Monday, 17 September 2012

We're not sick enough yet



Maiyuu and I are supposed to be heading to a public hospital today, but might just give it a miss.

He's not sick enough to visit a public hospital. Like him, I'd only go there if I had no other choice.

Maiyuu needs treatment for an allergy condition, which gives him persistent snuffles and a chronic cough. He has also suffered some parasitic invasion under his skin, and perhaps in his blood.

He reckons the parasites – jeet worms, in Thai – have weakened his immunity, leading to his cough.

I recall that the cough, which he has had for at least 18 months, started well before the problem with the parasites, so perhaps one did not lead to the other after all.

Regardless, he is unwell, and should see someone.

A week or so ago, I contacted a doctor I know in this condo, and asked him which ear, nose and throat specialist in Bangkok he would care to recommend.

Maiyuu’s cough and allergy problems are potentially more serious than the parasites, as they have been around longer, and sap him of energy.

My doctor friend did not recommend anyone, but suggested we take ourselves off to the Police General Hospital, where he works, and line up for treatment. 

We should turn up at 8am, and seek an appointment, he said. He would join us at lunchtime and see how we were doing. 

The prospect is unappealing.

‘The traffic is terrible, the queues of patients worse,’ Maiyuu said.

I recall my last visit to a public hospital.

I visited Chulalongkorn Hospital with a hearing complaint a couple of years ago (see here, and here). 

After a long day of being shunted from one doctor to another, a specialist finally gave me the prognosis that I might be suffering from a brain tumour.

Steady on, dear. Let’s eliminate the basics first, shall we?

The doctors did not prescribe any medicine, not eardrops or even simple antibiotics for fighting infection. I left the hospital that day empty-handed.

They were too busy diagnosing me with spectacular diseases, none of which I had.
My ear problem cleared up itself eventually, as I suspected it would.

But how many times a day to these so-called specialists get carried away and tell their patients they might be suffering potentially fatal diseases, as they did when I visited?

The patient may have nothing more than an abrasion of the eardrum, or buildup of wax. But if doctors cannot say for sure, some like to assume the worst, as life is more interesting for them that way.

That was my unfortunate encounter with the public hospital system, which ended happily enough.

I am less confident of a quick cure in Maiyuu’s case, as his problems have dragged on for so long.

However, we do have an alternative in mind should we decide not to visit the hospital today, as seems likely.

Maiyuu has spotted a large clinic near here, which we might try first.

I’d like him to submit to a blood and stool test, so at least we know what is wrong.

We do not need to go to a public hospital to get those tests done. And judging by the rigmarole they put patients through, I don’t think we need to bother.

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