Should I Go To The Doc?

[SARAHJ101]

I woke up in the early hours of this morning shivering uncontrollably with goose bumps all over me even tho I was sweating under my duvet. This carried on until morning but by then I had the normal flu like symptoms also - splitting fuzzy headache, every bone in my body aching (top of my neck is most stiff), sweating and feeling a bit nausious.

When I left for Thailand in July my doctor advised me to take anti-malaria tablets which I purchased but on talking to various people once I got over here I decided not to take as was told there was no malaria threat in the areas I would be visiting (Pattya, Bangkok, Songhkla). My doctor also advised me specifically if I had at any point in my trip 'flu like' symptoms then to go to a doctor straight away.

Should I go see a doc or am I just being a paranoid farang with a bad flu??

[Prakanong]

More likely to be Dengue than Malaria

Go to a Dr or clinic where they know about this -where are you?

[garro]

If in doubt go see a doctor.

It is not expensive and worth it for the peace of mind.

It is dangerous seeking this type of information on an open forum.

[SARAHJ101]

yeah I think you are both right, best off getting it checked out. I live nr Jomtien, would the Bangkok surgery in Pattaya be the best place to go??

[Prakanong]

I do not know Pattaya but try to find someone who know's of Dengue if that is what it turns out to be - a blood test should tell you.

I will just check and find out where research is going on with Dengue I know of in Bangkok

Pramongkutklao Hospital

Siriraj

[SARAHJ101]

I do not know Pattaya but try to find someone who know's of Dengue if that is what it turns out to be - a blood test should tell you.

I will just check and find out where research is going on with Dengue I know of in Bangkok

Pramongkutklao Hospital

Siriraj

thanks very much for your help Siriraj, much appreciated.

[PhilHarries]

Don't muck about, go and see a medic. I'd recommend PIC in soi 4 but being a hospital they're likely to want to admit you for tests but if that is what it takes it's worth it. Do you have medical insurance?

Others may know of a doctor who could take the test samples and get the results but I always used the Bangkok Pattaya so I don't know of any. Wouldn't recommend the BP as there's been a lot of bad press in this forum recently over treatment there.

[SARAHJ101]

Don't muck about, go and see a medic. I'd recommend PIC in soi 4 but being a hospital they're likely to want to admit you for tests but if that is what it takes it's worth it. Do you have medical insurance?

Others may know of a doctor who could take the test samples and get the results but I always used the Bangkok Pattaya so I don't know of any. Wouldn't recommend the BP as there's been a lot of bad press in this forum recently over treatment there.

I dont have medical insurance which was pretty foolish of me. We'll just have to pay for the treatment, will it be very expensive? Do you have any directions from the Sukhumvit Road to PIC?? Much appreciated.

[Mossfinn]

Get yourself checked out, then go and get some Health Insurance, Sarah.

Moss

[Mobi]

For something like this, the best possible advice I can Give is to go and see DR Oliver in Pattaya Tai.

he is a Swiss doctor and you won't need an appointmnet.

IMHO if you go to PIH, thety will give you a wide variety of drugs in the hope that one works, and BPH will relieve you of avast quantity of funds.

Dr Oliver's clinic is in a small Soi off Pattaya Tai, which runs between 3rd Road and the corner of Pattaya Tai. It''s opposite Soi Rungland, with the Mityon showroom on the corner.

The phone number is 038 723 521 and the clinic hours are 9.00 am to 5p.m.

[Sheryl]

Unless you have overnighted in the jungle, malaria is highly unlikely. Dengue on the other hand is quite probable. Flu would usually have respiratory symptoms.

You need to have a complete blood count done (and, if you were off n the jungle at night, a malaria smear). This will help rule out a bacterial infection and also check that your platlets are normal. Usually dengue is a self-limiting disease (albeit a miserable one) but ocassionally it causes hemorghic complications so the platlet count needs to be monitored.

Actually confirming dengue by blood test is difficult and takes time, most ordinary labs can't do it and usually no one bothers, the diagnosis is made by excluding other causes and on the bass of clinical signs: body aches, headache, fever with chill.

Be sure to get the blood count done, and also to keep well hydrated by drinking a lot,to the point that your urine stays light in color. If you are unable to get in enough fluids or are really flattened then you may need to be hospitalized. Queen Sirikit Naval Hospital in Sattahip is probably the best nearby option for that.

Take carem, and my symopathy if you have dengue...I've had it twice and it's the pits.

[zorro1]

start off by buying thermometer and keep your temp below critical( below103 d fhn) with ibuprofin and then see a doc if not better in a few days. I was hit with this bug and was under duvet for 4 days it was horrific but us blokes to tend to be cry babys when a bit sick and took 3 months to get over the cough but i did see a doctor they will almost certainly stick a needle in your ass.

Edited November 1, 2007 by zorro1

[SARAHJ101]

hey thanks guys for all your responses, much appreciated

I ended up heading to PIC after I sent my last message, I advised the doctor of all my symptoms (scarily close to ALL symptoms of Dengue fever!) but he said this was just a bad flu caused by my very high temperature. I got some paracetamol and vitamin tablets (I already had my own ibruprofen) and it only cost me 900 baht which I thought was extremely decent. I was seen within 5 minutes and had only to fill in a short form. The hospital was very clean and the staff very helpful. Puts our hospitals back home in Britain to shame to be honest.

Been in my bed since last Wednesday but feel well enough to get up today yayyy cheers again