The only things I know for sure are that I'm arriving in Bangkok at 8.30pm on 19 January and my first appointment with the dentist is at 12.30pm on the 21st...after that I have no idea whats going to happen except I'm leaving on 1 February and I'm going to be sore...
I also know, the first night is a write off, so Sunday January 20, you are my ONLY assured day for traditional tourism....so how the hell do I decide what to do?????
I must see temples, palaces, markets, try street food and watch a lady boy cabaret show....I'm a little fascinated by lady boys...but with all the affordable surgery no wonder they are so bloody beautiful! I cant remember the last time I got jealous over man boobs...anyway...
So Ive booked myself a half day tour of the Temples and Palaces around Bangkok, that gets me back to my hotel at about 1pm, from there, I'm going to jump on the Skytrain and visit the Chatuchak Markets, then off to wander through the stalls at the Victory Monument, back to the hotel for a swim then off to Calypso for the Lady Boy Show and some cheap drinks then bed. Up early and off to Central World for some more shopping in somewhat more familiar surrounds and be back at my hotel by 12 to be whisked off to my appointment...
I hope that I get more of a Thai experience than that but if I don't, Ill have glimpsed the Thai way of life and I know Ill be back for much less invasive treatment in a few months so Ill get the chance to go back and explore....I really do hope I'm well enough to tack on a trip to the River Kwai and the Thai-Burmese Railway this time. It would mean alot to me to pay my respects to the Aussie Diggers who suffered in its WW2 construction.
I do have some concerns though, I'm really worried about seeing the poverty. I'm going to have a very hard time seeing children in desperate situations, It will offend me seeing a relatively "rich" western man in the company of a young, and I'm sure, sometimes too young, Thai companion. I'm not sure how I'm going to feel knowing that sexual slavery is alive and well and that many women in Bangkok bars are there only to provide for their family and children who are stuck in a rural village living a life of subsistence. Its going to be near impossible for me to ignore these things. Its going to put me in a vulnerable situation, I will be an easy target to be taken advantage of. I must remember that there is nothing I can do and that becoming emotional about the plight of others does nothing but upset me as I am powerless to stop the machine. I'm going to be tempted to spend my money in buying these people for a few hours so they DON'T end up with creepy sex tourists....I must NOT....but I know I will. Ill be that chick in the McDonalds buying dinner for the tens of kids I couldnt say no to....if you see me come say Hi...
I'm glad that I spent today deciding on activities that don't involve people ripping bits out if me and screwing things into my bone....
The countdown is on, less than a month.....
Thursday 20 December 2012
Tuesday 18 December 2012
Now All I Need To Do Is Stop Watching "Air Crash Investigations".
I haven't really outlined the work that I am needing to get done, so in order for you to maybe understand why I am FREAKING OUT just a little bit, I suppose I need to share. On this trip I will be getting 23 teeth extracted, including a couple of wisdom teeth. Hopefully they will be able to place the implants otherwise I may need a bone graft this time, implants next time, I will also have a temporary denture made and fitted so I have no extended time without teeth.
AND I HAVE TO DO THIS NOT UNDER GENERAL ANESTHETIC!!!!!!
In order for me to be even slightly OK about this and not eat Xanax like popcorn and pretend Vodka is water I HAD to speak to someone who had been there before, Global Health Travel put me in touch with a lovely gent we will call "Abraham Ford" - Now I liked this guy after chatting to him, he was cool, but liked him even more for the reasoning of the alias, so much so I'm calling him Abe. He didn't need extractions he got the implant procedure done only.
My first contact with Abe was by email to introduce myself and ask him the most burning question on my mind - Did it hurt? His response "Hurt less than a hangover - call me Sunday after 1pm".
Hurt less than a hangover???? That's impossible.
Sunday, after 1pm finally rolls around and I call. Nice bloke, easy to talk to in short this is what he had to say.
The clinics are very clean and sterile, the staff are fantastic, especially the Thai nurses, he mentioned them a few times, Go Abe ;-P, He told me that he too was nervous before hand and was keen on a GA, and as we all know now, you ain't getting that in Bangkok. He told me that the whole procedure, for him, took less than 50 minutes, he had 4 implants placed and he did not feel a bit of pain, in fact he was surprised at how fast and how painless the procedure was. Abe was fitted with a temporary denture too. A few hours later, 3 and a half I think he said, Mr Ford was eating Crispy Chicken Wings in a pub. He had some minor swelling the next day but he didn't even need to take any of the painkillers they gave him. He went back 12 months later to get the denture attached to the implants.
