Central Scrutinizer Posted June 12, 2005 Report Share Posted June 12, 2005 Mongatu, Just go to a hospital and ask to see a doctor. Describe your problem, tell him what medicines you are on and need, and most times you'll get what you need and ask for. I too have bad back problems. I used to be able to just buy the Tyleno,2's with codiene over the counter at my local pharmacies in Surin or Bangkok, but now that IS impossible. You need a scrip, and the only pharmacies to carry these pain meds legally are the hospital pharmacies. I have no problems getting them there from my Surin doctor, or I just ask our nurse neighbor to tell my doctor I need more and he writes me a scrip, gives it to her to fill, and that night I'll pay her and have another 30 or 40 Ty 2's for the pain. BTW, someone (LHL?) said the reason for the OTC stopping was Thailand going toward 'rule of law' well, hahahahahaha! Total crock really. It was done to satisfy the US government on this stuff and the pressure the US was putting on the gov over this, and guess who bought up most of the pharmacies in the hospitals of the country? That's right, PM Toxin's family now owns and runs most of the hospital pharmacies in the country, and the prices certainly went up after that for most drugs you need a scrip for. Nice to have insider info isn't it? They bought the rights to the hospital pharmacies just before the law was passed. Just pick a hospital Mongatu and get yourself a personal doctor in Thailand close to where you stay here. You should then have no problems getting what you want and need. Hell, these guys are scrip crazy anyway, and pass out pills like they were candy for everything. Still much cheaper to do than in the states. A physical once a year, including xrays, blood work, all the tests and such, even EKG and sonogram and all that neat stuff is cheaper than hell here, and the doctors are pretty damned good as well. Had my gallbladder taken out here in Surin a while back. 600 bucks for everything, including private hospital room for three days, all foods, meds, tests, the operation, the doctor bill, everything. In the states they wanted 20,000 USD to do the same thing, and that was going to be an in and out in one day, no hospital stay, etc., and no pretty Thai nurses either! :-) I use the same doctor who did the operation as my personal doctor. I wouldn't bring my MRI's with you unless you plan on being here all the time. Just bring some empty scrip bottles of your current meds so your doc here will know what you are taking and can fill them here with the same drugs. Get a business card from your Thai doctor and put it in your wallet. Any problems with piss tests or having the drugs on you will be okay with that. If you want to be totally safe make copies of the scrip before you fill it and put them in your wallet with the doctor's card as well. Although I doubt the cops will be able to read it anyway, and doctors write like 3 year olds mostly as well here as they do in the west. Cent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted June 13, 2005 Report Share Posted June 13, 2005 Just go to a hospital and ask to see a doctor. Describe your problem, tell him what medicines you are on and need, and most times you'll get what you need and ask for. This works for sleep meds as well. When I had a hard time finding Halcion, I just went to Bumrungrad and got a prescription for it. 500B doctors fee and the pills were much cheaper than paying "grey market" prices. Ranger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Petchburi Pete Posted June 13, 2005 Report Share Posted June 13, 2005 Very interesting post. Yes, I brought empty prescription bottles to Pattaya International, and that did the trick for pain med & muscle relaxants. The pain med wasn't strong enough though, so I'll have to go back. What I'd like to know is whether or not you have to see the doctor each time for a refill of the prescription ... I've heard two different takes on this ... maybe it depends on the hospital? Amazing deal on the gall bladder surgery! Just curious ... was it done the old fashioned way - large incision, or were they able to do it through the laproscope ? ... I think technique depends on size/nature of the stones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Central Scrutinizer Posted June 14, 2005 Report Share Posted June 14, 2005 NPP, I had to have the large incision, as my gallbladder had collapsed (not ruptured mind you) and I had one very large stone and some smaller ones, so they couln't do the laproscopy style incisions. But saying that, the scar I have is quite small and neat, my doc in the states said it was the neatest job he'd seen really. I think this may have somewhat to do with a lot of the Thais having smaller hands so they don't need a large incision to get in and out. I was quite happy with the outcome, the cost, the extra nice care and treatment, the cost, the cute nurses, the cost, and the cost. It was well done and I had no problems except it hurt like a bitch after I first woke up and they put on the IV with pain meds a while later