Comments on: Getting an HIV test in Sukhumvit http://www.2thebigmango.com/reader-submissions/2008/09/23/getting-an-hiv-test-in-sukhumvit/ Insiders take on Thailand Fri, 09 Jan 2009 10:02:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: expat http://www.2thebigmango.com/reader-submissions/2008/09/23/getting-an-hiv-test-in-sukhumvit/#comment-170896 expat Sun, 09 Nov 2008 14:54:26 +0000 http://www.2thebigmango.com/?p=2252#comment-170896 the best place to get tested for HIV is at samitivej hospital at sukhumvit. the result is written in a carbonized paper and its sealed. nurses wouldn't be able to see the results. at least in this hospital, you are really sure that they are using sterile needles and that nurses are using gloves. the fee is 600 baht. you will get the results in 2 hours. the best place to get tested for HIV is at samitivej hospital at sukhumvit. the result is written in a carbonized paper and its sealed. nurses wouldn’t be able to see the results. at least in this hospital, you are really sure that they are using sterile needles and that nurses are using gloves. the fee is 600 baht. you will get the results in 2 hours.
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]]> By: dj http://www.2thebigmango.com/reader-submissions/2008/09/23/getting-an-hiv-test-in-sukhumvit/#comment-155594 dj Sun, 28 Sep 2008 17:02:26 +0000 http://www.2thebigmango.com/?p=2252#comment-155594 A Hillary service girl told me every female LD and dek-serve at the Hillary bars (and I presume Morning Night also) have the cost of monthly blood tests deducted from their pay, even the dek-serves who claim they don't go with customers. She told me over 1,000 baht, and they don't have any say in what they are tested for, and receive no feedback unless there is a positive result. Said dek-serve said she had never heard of anyone getting a positive result. This link discusses free HIV testing available in Bangkok. http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Free-Std-Tests-Bangkok-t156468.html Would the Red Cross notify blood donors if their donated blood tested HIV positive? About a year ago, a BG pointed out to me the small STD clinic on Sukhumvit near Soi 22 that she said many bars send their ladies to. They get the result stamped in a small book that bar managers can review to ensure compliance and good health. Har Har A Hillary service girl told me every female LD and dek-serve at the Hillary bars (and I presume Morning Night also) have the cost of monthly blood tests deducted from their pay, even the dek-serves who claim they don’t go with customers.

She told me over 1,000 baht, and they don’t have any say in what they are tested for, and receive no feedback unless there is a positive result. Said dek-serve said she had never heard of anyone getting a positive result.

This link discusses free HIV testing available in Bangkok. http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Free-Std-Tests-Bangkok-t156468.html

Would the Red Cross notify blood donors if their donated blood tested HIV positive?

About a year ago, a BG pointed out to me the small STD clinic on Sukhumvit near Soi 22 that she said many bars send their ladies to. They get the result stamped in a small book that bar managers can review to ensure compliance and good health. Har Har
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]]> By: AnotherBarBoss http://www.2thebigmango.com/reader-submissions/2008/09/23/getting-an-hiv-test-in-sukhumvit/#comment-154133 AnotherBarBoss Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:37:08 +0000 http://www.2thebigmango.com/?p=2252#comment-154133 This place has been around for some time, at one time they gave discounts to bar/club owners for having all there staff tested , that didn't last long as 95% of places don't require testing and the owners don't want to foot the bill. There are cheaper options for thai's around the area, but for the rest of us soi 11 is a good cost effective option. This place has been around for some time, at one time they gave discounts to bar/club owners for having all there staff tested , that didn’t last long as 95% of places don’t require testing and the owners don’t want to foot the bill.

There are cheaper options for thai’s around the area, but for the rest of us soi 11 is a good cost effective option.
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]]> By: Soi 11 http://www.2thebigmango.com/reader-submissions/2008/09/23/getting-an-hiv-test-in-sukhumvit/#comment-154106 Soi 11 Thu, 25 Sep 2008 16:14:11 +0000 http://www.2thebigmango.com/?p=2252#comment-154106 I did go back. I asked if they always use clean needles. I didn't expect them to say anything but yes. But I was encouraged by how emphatically they insisted they do. Come to think of it I doubt they'd be in business long if they were recycling needles so I think I got worked up over nothing. I tested negative which is an obvious relief. I didn't want to ask about how many positives they see though I would be interested toknow. I did go back. I asked if they always use clean needles. I didn’t expect them to say anything but yes. But I was encouraged by how emphatically they insisted they do. Come to think of it I doubt they’d be in business long if they were recycling needles so I think I got worked up over nothing.

