HIV Transmission in Thai Hospitals

[corvettelover]

Sorry for your loss.
I lost my wife 10 years ago to MS aged 31and 29kg at the end.
Never give up maintain the rage and use whatever means available to promote what happenned.
For your own peace of mind and your sons as you have both been robbed.
And get a web page up, Sixty minutes progamme might battle for you as well

[Hootad Binky]

Last night I finally brought it up with my son. I was just going to leave it until he mentioned it but we were talking about a fish that recently died in our aquarium while watching a cartoon about a crying baby and a harried young mother and for the first time I said to him "you know, you had a Mummy too but she died" and he was fine with that, understood that. We'd never discussed it until then.

Sorry about your loss, corvettelover. It sounds like you were with her til the end. I'm sure she's watching over you, and waiting to see you again, so be good!

Nevertheless, "do not go gentle into that good night..."

[RDN]

Originally Posted by Hootad Binky

...
Nevertheless, "do not go gentle into that good night..."

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Dylan Thomas

Beautiful.

[big_cloud]

My Condolences

Thats why I donate Blood each time when I stay in Thailand
Few years ago we have had a Scandal about blood products too, here in Germany.
They spread HIV/AIDS thru "Factor 8" a blood product needed to tread Haemophiles
For planned surgery I would collect some bags from my own blood

Sorry for my poor English

Greetings and Regards

Lothar from Lembeck

[Hootad Binky]

Lothar: good for you, that's why I put up this thread. People who are healthy should give blood, and also remain healthy by having a stock of their own blood before surgery to stay safe.

The HIV blood contamination you describe also happened in Canada, but not only that, thousands of people (not just hemophiliacs) were also sadly contaminated in Canada with Hepatitis C, which is a very, very serious infection. They have finally got compensation but their lives have been ruined.

I don't want people to be paranoid, just careful. Mistakes are made. Be careful.

[RDN]

This thread has pretty much confirmed what I always thought I would do if I needed surgery - I'll get a flight home.

[shazbut]

^Yep,that's exactly what I did.No way i'm letting thoses monkeys near me.

[bobbins]

All well and good to say you will fly home for surgery IF it is planned. Lord help you if you need emergency surgery. It is my belief that blood in the UK, although screened, is not as safe as it could be. Just be thankful that you don't get paid to donate. Remember the blood scandal in China recently (past 3 years or so), many many many people became infected with HIV, Hepatitis etc. as chinese alcoholics and drug addicts virtually drained their bodies to pay for their next fix.
I do donate every three months, it is a real bugger trying to get them to take my (healthy) blood - it seems the red cross can't understand a farang volunteering to give when there isn't a medical emergency. Strange lot at the Henry Dunant clinic.
Hootad Binky, I do hope you get justice in the end.

[RDN]

Originally Posted by bobbins

All well and good to say you will fly home for surgery IF it is planned. Lord help you if you need emergency surgery. It is my belief that blood in the UK, although screened, is not as safe as it could be. Just be thankful that you don't get paid to donate. Remember the blood scandal in China recently (past 3 years or so), many many many people became infected with HIV, Hepatitis etc. as chinese alcoholics and drug addicts virtually drained their bodies to pay for their next fix.
I do donate every three months, it is a real bugger trying to get them to take my (healthy) blood - it seems the red cross can't understand a farang volunteering to give when there isn't a medical emergency. Strange lot at the Henry Dunant clinic.
Hootad Binky, I do hope you get justice in the end.

Yes, in an emergency it'd be a different story. I hope THAT never happens.

I used to give blood in the UK. I got one of those small lapel pins with a heart on it after 25 donations. I'd like to do it here too, but not sure if I trust the cleanliness of the needle they use to extract it. Worries, worries, worries.

[Whiteshiva]

Originally Posted by RDN

UK. I got one of those small lapel pins with a heart on it after 25 donations. I'd like to do it here too, but not sure if I trust the cleanliness of the needle they use to extract it. Worries, worries, worries.

I have given blood here (and in Malaysia) on several occasions - there is nothing to worry about - they open the sterile packing right in front of you, use gloves, etc - just as in the west.

The only difference is that the nurses are prettier here than back home!