One of the biggest things that I keep hearing is just how emotional this can be for people. I could hear in Abe's voice how happy he was that he had chosen to get his implants, He told me about the freedom that not having to think about your teeth brings to your life. A few times he mentioned to me that I wouldn't know myself after this. That is what I must keep in focus, its about the end result, its about the quality of my life, its about reclaiming myself and even if it does hurt nothing worthwhile is ever pain free.
Now I know that this whole journey seems to be full of coincidence, but I assure you every single bit of it is true, I need to say this because even I could barely believe this next bit either.
I am trying to save spending money so if I can save $0.50 on a can of coke I will! There is a vending machine on another floor of my office in a kitchen that is shared between my department and another affiliated department. I wander in at the end of a conversation and hear ".....apart for the dental work, my wife and I only spent $1000, everything in Phuket is so cheap" My ears pricked up.....So I say, "I'm sorry, but did you just mention dental work and Thailand?" And indeed he had...
I'm going to call this guy Bob as in "Bob The Builder".
Bob had been to Phuket and had extractions including wisdom teeth, the implanted removable denture that I want and he was standing right in front of me!!!! He let me check them out and he showed me how they worked. It was awesome! He really was so lovely opening up to me like that, some random stranger who walked into his shared tea room.
I'm going to save the gory details of the procedure for when I have mine but Bob couldn't really shed any light on what happens, they propped his mouth open with something, gave him Valium and some sleeping pills then he dropped off to sleep and they woke him when they were done. He too had temporary dentures placed while the implants bonded.
Bob shed tears as he recalled the moment the dentist placed his new dentures, he told me he didn't have the words to express the emotions that he felt after it was all done, he told me it was the best decision I've ever made, I would never regret it. He also warned me to be prepared because this is not only a medical journey it is a life changing emotional one.
I'm so excited. This experience is up there with having babies and getting married. While I'm always going to be a bit nervous, Id be a freak if I wasn't, I am so ready for the next bit of my life they could do it without anything. BRING ON THE JOY I SAY.....
Now I've got the dental phobia a little under control I'm really not great on planes. Better cancel the series record of Air Crash Investigations...
AND I HAVE TO DO THIS NOT UNDER GENERAL ANESTHETIC!!!!!!
In order for me to be even slightly OK about this and not eat Xanax like popcorn and pretend Vodka is water I HAD to speak to someone who had been there before, Global Health Travel put me in touch with a lovely gent we will call "Abraham Ford" - Now I liked this guy after chatting to him, he was cool, but liked him even more for the reasoning of the alias, so much so I'm calling him Abe. He didn't need extractions he got the implant procedure done only.
My first contact with Abe was by email to introduce myself and ask him the most burning question on my mind - Did it hurt? His response "Hurt less than a hangover - call me Sunday after 1pm".
Hurt less than a hangover???? That's impossible.
Sunday, after 1pm finally rolls around and I call. Nice bloke, easy to talk to in short this is what he had to say.
The clinics are very clean and sterile, the staff are fantastic, especially the Thai nurses, he mentioned them a few times, Go Abe ;-P, He told me that he too was nervous before hand and was keen on a GA, and as we all know now, you ain't getting that in Bangkok. He told me that the whole procedure, for him, took less than 50 minutes, he had 4 implants placed and he did not feel a bit of pain, in fact he was surprised at how fast and how painless the procedure was. Abe was fitted with a temporary denture too. A few hours later, 3 and a half I think he said, Mr Ford was eating Crispy Chicken Wings in a pub. He had some minor swelling the next day but he didn't even need to take any of the painkillers they gave him. He went back 12 months later to get the denture attached to the implants.
One of the biggest things that I keep hearing is just how emotional this can be for people. I could hear in Abe's voice how happy he was that he had chosen to get his implants, He told me about the freedom that not having to think about your teeth brings to your life. A few times he mentioned to me that I wouldn't know myself after this. That is what I must keep in focus, its about the end result, its about the quality of my life, its about reclaiming myself and even if it does hurt nothing worthwhile is ever pain free.
Now I know that this whole journey seems to be full of coincidence, but I assure you every single bit of it is true, I need to say this because even I could barely believe this next bit either.
I am trying to save spending money so if I can save $0.50 on a can of coke I will! There is a vending machine on another floor of my office in a kitchen that is shared between my department and another affiliated department. I wander in at the end of a conversation and hear ".....apart for the dental work, my wife and I only spent $1000, everything in Phuket is so cheap" My ears pricked up.....So I say, "I'm sorry, but did you just mention dental work and Thailand?" And indeed he had...
