Pattaya Reports

[QUOTE=Mart Cham]I don't know which is the situation of Mouse1 but I wouldn't recommend a tourist to go to a public hospital if he can't speak Thai or isn't accompanied by someone who does. Been in several public hospitals and in none of them the staff, especially administrative, could speak English. Good luck with the registration as a patient if you can't explain your problem, fill out the registration form, etc.[/QUOTE]


Of course, if you don't speak Thai, it's better to go to a public hospital accompanied by someone who can help you (or at least with a dictionary), but it's not a big deal.

It is true that the administrative staff at public hospitals often don't speak much English (if any), but the doctors usually do. What they ask in the registration form is very basic information: given names, surname, age, current location (the address of your hotel is sufficient if you are a tourist). They usually will check your weight and blood pressure. If you can't explain what is your problem to the administrative staff, they would very likely fetch one available doctor who can speak English to help.

Fellas, Fellas,Now here is what I would do since I have been doing it for sometime. I will only speak of want I know when it comes to the U.S., with your legal percription from the U.S. take the original bottle with all the percription information on the bottle medicine that you obtain from Thailand into this bottle. F.Y.I. I have been doing this for years knowing several former employee friends and managers that are top TSA people now. In regards to this God help us all because these guys that run TSA now particularly in California are some real stupid idiots.

When going through through TSA, they look at my plastic bag with my so call percription bottle and neve have I had a problem. They're TSA no Doctors!When I come check points in Tawian, Japan, Thailand never have I ever been question. Asthma inhalers with the original U.S box I get replacement in Thailand and put them into the original percription box. My friends who are retired in Thailand do the same thing with their Viagra etc... and put them in old bottles.

Now in regards to hospital that speak English... in all the years never have I gone to a hospital in Pattaya, Bangkok/Pattaya have I ever from day one had a problem speaking only English myself been unable to gain access from registering or unable to explain or understand what I needed to convey to a Thai Doctor. From my experience from Dental to emergency been able to speak to a Doctor.Cost... you can see a Doctor for example at Bangkok/Pattaya total cost to get a percription would be 550 baht. That is ten minutes of their time.. tell them just like a American Doctor " you have having a hard time getting it up " At our age who is going to challenge that! right there your percription, a small wait then to the pill counter and pay your standard tap along with the medication. Tell the lady you want a copy of the percription!* Keep it! Keep the bottle for the future! now you can buy more on the street and still it into the original bottle. Now you have everything when you are stop! Percentage these guys can't even read a passport! They are basically stupid IMHO!

When it comes to Vitamins, I have brought in 10 to 15 bottles of Vitamins of various types. Been stop at the check point once and pay the dickhead 500 baht. Majority of the time even when it goes through the scanner they don't know what they are looking for... When you pack... put some here and put some there never all in same area. I wrap bottles in my dirty stain underwear, my carry on has a zipper area in the bottom and I put case of condoms and etc... zip it up... then I pack all my clothes in... spreading my dirty boxers throughout. If they can put up with the stains and you can put up the laughter it might all be worth it just to get a few pills through!

O.K. guys give it a try!* LBM

[QUOTE=LittleBigMan]Fellas, Fellas,Now here is what I would do since I have been doing it for sometime. I will only speak of want I know when it comes to the U.S., with your legal percription from the U.S. take the original bottle with all the percription information on the bottle medicine that you obtain from Thailand into this bottle.

When going through through TSA, they look at my plastic bag with my so call percription bottle and neve have I had a problem. They're TSA no Doctors!When I come check points in Tawian, Japan, Thailand never have I ever been question. Asthma inhalers with the original U.S box I get replacement in Thailand and put them into the original percription box. My friends who are retired in Thailand do the same thing with their Viagra etc... and put them in old bottles.[/QUOTE]I kick myself for not thinking of this! Many thanks, you are a wise man. :)

(I don't think it would stand up in court but perfect for getting through customs or random searches, not that I have ever had problems with either.)

