Where To Go When You Are Hiv Positive In Thailand?

[eurasianthai]

I'm pretty sure this topic has been discussed before but I can't find it.

And for me and my wife it is not a rethorical thread as many are.

It is actually an urgent one.

One of my wife cousin has been diagnosed as HIV positive.

Not yesterday or the day before yesterday but quite a few years ago.

And we did not know about it up to the time he called us, from an hospital, 2 days ago.

Nobody knew about it actually, even his parents, brother, whoever.

And we picked him up from the hospital last Saturday, he is about 1.70m and his weight, I think, is no more than 35 kg.

I forgot to add that he is 27.

And now everybody is crying and kind of accept the fact that he is going to die.

The monk is here and is preparing him.

I do not accept that, hence the title of this thread.

[geriatrickid]

Go to the health thread. There is a pinned list.

No one dies from HIV. They succumb to AIDS, i.e. the complications and diseases that manifest in a person that is infected with an uncontained HIV infection. If the patient is still alive, there is hope, even in Thailand. An intensive intervention can sometimes save those on death's door. Please read the resource listing.

[eurasianthai]

The resource listing lists hospitals and doctors for expats.

One stop there will cost you half a month salary.

My question is where do you go when your salary is < Baht 15,000/month ?

Or should we accept that only rich people do not die from AIDS?

Edited November 15, 2010 by eurasianthai

[eurasianthai]

Thanks for helping. I really did not know Bumrungrad was the place to go.

I'll give you my wife's cousin account, so that you can help further.

Edited November 15, 2010 by eurasianthai

[eurasianthai]

Does anybody living in Thailand know that the average salary is < Baht 6000/month and that a bachelor degree is appointed at less than Baht 20,000 /month?

Or well, I guess nobody cares.

Good for you.

[eurasianthai]

Well, where are they?

I indeed agree it is a very serious topic but I'm afraid people do not really treat it seriously

I'd love to be able to keep him in Bumrungrad at Baht 10,000/day but I just can't.

So I need alternatives...

[eurasianthai]

It sure bothers me to just sit and wait for a 27 years old Thai boy to die.

And the fact that he is my wife's cousin has nothing to do with it.

I just can't accept that.

Edited November 15, 2010 by eurasianthai

[maesai]

Where is he? If in Bangkok, take him to Chula. He should get the anti virals for free.

[actiondell4]

Have you tried the Gay Forums ?

Dr Phillipe in Pattaya treats many Thai Guys.

[eurasianthai]

Where is he? If in Bangkok, take him to Chula. He should get the anti virals for free.

Thanks Maesai, the first really helpful post.

[eurasianthai]

It sure bothers me to just sit and wait for a 27 years old Thai boy to die.

And the fact that he is my wife's cousin has nothing to do with it.

I just can't accept that.

I have just watched an 18 year old girl die from Leukaemia and 4 million baht was spent by the family trying to save her, life and death is tough but you cannot blame yourself or anyone.

You sure can not blame yourself for leukamia, not treatment available besides bone marrow transplant, and success is low.

But AIDS just needs anti-viral medicines.

Cheap ones preferably for the majority of people who get it.

[JUDAS]

Chulalongkorn Hospital

Rama 4 Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330

TEL: (02) 252-8181-9, 256-5398

FAX: (02) 256-4410, 256-5017

Full Treatment - also HIV/AIDS conselling by specialists and HIV testing. (Public Hospital)

Website: http://www.chulalongkornhospital.go.th/chulahospital/english/index.php As a Thai Red Cross Society hospital I'm hoping treatment is free or minimal cost.

Good luck

[eurasianthai]

Thanks Judas, much appreciated.

[Beetlejuice]

A girlfriend of my girlfriend`s cousin and I`m not trying to be funny here, contracted HIV 2 years ago.

While working she was paying in to some sort of social security fund, that included limited payments if out of work, plus medical coverage including HIV and aids. The girl was and is still receiving free treatment for HIV.

Take a look at the links below: a lot of information there.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1885624.stm

http://www.who.int/hiv/countries_freeaccess.pdf

http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=52,4789,0,0,1,0

http://www.ausaid.gov.au/publications/pdf/qas28.pdf

http://www.avert.org/thailand-aids-hiv.htm

[bina]

moving to health forum; however, to be honest, those without money in thailand, well, that is the way it goes: have had various people die or get ill in anon's family and ins urrounding families in his village and the attitude is, no treatment until the end is near, then hospital for pain relief and then death.

i understand that u are stressed about this but if u are more specific and give out the facts u might get much more helpful answers... and frankly, the people i have known, have all died at young ages mostly to lack of knowlege, shame (still a shameful thing to have HIV in thailand, not all families are willing to help)and of course finances and their country thais' unableness or unwillingness to deal with beurocracy and searching for alternatives to meds, treatments, hosptialization and of course: compliance to medical programs from meds to nutrition.

