This is a guide based on surgery by Dr Chettawut in Bangkok, Thailand but may apply to others.
A few things to
know before you set off.
Time: Standard time zone UTC/GMT +7 hours No daylight saving time in 2006
(6 hours behind New Zealand at the moment)
Dr Chettawut Ph 02-742 2335 01-553 5370
Clinic Address: 1529/4 at the mouth of Soi Onnut
31 (Opposite Asokvit School),
Sukumvit 77 Road, Suanluang, Bangkok 10250,
Thailand
http://www.chet-plasticsurgery.com/index.html
This is a useful site about Dr Chettawut
http://www.susans.org/Sex_Reassignment_Surgery/MTF_Surgeons/1457.html
Tests
Required
Dr Chettawut requires the following tests before you get there.
1. CBC (complete blood count and platelet count),
2. Anti HIV
3. BUN &Cr (kidney function test)
4. PT & PTT (screening test for bleeding tendency due to liver disease),
5. FBS (fasting blood sugar)
6. Chest x-ray.
7. Electrocardiogram (EKG
For Auckland, New
Zealand
Medlab can do the blood tests and electrocardiogram in one session but allow at least an hour. Only selected Medlabs do the ECG, Ellerslie are one, ph5714000 10 Harrison Road (off Mt Wellington Highway). Kolmar Road, Papatoetoe are another.
The blood tests are free but the ECG will cost you $35.00.
Chest X Ray can cost around $70 at some hospitals but I went to Greenlane which was free. Allow up to 2 weeks for the results though so don't leave it too late
Note: All the above tests require a request from you doctor.
Information sent by Dr Chettawut regarding medications.
"Please note that you must stop taking female hormone, aspirin, vitamin E or anti-inflammatory drug 2 weeks before surgery, so all the said medication must stop 2 weeks before surgery. Except the Inhibase, I allow you to 1 day before surgery.
If you’re smoker, please take this in consideration seriously:
Nicotine can reduce the blood supply to the new wound and cause wound complications after surgery, so it is highly recommended that the patients have to stop smoking 1 month before surgery and also 2 weeks after surgery."
Overseas
payments.
10% deposit is required.
I would recommend sending this first, then when you have proof that it works send the balance.
Otherwise you have to spend hours at the bank cashing travellers cheques when you get there.
Most preferred are Telegraphic Transfer.
Shop around for the best rate...They are not all the same.
Although they ask for an account number it is not a requirement and you can do cash after producing ID (Passport). Check though as a few banks just will not do a cash transfer.
They take about three days but play it safe and do it early.
I found Westpac to be the best.
They have a calculator at http://www.westpactrust.co.nz/olcontent/olcontent.nsf/content/Currency+Calculator_international
Remember that it is the "buy US$" rate that you need.
The
Plane
If you go Thai Airways (cheapest) remember that the planes were built for Thai people.
There is no room and a 12 hour trip is quite taxing. I advise you to phone and book specific seats by the emergency doors or the ones where they have baby carriers.
You can also ask when you check in but run the risk of someone else having thought of it first.
Better to go (or at least come back) business class if you can afford it.
For the trip back make sure you have saved some of the pain killers DR Chettawut will give you after surgery.
The
Hotel
Bangkok Rama Place (Ex.Baan Siri)
1546 Pattanakarn Road, Suanluang Bangkok 10250, Thailand
http://www.hotels2thailand.com/bangkok-hotels/Bangkok-Rama-Place.asp
Dr Chettawut insists that you stay at the Ban Siri hotel. It is about 25 kms from central Bangkok and even though it is still in the city it is not near anything interesting or even on most of the street maps. It does have some lovely relaxing gardens with water features out the back though.
Fortunately Dr Chettawut arranges for his staff to pick you up from the airport and also to take you to his office for consultation as well as to the hospital.
This is a very good deal as Bangkok is an enormously large city, everything looks the same and it is just about impossible for someone who does not live there to find anything.
At the hotel all the "girls" stay on the 9th floor.
There are usually several of them from all parts of the world staying there at any one time.
The rooms are quite large and set up for two. Dr Cettawut has a special deal with them for half price (800 baht/day). No extra charge for two people per room so if you can share it will save costs.
The rooms have hot & cold water, bath, 2 single beds, mini bar etc but no electric jug. They provide a thermos flask which you fill with hot water from a machine on the 7th floor. From the lift, turn right, go to the end of the corridor then it is on your right.
There are warnings everywhere to not drink the tap water. Personally I think it is ok in Bangkok, I lived there years ago and drank the water, ate the food from the street vendors etc but……..being 50+, jet-lagged, and having just undergone major surgery why take chances? Use the bottled water……it's cheap and safe. This goes for washing fruit, brushing teeth etc. I use the Singha brand which is bottled by the same people who make the beer (I recommend that as well)
Don’t use the mini-bar. It is much cheaper to buy drinks, water etc from the local 7-11 or supermarket.
They have internet at 100 baht/hour in the hotel lobby. If you are not too concerned about security the local internet café over the road is about 22 baht (If you can get them to understand what you want)
They lock the windows in the rooms…..if you ask any of the staff on the 9th floor they will unlock them for you.
