A Medical Emergency in Hua Hin

[Big Boy]

Part 1

Warning: Don’t try this at home – it bloody hurts!!!

This is quite a long report, so I have split it up, trip report style.

NB: I have written this report in a light hearted manner. I was in a lot of pain during this process, and I have tried to reflect my emotions as they happened. In reality, I have no complaints whatsoever with any of the treatments I received. In fact, my treatment couldn’t have been better. I’d classify it as brilliant throughout.

I had been dreading the period 7th June to 14th June for a couple of weeks as it approached i.e.:

7th – vet
8th – vet
9th – HHH Eye Appointment
10th – vet
11th - HHH Appointment
14th – Double HHH Appointment

Each of the above events involved an early start, and a lot of hanging around.

11th June 2025

I dropped my wife off at her hospital appointment, and then because of atrocious parking restrictions at the hospital, moved to the local Bangchak Service Station to sit and wait. I’d watch a few movies whilst waiting, and might even nip inside for a coffee. The benefit of the service station was the availability of half decent toilets – after all, at 69 years old, the old bladder does play up a bit. Parking was quite empty, so I chose a spot in close proximity to the toilets – perfect.

I thought rather than disturb the movie, I’d have a pee before I started. Off I trot for the coveted pee – everything was locked up. No problems, there’s another toilet block about 20 yards away. As it turned out, a very clean loo. It had just been cleaned inside, and there was a cleaner hosing down the pavement outside.

Duty done, I started walking back to my car, which included stepping over the cleaner’s hose. Next thing I knew, I was laying on a very wait pavement. She’d moved her hose, and took me straight down. I just laid there, hurting a bit, but my initial assessment was sit there a minute or two and I’d be fine.

Of course, it always hurts more when somebody sees you go down, and a small group of rubberneckers were gathering. Next personal assessment – left leg hurts a bit, but its hurt before – why don’t you all go away? Amongst the crowd was the cleaning lady who had done for me, asking what had happened. I explained that she had happened, but it was going in one ear, and straight out the other with her. She clearly spoke a lot more English words than she understood.

I was still sat inside my rather large puddle, and people were becoming concerned. Some of the more concerned people were asking if I’d like an ambulance, whilst others were simply recording the event on their smartphones. I was denying that I needed an ambulance.

Final smart assessment, and 15 minutes had passed by now. My left leg had lost all mobility – I had no option but to accept an offer of an ambulance. At least something was going to happen now. Another kind bystander produced some cream, and started rubbing it in to the left leg.

I could hear the ambulance coming. It was Sawang Rescue – I have family work for them. It pulled right in beside me. My granddaughter’s boyfriend jumped out. OK a friendly face, but he most likely speaks less English than I speak Thai. At least, he’d let the rest of the family know.

Then the not so good bit. I don’t trust Bangkok Hospital (BH) after several mishaps (which is why I usually stand up for Hua Hin Hospital (HHH)). He starts to tell me I was going to BH – no I am not!!! Fortunately, one of relatives he’d phoned was my daughter, who told him to take me to HHH.

Now the elephant in the room, or maybe it should be the elephant in the puddle. I weigh about 130Kg, and am 196Cms tall. Not your average Thai size. The ambulance was crewed by 4 midgets. However, the fact remained, how was their combined might going to get this giant into the ambulance? I was actually expecting a fire engine or the Army to turn up.

The answer was, PAINFULLY. I think the rubberneckers might have learned a few words rarely heard outside of Devonport Naval Dockyard that morning. They say Thais like noise, and I gave them plenty that morning. I think there were also a few rubberneckers enjoying the show so much, they helped me into the ambulance as well.

I think the driver went over every bump and hole in the role en-route to the hospital. I was in agony. When I watch programmes like Casualty on TV, the injured party is receiving pain relief from the start. It seems I didn’t get any in case they wanted to operate further downstream.

We pulled up outside A&E, and Thailand was about to receive another lesson in Devonport Dockyard vocabulary. They bumped me out of the ambulance on the ambulance trolley, bumped me on to a hospital trolley (this in itself would answer a long time question in my mind – my wife is normally the one on the trolley, and I‘ve often wondered if I would fit. I did, but very badly), up a wrinkled ramp, around a couple of corners and I was in A&E. I was inside A&E, and had been dumped in a dark little corner – would they realise I was there?

