Has anybody in Thai living with transplant organ

[dennisdycus]

I was hoping to learn about anyone living with a transplanted organ. I am back in America waiting for a kidney transplant. I am wanting to return to Thai as soon as possible and am wondering how to received the anti rejection drugs necessary. Any information would greatly be appreciated .

[Sheryl]

Organ transplants (including kidney) are performed in Thailand so the drugs would be available through one of the major hospitals doing them, but cost is extremely high and whatever insurance you have in the US may not cover costs ion Thailand. (Medicare most definitely will not),

In addition, should you develop problems - rejection, infection etc -- costs of being hospitalized will be through the roof.

I would strongly advise that you wait at least a year port-transplant to be sure all is well before traveling, unless you are quite well off and have a large amount of money put aside that you can use for health care costs.

[dennisdycus]

Not what I need to know. What is the best way to get the drugs i need from home to here ?

[Sheryl]

If you are asking how to get medication prescriptions filled in the US sent to Thailand, you are allowed to bring with you up to 30 days medication for personal use.

You can try having further supplies shipped to you provided it does not need to be refrigerated or other special handling. Use only USPS, not couriers and keep quantities small. Like that and assuming none are controlled drugs, good chance customs will let them through.

Again though i advise you to consider how you will pay for emergency care while here should the need arise. Even with anti-rejection meds, rejection can still occur and is, obviously, a life-threatening emergency.

.

[impulse]

A little off topic, but the GF has a new kidney. Every time she comes to Thailand, I worry about under-cooked food, mosquitoes with dengue, auto accidents and a hundred other factors that could kill her while a normal person would easily come through.

I'd strongly suggest the OP rethink the plan to live with a transplanted organ in a country like Thailand where medicine is 100% all about the money and payment in advance is required before they'll even start trying to save him. There is no guarantee that they'll even take emergency measures to save your life until you've ponied up the payment. Maybe they will, or maybe you'll die because nobody's there to bring them the cash while you're unconscious.

If you do decide to come anyway, I took the GF to Bumrungrad in BKK and had her visit the dialysis facility, get the names and cards of the kidney doctors and make sure she can get what she needs here- in case of an emergency. Then I cross my fingers each time I pick her up at the airport. I make good money, but not that kind of money.

[NancyL]

Impulse is smart to put a back-up plan in place prior to need for his girlfriend. I did the same for myself with my heart issues -- went to Bumrungrad and ran myself thru a complete cardiac check-up so they'd have baseline data on file and developed a relationship with a cardiologist knowing that someday I may need them to do a heart valve replacement. (not as serious as a transplanted organ rejection, I know)

If you decide to relocate here knowing you have health issues, you need to think thru how they'll be addressed. Obtaining meds from overseas is a big issue. Many, many meds are available here, but not all and those that aren't can't simply be shipped here to individuals via DHL/UPS/FedEx. Oh no, it's not that simple. You often can't even bring in vitamins that way.

[dennisdycus]

Thank you for all your replies