Today's adventure at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya

[MM 6,562]

Okay, here's what happened. Yesterday, I woke up with a sharp pain centered in the corner of my left shoulder blade. I spent the day trying to get a full breath due to the pain of breathing.

 

Did a search on the symptom and found

 

https://www.verywell.com/shoulder-blade-pain-possible-causes-and-diagnosis-2248942

 

I was hoping it was the usual cause, bad sleep position, some strain, but it didn't get any better overnight, so early this morning, we called Bangkok Hospital Pattaya and tried to make an appointment. On describing the symptoms (shoulder pain, shortness of breath), they told me to go straight to Emergency.

 

I was wheeled into Emergency, hooked up to EKG, blood test taken, usual are-you-alive tests taken, chest Xray taken, and waited for a physician.

 

Physician #1 said EKG was clear, but it might be an embolism (clot) in the lungs, requiring a CT scan.

 

Off to the CT scan (ka-ching!) and then to CCU (Cardiac Care Unit?), a small room with lots of instruments.

 

I had told them, once they had ruled out heart problem that I would be happy with a regular room if I had to spend the night. Once CCU had been mentioned (considerably more expensive), they could not be dissuaded from putting me in one (ka-ching).

 

Physician #2 came, a cardiologist, and he also said he didn't think it was heart or circulation related...good news. Then he said, he wanted a "chest specialist" to talk to me. Basically, he passed the buck. I asked him why I was in CCU if it wasn't heart related...something about my oxygen level.

 

After several hours watching my oxygen level and getting antsy to get out of there since it clearly wasn't life-threatening, physician #3, a rehabilitation doctor, arrived. He had me go thru some movements and concluded that it was an outbreak of herpes and that within a day or two, lesions would appear. I couldn't suppress my stunned disbelief in that diagnosis, and told him he must be kidding. Out of all the possible causes, why on earth would he put it on herpes?

 

A while later, physician #4, the "chest specialist", came in and said he thought it was a muscle strain of some sort. Well that made sense since they had ruled out everything else.

 

At this point, I was urging them to disconnect me and bring me my clothes because I wasn't going to spend a night there.

I made a guess that the bill would be about 50K baht. I was low. I forgot about all the little additional things they add..it was 58K.

 

For that I got

(1) Peace of mind that it's not heart related and deadly

(2) a small prescription of tramadol which is a not bad pain reliever

(3) so much saline IV drip I was pissing like a race horse

 

and 3 followup appointments...like hell!

 

Tramadol + hot water bottle = relief

 

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[js007 795]

At least they were thorough. I've been in that situation twice. Once because of tachycardia that no one seemed to be able to explain, and the other time because I was feeling weird. On the second occasion, I ended up with a cardiac cathertization?, and the insurance company ended up with a bill for thousands of dollars. As it turned out, there wasn't anything wrong.

[MM 6,562]

At least they were thorough. I've been in that situation twice. Once because of tachycardia that no one seemed to be able to explain, and the other time because I was feeling weird. On the second occasion, I ended up with a cardiac cathertization?, and the insurance company ended up with a bill for thousands of dollars. As it turned out, there wasn't anything wrong.

I console myself with a "better safe than dead" attitude

 

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[Gary 4,119]

Even for 58,000 baht, it's a no brainer. Better safe than dead.

[losgrad 264]

MM - Thanks for sharing your hospital adventures. I know one day i'll be there too....

 

Sometimes, i have a pain in the middle of my back, but just below the right shoulder blade. Since i have no history of heart, chest or other major problems i'll visit the Physical Therapist in North Pattaya (Happy Body Physical Therapy; no "not happy endings" ph#:038371334). Often it's caused by my improper exercise form at the gym.

 

Take care of yourselves.

[CalEden 360]

CT Scans are very expensive. In the US your CT Scan bill would be about your total bill 58,000 baht. Yes, better safe than sorry and you got hell of a deal, much better than you would get at home (US).

 

If it was a heart attack you waited too long to go to the hospital. Count your lucky stars it wasn't!