After what had felt like a couple of hours of pain (about 60 seconds in reality), they approached me and asked for my Passport. I felt like saying I wasn’t going anywhere because I couldn’t actually walk anymore, but I kept my cool, reached into my pocket and withdrew my wallet and removed my Pink ID card. I felt quite happy with myself. They then asked again for my Passport, I said I didn’t have it, but I had my driving licence – yes that would do. I started to ask why, but gave up. Detail on my driving licence was identical to my ID Card, not my Passport. I decided resistance was futile. They were the experts, and should have known what they were doing – you just can’t help some people. Driving licence accepted, they sent me for an x-ray – yes, some progress.

……………………… to be continued.

[caller]

Oh dear BB, this isnt going to end well - but we already knew that.

But it's quite a relief to hear it started with an accident.

Edit. Sorry, just to ask, did you not have your hospital card with you? Notwithstanding the fact they were asking for your passport. During April I ended up in A&E twice at BH, admittedly as walking wounded (2 accidents, 14 stitches), but I just handed over my card and nothing else was asked for. I carru my card everywhere with me, and when in Bkk (which I often am), I swap over to my Bkk hospital card.

[Dannie Boy]

Oh dear BB, this isnt going to end well - but we already knew that.

But it's quite a relief to hear it started with an accident.

Edit. Sorry, just to ask, did you not have your hospital card with you? Notwithstanding the fact they were asking for your passport. During April I ended up in A&E twice at BH, admittedly as walking wounded (2 accidents, 14 stitches), but I just handed over my card and nothing else was asked for. I carru my card everywhere with me, and when in Bkk (which I often am), I swap over to my Bkk hospital card.

But he was in HHH?


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[KanDoo]

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Nay - I don't much care

[Big Boy]

Edit. Sorry, just to ask, did you not have your hospital card with you? Notwithstanding the fact they were asking for your passport. During April I ended up in A&E twice at BH, admittedly as walking wounded (2 accidents, 14 stitches), but I just handed over my card and nothing else was asked for. I carru my card everywhere with me, and when in Bkk (which I often am), I swap over to my Bkk hospital card.

It was there plain for them to see in my wallet, but there was no interest. TIT - what they want is down to what the person requesting the information wants.

[Big Boy]

But he was in HHH?

Yes

[Big Boy]

Part 2

Warning: Don’t try this at home – it bloody hurts!!!

This is quite a long report, so I have split it up, trip report style.

NB: I have written this report in a light hearted manner. I was in a lot of pain during this process, and I have tried to reflect my emotions as they happened. In reality, I have no complaints whatsoever with any of the treatments I received. In fact, my treatment couldn’t have been better. I’d classify it as brilliant throughout.

X-Ray

It was about 8:30am on a Wednesday morning. I was in the x-ray department during peak period. I was here for the long haul, in agonizing pain. What else could go wrong? The tortoise’s head popped out a few times. I was desperate for a number 2. I don’t know which was worse the pain or the tortoise’s head. I was at the back of a huge row of hospital trollies – at least unleashing the tortoise might get rid of a few, but I’m British, why am I even contemplating such an action?

I was using both events to keep the other under control.

I eventually got to the end of the queue. My x-ray was next. OMG, how did they expect me to be such a contortionist? I was hurting, whilst trying everything I could to keep the tortoise under control! Actually, they were smiling assassins, creating huge pain, whilst retaining a happy face. Maybe that had something to do with me being the one in pain. Whatever, I had somehow performed perfectly, and I was dumped back into the x-ray waiting area awaiting a porter to take me back to A&E.

A porter arrived with one trolley, and then grabbed me to take me back to A&E. I’m thinking it won’t be long before we know what is happening. I think the porter used to drive a Bangkok minibus. He took me through the entrance to A&E at high speed, and realised he had a long load. The trolley didn’t fit – he slammed my left leg straight in to the A&E door frame. I’m not sure what colour the air was, but it most certainly was a strange colour of Blue.

We re-entered A&E with me screaming abuse at the porter, and him saying, “Solly, solly, vely solly.” I was put in to the observation room. This all coincided with my wife’s arrival from her hospital appointment. So, I’m now sat in this massive fish tank in absolute agony, the tortoise still knocking at my door and to make it a little better, I now needed to pee. My wife was directed to the pee bottle cupboard, and that problem was easily sorted. We still had the to put the tortoise back to bed.

