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Medical costs and over prescribed medication

Discussion in 'Rant and Rave' started by Lennyg, Jan 27, 2018.

  1. Lennyg
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    Lennyg New Member

    Hi, I just wanted to ask if anyone has had experience of medical subscriptions being over prescribed? My fiancee became unwell last week with abdominal pains, after visiting the hospital doctor, she was found to have a UTI along with the abdominal pain and diarrhoea symptoms, so she was prescribed antibiotics for 14 days, which I thought was ok but 14 days seems a long time,cost 15,000php, then she went back two days later for a further check up and blood test, this showed high uric acid, she was then prescribed a further two prescriptions for another 14 days, one for the uric and one for bloating oh and one for the ache, cost 32,000php, she was also told to get a full abdominal ultrasound scan. all organs were fine but said appendix was unseen? But the doc said he seen something that may cause more bloating pains, so a further prescription was given for 30 days, 27,000php. That is also plus the ultrasound scan and the doctors time to give the results, plus she has now been told she needs a further ultra sound scan again to check further, even after a full abdominal scan. My concern is surely all that different medications can't be good for her at once, I think now 5 different lots of tablets all together. Im from UK and Im sure this situation would never happen here. So I just wondered if anyone else had similar experiences. Thanks
    Ps..she is in Davao Del Norte area.
  2. Markham
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    Markham Guest

    Did your fiancée reveal the fact that she has a foreigner fiancé? And which hospital did she visit?
  3. Maley
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    Maley Well-Known Member

    Always get a second opinion. And if she is well enough to travel, can she get one from davao city hospitals- davao doctors for example?

    The medication you mentioned seemed to be very expensive for something inconclusive. I wouldnt risk it. Small town doctors are known to do that specially if they are on commission fron certain pharma companies.

    My sister was operated for apendicitis - paid php 150k for an operation and 3 days later the same symptom exists. My mum was screaming murder and had to insist for ambulance transport to davao city. Davao doctors diagnosed it as a type of hepatitis- a simple tablet for 7 days would have suffice. My parents nearly hired someone to eliminate the doctor but we decided to let karma work.

    From then on, we never trusted local doctors or laboratories. We head to davao and pay premium for a correct diagnosis the first time.
    • Agree Agree x 1
  4. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    and have you seen the bills ?
  5. John Surrey
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    John Surrey Well-Known Member

    Sadly happens all the time here.
  6. Jim
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    Jim Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    I had diarrhea for 8 days kept taking those anti-diarrhea capsules can't think of the name. Anyhow, I went to local doctors, cost 200 pesos. Next day took samples and they did a blood test. went back next day for the results, 9 test. Found bacteria in urine and intestines. Prescribed antibiotics for 7 days...cost 2400 pesos.

    The results from the other test were negative apart from a fatty liver. Told to limit my drinking, and take fish oil capsules.
  7. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    loperamide
  8. John Surrey
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    John Surrey Well-Known Member

    Yes. Some of them are simply disgusting - 18 yr old niece - told she had Hepatitis by local test laboratory and to go and see Dr X.... Of course Dr X wanted her mother to spend about P2400 (probably half their monthly budget for a family of five)... and to return the following week for more treatment... and more medicine (only available from her) ...

    Fortunately there is one honest Dr here and after a visit (v long queue) to him she was given some vitamins (P200) and told to try and eat some good fruit and fish etc for the next six months and then retest.
  9. Scotschap16
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    Scotschap16 Well-Known Member

    Hi everyone. Apologies for going slightly off piste but has anyone ever tried to send prescription medicines - specifically antibiotics - from the UK to the Philippines?

    I of course understand the ethics involved here - so not overly desperate to receive incoming on the principle but rather advice on the practicalities.

    As we all know not everything that goes in a package / balikbayan box gets listed on the customs declaration form. Saying that I would not countenance doing anything that would cause me or a potential recipient to fall foul of the law.

    Feel free to PM if preferred.

    Thanks in advance.

    G
  10. oss
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    oss Somewhere Staff Member

    How would you source antibiotics in the UK Gerry?

    In all honesty I would not want to be involved in shipping controlled medicines internationally, you could find yourself in some rather hot water.
    • Agree Agree x 3
  11. Sanders
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    Sanders Banned

    Not sure it would travel well via Balikbayan. There is no “climate” control is there?
    Last edited: May 29, 2018
    • Agree Agree x 1
  12. Dave_E
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    Dave_E Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    @Scotschap16

    Why do you want to ship something that is easily available in the Philippines.

    A local doctor, or pharmacist will provide good advice.
    Last edited: May 29, 2018
    • Agree Agree x 2
  13. Markham
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    Markham Guest

    Not to mention the untold harm that could result should any be counterfeit, damaged by incorrect storage, be out of date etc.
  14. Mattecube
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    Mattecube face the sunshine so shadows fall behind you Trusted Member

    Wrong person wrong hands a lethal combination potentially.
    • Agree Agree x 1
  15. Scotschap16
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    Scotschap16 Well-Known Member

    Thanks everyone - I've no real appetite for getting involved in shipping drugs.

    Re source ( @oss ) I confess to being the world's worst person for starting a course of meds and not completing. I have lots of Oxyt and Lymec. (well within "use by") and I know poor families in Phils that struggle to pay when they need such meds.

    Obviously providing financial support is by far the easier optuon if I want to help.

    I accept completely all the wise advice here and shall deposit this well-intentioned but ultimately daft idea into the WPB.

    Cheers everyone!

    G
    • Like Like x 2
  16. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    return any unused meds to the chemists for safe disposal.
    • Like Like x 1
  17. MikeH
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    MikeH New Member

    I would recommend being very cautious about a diagnosis like that. It reminds me of an amusing time when my wife's blood pressure dropped dramatically. She was very depressed at the time and although I had experienced several of her previous anxiety attacks in the UK and was not too worried she insisted on going to the ER. By the time we got there her BP was near normal but they did an ECG and took a blood test just in case. After an hour or so she felt OK, ECG was fine and we waited for the blood results. Then another person in a white coat arrived, we assumed to be a Dr. Wife said she was OK to go home now. This "Dr" said, "You can't you have a UTI, it's on the blood results, you should be confined for 48 hours". There was some debate between "Dr", Wife, me, sis-in law and we argued with the "Dr" that she wanted to go home. Eventually this "Dr" gave up and walked off. Then the ER Doc who had been treating my wife came in, with the blood results and said she was fine and could go home, "no there's no sign of UTI". We took a copy of the results and there was no indication of UTI. I have a suspicion this "UTI Dr" was a hospital sales person just trying to sell a bed for a couple of nights. We laugh about it now. But that aside we always apply common sense to diagnosis in Manila we are also lucky to have 2 doctors in the family with 2 in training and if the worse happens we have 2 lawyers, with one more in training.

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