HELP HELP!!

[Portlander 0]

My wife just did the medical checkup and Bumrungrad Hospital is telling her she has pneumonia, from the chest Xrays.

She feels fine, and would never have known about any pneumonia. Bumrungrad wants to run a bazillion tests and put a camera down her lungs. Of course, we don't think they will find anything - they probably are being 'too careful' when reading the X-rays.

However, this will take a long time and make us lose our flight, and her visa appointment is tomorrow.

The biggest concern is that, unavoidably, I have not seen her for 9 months now, and we have a baby boy that she has not seen for just as long. I lost my job in Thailand suddenly, and I had taken a lot of time off to be with her and our son when she got pregnant, and my backup plans also fell through. So I'm here waiting for the visa.

Of course, if there really is a problem we want to fix it, but she feels like a million bucks, except for being stressed out. (and, now, heartbroken!) It is a killer because we are both rpetty certain there is no pneumonia to be found.

Anyone have any ideas?

thanks

[sealedkiss 1]

Personally I never had such a problem. But I would venture to say, go to the interview. If the relationship is credible and the finance is adequate, they will approve it, pending her medical results. Once she submits it and the result is fine, then off she goes with a visa.

I think it's normal for chest X-rays to sometimes look not so good. It does not necessarily mean you have a disease, or it could be your body is effectively fighting it. Just do the follow up tests and stay calm and focused for the interview tomorrow.

[Portlander 0]

The interview is no problem. She is a shoe-in - we've been amrried since 2005 and have a son. They aren't liekly to even ask any questions.

But it will make her miss her flight. All the flights are full until at least mid-August. I have not seen her for 9 months, and neither has our son. It is VERY hard on us already.

Then of course, there are the dozens of expensive tests they want to run, incluiding putting a camera down into her lungs!! She feels like a million bucks. She's not sick. Then of course, there is the new AOS fees that we would catch, no longer being able top make the July 30th deadline

But really, neither me nor our son have seen my wife for 9 months. I can't stomach having a hospital rip us off for a few dollars, and make us wait any more. Its not fair.

[sealedkiss 1]

Okay, I cannot say anything for the medical exam practice in Thailand.

Re the flight, expedia.com almost always have seats available. The cost could be a little higher, but most times it's not outrageous. Just don't buy ticket for the next day. As an example just now I searched BKK to PDX on 7/25, and it's $1057 one-way. Maybe $200-$300 higher than a typical ticket, but you may not care if you get to see your wife sooner. This is where I turn to if the travel agent says no more seats.

Just an option for you. Of course if she already bought her ticket, she would have to cancel it and get a refund before buying online. Note that prices on expedia.com changes CONSTANTLY, so watch it.

Good luck at the interview and with the medical exam.

...All the flights are full until at least mid-August...

[Portlander 0]

thats not the problem - but thanks!

[Kath 0]

hi ya portlander

has she got the medical forms filled out..is she does why not get more tests after she arrives in the u.s. (after you get her on your insurance of course)...

or are they holding off on handing over the medical forms until they do these other tests they want her to do...

if it was me .. and i had all the necessary paperwork i would just go to the interview as planned and get the tests done over here...

good luck in whatever you decide to do ... its a tough one to figure out i know...

take care

kath

[qbertz7 1]

Sorry, I had to laugh reading your post if only because it reminded me of one of the many reasons I decided to leave Thailand.

Seriously though, it is Bumrungrad, which is known to be the best hospital in the country pretty much so I have a hard time believing they would try to rip you off like this. On the other hand it IS Thailand and nothing would really surprise me when it comes to money (sorry I'm a little jaded as you can tell).

As unfortunate as it is, I know if this were to happen to me at this stage, I would first of all make her go get a chest xray at another hospital without telling the new hospital about the possible phumonia and see if they come up with the same thing. If they do, then get her back to Bumrungrad for those further tests. Either way it will delay you, which of course sucks, but her health should come first.

Hope this helps...

[Portlander 0]

Chest X-Rays are notoriously hard to read. There are more than a few stories of doctors at Bumrungrad running unnecessary tests. They make their money the same way. We ended up leaving Bumrungrad back in tha day when my wife was still pregnant. IMHO, there are better hospitals.

Moreover, she is asymptomatic. Why shove a camera down someones lungs, keep them away from their husband and son for another couple of months on a fishing expedition? Thats inhumane.

She already has an appointment at BNH for later today, but the interview is today also, so she will have to go AFTER the interview.

[qbertz7 1]

Why shove a camera down someones lungs, keep them away from their husband and son for another couple of months on a fishing expedition? Thats inhumane.

I couldn't agree more. I hope BNH will tell you the opposite, but if not, whether you like it or not, she WILL have to get those tests and more months will pass before you can be together...let's hope that doesn't happen though!

[Portlander 0]

I am of course quite worried about her health, but she gets regular check ups, and hasn't had any problems before. Always a first time, of course, but not likely here!

[Jamie76 0]

I believe Bumrungrad is not the only place you can go for the physical. Is going to another hospital an option?

[Portlander 0]

BNH is the only other option. Like I said, we already have the appointment scheduled, for AFTER the interview... but the main problem is getting everything in time to make the plane on Saturday. Aside from being heartbroken on the additional last minute delay, there are some big costs associated with the delay but unrelated to the visa itself. Then there are the medical costs associated with going all the way to invasive microscopy!

[Portlander 0]

OK - she has the visa - pending approval by Bumrungrad and Bumrungrad ONLY. BNH is no onger an option. Second opinions are completely out of the question. This adds on 2 months.

Anyone have any ideas? They will stoutly not give me any phone numbers, and will not answer the email address. I know already, ebcause I have emailed it many times with questions I have had about the visa process, and I have never had any response.

[ding 1]

Wow, that's a hard swallow eh? Sorry Portlander & co.

This is what I put in the subject line when emailing the BKK embassy and got a reply:

second NIV inquiry BKK2007#######

Also, sorry to hear that Bumrungrad seems to be doing the American HMO thing. I've been going there since the early 90's and have only had great experiences for my family and me. But I beleive ya, ####### and also things are westernizing there more and more. I mean, A McDonalds in the lobby of Bumrungrad???

Keep us posted, you've been seperated too long. Sounds like a true hardship. Bumrungrad is sooooo much faster than hospitals in Seattle I can't understand the delay. And a scope sounds way too invasive when there are all sorts of non-invasive diagnostics there. Strange.

Best wishes going out to you three.

[Portlander 0]

I use the same line when using the email addy. My congressman has had similar troubles.

Anyone having trouble calling Thailand? I cannot get through to the embassy phones - ANY OF THEM - Chiang Mai either. I know my congressman has had troubles in the past calling as well. All inquiries on my behalf and others have been met with silence, and have led to a complaint about it.

A second opinion would be more than appropriate. The Embassy will not let me get one.