jai-dee Posted October 13, 2002 Report Share Posted October 13, 2002 A few weeks ago my TGF called me. She was so upset she couldn't speak coherently. "Hun-nee", she said, "my mother is sick. I'm so worried. She got cancer." "Calm down", I replied, "one doesn't die of cancer overnight. What kind of cancer?" "Vaginal cancer, also inside her body, you know, where the baby grow." She eventually explained the whole story. Her mother has been hurting recently whenever she moved and went to see a doctor at the local hospital (somewhere in Isaan). The diagnosis given was what I later identified as endometrial cancer. She was told she would have to undergo surgery more or less immediately and this is why my GF was worried. She wanted to bring her mother to Bangkok, take her to one of the better hospitals and have the operation done there. Her mother would have to stay in Bangkok one month. This of course would cost money, and the good doctor had already given an estimate - 30,000 baht. Well we can't just let a potential mother-in-law die because of a few hundred dollars so I told her not to worry about the money part, I would finance her mother's treatment. I know what you are thinking - here is that TG scam in its most classical form and I fell for it. But no, my GF is different, she would never do something like this. :-) I quickly did a little research on the internet and yes, the usual treatment for endometrial cancer is surgery. So I emailed GF a list of the best government hospitals in Bangkok (she didn't ask for Bumrumgrad) together with a few questions for the doctor, as I wanted to know how advanced the cancer is. So she brought her mother to Bangkok and had her examined in one of the hospitals there. Next time we talked on the phone I expected some specific answers. But no, she was very vague. Apparently the doctor wasn't so sure about the surgery and ordered some more tests for the following week. That was yesterday. I was anxious to hear the results so I called her in the afternoon. Much to my surprise all her anxiety and worries were gone, she answered in a very cheerful manner. "So when is the operation scheduled", I asked impatiently, "which hospital, how much will it cost, in what stage is the cancer?" "No operation", she answered merrily. "My mother is pregnant." I couldn't believe my ears. Her mother is 45 years old, she was 5 months pregnant without realising it, and the local doctor was recommending histerectomy. No wonder GF didn't trust the local hospital. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 13, 2002 Report Share Posted October 13, 2002 Great story. It can happen anywhere, but more so in Rural Thailand. Glad your future MiL is OK...too bad this new relative she will give you will probably cost you a lot more than 30k in the end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 15, 2002 Report Share Posted October 15, 2002 I've always said I would not trust a provincial hospital EVEN as far as I could throw it. This bolsters that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whosyourdaddy Posted October 21, 2002 Report Share Posted October 21, 2002 Ended up in Surin Hosipital for a very minor problem. But I must say that I really do beleive the doctor got his degree at the surin buffalo school of medicine.. No I would never enter a rural hospital for anything.. And this hospital was ISO 9002 cert. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jp1 Posted October 21, 2002 Report Share Posted October 21, 2002 And this hospital was ISO 9002 cert. that doesn't mean anything, 'cause in Thailand you can see these ISO 9002 ads everywhere. Kind of inflation. :: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gummigut Posted October 21, 2002 Report Share Posted October 21, 2002 There's a Rayong MP that's 9002 certified if I remember correctly. Think it was Rayong, coulda been anoda city. <<burp>> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whosyourdaddy Posted October 22, 2002 Report Share Posted October 22, 2002 Yes, I wonder if someone will sell ISO signs for 100,000B apiece.. Could be a good business the WYD ISO corp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jp1 Posted October 22, 2002 Report Share Posted October 22, 2002 Yes, I wonder if someone will sell ISO signs for 100,000B apiece.. Could be a good business the WYD ISO corp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thalenoi Posted October 29, 2002 Report Share Posted October 29, 2002 Big problem indeed. The gf was in pain for months went to best hospital in town (Chumpon) 3 times. She got anti-biotic shots and medication for womb infection 3 times. The last time we went there was because she had irritated vagina. They checked my urine also and said Herpes II for both of us. I checked the internet for Herpes II. None of the symptoms. Went to see a docter in Chumpon, said fungi, gave cream, 5 days, over for both of us. Seems came from swimming in sea every day. She had still these womb pains. Went to Samitivej hospital Bangkok, gynecologist, scanner, everything ok on gynecologist side. They proposed a colonoscopy for intestine check. Diagnosed a slight infection of apendice. No medication, exercise, eat fiber, changed her diet. Pain lot less now. Definitevely in favor of Bangkok hospital, but which one?? But this one, pregnant iso cancer :: :: :: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bibblies Posted October 29, 2002 Report Share Posted October 29, 2002 I've had a similar story about a Kanchanaburi hospital that diagnosed cancer that wasn't. Apparently it wasn't helped by dirty X-ray gear but it was still a strange diagnosis. If you were a talented Thai doctor where would you practise? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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