Thailand Update: Bangkok Hospital Hua Hin Responded—Now I Need a Date
Well, that was fast.
After writing about my plans to potentially spend about 30 days in Hua Hin, Thailand, I emailed the Hua Hin location of Bangkok Hospital to ask what I would need to do to continue my hemodialysis treatments while I'm there.
I expected to wait.
Instead, it took only a few hours for Bangkok Hospital Hua Hin to respond.
They sent me a detailed list of the medical records, dialysis information, and laboratory results they want me to provide before arriving in Thailand.
Suddenly, this little Thailand experiment feels considerably more real.
What Bangkok Hospital Needs From Me
The hospital wants my current hemodialysis prescription, including information such as my dialyzer, dialysate settings, blood-flow and dialysate-flow rates, dry weight, treatment duration and temperature, vascular access and anticoagulant. The prescription needs to be from within three months of my dialysis appointment in Hua Hin.
They also want my recent dialysis information, including any complications I've experienced during treatment, my blood pressure before and after dialysis, and medications administered during or after treatment, such as IV iron or erythropoietin.
Then come the labs.
They require recent testing for HBsAg, hepatitis C antibodies, hepatitis B antibodies, hepatitis B core antibody IgG, and HIV. Most of those results need to be from within six months, while the HIV result can be from within one year.
They noted that if I arrive without the required information, they may need to repeat blood testing before my first dialysis treatment—and there would be an additional charge.
They also want a list of optional information, including my medical history, recent dialysis treatment information, medication list, and additional lab results such as CBC, BUN, creatinine, electrolytes, calcium, phosphorus, and other tests.
It looks like a lot on paper.
Fortunately, I shouldn't have to assemble all of this by myself.
I Talked to My Dialysis Provider
Most Mondays, either my nephrologist or his Physician Assistant checks in with patients at the dialysis center.
Today, I told him what I'm planning.
I think he was a little surprised when I told him where I was thinking about going—and that I was considering staying for about a month.
Thailand wasn't exactly the answer he was expecting.
I showed him the information Bangkok Hospital Hua Hin requested. He told me that my dialysis clinic should be able to obtain most, if not all, of it.
That's a pretty big hurdle potentially taken care of.
And that's exactly why I contacted the hospital before booking a trip. A beachfront condo with an ocean view sounds wonderful, but none of that matters if I can't safely continue dialysis three times a week.
The Pieces Are Coming Together
In a relatively short time, I've gone from thinking about Thailand to working through the logistics.
I've connected with an expat who may be able to help me find a furnished beachfront condo, work through the visa process, arrange transportation from Bangkok to Hua Hin, find temporary accommodations while I get settled, and potentially help arrange a caretaker for Mom.
Now I've heard directly from Bangkok Hospital Hua Hin about what they need for my dialysis.
My dialysis provider believes they can supply the medical information.
So what's the next major item on the Thailand checklist?
I need to pick a date.
That's where I am now.
No plane ticket yet. No condo lease yet. I'm not packing a suitcase tomorrow.
But each question I answer removes another reason this couldn't work.
A few days ago, dialysis in Thailand was one of the biggest unknowns.
Today, I have a list.
And apparently, my dialysis clinic has most of what's on it.
Now I just need to figure out when I'm going to Hua Hin.