I'm going to call this guy Bob as in "Bob The Builder".
Bob had been to Phuket and had extractions including wisdom teeth, the implanted removable denture that I want and he was standing right in front of me!!!! He let me check them out and he showed me how they worked. It was awesome! He really was so lovely opening up to me like that, some random stranger who walked into his shared tea room.
I'm going to save the gory details of the procedure for when I have mine but Bob couldn't really shed any light on what happens, they propped his mouth open with something, gave him Valium and some sleeping pills then he dropped off to sleep and they woke him when they were done. He too had temporary dentures placed while the implants bonded.
Bob shed tears as he recalled the moment the dentist placed his new dentures, he told me he didn't have the words to express the emotions that he felt after it was all done, he told me it was the best decision I've ever made, I would never regret it. He also warned me to be prepared because this is not only a medical journey it is a life changing emotional one.
I'm so excited. This experience is up there with having babies and getting married. While I'm always going to be a bit nervous, Id be a freak if I wasn't, I am so ready for the next bit of my life they could do it without anything. BRING ON THE JOY I SAY.....
Now I've got the dental phobia a little under control I'm really not great on planes. Better cancel the series record of Air Crash Investigations...
Saturday 15 December 2012
"Susie, this was meant to be"....
Anyone who has ever considered medical treatment overseas will tell you that the reaction from the Australian medical professionals is one of abject horror. Based on this knowledge I was some what hesitant to tell my GP that I was in fact going to Bangkok to get the dental work he has green lighted. I wasn't going to but I don't want to risk anything so yesterday morning off to the Dr's.....
Before Ive even sat down in the consulting room I had blurted out...I'm going to Thailand to get my teeth fixed.....and waited for the lecture about how stupid I'm being....
"Really?!" he says in an excited tone, "Where"?. I was feeling a little taken aback this was not the reaction that I was expecting."Bangkok, I'm tossing up between a few places, BIDC, Bumrungrad Hospital......" He interrupted me, "Do you know where I worked for 8 years before coming to Australia? Bumrungrad Hospital!"
I was very very pleased at this news "Am I making a good decision here Dr?". His response was even more jaw dropping "Yes, my dear, you are making a very wise choice, get a quote from "Dr ThaiDentist", he is the best I know.". At this point I didn't think the news could get any better, that's the exact dentist that I am favouring so far. The fears I had were suddenly popping like bubbles in the sun...
MY AUSTRALIAN GP PERSONALLY KNOWS THE DENTIST I'M GOING TO IN THAILAND!!!!!!!!!!
But wait the best bit hasn't even come yet....
He asks me when I'm going? I tell him and then he tells me he will be in Bangkok AT THE SAME TIME!!!! Staying on a different soi and hotel but, get this, ON THE SAME BLOCK!!!! Then he said to me....
"Susie, this was meant to be."
So he has started to teach me Thai, Thai in a feminine way, as apparently men and women use different ending sounds. He has drawn me a map of how to get from my accommodation to his, his Thai phone number and his email address!!! Could I feel any safer? Tomorrow night I go back for my first needles and another Thai language lesson.....
And this was only the start of my day...it got even better!!!!
I called the lovely Sharon at Global Health Travel, and told her to get this locked in, and yep Ill take the accommodation/patient care package. She could easily accommodate the dates I needed and would send through the invoice.
In terms of accommodation and care, GHT offer a couple of different options. There is an option for accommodation in a two bedroom apartment for people travelling unaccompanied, or a hotel package for two people, patient and companion. I really did not want to be sharing with someone else so I opted for the hotel package even though I'm going alone.
A few hours later, I got a call from Sharon, she was able to offer me accommodation in the apartment complex in single accommodation for the same price as the hotel package! Now the hotel was nice but the apartments are freaking awesome! PLUS, and this is the real kicker, there are nurses on site and on hand 24/7!!! Naturally I jumped at that offer.
So now, I'm in a beautiful modern apartment, on Soi 11, smack bang in the middle of the tourist area, with Bangkok city views, a gorgeous swimming pool and spa area, nurses on hand 24 hours a day, my Dr will be a few blocks away but still very close and he knows the dentist....
The doctor was right, this was meant to be.
Before Ive even sat down in the consulting room I had blurted out...I'm going to Thailand to get my teeth fixed.....and waited for the lecture about how stupid I'm being....