My wife asked for a bedpan. They basically laughed at her. With my kind of injury (I guessed they would bring me up to speed later), it would be impossible to get a bedpan underneath me. They were basically saying I would have to shit myself. I considered it, but remembered again I was British. They then suggested me wearing a nappy.

Nappies

I’ve already told you all of my proportions. Where would they buy a nappy in fat boy sizes? My wife didn’t even flinch. She simply walked off to the nearest 7-11 and bought a pack of fatboy nappies. I viewed the package she had bought, and sure enough, they should fit me – who would have thought it? However, with a husband who couldn’t lift his bum off the bed, how was my wife going to fit a nappy to a guy 3 times her own bodyweight? She wasn’t. She found an auxiliary nurse willing to take on the task. In fairness, she did quite a good pain free job. The tortoise could be let out of his cage.

Of course, I’m 69 year old British man. We don’t generally need nappies. The tortoise had turned shy. Never mind – if he changed his mind, he could pop out whenever he wanted. I was now wearing a fatboy nappy system, and it fitted.

……………………… to be continued.

[caller]

It was there plain for them to see in my wallet, but there was no interest. TIT - what they want is down to what the person requesting the information wants.

Thanks, irrespective of where you were, the hospital card enables the hospital to check your records fully, that was the reason for asking. It was in mind that the passport was taken to guarentee payment. We hear all too often of such stories.

[Big Boy]

Thanks, irrespective of where you were, the hospital card enables the hospital to check your records fully, that was the reason for asking. It was in mind that the passport was taken to guarentee payment. We hear all too often of such stories.

I'm a frequent flyer (normally medical check-ups) at HHH, so they soon found my detail. We move on to the guarantee of payment in Part 3.

[Big Boy]

Thanks, irrespective of where you were, the hospital card enables the hospital to check your records fully, that was the reason for asking. It was in mind that the passport was taken to guarentee payment. We hear all too often of such stories.

I'm a frequent flyer (normally medical check-ups) at HHH, so they soon found my detail. We move on to the guarantee of payment in Part 3.

[Big Boy]

Part 3

Warning: Don’t try this at home – it bloody hurts!!!

This is quite a long report, so I have split it up, trip report style.

NB: I have written this report in a light hearted manner. I was in a lot of pain during this process, and I have tried to reflect my emotions as they happened. In reality, I have no complaints whatsoever with any of the treatments I received. In fact, my treatment couldn’t have been better. I’d classify it as brilliant throughout.

Diagnosis

Eventually, a doctor came to me and explained I had smashed my Femur in my left leg, and would need an op. I was just starting to think we’re at last getting somewhere.

Remember I was still hurting a little bit, and the conversation went like this:

• You are English?
• Yes
• This is a Thai Public Hospital, can you pay?
• Yes
• How much?
• How much will it cost?
• This is a Thai Public Hospital, can you pay?
• Yes, I can pay.
• How much money do you have?
• I just plucked a number out of the air that I considered enough to fix a broken leg - £10,000.
• Doc asks me to mentally convert that to Thai – 440,000฿ (lucky I’d chosen a nice round number)
• Doc disappears for 10 minutes.
• Doc comes back and says she has been talking to the Professor, and that may still not be enough. I was old, overweight and had several underlying conditions. I might need ICU after the op. Do I have any more money?
• I say my wife has money in her account.
• In the end, I think we agreed that I could easily pay 580,000฿ for the op.
• Doc went away with the new figure, presented it to the Professor, and received an agreement that he would fix me the same day. I did think the cost was more Bangkok Hospital rather than Hua Hin Hospital, but I was in a lot of pain and might have agreed to more.
• Sorted, I thought.
• I did ask about pain relief again but was told that as I would be going into surgery soon, I could not have pain relief.

My biggest fear was not paying the money, but having to pay a deposit up front i.e. I don’t keep that sort of money in Thailand. To get the money available up front, somebody would have to get my computer to me, and I’d have to do an immediate funds transfer. All that I could think was further delay to my operation. As it was, unlike other hospitals in the vicinity, my word was my bond.