[HermantheGerman]

Originally Posted by RDN

This thread has pretty much confirmed what I always thought I would do if I needed surgery - I'll get a flight home.

Thai Hospital are the pits ! Unfortunately I had to visit them in December 3x , because of my children. Fortunate that there was no blood involved.
I always thought about what I would do if my family becomes seriously ill. Would I fly back home or risk it in Thailand? How about Singapore? Has anyone suggestions or experience.

[RDN]

Originally Posted by Whiteshiva

...The only difference is that the nurses are prettier here than back home!

That in itself could be a problem - lying on your back with a tent pole in your trousers!

[dirtydog]

Originally Posted by RDN

That in itself could be a problem for you younger guys - lying on your back with a tent pole in your trousers! Us old guys don't get that problem.

OY, you editing your posts again RDN

[RDN]

[Reaper]

[quote=HermantheGerman;278312]

Originally Posted by RDN

Fortunate that there was no blood involved. I always thought about what I would do if my family becomes seriously ill. Would I fly back home or risk it in Thailand? How about Singapore? Has anyone suggestions or experience.

The diplomatic staff I know in Bangkok get medivaced to Singapore if it is serious.

[BobbyTits]

Hootad very sorry about your loss.

Very sad story.

Wondering how is it that she did die so quickly of AIDS ?


Were there not any signs of the disease in the early stages ?

[Hootad Binky]

No, no signs. We both went for HIV tests when we were pregnant and we were both negative. Then we she got sick she got sick very quickly, which is what usually happens from a blood-borne infection. Her neck swelled up and we thought it was a thyroid thing or a saliva-gland infection, etc. She didn't want a respirator in the end so she slowly suffocated at 5 am with the hospital not letting us in to see her until after she was dead and the nurses too arsed to bother changing her sheets. At least her Mom was with her; I was only allowed in shortly after she died.

My son and I were re-tested last year, more than a year after she died and we're both fine, putting the lie to the hospital's suggestion she had been infected during a "window period."

Haven't heard from them since (Camillian Hospital, that is, on Thong Lor). I can't prove anything, but I think they know now that something went wrong.

It's now almost 2 1/2 years since she passed away and I've recovered with a nice place for my son and I, so the worst is now over.

[Jet Gorgon]

^ Really sad to hear this tragic news, Hootad. A webiste would be good -- anyone with the same tragedy could share their views, too.
Hospitals anywhere scare me. These superbugs and shoddy practises, cut if off or cut it out mentality.
Your wife's case is especially strange, Hootad. Have you asked a Canadian doctor to review her case file, just to get another opinion? Thing is, he/she would be against publishing that if it went against the Thai doc's opinion. Maybe try the UVic med school.
For something major like this, always get a second or third opinion; just don't tell the new doc what the previous one said. A friend who just had bypass surgery is getting the major "ignore" treatment from Vancouver docs coz they know his sister works at the Mayo Clinic. Geez.
Anyway, now, the key thing is that you and your son are healthy. Perhaps time to move on? Lots of life to live.
Oh, an English friend who has donated blood regularly said he was recently banned from donating in England coz he had just been to Thailand. Ouch.

[Hootad Binky]

Hospital infections are a leading cause of death these days everywhere in the world, especially MRSA.

The opinion I got from my doctor was that because neither my son nor myself contracted HIV, and because my wife was not having an affair while nursing my son (I'm SURE about that one), and because both my wife and I tested negative when we were pregnant, then hospital contamination is most likely. When all plausible explanations have been eliminated, and only one explanation exists, then that's the plausible explanation.

Also a Brother in the Camillian Order admitted to me by email that blood contamination is routine in India, China, and SEA. When I forwarded his email to Camillian, I didn't get any more responses from the Good Brother.

It happens. And when it does you can't prove anything.

I never got an opinion from any Thai doctors because when my wife was still alive in the hospital and we explained everything to them none of them could look us in the eye. They would mumble something about "bad luck" and leave the room sharpish. Once Sopine explained to a doctor what happened and even showed him all the test results and he shouted her down. Lucky for him I wasn't there.

[Dalton]

I can't believe that I missed this thread, I know Hootad Binky has left the forum, but never the less I would like to pay my respect.
I have similar experience with hiv, not from Thailand but Sri-Lanka.