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Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: Its_Me_D on August 21, 2011, 08:42:50 am

Title: Anyone in here live in Thailand?
Post by: Its_Me_D on August 21, 2011, 08:42:50 am
Hi everyone.  I'm a 41 yr old hetero guy.  I'd been living in Thailand the last 15 years.  Six months to the day I tested positive - I was pretty sick with a CD4 of 72 . So within 1 day I had flown back to my home country and sought immediate hospitalisation and treatment.  I've been on ARVs pretty much since the beginning of March (over 5 months) I'm still not undetectable (vl170), and my CD4 seems to have plateaued around 250.  But I'm hoping to get myself to an undetectable level and a safer CD4 count and then returning back to my life there. I feel pretty displaced here where i presently am.  The only benefit of me being here presently is that my country has a great medicare system.  But I still envision my future in Thailand. 

So.. I was just wondering if anyone has any experience with clinics in the capital there and access (and price) to ARV's.   

Appreciate any responses in advance. 

Cheers.
D
Title: Re: Anyone in here live in Thailand?
Post by: butpoz on August 21, 2011, 10:10:36 am
Hi,

I do not live in thailand but went there oce looking for arv options.
I have learnt that arv is available in thailand, first line will cost you around 140$ per month, in which one or two is generic.

Atripla is not available though, so as its generic version viraday.

I came to bumrungrad and redcross clicnic at that time and would line to recommend red clinc, especially doctor Somsri - the most friendly hiv doctor that i have talked to so far.

Good luck.
Bp
Title: Re: Anyone in here live in Thailand?
Post by: Its_Me_D on August 21, 2011, 08:35:48 pm
Thanks for the info and recommendation Bp.
I will check out the Red Cross on my return.  And nice to know there's a very friendly dr. somsri there too. actually on searching i found the contact details of a "Ms. Somsri Tantipaibulvut Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre" .  I'm guessing this is possibly the person you met.  I might email her all the same regarding my meds.

cheers and thanks

Title: Re: Anyone in here live in Thailand?
Post by: Ann on August 22, 2011, 09:29:21 am
Hi D, welcome to the forums.

We have quite a few members who live in Thailand, but it's possible that not all of them (or many of them) read or post in the Just Tested forum. You'd probably get more responses if this were in the Living forum - let me know if you would rather have it there and I can move it for you, no charge. ;)


Ann
Title: Re: Anyone in here live in Thailand?
Post by: John2038 on August 22, 2011, 01:03:45 pm
Hi D, Welcome to the forums

Médecins Sans Frontières releases HIV drug pricing report at Rome AIDS conference
AIDS drugs discounts under threat in many countries
http://www.msf.org.uk/IASUTWPRJUL11_20110718.news

Developing country prices in US$ per patient per year, as quoted by companies (annexe 1)
http://utw.msfaccess.org/downloads/331

Uncertain source
HAART Price Thailand (2009) + Doctor list suggestion
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/285198-hiv-testing-and-treatment-in-los-doctors-meds-costs/

Enjoy Thailand !
J.
Title: Re: Anyone in here live in Thailand?
Post by: Its_Me_D on August 22, 2011, 10:09:34 pm
wow.. Thanks John for going to the trouble of sourcing those links for me.   I guess my Googling fingers have been lacking motivation.

very much appreciated.


Cheers

D.
Title: Re: Anyone in here live in Thailand?
Post by: butpoz on August 23, 2011, 09:56:18 am
"Ms. Somsri Tantipaibulvut Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre" .  I'm guessing this is possibly the person you met. 


That is the doctor that i talked to.

Title: Re: Anyone in here live in Thailand?
Post by: natthai on August 27, 2011, 09:49:25 am
Get your perscription from a doctor at St. Louis or Bumrungrad or wherever you like and get it filled at the Red Cross in Silom. Generics are VERY inexpensive. You can get a month supply for less than $100US. Also the CD4 and VL tests are around $30.

The US is really giving Thailand and India a hard time with trade sanctions and threats over this issue however they have the right according to the compulsory licensing clause in a WHO treaty, so legally aside from threats there is little they can do.

I would not let the cost of the medication stop you from living in a country you have made your home for the past 15 years.
Title: Re: Anyone in here live in Thailand?
Post by: joemutt on August 28, 2011, 11:44:59 pm
Some of the doctors who see patients in the more expensive hospitals (Bumrungrad, BNH) also see patients in Chulalongkorn Hospital which is much cheaper. There is a queue, though. There is also 'night time clinic' in Chulalongkorn which costs a little more but then you have a fixed appointment time. Again labs and filling of prescriptions at Anonymous Clinic of Red Cross, which is 200 m further down Ratchdamri road. My meds are 55 usd a month now. There used to be an English-speaking support group at Anonymous Clinic but it doesn't meet nowadays. I have lived here for 16 years, 14 with hiv. It hasn't been a problem, so far. :)
Title: Re: Anyone in here live in Thailand?
Post by: Themepark on August 31, 2011, 08:47:31 am
Dear D,

Glad to know that you have had a good time in my country and willing for the return.