[QUOTE=Mart Cham]I don't know which is the situation of Mouse1 but I wouldn't recommend a tourist to go to a public hospital if he can't speak Thai or isn't accompanied by someone who does. Been in several public hospitals and in none of them the staff, especially administrative, could speak English. Good luck with the registration as a patient if you can't explain your problem, fill out the registration form, etc.[/QUOTE]I suspect that it would not be easy as I carry strong pain-killers just in case of a recurrence of a problem I had several months ago. So I can imagine it would be difficult to get a prescription for something that I am not suffering from right now. And very difficult to get opiate-based painkillers.

[QUOTE=Mart Cham]A definite YES. Especially if u know that you have the right to possess such medicine. Stand your ground and keep this letter with you, no prob for sure.
FYI French prescriptions look like letters.[/QUOTE]... and finally, I went round to my GP today (phoned at 10.25am and got an appointment for 11am; bless the NHS) and he understandingly gave me a fresh prescription with a note from him authorising me to carry the drugs).

And I agree, standing your ground with respect to medicines that are 'genuine' is pretty important.

[QUOTE=Mouse1]Apologies if this is a stupid question, but... For medical history reasons I travel with a few days' supply of opiate-based painkillers. They would certainly be illegal in Thailand if obtained without a prescription. My doctor prescribed them to me as a one-off prescription, and in order to receive them I handed that prescription into the pharmacy, so now I have no record of the prescription (this is the UK we're talking about). How do I cover myself? This must happen to others. Would a letter (in English) from my GP be enough to fend off the attention of the local police? Any thoughts?[/QUOTE]


You don't need the hand-written prescription from the doctor, you need the bottle it comes in with the prescription info on it.

[QUOTE=Goyave]Of course, if you don't speak Thai, it's better to go to a public hospital accompanied by someone who can help you (or at least with a dictionary), but it's not a big deal.

It is true that the administrative staff at public hospitals often don't speak much English (if any), but the doctors usually do. What they ask in the registration form is very basic information: given names, surname, age, current location (the address of your hotel is sufficient if you are a tourist). They usually will check your weight and blood pressure. If you can't explain what is your problem to the administrative staff, they would very likely fetch one available doctor who can speak English to help.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Evianist]You don't need the hand-written prescription from the doctor, you need the bottle it comes in with the prescription info on it.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=LittleBigMan]Fellas, Fellas,Now here is what I would do since I have been doing it for sometime. I will only speak of want I know when it comes to the U.S., with your legal percription from the U.S. take the original bottle with all the percription information on the bottle medicine that you obtain from Thailand into this bottle.

When going through through TSA, they look at my plastic bag with my so call percription bottle and neve have I had a problem. They're TSA no Doctors!When I come check points in Tawian, Japan, Thailand never have I ever been question. Asthma inhalers with the original U.S box I get replacement in Thailand and put them into the original percription box. My friends who are retired in Thailand do the same thing with their Viagra etc... and put them in old bottles.

Now in regards to hospital that speak English... in all the years never have I gone to a hospital in Pattaya, Bangkok/Pattaya have I ever from day one had a problem speaking only English myself been unable to gain access from registering or unable to explain or understand what I needed to convey to a Thai Doctor. From my experience from Dental to emergency been able to speak to a Doctor.Cost... you can see a Doctor for example at Bangkok/Pattaya total cost to get a percription would be 550 baht. That is ten minutes of their time.. tell them just like a American Doctor " you have having a hard time getting it up " At our age who is going to challenge that! right there your percription, a small wait then to the pill counter and pay your standard tap along with the medication. Tell the lady you want a copy of the percription!* Keep it! Keep the bottle for the future! now you can buy more on the street and still it into the original bottle. Now you have everything when you are stop! Percentage these guys can't even read a passport! They are basically stupid IMHO!