During the above conversation, I had no option but to let the tortoise out to play a little. So, I’m now sat on my trolley that is too short, in excruciating pain and had a full nappy. Just wearing a nappy was bad enough, but now laying there in a squelchy mess, I’ve never experienced such indignity. I did explain to my wife, who had another word with the auxiliary nurse. If there was a world record for an auxiliary nurse to run from a job, I think it had just been broken (I would most likely have run as well). I was clearly going to remain a smelly mess.

Checking In

The first element was to have a catheter fitted. OK, a smelly job on somebody with a full nappy, but what a brilliant tool the catheter is. How many extra beers might wearing a catheter facilitate on a pub crawl?

I was told the ‘kamikaze’ porter would be along soon to take me to a ward. When he arrived, it was back in to x-ray first – first element of pre-op checks. It was only a chest x-ray (no contortionism for that baby), and straight on to a ward.

Now, I have always said that if I had to spend more than a day in Hua Hin Hospital I would make sure it was in a private room. I have seen the General Male and Female Wards at Hua Hin Hospital, which are pretty dire because they are amongst the last areas waiting to be modernised. A friend affectionately refers to them as Somalian shitpits, which I believe is a little harsh, but can also see where he is coming from. At this point, I would just go wherever they placed me. I’m sure my new roommates would appreciate me taking a full nappy with me.

Wait a minute, was the kamikaze porter lost? Was he taking me by a scenic route? Were we going direct to the operating theatre (please)? We ended up on the Male Surgical Ward, which was a million miles better when compared to the General Male Ward.

This ward looked modern, clean and bright absolutely nothing wrong with it. Loads of 6 bed bays with 6 beds. There was a toilet and shower room for every 3 beds. It seemed very well staffed. This was a million miles from a Somalian shitpit. I haven’t stayed in many NHS hospitals, but, first impressions, this most definitely the best hospital ward I’d ever stayed on.

I could see my empty bed waiting for me. 7 of them on the patslide, and I’m praying my nappy would stay firm. Imagine the mess if a nappy strap gave way as I landed on my new bed. The transfer bloody hurt (yes, a bit more native Janner popped out), but the good news is my nappy held. My new room mates must have wondered who they’d just let into room. Very loud and very smelly.

In my time at the hospital, it seemed everybody else had a really interesting back story. A couple were very sad, but all of these stories were personal to them, so I will not repeat any of them. An interesting crew to be shacked up with, all the same.

I was sat in a corner bed, nil by mouth because my op was imminent. I had a lovely view right through the ward entrance – I was going to be fine here, people watching. Toilet and shower right beside my bed for my little helper.

My wife did eventually persuade an auxiliary nurse to change my nappy. I was having visions of turning up for my op with a full nappy.

Little Helpers

A trait in many Thai hospitals is that every inpatient must have their own 24/7 assistant. The little helpers do all of the mundane (and sometimes very technical) tasks, leaving the nurses to do real nursing. This seems to have turned into big business these days i.e. within minutes of our arrival, my wife was hit by 3 different groups offering to take care of me 24/7 for 1500฿/day. In the past my wife would have simply stepped up and done it all herself, but her health is very up and down these days. We’ve seen many hired helpers over the years – some good, some hopeless. My wife considered hiring one of these groups for me, and I told her not to be so stupid. We have our daughter, and she is a brilliant carer.

What I will say, with hindsight is every carer in our little block of 6 beds was brilliant.

……………………… to be continued.

[buksida]

Holy moly .... 600K to fix a broken leg ... and you said BKK Hospital was bad! Those farang bones must be so much more complicated than Thai bones.

I guess the "helpers" are needed because 'nurses' don't actually 'nurse' in Thai govt hospitals, in the way we are accustomed to in the west (where compassion appears to be light years ahead of the money grabbers here), so you have to bring your own.

[Big Boy]

Unfortunately that is very true.

[Martinoo]

Maybe a little late, but couldn't you have held the lady at the gas station and there for the company responsible, after all their incompetence made you trip... and when the employee can be held responsible so can the employer, but... damages only, but this worth taking the action, through a lawyer of course on a percentage.

A mate of mine underwent heart surgery in a private hospital, cardiomyopathy, where they laser (I guess) the fat from the heart wall (as I understand it).. 400,000 THB including private room, ICU, care unit after that. They had to bring in medical staff from another hospital as well as external technicians for the ablation supervision. Seems to me a little more complicated than a broken femur.... but then again I am not a doctor