I have recently tested positive at private hospital and got it confirmed again at the Anonymous Clinic with CD4@365 27%, VL@20800. Since than I have decided to take immediate medical consultation at Phyathai 2 Hospital, located near Sana Pao BTS station. And so far Dr. Sombat Leelasupasri has been doing a great job. Since I have decided to take quick action here, instead of the governmental hosital where I have my social health care, I do have do it on my own cost. The doctor began with Truvada + Stocrin for 2 testing week, however, it turned out to be that I am allergic to Stocrin on the 9th day. Just a few days after stopping Stocrin (with continuing Truvada), all rashes on my body began to disappear. Tonight will be the first for me to test the new recommended combination which is now Truvada + Kaletra (or Aluvia). The new set will likely cost me  bit over 10,000THB (350USD). This is the prise that Dr. Sombat has helped me by contacting the drug dealer directly, instead of buying through hospital.

I guess since you might not be included in the Thai health care system, you may have to pay for AVR by yourself, either at governmental hospital (both general clinic and VIP clinic which runs in the afternoon) and or at private hospital. You cannot directly buy AVR at Anonymous Clinic at re cross, there you still need to get a prescription by a doctor somewhere.

I hope this gives you some idea.
Cheers!

A.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
05/08/11 Tested HIV +
06/08/11 CD4@365 @27%, VL@20,806
11/08/11 Truvada + Stocrin
22/08/11 Truvada (Stop stocrin)
31/08/11 Truvada + Kaletra
Title: Re: Anyone in here live in Thailand?
Post by: joemutt on September 01, 2011, 01:31:48 am
My drugs are generic forms of truvada and viramune at total cost of 1650 thb (55 usd) per month.
I get them from anonymous clinic. My cd for is 1480 @ 48% VL undetectable since 1999. :)
Title: Re: Anyone in here live in Thailand?
Post by: Themepark on September 01, 2011, 05:51:25 am
Oh....how do you get them prescripted? I am new here ;(
Title: Re: Anyone in here live in Thailand?
Post by: Its_Me_D on September 02, 2011, 01:30:48 pm
thanks joemutt, natthai and themepark for your replys.  all great replies.

@joemutt  i'm also currently on viramune and truvada (for now at least.. my liver has been complaining my last two labs done.. so i'm told i may have to change if the trend follows). But all the same, it's good to know that the generics are there and easily available. 

@themepark. thanks for sharing. i hope you find a combination of the correct drugs and at an affordable price for you. good luck with that.  And yes, i will return to Thailand as soon as i'm able. รักเมืองไทย

D.
Title: Re: Anyone in here live in Thailand?
Post by: ratcat on December 09, 2011, 11:20:36 am
I live in Thailand as well.  Good info folks. I'll def. go to the Red Cross Anonymous Clinic from now on for my tests as I paid through the nose at Mission hospital.  I went back to the USA for a couple of months, worked, got tested(hiv poz. oh crap) and flew back, knowing I could do it on the cheap here.  I have only been here just over 2 years.  I'm on my way to Phuket now to start a new job.  Anywhere reasonable to get tests done down in Phuket?....and one more question.  Will I ever get laid again? lol..!  What a bad joke eh..living here and having to hold out.  Today on the bus from Bkk to Hua Hin I had a nice looking 22 year old Thai girl sitting next to me (I'm 42), we chatted for about an hour in Thai (my crappy thai..lol) and she asked if she could rest her head on my shoulder...before I knew it she was rubbing my leg etc.  She grabbed my phone as I was disembarking and dialed in her #.  When she called me tonight, I told her that I wasn't feeling well!!! What a shit show! :-\
chaqwow mai ow! :'(
Title: Re: Anyone in here live in Thailand?
Post by: Ann on December 10, 2011, 10:36:07 am

Will I ever get laid again? lol..!


There's no reason why you shouldn't. Condoms have been proven to prevent hiv infection. There have been three long-term studies of couples where one is positive and one is negative. In the couples who used condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, but no barrier for oral activities, not one of the negative partners became infected with hiv. Not one.

You can get laid as much as you want provided you are using condoms to protect your partner(s). Or you could always find yourself a poz girlfriend and not have to worry about it. My poz bf and I certainly don't!