"Really?!" he says in an excited tone, "Where"?. I was feeling a little taken aback this was not the reaction that I was expecting."Bangkok, I'm tossing up between a few places, BIDC, Bumrungrad Hospital......" He interrupted me, "Do you know where I worked for 8 years before coming to Australia? Bumrungrad Hospital!"
I was very very pleased at this news "Am I making a good decision here Dr?". His response was even more jaw dropping "Yes, my dear, you are making a very wise choice, get a quote from "Dr ThaiDentist", he is the best I know.". At this point I didn't think the news could get any better, that's the exact dentist that I am favouring so far. The fears I had were suddenly popping like bubbles in the sun...
MY AUSTRALIAN GP PERSONALLY KNOWS THE DENTIST I'M GOING TO IN THAILAND!!!!!!!!!!
But wait the best bit hasn't even come yet....
He asks me when I'm going? I tell him and then he tells me he will be in Bangkok AT THE SAME TIME!!!! Staying on a different soi and hotel but, get this, ON THE SAME BLOCK!!!! Then he said to me....
"Susie, this was meant to be."
So he has started to teach me Thai, Thai in a feminine way, as apparently men and women use different ending sounds. He has drawn me a map of how to get from my accommodation to his, his Thai phone number and his email address!!! Could I feel any safer? Tomorrow night I go back for my first needles and another Thai language lesson.....
And this was only the start of my day...it got even better!!!!
I called the lovely Sharon at Global Health Travel, and told her to get this locked in, and yep Ill take the accommodation/patient care package. She could easily accommodate the dates I needed and would send through the invoice.
In terms of accommodation and care, GHT offer a couple of different options. There is an option for accommodation in a two bedroom apartment for people travelling unaccompanied, or a hotel package for two people, patient and companion. I really did not want to be sharing with someone else so I opted for the hotel package even though I'm going alone.
A few hours later, I got a call from Sharon, she was able to offer me accommodation in the apartment complex in single accommodation for the same price as the hotel package! Now the hotel was nice but the apartments are freaking awesome! PLUS, and this is the real kicker, there are nurses on site and on hand 24/7!!! Naturally I jumped at that offer.
So now, I'm in a beautiful modern apartment, on Soi 11, smack bang in the middle of the tourist area, with Bangkok city views, a gorgeous swimming pool and spa area, nurses on hand 24 hours a day, my Dr will be a few blocks away but still very close and he knows the dentist....
The doctor was right, this was meant to be.
Friday 14 December 2012
The Tooth Fairy Lost Her Fairy Dust a.k.a. There Had To Be A Catch.
My last post was about the UGLY, this one is about the BAD, but with the real and present danger of becoming very very ugly......
A few hours later she called, it is indeed an unusual request, none of the GHT dental patients have ever been knocked out....
I thought she was maybe being less than honest about this, I needed to know I wasn't being given guidance based on any type of kick back, I have no idea if GHT get a commission for my referral, I am just presuming they do.
So I call the Bangkok International Dental Clinic and they almost laughed at my request, "No, No GA here no need for that"....but they could arrange it if they had to - it will triple the cost....OK then....So I contact a different medical holiday facilitator and this was his email response
My first thought was "Fuck it Im paying triple", but then reality set in, I have a very clear budget for this journey.
My mind was swirling, I am scared yes, but why? I'm not really scared of getting my teeth out, I'm tempted to rip them out with my bare hands at times, I'm shit scared of the implants being put in. The idea of someone drilling into my bone and screwing something in it while I'm aware makes my stomach turn. There is no way on the planet that this isn't going to be the most traumatic experience of my life if I don't have the GA.
I was trying to rationalise my fear, so I decided to de-rationalise it. I asked myself "Susie, are you the worlds biggest sooky la-la? Are you seriously more of a cry baby panic merchant than the millions of people who've had dental work before you in Bangkok?
HELL NO!
I can do this.
I will do this.
I MUST do this.
They just better dose me up so good on Valium and sleeping pills that I really do think the dentist is the tooth fairy...
I think we have established that I am extremely anxious about a visit to the dentist, Valium and alcohol are just as important as ensuring I've mortgaged my home before attending the appointment. It has always been an unquestionable given, I would NOT be awake for any of this dental work. FULL STOP. NO QUESTION. This was not even a question I thought I needed ask, I thought a general anesthetic (GA from now on cause spelling anesthetic is really annoying) was normal procedure......oh how wrong was I........
