Living In Bangkok With Kidney Problems

[phuturatica]

I'm trying to work out the best way to ask for advice on this, however the only way which seems logical is to start from the beginning. So please bear with me.

I am moving to Bangkok in November and I have Stage 4 Chronic Kidney Disease and Kidney Reflux. I have had my right kidney removed and have left one remaining which functions at 21% only. I am pre-dialysis which means I am not on dialysis yet, however if my kidney functions continues to deteriorate then I will be. I am prone to getting urinary tract infections and kidney infections and I take antibiotics every day to steer infections away. Due to my kidney dysfunction I am chronically anaemic therefore I have regular iron infusions and I also take Ferrous Sulphate daily.

In the UK, I get my kidneys checked regularly with a blood test to check on the function and certain levels in my blood... Right now my kidneys are quite stable and I have been given the all clear to go to Thailand by my Renal Specialist under certain conditions.

I have to get a blood test checking my kidney function, iron and haemoglobin levels every 3 months and then fax/email the results over to my Renal Specialist. What is the best way for me to go about this? Do I just walk into a clinic and explain my situation? Or should I register myself with some kind of Renal Specialist or Urologist in Bangkok? If I have to register myself, how do I go about registering?

If the results of my blood tests show I am dangerously low in Iron then I may need an Iron Infusion, so how would I go about getting one of those also?

As for the medication I take every day, I know I can purchase it from most pharmacies and I shouldn't have a problem with that.

I know I will have to pay for each test and infusion and medication etc. However, what prices are we looking at? Will it be ridiculously expensive?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

[harrry]

I would suggest that you reconsider coming for an extended period. With your problem you are likely to need very expensive treatment and have risks of infections. Hard to say what is outrageously expensive but you may take UK private prices and discount them about 25% at a private hospital....drugs are not subsidised either. If you are here fopr more than a few months you may also lose access to the NHS when you return for a period.

If you are only coming for a holiday get your doctor to provide you with a few months of drugs to bring with you and you should be allright. Living here is a diferent story.

THe tests are relatively cheap here but I strongly advise you check out the NHS problem.

Edited August 23, 2011 by harrry

[phuturatica]

I would suggest that you reconsider coming for an extended period. With your problem you are likely to need very expensive treatment and have risks of infections. Hard to say what is outrageously expensive but you may take UK private prices and discount them about 25% at a private hospital....drugs are not subsidised either. If you are here fopr more than a few months you may also lose access to the NHS when you return for a period.

If you are only coming for a holiday get your doctor to provide you with a few months of drugs to bring with you and you should be allright. Living here is a diferent story.

THe tests are relatively cheap here but I strongly advise you check out the NHS problem.

I've already checked it out and I will be fine for a year. I am planning on living in Thailand for a year and then I will be visiting the UK to see family during that time. During my UK visits I will be arranging to also see my Kidney Specialist. So I should be fine according to my kidney specialist.

Considering I've had this illness all my life I'm pretty good at controlling it. I very rarely these days get hospitalized. I take antibiotics daily and then when I do get5 an infection, I'm good at treating it myself with my own stand by medication.

My doctor is giving me 6 months supply of medication whilst I'm out there and I know where I can buy medication if needed be.

Thanks for the concern and advice though!

[harrry]

I would suggest that you reconsider coming for an extended period. With your problem you are likely to need very expensive treatment and have risks of infections. Hard to say what is outrageously expensive but you may take UK private prices and discount them about 25% at a private hospital....drugs are not subsidised either. If you are here fopr more than a few months you may also lose access to the NHS when you return for a period.

If you are only coming for a holiday get your doctor to provide you with a few months of drugs to bring with you and you should be allright. Living here is a diferent story.

THe tests are relatively cheap here but I strongly advise you check out the NHS problem.

I've already checked it out and I will be fine for a year. I am planning on living in Thailand for a year and then I will be visiting the UK to see family during that time. During my UK visits I will be arranging to also see my Kidney Specialist. So I should be fine according to my kidney specialist.

Considering I've had this illness all my life I'm pretty good at controlling it. I very rarely these days get hospitalized. I take antibiotics daily and then when I do get5 an infection, I'm good at treating it myself with my own stand by medication.

My doctor is giving me 6 months supply of medication whilst I'm out there and I know where I can buy medication if needed be.

Thanks for the concern and advice though!

http://www.expatinfodesk.com/news/2010/11/25/warning-british-citizens-living-abroad-risk-losing-healthcare-rights/

Check with the NHS too...they are the ones who have the say.

Edited August 23, 2011 by harrry

[phuturatica]

I would suggest that you reconsider coming for an extended period. With your problem you are likely to need very expensive treatment and have risks of infections. Hard to say what is outrageously expensive but you may take UK private prices and discount them about 25% at a private hospital....drugs are not subsidised either. If you are here fopr more than a few months you may also lose access to the NHS when you return for a period.

If you are only coming for a holiday get your doctor to provide you with a few months of drugs to bring with you and you should be allright. Living here is a diferent story.

THe tests are relatively cheap here but I strongly advise you check out the NHS problem.

I've already checked it out and I will be fine for a year. I am planning on living in Thailand for a year and then I will be visiting the UK to see family during that time. During my UK visits I will be arranging to also see my Kidney Specialist. So I should be fine according to my kidney specialist.

Considering I've had this illness all my life I'm pretty good at controlling it. I very rarely these days get hospitalized. I take antibiotics daily and then when I do get5 an infection, I'm good at treating it myself with my own stand by medication.

My doctor is giving me 6 months supply of medication whilst I'm out there and I know where I can buy medication if needed be.

Thanks for the concern and advice though!

http://www.expatinfo...lthcare-rights/

Check with the NHS too...they are the ones who have the say.

I have double checked with the NHS and everything should be fine as long as I attend an appointment within a year.

[FBN]

You have not indicated where you will stay during this time but it would be a good idea to make contact with a specialist physician as soon as possible after arriving; you may need to see a few or at least visit hospital facilities to find a setup that you feel comfortable with. Obviously you would be confined to the major private facilities for this problem. You don't need to register as you would in the UK but, once you have settled at your residence here in Thailand, do a bit of research and check out the hopital's websites or perhaps revive this thread at that time for some real-time advice. You will be able to select an appropriate physician off a hospital's website and make an appointment direct. As a new patient, you will be required to register as a patient. Have copies of all your medical records with you for that appointment.

[phuturatica]

You have not indicated where you will stay during this time but it would be a good idea to make contact with a specialist physician as soon as possible after arriving; you may need to see a few or at least visit hospital facilities to find a setup that you feel comfortable with. Obviously you would be confined to the major private facilities for this problem. You don't need to register as you would in the UK but, once you have settled at your residence here in Thailand, do a bit of research and check out the hopital's websites or perhaps revive this thread at that time for some real-time advice. You will be able to select an appropriate physician off a hospital's website and make an appointment direct. As a new patient, you will be required to register as a patient. Have copies of all your medical records with you for that appointment.

Thanks for the advice. I will be living in Bangkok so I know there are plenty of decent hospitals around there that I can choose from. I will revive this thread once I get there in November.

[khaowong1]

I just want to say, be very, very careful. I just last year had a great friend (farang) die in the big hospital in Pattaya from kidney failure. He wasn't careful enough. His kidneys failed, then before they could figure out what was going on, he had a massive seisure and died. Please be careful..