O.K. guys give it a try!* LBM[/QUOTE]
All the doctors who have examined me at PUBLIC hospitals in Thailand spoke VERY basic English, so that we even switched to Thai sometimes. Administrative staff no English AT ALL.
In private hospitals that's a completely different story and the nurses are prettier.

I have never ever got medicine from Germany or France with any kind of legal prescription paper on the package. Probably a US thing.

[QUOTE=Mart Cham]All the doctors who have examined me at PUBLIC hospitals in Thailand spoke VERY basic English, so that we even switched to Thai sometimes. Administrative staff no English AT ALL.
In private hospitals that's a completely different story and the nurses are prettier...[/QUOTE]

I was speaking about public hospitals too, and according to my own experience, all the doctors that I've met there so far can speak a decent enough English (I agree with you that most of the administrative staff usually does not speak English or just a very little bit).

Of course, your mileage may vary, but IMHO, public hospitals are great at least for basic medical care... or if you want to have a rapid HIV test, for instance (it was only 300 baht the last time I've got one last year, and results were given within the hour).

[QUOTE=Goyave]I was speaking about public hospitals too, and according to my own experience, all the doctors that I've met there so far can speak a decent enough English (I agree with you that most of the administrative staff usually does not speak English or just a very little bit).

Of course, your mileage may vary, but IMHO, public hospitals are great at least for basic medical care... or if you want to have a rapid HIV test, for instance (it was only 300 baht the last time I've got one last year, and results were given within the hour).[/QUOTE]
We've definitely had different practitioners then. By the way I agree with you (although I wouldn't send a tourist friend there) that for basic medical care, they're just about perfect. Most of the time I was in and out within a couple of hours and a couple hundred bahts lighter only. I may or may not have to pay anything in a public hospital in Europe but if I'm done in only 4 hours I consider myself very lucky.
I don't think I would do a HIV test in there though. Dunno why.

pattaya is much more violate and dangerous than i remember from over the years.

1. went to superbabys go-go which is famous for sp that cater to japanese and korean clients (which i am not). no language skills of sp (in english), but agreed to barfine with short time later (she told me 1.5) so we went to lucifer for a quick drink. no problems at lucifer (which usually also means not lady-boy), and returned to my hotel. at the hotel, she says "no boom boom for farang". i told her i paid the barfine and offered her the 1.5. she refused. we went back to superbabys and i explained nicely to mamasan and waitress what had happened. i asked for sp who would do the short time, and offered to pay the difference. no dice. spoke with manager who stated that i had to pay again bar fine and short time for different sp. spoke to japanese owner. he refused to talk with me (even after i bowed respectfully and spoke to him in japanese). i waited patiently, they wouldn't budge so i left.

spoke with security guard of my hotel, he indicated she was lady-boy (after i tipped him of course). on way back to walking street from hotel, saw japanese manager outside, and nicely indicated that i worry sending my japanese and korean clients there (which is true) because of my previous issue, and possible ladyboys. he retaliated by taking a swing at me, grazing my forehead, followed by the thai employees giving full frontal assault. barely got away unrep001hed (small bruise and watch missing).

2. went back hotel, cleaned up and changed. determined not to let this ruin my night, i went out again to lucifer. on my way, saw superhottie walking with another sp. she came over and offered me short time. we walked and talked and i explained previous situation that i didn't want ladyboy. she ensured me that if she was, i did not have to pay. i told her that my "brother" would be checking her id, and she didn't seem to worry. she made a quick stop for some lube (should of been first warning), and we went to hotel. security guard gave green light. my spidey senses were still tingling, so i did the checklist a) no adams apple b) soft hair c) no extra rib d) hit like a girl e) no square shoulders f) working parts. i still wasn't satisified and realized something was up when tried to enter. just finished myself off and send her packing (after reluctantly paying). i think she promised to give the security guard a cut, if he didn't sqwak.