I had been gathering quotes, they all quoted me around THB2000 for "medication", I decided that I needed to know what this medication was and ensure it was for GA, I did not receive a response from Global Health Travel until this was included in an email
"I need you to confirm for me that I will be able to be sedated/under general anesthetic during the extraction and implant procedure. The quotes talk about medication but not what type. This is a MUST HAVE!!!! I would be physically and mentally unable to get this done if I wasnt heavily sedated."The response
"In the past our patients who are petrified of dentists have been given valium and/or sleeping tablets but never have they been under general anesthetic as there are risks when been under anesthesia if not conducted by a professional anesthiest. Please understand that if I can co-ordinate this with the clinic then there will be an added cost for the specialist and anesthesia"Hang on, did I read that right? Is she telling me that no one goes under GA to get dental work done?
A few hours later she called, it is indeed an unusual request, none of the GHT dental patients have ever been knocked out....
I thought she was maybe being less than honest about this, I needed to know I wasn't being given guidance based on any type of kick back, I have no idea if GHT get a commission for my referral, I am just presuming they do.
So I call the Bangkok International Dental Clinic and they almost laughed at my request, "No, No GA here no need for that"....but they could arrange it if they had to - it will triple the cost....OK then....So I contact a different medical holiday facilitator and this was his email response
"I have NO idea who will do dentistry under GAHOLY CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Certainly Bumrungrad OR Bangkok hospital would be places I would try
And while they will do Anesthesia well I would be suspicious of their dentistry
Also I would expect high prices
In my experience NO hospital here does dentistry well BUT many like those big hospitals.
I might have them remove my teeth and some dental clinic do my dentures & implants IF that was possible"
My first thought was "Fuck it Im paying triple", but then reality set in, I have a very clear budget for this journey.
My mind was swirling, I am scared yes, but why? I'm not really scared of getting my teeth out, I'm tempted to rip them out with my bare hands at times, I'm shit scared of the implants being put in. The idea of someone drilling into my bone and screwing something in it while I'm aware makes my stomach turn. There is no way on the planet that this isn't going to be the most traumatic experience of my life if I don't have the GA.
I was trying to rationalise my fear, so I decided to de-rationalise it. I asked myself "Susie, are you the worlds biggest sooky la-la? Are you seriously more of a cry baby panic merchant than the millions of people who've had dental work before you in Bangkok?
HELL NO!
I can do this.
I will do this.
I MUST do this.
They just better dose me up so good on Valium and sleeping pills that I really do think the dentist is the tooth fairy...
Thursday 6 December 2012
This Is What Bad Teeth Do to Your Head....
How would you feel if you had to think about the words you use and have to change your sentence so your teeth don't show when you make certain sounds?
How would you feel if you couldn't look at anyone in the eye when you spoke - you had to look away so they didn't see?
How would you feel if you couldn't kiss your husband for about 3 years? HOW WOULD HE FEEL?
How would you feel if you couldn't smile or laugh without humiliation?
How would you feel if you had to consider the consistency of the food you eat, coupled with disease induced adverse reactions to most edible substances before mastication?
How would you feel if all you could think about is how much you need dental work and how badly you cant pay for it without mortgaging your home?
HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOUR DIRTY LITTLE SECRET COULDN'T BE KEPT, WHEN THE WHOLE WORLD CAN SEE YOUR DISGUSTINGNESS????
How would you feel if there were only 2 people on the entire planet. your mother and Lee Daly, who actually care enough about you to ask what's going on?
Ill tell you.
YOU FEEL LIKE SHIT.
YOU FEEL EMBARRASSED.
YOU GET ANGRY WHEN PEOPLE ENGAGE YOU IN FACE TO FACE CONVERSATION.
YOU JUST WANT THE WORLD NOT TO SEE YOU.
Basically, I have given up on myself, I feel less than....
Less than what? Everyone and everything.
I have never shared this with anyone, because I never thought Id get them fixed....I figured if I ignored it everyone else had to.... I'd settled for ugly.
But you cant ignore it....people are too nice, or too scared to say anything to your face.
People talk behind your back....
People judge you without knowing why you are in this position.
You know you are ugly.....
My teeth have effected every single facet of my life. My own self image, my relationship, my friendships, my social life, my volunteer involvement, my confidence in looking for other career opportunities....shit its even made think about the words I use to the checkout chick at Woolies!
This is a life changing journey...
I cant wait to find the real, true, confident me she has been MIA for at least 4 years.....
How would you feel if you couldn't look at anyone in the eye when you spoke - you had to look away so they didn't see?