There is a good dining-room in the hotel with reasonable priced food which you can charge to your room if you like. This is a good way to sample Thai dishes as they all have photos in the menu ….. (Warning…Hot salad means hot)
If it is too cold for you in the dining room you can eat outside.
Something not many people know….you can use the stairs at the end of the 9th floor (the end at the right from the lifts) and go up to the roof. Not much there except great views but a good place for those who insist on smoking.
Shops
To find a friendly 7-ll go out the main gate to the street, turn left and walk about 100m.
You will see the familiar 7-ll sign. The shop staff are friendly and don’t rip you off with your change. They don’t speak English though so keep an eye on the cash register display.
Across the road from here is a small side road on an angle to the main road. Just at the beginning of this is a "Family Store" which is also a good shop.
There is a 7-11 to the right as you leave the hotel but I found them to be not so friendly.
A note on crossing the roads….use the overbridge!
The traffic is fast and unpredictable, also it is illegal to jaywalk.
If you want MacDonald's and/or a supermarket then from the hotel head right. Cross the road at the first overbridge then walk about 2 kms till you come to a major junction. You will see the Macdonalds sign across the road and there is a supermarket behind them where things are about half the price as the hotel. Crossing the road here is time consuming as you have to cross the first half when the traffic is stopped then wait forever till the other half stops. There are strange rules about selling liquor. Almost everyone does but they are not allowed to sell it from 8.am till 10am and from 3pm till 5pm.
There is an excellent shopping mall (Seacom Square) about 7 kms away. The taxi fare is only around 70-80 baht. (Keep an eye on the meter). See note about taxis and getting home again!
This shopping mall is massive! They also have KFC done Thai style which is delicious.
Don’t bother trying to walk this one, even though it is possible it is not the distance or even the 35 deg heat which will kill you but the pollution.
Taxis
Just about all of them are metered now. Don’t use one that is not.
Although many claim to, taxi drivers do not speak English nor do they seem to know where they are going so always take the card from the hotel which gives the address in their own language as well as a map so you can get home.
If you get a taxi from the hotel make sure the staff tell the taxi company where you are going (in their own language) or take a brochure etc with the address on it.
Language
http://www.learningthai.com/speak_thai.html
Search Google for lots more. Babelfish do not have Thai.
Language is a major problem in Bangkok, especially when you get further from the centre. Most locals know just enough to get by in their job but that is all.
It is a great help to know a few words like "left" "right" "straight ahead" for taxis as well as the greetings and thank you etc.
Thailand is 1000's of years old and Bangkok is a massive city with cutting edge technology and modern buildings along with original Thai landowners farming their land, living in tin shacks all beside each other. They have better & bigger roads, better cars, better everything as well as the worst of everything…..all done without western culture or English language so why should they have to speak it.
Remember we are the foreigners there.
I have always found the Thai people to be friendly and courteous.
They mind their own business but when you do talk to them they always smile even though communication is a bit difficult at times. Hint…take a writing pad…some people can understand written English even though they can not understand the way we speak it.
Hospital
The hospital used by Dr Chettawut is called Piyavite Hospital.
998 Rimklongsamsaen Rd, Bangkapi, Huay Kwang, Bangkok
Ph 0-2625-6500
http://www.piyavate.com/index.php
http://www.thaihealthcenter.com/index.cfm?menuid=69
Dr Chettawut will have his driver pick you up and deliver you there.
Do not worry if he heads in the wrong direction…there are not many places to get on the overhead expressway .
Be prepared for a grand entrance!. The place is bigger and flasher than our best hotels in NZ
Take your passport as you will need it to book in.
If you did forget it they can have Dr Chettawut fax a copy through.
Patients are actually processed through the Preecha Plastic surgery Unit which is within the hospital. The hospital itself is 27 stories high, absolutely modern and makes some of ours look like a M.A.S.H. outfit.
They feed you (if permitted) very well, but anything out of the mini bar has to be paid for. They also have more TV stations than the hotel.
Before surgery the cashier will collect your valuables, give a receipt and keep them in the safe.
Post op you seem to get kicked out as soon as possible but Dr Chettawut's team visit the hotel every day to do follow up stuff. (that is why they specify which hotel to stay at).
The rooms are big enough for two so if you can organise to go with someone else who is also having surgery you can do a deal to share the hospital room and save quite a lot. (about $300 each)
Leaving
The hotel does not take traveler's cheques. You need to cash them at a bank first.
They do take $US or major credit cards though.
Dr Chettawut's driver will pick you up about 2-3 hours before you are due to leave.
Make sure you have arranged this though as it gets a bit stressful waiting and wondering if you are going to be picked up.
The airport is huge but leaving is straight forward…just follow the signs
Oh, and….pack something warm to wear back in NZ.
Be aware of the taxi scam operated by Auckland Airport.
They have lots of taxis waiting but minimum fare is $45. (It cost us $16 to get to the airport)
Check out the bus or shuttle service or better still, have someone pick you up.
Good luck
Michelle & Shelina