I tested negative which is an obvious relief. I didn’t want to ask about how many positives they see though I would be interested toknow.
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]]> By: Combover http://www.2thebigmango.com/reader-submissions/2008/09/23/getting-an-hiv-test-in-sukhumvit/#comment-153892 Combover Thu, 25 Sep 2008 05:09:54 +0000 http://www.2thebigmango.com/?p=2252#comment-153892 Why not ask them if you're going back today? I think we'd all be interested. Why not ask them if you’re going back today? I think we’d all be interested.
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]]> By: Soi 11 http://www.2thebigmango.com/reader-submissions/2008/09/23/getting-an-hiv-test-in-sukhumvit/#comment-153686 Soi 11 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:13:45 +0000 http://www.2thebigmango.com/?p=2252#comment-153686 I wonder how often the Soi 11 clinic sees positive results if they are the defacto bar girl testing site. I wonder how often the Soi 11 clinic sees positive results if they are the defacto bar girl testing site.
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]]> By: K1ndofblue http://www.2thebigmango.com/reader-submissions/2008/09/23/getting-an-hiv-test-in-sukhumvit/#comment-153551 K1ndofblue Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:11:49 +0000 http://www.2thebigmango.com/?p=2252#comment-153551 One other interesting take on this - I also had a guy come back for his results who'd been mulling everything over and concluded that he'd like to have all the regular one back, but just couldn't handle the HIV test result: he'd just prefer not to know and even though that meant living with uncertainty; it was better that way. But of course, I had his -ve result in my hands. Should I respect his very clear request? I really didn't know what to do - so just told him that he shouldn't worry, I thought everything would be ok whatever he decided. Yes, you REALLY don't need to worry...."So does that mean it's -ve?" Biggest thank you I'd had for ages... One other interesting take on this - I also had a guy come back for his results who’d been mulling everything over and concluded that he’d like to have all the regular one back, but just couldn’t handle the HIV test result: he’d just prefer not to know and even though that meant living with uncertainty; it was better that way. But of course, I had his -ve result in my hands. Should I respect his very clear request? I really didn’t know what to do - so just told him that he shouldn’t worry, I thought everything would be ok whatever he decided. Yes, you REALLY don’t need to worry….”So does that mean it’s -ve?” Biggest thank you I’d had for ages…
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]]> By: K1ndofblue http://www.2thebigmango.com/reader-submissions/2008/09/23/getting-an-hiv-test-in-sukhumvit/#comment-153543 K1ndofblue Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:01:12 +0000 http://www.2thebigmango.com/?p=2252#comment-153543 I think Old Farang summarised the 'impact' of getting a positive result really well. I think the other concerns people sometimes have are where they got and and who they may have infected. If they are in a steady relationship, there's also the issue of how you tell your regular partner (and the implications if they think you are monogomous). In terms of the crushing psychological impact - and also to underscore why I brought this issue into the thread, I've also had to give out +ve HIV results and it's probably one of the worst things I've ever been tasked with. And on one morning I even had to tell two people they were +ve. But actually, their reactions couldn't have been much more different. Both were gay and the first bloke was in his early fifties, urbane, sophisticated and pretty clued up. He pretty much expected the result, so wasn't especially surprised. He had been conselled many times, was certainly aware of the issues and had a good support network. And whilst he clearly can't have been happy, the only way I can put it was that he was very zen about the whole thing and kind've embraced it - said he didn't regret anything he'd ever done and wouldn't have changed his life. In any way. The second guy was 22, had recently come out and seemingly was having a wild time. He came along initially with gonorrohoea and was counselled, but when he came back he was feeling much better thank you and clearly was just expecting to be told all was well (it was just gonorrohoea - everything else was a 'check-up). But I don't think I've ever seen someone quite so distraught - it was as if he felt his whole life had suddenly just slammed to a halt and couldn't see any way forward. This was at a time when treatment was not so effective though - and he probably was thinking 'death sentence'. My point here? There is no way of giving bad news - just some that are a bit better. But you owe it to yourself to be as well prepared as possible just in case. I think Old Farang summarised the ‘impact’ of getting a positive result really well. I think the other concerns people sometimes have are where they got and and who they may have infected. If they are in a steady relationship, there’s also the issue of how you tell your regular partner (and the implications if they think you are monogomous). In terms of the crushing psychological impact - and also to underscore why I brought this issue into the thread, I’ve also had to give out +ve HIV results and it’s probably one of the worst things I’ve ever been tasked with. And on one morning I even had to tell two people they were +ve. But actually, their reactions couldn’t have been much more different. Both were gay and the first bloke was in his early fifties, urbane, sophisticated and pretty clued up. He pretty much expected the result, so wasn’t especially surprised. He had been conselled many times, was certainly aware of the issues and had a good support network. And whilst he clearly can’t have been happy, the only way I can put it was that he was very zen about the whole thing and kind’ve embraced it - said he didn’t regret anything he’d ever done and wouldn’t have changed his life. In any way. The second guy was 22, had recently come out and seemingly was having a wild time. He came along initially with gonorrohoea and was counselled, but when he came back he was feeling much better thank you and clearly was just expecting to be told all was well (it was just gonorrohoea - everything else was a ‘check-up). But I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone quite so distraught - it was as if he felt his whole life had suddenly just slammed to a halt and couldn’t see any way forward. This was at a time when treatment was not so effective though - and he probably was thinking ‘death sentence’. My point here? There is no way of giving bad news - just some that are a bit better. But you owe it to yourself to be as well prepared as possible just in case.
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]]> By: Soi 11 http://www.2thebigmango.com/reader-submissions/2008/09/23/getting-an-hiv-test-in-sukhumvit/#comment-153534 Soi 11 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:22:09 +0000 http://www.2thebigmango.com/?p=2252#comment-153534 Sorry I should not have lambasted them. I've been going through an HIV scare the past three months. I am finally at the 3 month point and I go to get tested and the irony would be incredible if I caught HIV while getting tested. I was just disconcerted by the lady not wearing any gloves. I hope to God she used a clean needle. Sorry I should not have lambasted them. I’ve been going through an HIV scare the past three months. I am finally at the 3 month point and I go to get tested and the irony would be incredible if I caught HIV while getting tested. I was just disconcerted by the lady not wearing any gloves. I hope to God she used a clean needle.
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]]> By: sideshowBOB http://www.2thebigmango.com/reader-submissions/2008/09/23/getting-an-hiv-test-in-sukhumvit/#comment-153527 sideshowBOB Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:01:36 +0000 http://www.2thebigmango.com/?p=2252#comment-153527 soi 11 - no offense. been going there for years. i would not call them a back alley joint nor could I ever imagine them recycling needles as they are a clinic with real doctors. soi 11 - no offense. been going there for years. i would not call them a back alley joint nor could I ever imagine them recycling needles as they are a clinic with real doctors.
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