Another San Paulo story

[bigideas]

So my daughter developed a sudden skin rash and we decided to avoid the queues at Hua Hin hospital and avoid the prices at Bangkok hospital, and to get it quickly seen to at San Paulo. It should have been fairly straight forward - perhaps anti-histamine and calamine lotion but my wife was concerned about a rise in Dengue Fever so I agreed that my daughter should get a blood test. At the consultation, we three went in, and the doctor proceeded to ask my wife lots of questions in Thai. Though he knew my daughter spoke Thai and was perfectly capable of answering for herself. So I stopped him and asked if we could do this in English because I don't understand. He told my wife "first I'll do it in Thai then in English". So, I waited.When he finished talking in Thai and very briefly looked at the rash on her arms and legs he said in English, "We're going to do a blood test". I asked to check for what? and he said Dengue Fever. I said, I very much doubt it's Dengue because she didn't have any other Dengue symptoms and asked him if he had any other ideas. He said, "Let's check for Dengue first" and I accepted.
Anyway, we had the test and came back an hour later for the results. I had this information on my phone so that I knew what to ask about.

Positive IgM and IgG tests for dengue antibodies detected in an initial blood sample mean that it is likely that the person became infected with dengue virus within recent weeks. ... If the IgG is positive but the IgM is low or negative, then it is likely that the person had an infection sometime in the past.Mar 8, 2017
https://labtestsonline.org/understandin ... /tab/test/

The results were negative for IgM and negative for IgG and negative for NS1Ag. Seemed pretty conclusive to me but he was telling my wife that she may still have Dengue Fever. I was saying to him, "Where is the evidence for what you're saying?" and of course he started getting upset with me. At last he went out and the nurses came and took us into a treatment room and they put my daughter's arm in an old blood pressure type machine and said they had to do it. I was asking why and they couldn't tell me but then the doctor came in and told them in Thai that they didn't have to answer my question and asked me to leave the treatment room. Of course, I said no, I'm her father and he just walked away. When I asked my daughter after another minute of this, she said they have to put a tight rubber ring around my upper arm for five minutes and if it leaves a mark when they take it off, I have Dengue fever. I couldn't believe it and of course couldn't find reference to this Mickey Mouse treatment anywhere. In the end, we went back into the consultation room and the doctor said "See, there's a mark around her arm, so she has Dengue. By now, I just wanted to get out of there. I said, what's the prescription and he said "anti-histamine and calamine lotion", I just smiled.
All he needed to say was, "The results are negative but it was worth checking for Dengue. I'll prescribe anti-histamine and calamine which should get rid of the rash' bye"

[StevePIraq]

While there are some good articles about SP Hospital there are many more bad articles. I have two extremely bad experiences with SP. For minor things they may be ok bit not for anything serious.

[RCer]

Basically, don't go there if you need medical care.

[hhinner]

To avoid the queues at HH Hospital go to the express service desk. Costs an extra 200 baht on top of treatment cost. Not available Saturday and Sunday though.

[Thistle]

Everyone to their own opinion,i disagree with Rcer.From previous experience with San Paulo,prior to Bangkok Hospital opening i found them completely competent and capable We all have different opinions regarding medical care.My brother came from Bumrungrad in Bangkok to spend his last months in Hua Hin,after being diagnosed with throat cancer.I would not fault San Paulo. At any time when he had to be admitted, for various medical reasons,the hospital was extremely capable,and took very good care of him,up to his passing.This was 9 years ago,however i have friends here who are still using San Paulo facilities on a regular basis.

[nil]

Not a good experience but caused problems with the clash of cultures. A Thai doctor will not want to be questioned about what he is doing and his expertise. Difficult situation to deal with.

[oakdale160]

in dengue, the platelets in the blood drop. platelets are part of the clotting process. If you pump up the BP cuff and leave for a few minutes Petechia, tiny red spots will appear beneath the skin surface. A very simple blood test will tell if the platelet count has dropped.

[joelle]

the doctor proceeded to ask my wife lots of questions in Thai. Though he knew my daughter spoke Thai and was perfectly capable of answering for herself.

it was probably easier for him to speak Thai knowing your wife and daughter could explain it all to you
can't see why there should be such a fuss made over it
and if you knew what it was you could have gone to a pharmacy ask advice and get the medicine by yourself

[handdrummer]

I don't understand why bigideas didn't leave after his first unpleasant encounter? Was the agravation worth saving a couple of hundred baht or 30 mins. of time.

[handdrummer]

Not a good experience but caused problems with the clash of cultures. A Thai doctor will not want to be questioned about what he is doing and his expertise. Difficult situation to deal with.

I've never met a dr. who liked being questioned. I walked out on one arrogant s.o.b. who told me that I should have my prostate gland removed and after being questioned admitted that it was not his field of expertise.

[Homer]

... and if you knew what it was you could have gone to a pharmacy ask advice and get the medicine by yourself

Don't know what you were trying to achieve. Do know it would have had a chance at being effective if he hadn't said this in the OP:

.. perhaps anti-histamine and calamine lotion but my wife was concerned about a rise in Dengue Fever so I agreed that my daughter should get a blood test.

[Big Boy]

I think we all have different stories about local medical establishments i.e.:

- I've only had good service from San Paulo (not used them for 8 years).
- I've numerous horror stories from Bangkok Hospital, and a couple of good ones.
- Hua Hin Hospital is doing a good job for my family at the moment. Our current hospital of choice due to location.
- By far the best (based on my family's experience), but a bit far is Petcharat.

One important lesson I've learnt is choose a hospital, and remain with them. My wife has severe arthritis in both knees. Her pain was so bad before Christmas I was recommended a private clinic. The doc took a look, said that he could help and prescribed a course of treatment. Because the doc didn't know my wife's medical history there was a severe reaction, which she's only just recovering from now. I do not blame the doc. He did the best he could with the knowledge he had about my wife. Stopped her moaning about her knee pain though .

Seriously, a hospital knowing your medical history is very important. Choose your hospital, and try to stick with it.

[HHTel]

By far the best (based on my family's experience), but a bit far is Petcharat.

Agree 100%. Such a shame they closed down their clinic in HH after the Bangkok Hospital opened.

[oakdale160]

There are closed medical groups, in Korea for example where each pt has a smart card that they carry. This has an abbreviated Medical history, Xray, US, CATS, MRI, allergies, drug interactions etc encoded on it.

[RCer]

I use BKK hospital exclusively, mainly because its the only way to get reimbursed by my US insurance (long complicated story).

Anyway, only problem we've had with them was the Dr's speaking Thai to my wife and leaving me out of the conversation, about me.

We solved that issue. She doesn't go into the Dr's office with me anymore.