This month has been a rollercoaster to say the least. Never in my wildest imagination would I have thought that I’d end up staying in Bangkok for 2 weeks. Our trip to Thailand began innocuosly enough. It was the first time I was traveling with my mom’s side of the family. My aunt, uncle, cousin haven’t been to Asia in decades. We had booked tours to Ayutthaya and Pattaya. We were all staying at my favorite hotel in Bangkok, Novotel Bangkok Platinum. Everything was booked in June so we got everything at good prices (our PAL flights had the best sked and cost only US$260+ per head, while the hotel was at ₱7,000+ per night with breakfast).
The day before we were supposed to go home, my mom was hospitalized due to a mild stroke. Novotel suggested that she be taken to Phyathai 1 Hospital which was 1km away. They had the best stroke unit in Bangkok. My mom had travel insurance from the US where she is based so all her bills and expenses in connection with her medical emergency (additional accommodation, return tickets, and so forth) were covered. Doctor said she had to stay put for 2 weeks and would only be cleared to fly after 2 weeks.
Honestly, our hospitals here (yes even St. Luke’s!) pale in comparison to Bangkok’s Phyathai 1. All the medical personnel are very efficient and professional. They move and act so quickly, so much so that there’s no waiting at the Emergency Room or at any other section of the hospital. My mom was immediately subjected to an MRI and the results were out in ONE HOUR. A neurologist read it immediately and said she had a minor clot that needed to be treated. She was ushered in the ASU (Acute Stroke Unit, their ICU for stroke patients) where she was administered IV medication to dissolve the clot. This was the most non-invasive treatment and the doctor said they would have to observe for the next 3 days to see if it was going to be effective.
I took my original flight back to Manila the next day and went back to Bangkok some days after as I had to take care of things. In retrospect, it was fortunate I got an Accor Plus membership last June. I got it to Gold because of my Korea and first set of Bangkok bookings. Gold membership meant I was guaranteed a room even if Novotel was fully booked (which it was) along with free room upgrade, early check-in, late check-out, welcome amenity, free drinks, and so forth.
Long story short, the treatment worked and my mom was out of the hospital after a few days. My sister and I accompanied her to her check-up with the neurologist. She was cleared to fly on December 18. She spent maybe 4-5 days in the ASU and a about a day in the regular room. All the medical expenses including the check-up and even a month’s supply of meds which the hospital provided totalled to US$4,000. Get this, her hospital room looked better than a hotel room.
If this was St. Lukes Medical Center, the bill would have been quadruple this amount WTF. Plus the speed of diagnosis + treatment would not have been the same. Our medical system just does not seem to possess the same sense of urgency the Thai medical system does. Thanks to the quick action, my mom doesn’t have any after effects like paralysis, speech impediments, or mobility issues. That said, I really do think it’s better to get medical treatment in Bangkok than Manila. The quality of care is just way better in Bangkok. The difference can mean a better quality of life for the patient in the long run.
I speak from experience. I have had to rush people to the ER a few times. Every freaking time we have had to wait HOURS to be attended to. Had those instances actually been life-threatening, the patient may not have survived.
On a more positive note, I now know the Pratunam, Chidlom, Pathumwan, and Siam areas like the back of my hand. I can use the BTS Skytrain to get to wherever I need to go. Even tried riding a boat for 30 baht from Wat Arun to Iconsiam just to avoid traffic. If I was going to be stuck somewhere, I’d pick Bangkok because food, transportation, and pretty much everything else are all nice and affordable. The Thais are really great people too. I always felt safe even if I was walking most of the time. Their streets are cleaner than ours. Heck even their movie theaters, malls, and restaurants are all better than ours. Just about the only thing that’s better here in Manila is the traffic. Believe it or not Bangkok traffic is way worse.
The past month has just been crazy. We even have a podcast-worthy supernatural experience but that’s another story.
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