health forum has quite a few good threads and not all are for farangs; there have been those on the forum with thai wives/gf/bf with HIV.

bina

israel

[maesai]

About 8 years ago, A good friend of mine was in a similar situation. He was admitted to McCormick Hospital (private) in Chiang Mai very sick. Was diagnosed as HIV+ with AIDS complications. The hospital made no effort to treat the underlying cause. They offered no counseling or options. I think they just assumed he couldn't afford treatment, so that was that. When I learned what was going on, I was a little pissed off. I spoke with another doctor at McCormick that I have used and liked. He suggested my friend go to the HIV treatment clinic at Suan Dok Hospital (government). I took him there and got him enrolled. He had a CD4+ of about 100, and a viral load through the roof. They put him on antiretrovirals, including expensive imported protease inhibitors. All at no cost to him. Today he is healthy.

The resources are available if one takes the initiative. Sadly, that is often not the case when it comes to low income Thais.

[ProThaiExpat]

Most government hospitals treat HIV patients with anti-virals under the 30 Baht plan and have doctors who specialize in that treatment. Im rural areas, it may require travel a distance to get to a hospital who does treat.

Unfortunately, many Thais, especially in rural areas, hide from the stigma attached to HIV and do not seek treatment.

[Sheryl]

Thai citizens can readily receive free anti-retroviral treatment at government hospitals. Will need to be at least a provincial level hospital, tertiary level is better.

You say you "picked him up at a hospital". What hospital? District? Provincial? What? Was he not provided with medication???

And what exactly is his condition, i.e. is he comatose? (in which case yes, it may be too late). Awake but unable to walk? Or just very weak and thin but still able to walk?

It sounds like he is very late in getting treatment, which is unfortunate as his present level of debilitation could have been avoided. This is now a fully treatable disease, it is not like it was years back. Although the treatment does have to be taken for life.

Even a very debilitated patient, if able o take antii-retrovirals regularly as prescribed (which may need some self-disiciple as they do have side effects, worse when someone is debilitated) then dramatic improvement is possible. But it takes a few months, and the medications must be taken, in full, exactly as prescribed.

[eurasianthai]

Thank you all for the postings.

Today update.

He is very thin and weak but he can still walk and talk.

My wife picked him up in Paolo Memorial Hospital in Bangkok.

The Paolo Memorial Hospital wants him to go back on Thursday for tests results and treatment, which I did not know before starting this thread (it seems he did not want to go back).

The challenge was to convince everybody that it was not a death sentence, that medicine is available in Thailand and that you should seek treatment.

So he will go on Thursday.

[eurasianthai]

And my wife got "angry" on me because I posted on a forum that somebody in our family got AIDS.

We can not talk about that.

Just show you where the problem is...

Edited November 16, 2010 by eurasianthai

[nocturn]

Well, where are they?

I indeed agree it is a very serious topic but I'm afraid people do not really treat it seriously

I'd love to be able to keep him in Bumrungrad at Baht 10,000/day but I just can't.

So I need alternatives...

given your attitude, i cant see why anyone would be inclined to help you.

[eurasianthai]

Thank you for participating in the TV contest for the most useless post in 2010, Nocturn, I think you've got a good chance to get the award

[eurasianthai]

And well, since you think my post is "outrageous", do you think people, Thai people of farangs, treat AIDS seriously in Thailand?

Do you?

I don't, they just try to brush it off under the carpet.

But I stand to be corrected.

Edited November 16, 2010 by eurasianthai

[bina]

And well, since you think my post is "outrageous", do you think people, Thai people of farangs, treat AIDS seriously in Thailand?

Do you?

I don't, they just try to brush it off under the carpet.

But I stand to be corrected.

ok ok, knock it off both of you...

euroasianthai, u got some answers, we all also seem to agree why thais dont seek help when HIV+ and u are now in a better position to help; but again, thais have a fairly low 'compliance' level when it comes to taking large amounts of meds for long term unless they have a willing and knowlegable partner...

good luck... and avoid sniping back at nasty posters please... this is an informal warning to all to stop the personal sniping...

bina

[orchis]

Paolo M.is good but it's a private hospital, so better get him a public hospital, tests and retro virals and such will be much cheaper there. Thailand cares for people with hiv relatively well, though there's a big stigma on it. The (self-)stigma leading to people getting into hospital weighing 35 kg, which is rather an advanced stage of disease, to arrive there you have to be seriously in denial, this stage normally takes a few years to get to. You seem unfamiliar and panicking about it , but no need to lash out to people on an expat forum who try to help, there are enough forums on hiv in Thai, your Thai family members might do some research. You too easily discard the pinned info of hiv resources here; that's not only for expats; it lists mainly Thai doctors of which dr Matana (in Chula Wed afternoon) is to be recommended. Anonymous Clinic, also mentioned, is a good place to get info testing and buying meds, although probably not at this point for this patient. I wish him well, many people get back on their feet once starting retro virals.