Edited November 5, 2016 by CalEden

[jacko 8,822]

Well good that the final diagnosis is OK.

 

I am just past that worrying spell of chest and back pains I get after a trip towards Thailand. Usually it is brought on by heave-ho-ing a heavy suitcase around Manchester airport, no I am not paying a £ for a cart that should be free! Or the interminable walks from gate to immigration with my carry-on, with the single malt recently added! I once had an uncomfortable flight after some muscle strain from lifting my bag into the overhead locker.

 

You need to talk to Bigmick, I once saw how he handled physicians at the BHP........

[atlas2 4,329]

It might be a good idea to have a thread devoted to health issues, hospital experiences, comparison of health Insurance companies.....

 

When I had BPPV......(vertigo from getting some muck loose in my semi-circular canals)...and later, 'plantar fasiitus' pain in arch of the foot... board members pm'd me with their own experiences and youtube got me through without costly hospital bills.

 

For the BPPV I managed to drive myself to hospital thinking at the time it was just an inner ear infection from swimming every morning..... but thought it prudent to visit Pattaya International to check that it wasn't anything more serious.

 

It was actually stupid of me to drive........

 

Which brings me to another point.

 

'Succumbing to abundance' means ironically that I live alone. Had MM been alone.......or if Bushcraft was alone now their health problems ....or for anyone else the dangers of slips and falls are greatly magnified.

 

Some may remember Gonzo's excellent thread that resulted from a fall in the bathroom and just how his brilliant wife's support both at home and with the hospital care saved his life.

 

Us.... 'like it better alone, can take care of myself, don't like to make a fuss......have to face up to the likelihood that we will meet a sticky end that may well have been avoided if we had the support of a devoted partner......(cheating murderous ones also shorten life expectancy.....My friend Ray killed in Hua Hin for example). OK that's a dramatic comparison but a wrong choice of partner can add to our dis'ease.

 

It's a toss-up I suppose..... But I congratulate both MM and Bushcraft on their choice of partner.

[MM 6,562]

atlas2 - yes, I have to give a lot of credit to my missus for her assistance and support during this and other episodes in the past.

 

CalEden - as to waiting too long, yes, you are absolutely right. I did wait too long...or too little. Too long if it was heart/circulation related, too little to find out that it was going to resolve itself within a few days.

 

As of today, 3 days since onset, my breathing is nearly normal and the pain is considerably reduced.

 

My treatment last night consisted of 2 tramadol over 8 hours, 1 Lyrica (given to me by the doc who thought it was herpes zoster), 2 Beer Laos and one shot of Grey Goose. I slept like a baby and woke up feeling much better.

 

I won't be taking anymore of the Lyrica, since looking it up on the internet. It's scary stuff that is used for chronic pain and becomes very dangerous to quit without tapering off over a period of time.

 

I expect to be fully recovered shortly.

 

FYI, here is the bill for the visit...lots of "Special" items on it that are not explained.

 

The best deal on that bill is the "Nursing and Midwifery Charge". At only 2700 baht, they were great, as usual.

 

 

[biggles 509]

When I decided 4 years ago (67 then) to give up the mongering life for one woman, the health factor was an aspect I also considered. My GF apart from being beautiful, slim and sexy, was a caregiver in Lebanon for 7 years, 2 with a heart patient, and this was yet another positive. She has always looked after me well, tho she does nag me over health issues. I have a few friends mid to late 70's whp live alone and I do worry about them.

[beaches1979 1]

Many thanks for sharing. It's great that you've been well taken care of. Bangkok Hospital Pattaya is indeed highly recommended. I won't mind spending more either as long as they are thorough.

[Kev 178]

old thread beaches?

[Butch 3,456]

Many thanks for sharing. It's great that you've been well taken care of. Bangkok Hospital Pattaya is indeed highly recommended. I won't mind spending more either as long as they are thorough.

 

Beaches, you'll probably have to shout a bit louder. MM passed away on the 20th Feb this year.