Why Are You Even Here? The Surprising Attitudes of Some Expats in Thailand

[mccw]

I'm recount this quite personal story as it may of turned out quite trajicaly differrently.

It's the thread about how great **** hospital is that finnaly prompted me to offer this warning; maybe I should have done so sooner.

Over 3 years ago now when my misses was pregnant with our first child we went to **** hospital for the preliminary health checks. One check is for aids and the way they check is by doing 3 tests for protoents stimulated by the virus. Basically my test was negative and hers came back "not clear" ie 2 of the 3 were posive. Now there are some times reasons why this might be the case, like a new infection or just some other illness triggerring the protines but after 4 month you should turn to be clearly positive or negative.

Let me just say me lady is no bar girl and not even a party uni type; although she did go to uni; she doesn't even drink., so I and she were both shocked at this result to say the least.

So to cut a long story short; after 6 months of going for test after retest the results kept coming back 2 out of 3; her belly was obviously developing and all the rest of it; and that's when the doctor said that in his opinion he though in this case she most probably did have aids but couldn't explain why it hadn't spread to me. Hear the sound of mamas heart breaking.

I didn't believe it and sort a second opinion; went around 3 lab clinics and another hospital and non could explain the results but said maybe it's not clear and she might actualy not have aids. I got on the internet and did some research; within a half hour I found that this result with the 2 protiens stimulated can be a result of high or low blood pressure, diabetes, or indeed just from actualy being pregnant some times! We then went to see the top professor at the university hospital who confirmed what I'd found out and she said for sure no aids don't worry and very sorry for the confusion and obvious stress that we gad been through.

Crazy this information is not common knowledge for maternity doctors. I dread to think how many needless abortions or even suisides might of come about because of wrong diagnosise.

****** said they are studying our case so I guess they won't make same mistake again. But why I can find out the truth in minutes from the net but doctor don't know or investigate after six months of tests is beyond me. I should of checked it out at the begginning and saved six months of heart ache.

So my warning is check everything out yourself and seek differrently oppinions; don't beleive everything the doctor tells you.

We have two healthy boys now 1 and 3; no adverse affects and happy fammily.

On a side note; my mother fell over when she came to visit; went to cm ram who said she broke her ankle and caste it; when she got back uk nhs x-ray and no sign of a break , only a sprain.

Another friend of mine was told he had hep b and was assigned an early death ; 3 months later he's give the all clear ; apparrently he in the lucky 0.0001% who's body can beat it? I reckon more likely a mix up of results or wrong Reading.

Anyhow; here's to all your hood health ;-)

Edited November 22, 2010 by Mario2008
name of hospital removed, no naming and shaming allowed

[sanpakwan]

I feel for your experiences,

I think it's sounds very commercial,hospitals or hotels,they probably charged you a lot of money for this incompetance.

I try to use the net reseach as much as possible for medical matters. Until the day that I cannot see!

[jackr]

*** said they are studying our case so I guess they won't make same mistake again. But why I can find out the truth in minutes from the net but doctor don't know or investigate after six months of tests is beyond me. I should of checked it out at the begginning and saved six months of heart ache.

Well done.

Yep, in many cases you can be more clued up than a given doctor (particularly a fuddy-duddy, know-all Thai one) by doing your own research... will always try and solve it myself before heading out to a doctor, many of which here think they're God's gift and hate the thought they may be wrong, or even have someone question them. In addition, the cynic in me says it's not in their interests to cure you/provide full diagnosis/info on the spot as these top places are businesses first and foremost! Ram putting a cast on a non-breakage is a perfect example.

[nikster]

Being wrongly diagnosed with HIV - jeez! That must have been a nightmare.

I think - and I am writing this for myself as well - in this day and age, you need to Google everything. Before and after you go to the hospital, Google. Many excellent medical websites out there, many in the USA and from reputed organizations.

Hospitals all over the world have a terrible record to determine that there's nothing wrong with you. So only go if you are sure you have a problem. It's their business to discover problems, I am not too surprised about the misdiagnosed bone in the OP story.

Just last week our toddler fell on a syringe needle (out on a pathway in the CM Night Safari - woo hoo for safety!). Quick Google check and I could reassure my wife that he didn't get HIV from that - as the HIV virus only survives for a matter of minutes outside the body. She'd been worried silly... OK so it was unlikely but how likely is it to fall over, get a syringe needle stuck in your hand. It's only unlikely until it happens to you

[Greenside]

Being wrongly diagnosed with HIV - jeez! That must have been a nightmare.

I think - and I am writing this for myself as well - in this day and age, you need to Google everything. Before and after you go to the hospital, Google. Many excellent medical websites out there, many in the USA and from reputed organizations.

Hospitals all over the world have a terrible record to determine that there's nothing wrong with you. So only go if you are sure you have a problem. It's their business to discover problems, I am not too surprised about the misdiagnosed bone in the OP story.