3. earlier that night, i went for regular oil massage (considered possible hj). massage provider gave lousy massage, asked to shower me, and gave me hj. she asked for more money, which i declined saying just wanted massage. older western woman my mother's age was next curtain over! then provider starting kissing me, and asked me to kiss her breasts, and finger her. she took off her panties, put her weight on my arms pinning me and hopped on my member! i told her i wanted a condom. she started "boxing me" so i pulled out after a couple pumps and finished myself off. she wanted to lie together (to finish the hour) and asked me to be her boyfriend, meet her after her shift and go to my hotel. i just smiled, went downstairs paid masage fee, threw in 100bht tip. at 7-11 saw stunning sp, while asking her name, my massage provider suddenly appeared, causing drama. took her outside and offered her some money, she refused, and told me to meet her 1 hour. i said i would try and pretended to enter another closeby hotel.

i thought i was a seasoned expat in asia here, but i think my mongering days in pattaya is over . . .

[QUOTE=Mart Cham]All the doctors who have examined me at PUBLIC hospitals in Thailand spoke VERY basic English, so that we even switched to Thai sometimes. Administrative staff no English AT ALL.
In private hospitals that's a completely different story and the nurses are prettier.

I have never ever got medicine from Germany or France with any kind of legal prescription paper on the package. Probably a US thing.[/QUOTE]


No one is asking anyone here to stop going to the hospital whether it is a public or private if it works for you or for whatever reasons cost etc...?

The suggestion since there was no mentioned of public or private was if you need a piece of paper so you can carry a specify medicine or just to beat the system by getting around the cops searches here. Then it's up to each individual how they are going to proceed. If I tired of all the B.S. I'll paid the little extra and go to a private hospital just to get what I need for the future. This is very similar to P4P sex... Go Go Bars, Walking Stree Go Go's or Beach Road?

Do what you got to do to see someone that speaks better English to get the paper documents. Even in a public hospital without speaking they should know what you need. Pull down you zipper, pull out your thing, and place then limp thing on the counter, you will get lots of laughs but you just might get your documents. I'm pretty sure they will know your problem without you ever saying a word?

LBM

I've found that the 18-21 yo girls are difficult to negotiate down from 700ST to 500ST on soi 6. Are any others having this same difficulty?

Not really a big deal, but I want to see where the market is at.

[QUOTE=Evianist]You don't need the hand-written prescription from the doctor, you need the bottle it comes in with the prescription info on it.[/QUOTE]

Are you sure that would suffice? I guess to be safe, might want to just have those prescriptions on hand, just in case. I only say that cuz here in Vietnam, plenty of times when I showed the papers that supposedly were all that was needed, was told that actually I needed something else too, which of course I didn't have. Of course it's all just part of the shakedown script they all know by heart. ("This is not the original document, we need to see the original" -- "But the pharmacy keeps the original, if I had the original I couldnt' have the drugs" "That's your problem. We need the original." Chico Marx would have made a great Thai or Vietnamese cop.)

[QUOTE=Amjeck]I've found that the 18-21 yo girls are difficult to negotiate down from 700ST to 500ST on soi 6. Are any others having this same difficulty?

Not really a big deal, but I want to see where the market is at.[/QUOTE]Interesting. I have never tried to negotiate. Since I'm always asked for 700Bht I assumed that it was a standard rate, like the 500/1000/150Bht in oilies. I guess everything is negotiable, but I would worry about demotivating the girl for the sake of 100Bht or so.

[QUOTE=Wendella]Are you sure that would suffice? I guess to be safe, might want to just have those prescriptions on hand, just in case. I only say that cuz here in Vietnam, plenty of times when I showed the papers that supposedly were all that was needed, was told that actually I needed something else too, which of course I didn't have. Of course it's all just part of the shakedown script they all know by heart. ("This is not the original document, we need to see the original" -- "But the pharmacy keeps the original, if I had the original I couldnt' have the drugs" "That's your problem. We need the original." Chico Marx would have made a great Thai or Vietnamese cop.)[/QUOTE]

I'm sure if they're just looking for a payday then you're out of luck no matter what you have.