How would you feel if you couldn't kiss your husband for about 3 years? HOW WOULD HE FEEL?
How would you feel if you couldn't smile or laugh without humiliation?
How would you feel if you had to consider the consistency of the food you eat, coupled with disease induced adverse reactions to most edible substances before mastication?
How would you feel if all you could think about is how much you need dental work and how badly you cant pay for it without mortgaging your home?
HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOUR DIRTY LITTLE SECRET COULDN'T BE KEPT, WHEN THE WHOLE WORLD CAN SEE YOUR DISGUSTINGNESS????
How would you feel if there were only 2 people on the entire planet. your mother and Lee Daly, who actually care enough about you to ask what's going on?
Ill tell you.
YOU FEEL LIKE SHIT.
YOU FEEL EMBARRASSED.
YOU GET ANGRY WHEN PEOPLE ENGAGE YOU IN FACE TO FACE CONVERSATION.
YOU JUST WANT THE WORLD NOT TO SEE YOU.
Basically, I have given up on myself, I feel less than....
Less than what? Everyone and everything.
I have never shared this with anyone, because I never thought Id get them fixed....I figured if I ignored it everyone else had to.... I'd settled for ugly.
But you cant ignore it....people are too nice, or too scared to say anything to your face.
People talk behind your back....
People judge you without knowing why you are in this position.
You know you are ugly.....
My teeth have effected every single facet of my life. My own self image, my relationship, my friendships, my social life, my volunteer involvement, my confidence in looking for other career opportunities....shit its even made think about the words I use to the checkout chick at Woolies!
This is a life changing journey...
I cant wait to find the real, true, confident me she has been MIA for at least 4 years.....
Is This Smart Or Am I Just Crazy?
I don't know about you, but sometimes I enjoy killing a few brain cells by watching A Current Affair or Today Tonight. I love to wind down to some crappy tabloid journalism after work. So I've seen the medical holiday horror stories, but, thanks to those stories I decided to find out about going overseas for my treatment.
First thing I found out was that it is truck loads (replace the" tr" with an "f"), cheaper in Thailand......
Hmmmmmmm.............and so the wheels turned.......surely it cant be all bad......I don't want the worlds cheapest job, I want a quality job done by experienced doctors and dentists with some western, preferably American, English or Australian qualifications at a reasonable price. I want it done in a hospital that has at least the same standards as those in Australia and I want it done fast, my mission was to find out if this is possible.
Guess what people.....it is......
Getting a tooth extracted in Bangkok, at an International Hospital, the likes of which you will not find in Australia is $31....YES $31!!!!! You wont get a tooth pulled here for less than $80.....I started to get a bit excited....Want a whole mouth professional clean and polish? Got a spare $50? You'll get change......
So now what? Who can help me organise this....I need hotels, flights, appointments, support....doing this on my own, I decided, would result in me being ACA's Friday Night's Overseas Medical Disaster Story".
I think I contacted every single medical travel agency there is. There is one agency that has stood out above all the rest, its Global Health Travel (GHT), they haven't paid me for this plug. (But of course, if you like GHT, you can give me a discount ;-P). In fact I have not signed on the bottom line yet but I will... I'm waiting on my passport....
Here is the link to their web site - http://globalhealthtravel.com.au/
Check out the hospital! - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V6T6UTN8C0&noredirect=1
The lovely, friendly Sharon, from GHT, contacted me, by phone, within a couple of hours of my email enquiry. All I needed to do was to send her through the x-rays and she would get back to me with a quote.
Hint - DO NOT TELL YOUR AUSTRALIAN DENTIST YOU ARE THINKING OF TRAVELLING OVERSEAS FOR YOUR TREATMENT - THEY WILL MUCK YOU AROUND WHEN TRYING TO OBTAIN REPORTS AND X-RAYS THAT YOU HAVE PAID FOR!!!!
I sent the x-rays through and received my quote within 24 hours, the cost works out to be about $20 000 give or take a few thousand including airfares and accommodation on the correct number of implants with temporary dentures ie NO TIME WITHOUT TEETH!!!!! WTF!!!! They were even quoting on the SAME BRAND HARDWARE!!!! I was sold....soldiddlilyold, as Ned Flanders would say..... I'm supposed to get another quote but I don't care if I don't. This is a great quote from a reputable clinic. http://www.bangkokdentalcenter.com/
My experience with Aussie dentists prepared me for a long wait before I could get in and get this done but no, I can have an appointment when ever I want, they need a weeks notice...WTF? No waiting...maybe the Valium and the bourbon were still effecting me...no, they aren't....this is real....