Edited November 17, 2010 by orchis

[mrtoad]

Paolo M.is good but it's a private hospital, so better get him a public hospital, tests and retro virals and such will be much cheaper there. Thailand cares for people with hiv relatively well, though there's a big stigma on it. The (self-)stigma leading to people getting into hospital weighing 35 kg, which is rather an advanced stage of disease, to arrive there you have to be seriously in denial, this stage normally takes a few years to get to. You seem unfamiliar and panicking about it , but no need to lash out to people on an expat forum who try to help, there are enough forums on hiv in Thai, your Thai family members might do some research. You too easily discard the pinned info of hiv resources here; that's not only for expats; it lists mainly Thai doctors of which dr Matana (in Chula Wed afternoon) is to be recommended. Anonymous Clinic, also mentioned, is a good place to get info testing and buying meds, although probably not at this point for this patient. I wish him well, many people get back on their feet once starting retro virals.

You have received some good advice form a number of people - there is also I believe Ramboti (excuse the spelling) that is also a governemnt hospital in BKK that also is used to dealing in this area of medicine. As Orchis has pointed out Paolo Memorial is a private hospital, and the fees in the end will mount up quite quickly. Several years ago I had a friend in a similar position that needed treatment and visited Paolo Memorial, and i ended up getting saddled with a 60,000 baht bill for a four day stay, as he was broke and had no family in Thailand.

[Sheryl]

Indeed he would be better off at a government hospital, at least cost wise. but get all test results from Paolo first in order to avoid having to repeat them. Chulalonghorn Hospital, as suggested, would be a good option.

There is plenty of help available, including free support groups where he can hear from other Thais who are living (healthily and actively) with HIV. From waht is described of his condition, there is every possibility that he will regain his health if he is prepared to change his attitude and comply with the treatment regimen.

Wednesday Friends Club: Support and social organization for people living with HIV/AIDS in Bangkok.

Hotline -- (662) 255-7893, 255-7894.

See if you can get him to call. Or visit their drop-in center at 830 Galaxy Lane, Rama 4 Road, across the street from The Thai Red Cross Society and behind the Monthien Hotel. Services include hostel, weight room, support groups, counseling, vitamin shop, karaoke. Most of the services are free. Hostel is 30 Baht per night. (66-2) 236-8421, 236-8422

The hostel can be especially helpful if he lives some distance from downtown Bangkok and needs to stay in town the night before/after doctor appointments,. The quality of HIV care at Chula is quite good but, being a government hospital, patients don't get precise appointment times and waits can be considerable i.e. vists there can be an all day affair.

There are a number of other hotlines and groups in Bkk area as well, most of the established and staffed by people living with HIV. E.g:

Life and Hope Club,

No. 5 Soi 2 Seree 1, Seree 2 Road,

Suan Luang, Bangkok 10250, THAILAND

Tel. (02) 318-5600. Pager 152: call 472-925.

Counseling Centre & HIV/AIDS Clinic Hotline

Tel. (02) 276-2950, 277-7699.

AIDS Access Foundation http://www.aidsaccess.com/07/enread.php?id=384

[mommysboy]

Well, where are they?

I indeed agree it is a very serious topic but I'm afraid people do not really treat it seriously

I'd love to be able to keep him in Bumrungrad at Baht 10,000/day but I just can't.

So I need alternatives...

given your attitude, i cant see why anyone would be inclined to help you.

AIDS treatment is free throughout Thailand!

Sadly! probably because of the stigma attached to drug use and homosexuality many guys leave it until too late, and that could be the case here.

It's a very ' odd' area as you have already seen on this thread, but the state of the art medicine is there, and it could help.

[eurasianthai]

Thanks all of you for the advices and I'm sorry if I got a bit too "direct" in some of my posts.

But I'm still struggling to get him to understand he needs treatment and that AIDS is not a death sentence.

Or a punition from "God".

He was supposed to go back to Paolo hospital today but he did not go, too tired he said.

So it is delayed up to tomorrow but I'm not too sure about it.

If not for me, he would have been back to his parents' place yesterday without any treatment.

And this is a death sentence actually.

But he is still not out of the woods, and it is indeed not a question of money.

Edited November 18, 2010 by eurasianthai

[eurasianthai]

But he is indeed so small and weak these days that Thai people will sure think that he's got AIDS when seeing him.

Well, this is the first thing that crossed my mind when he came to our place a few days back.

And hence he does not want to go out anymore, I guess.

This is really an uphill battle, whatever people say about AIDS being well taken care of in Thailand.

Why didn't he get the medicine right from the start in Paolo? Why do they ask him to come back?

2 times actually and still no medicine.

You've got to come a third time...