How My Health Has Been Effected By Moving to Asia

One of the biggest reasons to stay home in the West is the belief that health care in developing nations is scary. I agree that it can be. I was a person who spent about $100 a month at the health food store and went to farmers' markets to buy vegetables as often as I could afford. My doctor wanted to give me a plethora of vaccines, which I started to comply with but then decided not to. Many tourists get everything they can, hep. B, polio booster, etc. and I wondered if I had made the right decision.

I had been in a home and had taken a meal with a woman who shortly afterward was diagnosed with TB. That was scary, but I think you have to be a bit unhealthy in order to contract it. Everyone spits and then the run-off water is collected and put on roofs in those big, black containers. I remember reading that some viruses can stay dormant on a cold dry surface for months. So, how has my health been affected by living in Nepal for 4 years?

I've gotten sick on a few occasions. The first time I just stayed in my guesthouse room until it passed. It was pretty horrible. I learned from that experience, but not enough to know what to do the next time.

The next time I got sick my assistant de jour had been taking his 'rake' every time he did anything or took me anywhere. I didn't have enough money to go to a proper hospital without having to juggle money around. This time I had to go where the local people go. It was pretty scary, but they tested me, said I had a bladder infection and I was fine in a couple days. This time I learned a couple of lessons, the first being to pull back on the trust factor.

I write about health care in Nepal in my eBook, Nepal; A Tourist's Manual, but since it seems to be 'out of print' again I will provide one huge tip from the Health chapter. Do not go to CWIC, the tourists' clinic near the British embassy unless you have travel insurance that will allow you to get treated without having to take from your budget. It's a fine medical provider, but expensive if you have to pay out of pocket. At CWIC you will over-pay by about 400% or so. Instead, you will need to find the right hospital. For example, if you have a heart issue there is a wonderful, new cardiac care hospital in the Lazimpath area. If you pulled your back out or broke your leg you would need to find the proper hospital for that. Bottom line: make sure it isn't a government hospital. 

You should also be sure to bring a local Nepali with you to the hospital. Although the doctors do speak English, the procedure is quite chaotic. The hospitals don't provide anyone to help so it would be $10 well spent to have a local person accompany you. Just ask your guesthouse manager or staff for someone. 


So, what do I use for a health food store and farmers' market? There are these wonderful, little franchised store called Patanjali, a creation of Baba Ram Dev of India. I get coconut oil 1 NRs. per gram, healthy cookies, alternative flours and many other interesting things. We buy local vegetables so there are seldom any chemicals, although they are not certified organic. There are farmers' markets weekly throughout most of the year, too.   

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How to Find Good Health Care in Nepal

One of the biggest mistakes tourists make is taking care of such things as dental and medical care prior to leaving their country, well that is if you are from somewhere like the US. Health care and dental are quite good in Nepal if you know where to go. I had a bad root canal from the US fixed and the dentist saved the tooth next to it at the same time. It was pretty painless, excellent sanitation, amazing price at a little less than $250 for both teeth that included 3 procedures that lasted 30-45 minutes each. The filament was actually growing into my jaw bone. I wouldn't even know which teeth he fixed, they came out so well.

I got sick and thought it was my heart. Turns out it was my lungs with an infection. They did everything for me and it only cost about $50. Although I'm not so sure I'd want open heart surgery done here, I'm quite pleased with the health care in Nepal.

There is CWIC at the British Embassy and if you have travel insurance you can go there, but it is crazy expensive! They wanted almost $100 to just see a doctor one time that I became ill shortly after arriving in Nepal. They turned me away because my insurance didn't like them, probably because it isn't near local prices.

How to find great health care:

1. First, you'll want to get a good referral. You can post a question on the KTMKTM group on google or ask another tourist. Do not ask a Nepali unless they are wealthy or in the medical profession. 

2. Use a hospital with an international presence. When I got sick with the lung issue I went to a hospital with a Japanese presence. When I sprained my ankle I went to the Korean Friendship Hospital. It wasn't quite as nice, but it was fine. I had to laugh because they only had a squat toilet, which was impossible with one good leg. That's the difference. It was quite nice, but on a Korean level. There are some great hospitals with German or Netherlands support that will be near what you'd expect in those countries. There is a new, cardiac hospital, but I don't remember who is funding it. It's quite nice-really impressive.

3. Remember to ask questions and have the doctor write everything down for you. This seems like a no- brainer, but the doctors don't seem to communicate well. I ask my Nepali friends after they've been to the hospital, 'What did the doctor say was wrong?' They usually say, 'Fever.' You really need to take charge of your own body. Do not just go along with what they want to do. Remember, there is no medical malpractice anything in Nepal. They screw up, you get an 'oops.'

4. Take advantage of alternative medical practices. There are Buddhist healers, Hindu astrologers and palm readers and even Shaman. Additionally, there are babas and monks who are quite talented healers. One time my driver was taking me on a motorcycle ride and when he hit a pot-hole my shoulder' ligament got pulled and seemed to take forever to heal. My day helper finally took me to a healer in an old part of Kathmandu, up a small, dark staircase. He blew on my shoulder and hit it with a small broom like they sweep the floor with and blew on it some more. That was it; I was healed. Unfortunately, I lost contact with that healer.

5. As I suggest in my eBook, Nepal: A Tourist's Manual, getting a discreet medical test in Nepal can help to either put your mind to rest or help you to consider some options. I've never had them ask to see my passport or anything, so it's completely anonymous.

There is an Ayuvedic healing center just outside of Bhaktapur that I'd previously written about here on this blog. Although a bit pricey for Nepal, they are unusually clean and have doctors trained in both Western and Eastern medicine. There are also some skin clinics in Kathmandu, as well as Tibetan medical clinics in Thamel, Boudha and probably elsewhere. The Tibetan clinics have excellent high altitude sickness medication.

It can be a challenge, but you can find excellent health care here. I highly suggest including a few days to take advantage of whatever medical services you can while you are here.

If you have a special need, such as strong pain medication please contact me. I'll be happy to investigate if the medicine is available here. Nepal can be an excellent possibility for you. I never charge for helping with things like this.

My eBook is available now at https://payhip.com/b/sQu5 If you are planning a trip to Nepal you'll enjoy it. It will save you time as well as money, but more importantly, it will help you to have a better time in Nepal. Many people wonder if they can eat the street food like in Thailand or Vietnam. 

Here's my spoiler alert: Do not eat the street food in Nepal, nor should you eat at any buffet. The eBook addresses such things as this and what to do if you become ill, etc. Whether or not you get my book, please read this short, free eBook. It will help you get your time here off to a great start. http://bit.ly/2aGxcuHIf there is a problem with the download or code please let me know at FrugalTravelsNepal@gmail.com 

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