So at that moment I could have kicked myself....I have no passport nor original birth or marriage certificate...I wanted to book right there and then but because I'm a disorganised dame, I had tons of admin work to do...the clinic closes for a week over Christmas ..I need to be flying out on 14 December or Ill have to wait until the new year....SPEWING!!!!!!
Hint - IF YOU WERE BORN IN NSW IT TAKES 3 WORKING DAYS FOR AN URGENT BIRTH OR MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE TO BE SENT INTERSTATE So get a couple of original copies before you move in case you need them really really fast, like me....
Once I get those I can apply for my passport. This will set you back $233 plus $104 if you need it urgently. Normally it takes 10 days, urgent ones you can get in 2. Your passport pics, you get 8 and you will look ugly (I think the ugly thing must be one of the necessary elements of a passport photo), cost $15.95 at Australia Post.
You do not need a Visa if you are staying in Thailand for less than 30 days, and if you're really wanting to save you'll fly Air Asia....
I have decided that I am not going to make the 14 December deadline, its all too fast.....I wish I had called GHT months ago....now I am so keen my anxiety has almost vanished......
The way I see it is, yes, getting surgery in Thailand is an idiotic idea if you do not research it and you do not go to an international hospital/clinic. If you go to an International Hospital/clinic the only greater risk in doing so is that your wallet will be heavier and your smile will be bigger because everyone LOVES a genuine bargain!!!
OR SO I SAY NOW......
What do you say?
Am I being smart or am I crazy?
I could get traditional dentures in Australia for around $13 000...but I dont want them, I want bells and whistles....
First thing I found out was that it is truck loads (replace the" tr" with an "f"), cheaper in Thailand......
Hmmmmmmm.............and so the wheels turned.......surely it cant be all bad......I don't want the worlds cheapest job, I want a quality job done by experienced doctors and dentists with some western, preferably American, English or Australian qualifications at a reasonable price. I want it done in a hospital that has at least the same standards as those in Australia and I want it done fast, my mission was to find out if this is possible.
Guess what people.....it is......
Getting a tooth extracted in Bangkok, at an International Hospital, the likes of which you will not find in Australia is $31....YES $31!!!!! You wont get a tooth pulled here for less than $80.....I started to get a bit excited....Want a whole mouth professional clean and polish? Got a spare $50? You'll get change......
So now what? Who can help me organise this....I need hotels, flights, appointments, support....doing this on my own, I decided, would result in me being ACA's Friday Night's Overseas Medical Disaster Story".
I think I contacted every single medical travel agency there is. There is one agency that has stood out above all the rest, its Global Health Travel (GHT), they haven't paid me for this plug. (But of course, if you like GHT, you can give me a discount ;-P). In fact I have not signed on the bottom line yet but I will... I'm waiting on my passport....
Here is the link to their web site - http://globalhealthtravel.com.au/
Check out the hospital! - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V6T6UTN8C0&noredirect=1
The lovely, friendly Sharon, from GHT, contacted me, by phone, within a couple of hours of my email enquiry. All I needed to do was to send her through the x-rays and she would get back to me with a quote.
Hint - DO NOT TELL YOUR AUSTRALIAN DENTIST YOU ARE THINKING OF TRAVELLING OVERSEAS FOR YOUR TREATMENT - THEY WILL MUCK YOU AROUND WHEN TRYING TO OBTAIN REPORTS AND X-RAYS THAT YOU HAVE PAID FOR!!!!
I sent the x-rays through and received my quote within 24 hours, the cost works out to be about $20 000 give or take a few thousand including airfares and accommodation on the correct number of implants with temporary dentures ie NO TIME WITHOUT TEETH!!!!! WTF!!!! They were even quoting on the SAME BRAND HARDWARE!!!! I was sold....soldiddlilyold, as Ned Flanders would say..... I'm supposed to get another quote but I don't care if I don't. This is a great quote from a reputable clinic. http://www.bangkokdentalcenter.com/
My experience with Aussie dentists prepared me for a long wait before I could get in and get this done but no, I can have an appointment when ever I want, they need a weeks notice...WTF? No waiting...maybe the Valium and the bourbon were still effecting me...no, they aren't....this is real....
So at that moment I could have kicked myself....I have no passport nor original birth or marriage certificate...I wanted to book right there and then but because I'm a disorganised dame, I had tons of admin work to do...the clinic closes for a week over Christmas ..I need to be flying out on 14 December or Ill have to wait until the new year....SPEWING!!!!!!
