to BPH, if you are not comfortable in Memorial. 

Memorial btwis the cheapest of all 3. Cost per night in BPH start from 8K depending on the nursing care you need

[scubascuba3]

International and Memorial will be cheaper than Bangkok Pattaya. To save money you could go to the new Jomtien Bangkok Hospital, or govt Bang Lamung or even Pattaya City hospital

[MJCM]

My experience after a visit to Inter, they would send you to BPH if you for example would need a MRI scan.

 

but please note, this was a couple of years ago so things might have changed. 

[Sheryl]

1 hour ago, Swiss1960 said:

I would recommend Pattaya Memorial. In my view, they have the better general doctors to investigate things as you describe. In BPH or Int, they'll send you from specialist to specialist and accrue costs...

Once you get a diagnosis from Memorial, it's still time to go to BPH, if you are not comfortable in Memorial. 

Memorial btwis the cheapest of all 3. Cost per night in BPH start from 8K depending on the nursing care you need

As above. Memorial is the least ecpendive of the private hospitals in Pattaya.

 

Bang Lamung (government Hospital) would be cheaper still but less comfortable/convenient

[ozimoron]

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

As above. Memorial is the least ecpendive of the private hospitals in Pattaya.

 

Bang Lamung (government Hospital) would be cheaper still but less comfortable/convenient

Thanks, I should have gone to Pattaya Memorial. I had good experiences there 3 years ago when I was on warfarin for a portal venous thrombosis and needed a blood test every week.

 

Ultimately I went to Bangkok Hospital. Examination and stool test cost me 8,000 baht.

 

Turns out the problem is Rotavirus which has no drug cure. They did find some blood in my stool which I believe is most likely from a long term haemorrhoid. They want to see me in a week for another stool exam and then possibly a colonoscopy. I think I might go to Pattaya Memorial for that.

 

I'm wondering if the rotavirus came from food or getting too close and personal with one of the ladies of the night?

 

Just as an aside, anyone reading this, you really, really don't want to get rotavirus unless you want to lose several kilos in short order and kiss goodbye to any activities beyond a quick trip to the 7/11 for a week. I haven't slept for a week and must have gone to the loo about 3,000 times, like every few minutes day and night.

Edited November 25, 2022 by ozimoron

[ozimoron]

[Sheryl]

59 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

Thanks, I should have gone to Pattaya Memorial. I had good experiences there 3 years ago when I was on warfarin for a portal venous thrombosis and needed a blood test every week.

 

Ultimately I went to Bangkok Hospital. Examination and stool test cost me 8,000 baht.

 

Turns out the problem is Rotavirus which has no drug cure. They did find some blood in my stool which I believe is most likely from a long term haemorrhoid. They want to see me in a week for another stool exam and then possibly a colonoscopy. I think I might go to Pattaya Memorial for that.

 

I'm wondering if the rotavirus came from food or getting too close and personal with one of the ladies of the night?

 

 

"The primary mode of transmission is the fecal-oral route, usually through direct contact between people. Because the virus is stable in the environment, transmission also can occur through ingestion of contaminated water or food and contact with contaminated surfaces or objects."    https://www.cdc.gov/rotavirus/clinical.html

 

Unless they did a nucleic acid detection PCR assay  or antigen-detection immunoassay (not imposisble but unlikely), the diagnosis is a guess based on exclusion of other causes and thus not certain.  If it is rotavirus, it should not last much more than a week. So if it persists another opinion may be in order.

 

Meanwhile, since I gather you are not hospitalized, stock up on oral rehydration packets, coconut water etc and be sure to stay hydrated

[Sheryl]

2 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

What drugs were given? Any IVs?

[ozimoron]

1 minute ago, Sheryl said:

What drugs were given? Any IVs?

Irribow tablet x 5

 

Caps Hidrasec x 15

 

Meteospasm tabs x 15

 

about ten packs of electrolytes.

 

No IV's

[Sheryl]

4 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

Irribow tablet x 5

 

Caps Hidrasec x 15

 

Meteospasm tabs x 15

 

about ten packs of electrolytes.

 

No IV's

2 separate anti-diarrheals (not usually recommended in rotavirus) plus an antispasmaodic.

 

Overmedication to say the least. And these could have been bought at a pharmacy at less cost.

 

It is always best to not but medications at a hospital, unless one of the few drugs nto sold over the counter are required.  Can declibne medications at the cashier and have them removed from the bill, then buy at an outside pharmacy.

[NanLaew]

2 hours ago, ozimoron said:

I'm wondering if the rotavirus came from food or getting too close and personal with one of the ladies of the night?

Don't even go there*.