Just last week our toddler fell on a syringe needle (out on a pathway in the CM Night Safari - woo hoo for safety!). Quick Google check and I could reassure my wife that he didn't get HIV from that - as the HIV virus only survives for a matter of minutes outside the body. She'd been worried silly... OK so it was unlikely but how likely is it to fall over, get a syringe needle stuck in your hand. It's only unlikely until it happens to you

I don't have time to verify this, but I have the feeling you should ensure your child is up to date with all his shots as HIV is only one of the dangers of contact with hazardous things like needles. Hepatitis comes to mind for example.

[scorecard]

Thanks for sharing.

I have 5.5 year old Thai granddaughter.

When we take her to hospital (innoculations or whatever) the whole family goes. There are several reasons for this: we are a close family, plus previous experiences with hospitals which have made us very vary, so now we double check everythng. Some examples:

- My son asked the nurse to show him the innoculation vial, because he now always double checks medications. Sure enough it was the wrong medicine. Nurse not concerned at all, makes no comment, no apology. Bkk, so called 5 star hospital.

- We are always in the room when innoculations are given because on one occasion the nurse had some dificulty, put the needle on the floor, tip of the needle was touching the actual floor, nurse is about to go ahead and give the injection. My son stopped her and insisted that the supervisor come. My son reported the incident but supervisor tried very hard to brush it aside. Bkk, so called 5 star hospital.

- Granddaughter admitted because of pneumonia, two nurses come into the room to give medications etc. Son insists that he look at the folder, sure enough, wrong patient. Bkk, so called 5 star hospital. Again, no embarrassment, just lots of giggles. And it took three visits and three doctors before there was a logical diagnosis of pneumonia.

- About 14 years back I had an operation on the palm of my hand to remove two small fat build ups(learned years later that there was no need whatever to remove them). However, doctor operated in the wrong place and an expected incision of less than 1cm suddenly became 20cm. No apology from the doctor for his error, no apology from the hospital. Cashier staff suspected there was a massive overcharging from the doctor, lots of promises of investigation, hospital has never contacted me again. Bkk, so called 5 star hospital.

- About 5 years back hospital insisted that I needed a complete CAT scan to help diagnose a recurring problem. 28,000Baht and still no clear diagnosis. Bkk, so called 5 star hospital.

One week later went to a hospital in Singapore, 600Baht ultrasound revealed the actual problem, some inexpensive medicine and problem totally fixed within a week or so.

[jayjay0]

Thanks for sharing.

I have 5.5 year old Thai granddaughter.

When we take her to hospital (innoculations or whatever) the whole family goes. There are several reasons for this: we are a close family, plus previous experiences with hospitals which have made us very vary, so now we double check everythng. Some examples:

- My son asked the nurse to show him the innoculation vial, because he now always double checks medications. Sure enough it was the wrong medicine. Nurse not concerned at all, makes no comment, no apology. Bkk, so called 5 star hospital.

- We are always in the room when innoculations are given because on one occasion the nurse had some dificulty, put the needle on the floor, tip of the needle was touching the actual floor, nurse is about to go ahead and give the injection. My son stopped her and insisted that the supervisor come. My son reported the incident but supervisor tried very hard to brush it aside. Bkk, so called 5 star hospital.

- Granddaughter admitted because of pneumonia, two nurses come into the room to give medications etc. Son insists that he look at the folder, sure enough, wrong patient. Bkk, so called 5 star hospital. Again, no embarrassment, just lots of giggles. And it took three visits and three doctors before there was a logical diagnosis of pneumonia.

- About 14 years back I had an operation on the palm of my hand to remove two small fat build ups(learned years later that there was no need whatever to remove them). However, doctor operated in the wrong place and an expected incision of less than 1cm suddenly became 20cm. No apology from the doctor for his error, no apology from the hospital. Cashier staff suspected there was a massive overcharging from the doctor, lots of promises of investigation, hospital has never contacted me again. Bkk, so called 5 star hospital.

- About 5 years back hospital insisted that I needed a complete CAT scan to help diagnose a recurring problem. 28,000Baht and still no clear diagnosis. Bkk, so called 5 star hospital.

One week later went to a hospital in Singapore, 600Baht ultrasound revealed the actual problem, some inexpensive medicine and problem totally fixed within a week or so.

With all due respect did any thing ever go rite in a hospital for you?

I sort of totally agree about second opinions. Last week I went to see a heart specialist at the university hospital hear in Chiang Mai. I then went to see a lung specialist. They both said I had to lose weight. I knew that.

In all seriousness never never take a serious condition on one doctors opinion always get a second opinion and don't be afraid to go on line and learn about the condition yourself. As the OP said the rewards can be well worth it.

[LJW]

Living here for 26 years means I have a lot of hospital experience here, from heart attacks to finger surgery being preformed by a drunk doctor... Anyway, I think the internet is an extremely useful tool to anyone looking for confirmation or information. But please don't believe everything your doctor tells you because everyone makes mistakes, na' ? But a doctors mistake can be trouble... I remember when I first found out I had diabetes, the doctor, very well respected, told me that a 300 reading on that scale that tests your blood is no problem... I learned later that 120 is no problem and that 300 was a BIG problem..

I'm still alive