once it was determined I was okay. (Felt like I had been stabed with a Roman broadsword really.) When the nurses asked why I kept banging my fist against the wall and saying "Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" and what it meant; my wife told them it meant jep (hurts). I hope they aren't using that one when they try to speak English now! Hey, it wasn't Mass General, but the head doctor who is the boss for my doctor has two sons going to Harvard medical school, and my guy's English is enough to get by with the wife translating the grey spots in communication. For minor major surgeries such as this I wouldn't hesitate to do it again up here. I wouldn't do heart surgery here. I'd go to Bangkok really I imagine instead, or the states if it was an extremely complicated or new procedure needing to be done. But I'd use them again with no qualms now. (And yes, I was a bit nervous really when first doing it, just before the op.) Anyone know what the costs are for BUPA's family health plan btw? I'm looking into it soon. They have an office in Korat, which is close enough for me. (1 hr and 40 min. drive away.) Cent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Central Scrutinizer Posted June 14, 2005 Report Share Posted June 14, 2005 NPP, Yes, sometimes have to see the doc, but I have an in with the head teaching nurse who is my neighbor and whose daughter is best friends with my daughter. I just ask her the night before and she goes and tells the doc I need more and he gives her the scrip and fills it for me. She brings it home that night and I pay for them. Works fine for me! :: But usually I'd think you will probably have to see the doc each month or two and get the new scrip and buy your pills at the hospital pharmacy. Cent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Petchburi Pete Posted June 15, 2005 Report Share Posted June 15, 2005 I had mine removed in '84 at what was then the N.E. Deaconess in Boston. I was amazed at the pain when I first woke up ... kept screaming for more pain med. A cute nurse informed me that if she gave me any more, I'd stop breathing ... told her I didn't give a fuck, just put me on a respirator! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Petchburi Pete Posted June 18, 2005 Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 Hello mongatu, I was in severe pain yesterday (excruciating!) ... went to Pattaya International ... saw Dr. Chairat, as the orthpedic specialist wasn't there until saturday. He was more than compassionate. He ordered an IV injection of morpheine sulfate ... then after watching me for 20-30 minutes he had my wife pick me up. He prescribed much stronger codeine with tylenol tablets + sleeping pills ... helluva nice guy IMO. He told me that I could save money by having the doctor write for 3 or 4 months meds at a visit ... vs. seeing the doc. every month. Hopefully, we can do lunch this week. I will call you again. Chok dee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mongatu Posted June 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 Sorry to hear about your pain but nonetheless very interesting to hear how they handled it. I was in BKK the other day and saw a doc at Bumrungrad. He stated that the strongest tylenol w. codeine available in Thailand contains only 15 mg. codeine which is very weak. I am used to T&C#4 which contains 60 mg. codeine. This doctor said that Hydrocodone and Oxycodone are not available at all in Thailand. He said the next strongest thing available in Thailand after the weak tylenol & codeine was "Ultram" (I think it was) which he said was more or less equivalent in analgesic effect to Vicadin (hydrocodone), however, I don't know if this is true or not, never having tried "Ultram." Also Ultram is not available generically and is somewhat expensive. The doctor stated next up the list on strength of available pain med in Thailand was morphine, which I think would be overkill for my particular situation. See you for lunch soon. Thanks Cent also for sharing your experiences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
short-time Posted June 19, 2005 Report Share Posted June 19, 2005 I think morphine is still the most effective pain reliever known. Thought it was only used in hospitals though, didn?t know you could get a prescription for it. Bet most doctors would be very reluctant to write you a script for this one... ST Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Hippie Posted June 19, 2005 Report Share Posted June 19, 2005 Never under estimate Demiril... I believe a bit better than Moraphine (I think it is a synthetic type derivitive or something? Med expert please!!) There is supposed to be another one which doesn't have quite the drowzyness of these other 2...forget the name...also used for traumatic injuries, prevents shock. My concern would be addiction stemming from long term usage. But I guess you deal with the pain first, then take the next thing as it comes/if it comes... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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