Pattaya Memorial

[Mobi]

basically i agree but a Farang in Thailand faces the big problem of communication. if the Thai doctor does not fully understand the Farang's explanation of symptoms it could lead to a wrong diagnosis and application of wrong medication. that was my personal experience with a cardiologist approximately two months ago. the diagnosis was revised after a CT-scan of my heart but only after i insisted of explaining all my symptoms again the correct medication was prescribed. incorrect medication was prescribed because it was assumed that any patient with my symptoms suffers of high blood pressure. in my case the opposite was the case and the prescribed beta-blockers, respectively their dosis, brought my blood pressure down to an extent that i had problems to get up from my tv-chair.

based on that experience and not minding that i could have saved a bundle i did not take the chance of being operated in one of the two most famous hospitals in Bangkok but flew to Germany to get a quadruple bypass by open heart surgery.

Back from the party

Yes, I agree that communication is a very big part of the problem. Also, as someone else mentioned the fact that most Thai doctors are not used to being questioned, and are usually held in awe by most Thai patients. This I believe leads to a certain arrogance, and often misdiagnosis goes unchecked.

I even heard an statement once that farangs are charged more than Thais because the doctors have to spend more time with them, answering all their questions.

Certainly most Thais do not look up their diagnosed conditions on the internet, and check to see if the medication prescribed is appropriate, and the correct dosage, as I am sure most of us do.

But it is more than just that. About 6 years ago I was admitted to Bumrungrad with the most severe food poisoning I have ever experienced. I really thought I had had it. They took samples of what was in my stomach and the specialist told me that the microbes (or whatever) which were causing my problem was in the stomachs of most Thais, but they are pretty much immune to it. But for farangs, it can be very dangerous.

Then more recently I have been experinecing chronic stomach problems, which have manifested themselves by way of having several medical problems in my small and large intestines, but as yet the specialists are unable to diagnose the cause.

Our resident medical expert, Sheryl, has suggested it might be Tropical Sprue. She told me that it is a condition virtually unheard of in Thailand, and even the best doctors here wouldn't look for it.

There's two examples, and I know there are countless others.

So.... the best advice ix to find the best doctors, and don't even trust them 100 %. Do your research and make sure you are happy with diagnosis and treatment.

Naam, glad to see you back on the board, and presumably well on the way to recovery.

I hope you have an enjoyable Christmas with Mrs. Naam

(as I am with Mrs Mobi )

[samuibeachcomber]

The place is a joke. I went in with breathing probs, the quack xrayed my neck and said I need an mri scan. I walked out went to a pharmasy shop and bought some tabs, 5 days latter I was ok.

Last time I was in Pattaya Memorial, I had to take my GF as she was VERY sick. I represented myself as the BF and they made me sign as the financial guarantor (No big deal - I considered it my responsibility to take care of her). While I was there, I sought reassurance from medical staff that she was being treated well and that she would pull through quickly and successfully. They pretty much ignored me for the entire time (for the few days that she was admitted) until it was time to pay; then they were all over me in a somewhat threatening manner. I pulled the money out of my pocket and handed it over in payment, and then they all left. It was a pretty bad experience. I received the proverbial "walking-ATM" treatment the entire time.

Has a similar experience a few years ago: My friend got involved in a serious motorbike crash, kissed the asphalt with his right ear, and ended up in PM, pretty lifeless. They called me and I appeared. At that time they were busy keeping him alive with the breathing balloon. After half an hour of treating and pumping, they decided that he should be transferred to Chonburi Hospital, because of the scan-possibilities there.

They shoved my friend in an ambulance, but the bloody car wouldn't move until I paid for the treatment and the ride to Chonburi. I still wonder what would have happened, if I wasn't there at that time.

like most thais on their own with no money they would probably die and the hospital would n't care.no pay no treatment life is cheap and in buddhism you come back again anyway so whats the problem.that i believe is the attitude correct me if i'n wrong.

[LennyW]

like most thais on their own with no money they would probably die and the hospital would n't care.no pay no treatment life is cheap and in buddhism you come back again anyway so whats the problem.that i believe is the attitude correct me if i'n wrong.

Same principal applies to their driving!!

[Jingthing]

Someone heaped praise on -- Banglamung Hospital - government hospital in Naklua. For Pattayans without transport that is much more accessible than Sri Racha or Sattahip. Is Banglamung Hospital really a good place to go for farangs? Decent doctors, decently equipped, non double pricing, acceptable English speaking options? In other words, are farangs welcome there or would they be sent to the usual suspects in town.

Edited December 25, 2008 by Jingthing

[syd barrett]

Someone heaped praise on -- Banglamung Hospital - government hospital in Naklua. For Pattayans without transport that is much more accessible than Sri Racha or Sattahip. Is Banglamung Hospital really a good place to go for farangs? Decent doctors, decently equipped, non double pricing, acceptable English speaking options? In other words, are farangs welcome there or would they be sent to the usual suspects in town.

Banglamung is OK for minor medical problems. I would not trust it for surgery. It is very cheap, in fact they will give you a massive plastic bag full of expensive tablets for about 200 Baht.

However you will queue for about 3 hours, but that is OK because you get a numbered ticket and can go and drink coffee outside at the local stalls and read a newspaper.

They accept farangs with no problem. But as I said, any scalpel work is 'Third World' and you have a great chance of death by post-operative infection.