 

From Mayo Clinic's website (my emphasis )

 

"Rotavirus is present in an infected person's stool two days before symptoms appear and for up to 10 days after symptoms lessen. The virus spreads easily through hand-to-mouth contact throughout this time — even if the infected person doesn't have symptoms.

If you have rotavirus and you don't wash your hands after using the toilet — or your child has rotavirus and you don't wash your hands after changing your child's diaper or helping your child use the toilet — the virus can spread to anything you touch, including food, toys and utensils. If another person touches your unwashed hands or a contaminated object and then touches his or her mouth, an infection may follow. The virus can remain infectious on surfaces that haven't been disinfected for weeks or months."

 

Wash your hands and be wary of where (and what*) you are eating.

Edited November 25, 2022 by NanLaew

[ozimoron]

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

2 separate anti-diarrheals (not usually recommended in rotavirus) plus an antispasmaodic.

 

Overmedication to say the least. And these could have been bought at a pharmacy at less cost.

 

It is always best to not but medications at a hospital, unless one of the few drugs nto sold over the counter are required.  Can declibne medications at the cashier and have them removed from the bill, then buy at an outside pharmacy.

Which of these could / should I dump?

[Sheryl]

2 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

Which of these could / should I dump?

 

The Oral rehydration salts are critical. Keep taking and buy more - you can get at every 7-11. If you prefer, green coconut water is equally good.

 

Unless the diarrhea is really, really profuse and intractable I would not take the Irribow or the Hidrasec . If it is really, really profuse then the Hidrasec. (and seek another opinion, because rotavirus should run its course within 8 days or less).

 

Irribow is actually indicated only for diarrhea associated with irritable bowel syndrome, which there is no reason to suspect in your case.

 

As for Metospasm, it is mainly used for abdominal distension due to gas and secondarily for abdominal cramps related to irritable bowel disease. You probably don't need it, unl;ess cramping is severe (in which case again - need another opinion)

[ozimoron]

3 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

 

The Oral rehydration salts are critical. Keep taking and buy more - you can get at every 7-11. If you prefer, green coconut water is equally good.

 

Unless the diarrhea is really, really profuse and intractable I would not take the Irribow or the Hidrasec . If it is really, really profuse then the Hidrasec. (and seek another opinion, because rotavirus should run its course within 8 days or less).

 

Irribow is actually indicated only for diarrhea associated with irritable bowel syndrome, which there is no reason to suspect in your case.

 

As for Metospasm, it is mainly used for abdominal distension due to gas and secondarily for abdominal cramps related to irritable bowel disease. You probably don't need it, unl;ess cramping is severe (in which case again - need another opinion)

Many thanks, the diarrhea was exceedingly (my words) profuse. Immediate and watery after drinking anything.  By the time I got back from the hospital today it did seem as if the diarrhea had abated. I don't believe I have IBS and no history of it. 

 

I'll take only the electrolytes unless it persists beyond the weekend and will go to PMH if it does.

[scubascuba3]

If you are going to get poor advice from an expensive hospital you might as well go to a cheap one. I've only tried Bang Lamung once and they were surprisingly good, I'll probably try again for something not too serious

[Jai Dee]

3 hours ago, ozimoron said:

That is an expensive Physician Evaluation charge... even for BHP. 

 

Normally item 1.2.1 costs either 700 or 800 baht, depending on the seniority of the Physician.

 

And I second the "don't buy meds at the hospital" proposal... if you tell the doctor that you will be buying the meds outside then a script will be printed and given to you when you pay your bill.

 

You can then take that script and walk across the road to Fascino who will sell you the drugs at about half what BHP would charge you.

[Sheryl]

45 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

Many thanks, the diarrhea was exceedingly (my words) profuse. Immediate and watery after drinking anything.  By the time I got back from the hospital today it did seem as if the diarrhea had abated. I don't believe I have IBS and no history of it. 

 

I'll take only the electrolytes unless it persists beyond the weekend and will go to PMH if it does.

Good plan.

[Sheryl]

14 minutes ago, Jai Dee said:

That is an expensive Physician Evaluation charge... even for BHP. 

 

Normally item 1.2.1 costs either 700 or 800 baht, depending on the seniority of the Physician.

 

And I second the "don't buy meds at the hospital" proposal... if you tell the doctor that you will be buying the meds outside then a script will be printed and given to you when you pay your bill.

 

You can then take that script and walk across the road to Fascino who will sell you the drugs at about half what BHP would charge you.

Physicians at private hospitals set their own fees and there are many specialists at BPH who charge 1,500 - 2,000. An internist would be 700 - 1000 but not a specialist.