Hint - IF YOU WERE BORN IN NSW IT TAKES 3 WORKING DAYS FOR AN URGENT BIRTH OR MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE TO BE SENT INTERSTATE So get a couple of original copies before you move in case you need them really really fast, like me....
Once I get those I can apply for my passport. This will set you back $233 plus $104 if you need it urgently. Normally it takes 10 days, urgent ones you can get in 2. Your passport pics, you get 8 and you will look ugly (I think the ugly thing must be one of the necessary elements of a passport photo), cost $15.95 at Australia Post.
You do not need a Visa if you are staying in Thailand for less than 30 days, and if you're really wanting to save you'll fly Air Asia....
I have decided that I am not going to make the 14 December deadline, its all too fast.....I wish I had called GHT months ago....now I am so keen my anxiety has almost vanished......
The way I see it is, yes, getting surgery in Thailand is an idiotic idea if you do not research it and you do not go to an international hospital/clinic. If you go to an International Hospital/clinic the only greater risk in doing so is that your wallet will be heavier and your smile will be bigger because everyone LOVES a genuine bargain!!!
OR SO I SAY NOW......
What do you say?
Am I being smart or am I crazy?
I could get traditional dentures in Australia for around $13 000...but I dont want them, I want bells and whistles....
And So The Adventure Begins......
And so the adventure begins....maybe its more accurate to say "And so I am forced to find an alternative because the cost of dental work in the Land of Oz can only be met if you are sitting atop a fantastical treasure, the likes of which would make Bill Gates green with envy....or you have a Degree in Dentistry"....
I'm not going to go into how my teeth came to be in this state except that is is the result of 3 different medical conditions suffered for the last 20 years, each of which had the symptom of vomiting, I have been vomiting 10 - 20 times a day for 20 years.....now have you heard of acid wear? Well, I have acid wear on steroids, in fact my acid wear invited all of his mates over and gate crashed my mouth. Its a disgusting mess and it NEEDS to be fixed. I am finally well enough to get them fixed!!!!! PRAISE THE UNIVERSE!!!!
Now, if you have a mouth like mine, you do not want to visit the dentist but you have to and I did......after taking about 12 Valium and sculling 3 bourbons.......yeah I know....... I was still crying shaking and almost fainting in the waiting room. This was for the first consultation, I knew no work would be done, I was freaking out. Why? I'm an anxious fretful panic merchant, the more of these blogs you read the more you'll understand this. Anyway, He charged me $235 to tell me it was a REALLY big job (well durr, I knew that before I got there) and he had to refer me to a surgeon and a prosthodontist....3 week wait....
So after 3 weeks and only 6 Valium washed down with only 1 bourbon (Im starting to be OK with this dentist thing) I visit said Professional Rip Off Artist, I mean prosthodontist, He was kinder, at first, he only charged me $205, but that was to lull me into a false sense of security. He agreed I needed dentures, he agreed that the implanted dentures are the best option, and so, I say to him, I need you to give me some type of idea about how much this will all cost me please and how long it would take. This is what he told me....
They will remove all my remaining teeth, I will then wait about 4 weeks to heal, The implants will be placed, he only quoted me on 4 when Ill need 9 - 12, then I need to wait 4 - 6 months while they bond to the bone before they will fit the dentures to the implants. Ill need 3 surgeries - all under general, Ill be without ANY teeth for 6 months all this for the bargain price of around $37 000 not including the surgeon or anesthetist..all tolled it may have cost me $60 000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and if I didn't want to be toothless for half a year he could make me a temporary denture for about $4000 extra!!!!!
After I had picked myself up off the floor.....I just looked at him....almost blinded by the light being reflected by the massive rock he calls an earring...."So what do normal people do? Normal Australian's cannot afford this type of money, its a house deposit" His response " Well actually about half of the people I see don't return after being given the quote." So I ask "What do they do?" Dr Richie Rich says "I don't know, live with them I suppose".......Oh man.....the effects of the Valium and bourbon suddenly lifted and I saw red.....so I asked him "How does that make you feel about yourself, your profession and what about what it says of your ethics? You are willing to let suffering people walk way because you want to profit.....How many carats is that diamond in your ear?" Suffice to say he was not impressed and he asked me to leave....
I know I need this done, and so long as the Australian Government feel that teeth are a luxury I'm not going to be able to get it done here. This lead me to investigate and that's how I found out that the Tooth Fairy Lives in Thailand...
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