Tofer

A friend of mine just bought a hong in Lanta Noi for 58% of the asking price 2 years ago. Some owners are getting desperate, especially if there's a Khai Phat (spelling?) waiting in the wings for his money.

Wait until after this high season, and maybe the next. There'll be lots of bargains around.

What is a family price??

We have in Koh Lanta. Why would Thais need a driving school to pass a test that doesn't require them to know how to drive! If you really want to fly in the face of tradition, start a refuse contracting company, and see if you can clean up the region "properly", with a street bin service, a proper 'dog proof' home wheelie bin refuse service, street cleaning and landscape maintenance service (particularly in Koh Lanta). The government are spending billions of baht on infrastructure projects, roads, airport and another bridge to Lanta Noi, so perhaps you could convince them it would be a good investment to create a clean environment also.... You might include an education program / campaign, to "Keep Krabi Clean", good luck with that.

There's a new place called "The Anchor Place" in Baan Hua Laem, on the East coast about 4 km South of Old Town. It's highlighted / tagged on Google Earth. Woody and Mimi are very pleasant hosts, tel. 0846-471-361, and can speak good English. They have a large artificial sandy beach up to their sea wall, so it's a sea front location. East coast Lanta is very peaceful and unspoilt, and Old Town is the nicest town on the island, where most local boat / island tours leave from Old Town pier, (check availability in these restrictive times).

Good to hear you're getting sorted.

BNH is the Bangkok National Hospital, can't remember what they quoted for an MRI. A quick phone call will get you the answer. Assuming you can cope with the tunnel / doughnut style MRI scanner, it's only B8,500 at the Bangkok Christian Hospital, maybe need a doctors examination and referral first, but that costs only B800. The Bangkok Hospital have / had a promotion @ B9,000 for lumber spine MRI in an open MRI scanner, but you definitely have to subject yourself to their doctors examination and referral first, at B1,700 total. The MRI Centre in Prachachuen have a more open scanner @ B12,500, not sure about needing a referral, as Dr Weerasak sent me there with his referral and scan request. Rather than waiting until next June and paying to return to the UK, I personally would spend that money on one of the recommended surgeons, Sheryl highlighted, and get your life back now, assuming you are currently inThailand.

I agree with Sheryl, and it might be good to get a second opinion anyway.

In which case, I wouldn't bother with the UK, assuming you can afford, or have health insurance, to cover private treatment in Thailand. You could still make it more affordable by visiting the government hospitals where these good surgeons also practice, just be prepared for more of a wait and some queues. You won't get the 2 day whirlwind service I got in the private hospitals, but still no where near the years waiting you noted in the UK, and no airfares to UK. Hope it all works out for you.

Bangkok Christian hospital is B8,500 for a lumber MRI, and probably a bit cheaper than the B2,400 I paid for 4 X-rays at the Bangkok Hospital Phuket.

That's the biggest hurdle over with then. Now go and see the doctor with your MRI and X-ray images , and hopefully get yourself sorted, once and for all. ????

I've just seen a video of an ''upright MRI scanner'' in USA. It looks far less confining and stressful than the ones you are required to lie down in with a massive machine squashing your nose and stomach. How I wish this had been available last week in Thailand, but hey ho, it's only money, and I survived the anesthetic.

Why is it none of their business? Or do you have no intention of paying income tax in Thailand.

Yes he did, thoroughly and unhurried. The risks were the usual risk of infection, the anesthesia and of course the operation. I'd already been under anesthetic, the previous day for my MRI scan, so was unconcerned about that. Infections can be treated, post op. if necessary, so a relatively minor concern. I was concerned that he was working so late after being at Chulalongkorn Hospital, but he assured me he was only in for a couple of meetings, and he was bright eyed and bushy tailed while reviewing my scan images at 8-8.30pm in the evening. I was thoroughly reassured that he was conducting himself professionally, with due care and concern. He explained the operation risks which, worse case scenario, were potentially loss of the use of a foot only, in my case, if he touched and damaged the nerves, and he described the alarm system which would be hooked up to my nervous system to indicate if he touched the nerve during the operation. Being perfectly honest, I was not in the least bit nervous about the operation, even whilst lying awake for 20 mins inside the operating theatre, watching the surgical team prepare, whilst I waited for the anaesthetist to knock me out. Quite frankly, I was in a living hell anyway, with my sciatic pain and disability, so there was little to lose, in my mind. I would not recommend someone so highly in respect to such an important subject, unless I was completely confident in their abilities and professionalism. I would send my child to see him if the need arose, and would certainly not spend so much time suffering as I did, should the need arise again. Dr Weerasak literally saved my life overnight, since the life I had pre-op. was no life at all. You've seen the CV Sheryl posted, and I've looked at many others in my early days of searching. I don't believe I've seen any better. Have a look around by all means. When I met him, I took him at face value, since I'd not seen his CV on the BCH website. I can fully understand your concerns, and rightly so, but I personally would not hesitate for a second, another time around. If you're suffering, why not simply take a trip to see him, and see for yourself, you don't have to commit to any treatment, if you're not confident. He will spend as much time as you need to explain the whole procedure for you to feel confident and comfortable. Compared with a visit to my GP in the UK years ago, wherein I was cut short and told she only had 10 mins / patient, and I was not at liberty to raise an additional issue of concern, my consultation with Dr. Weerasak was akin to meeting a friend for a relaxed chat and, believe me, I like to chat... He had a queue of patients waiting outside, but never once indicated any haste to get done with me. Good luck.

Interesting, thanks. I never got to see his CV, as the BCH didn't display it, but once I'd seen him I felt very comfortable in his hands, and didn't investigate further. Truth is I didn't have the time to...., it was a whistle stop schedule. Not only is his CV impressive, he is a thoroughly good / decent and pleasant person, who truly has his vocation in his heart. I cannot imagine you would find any better. I feel very sorry that his lovely wife and daughters have to take second stage to his work, and only hope I can repay him in kind with our open invitation for them to have a holiday based with us in Koh Lanta.

If you're still suffering, get along to see Dr Weerasak at the Bangkok Christian Hospital in Silom. I wholeheartedly recommend him.

That's the one, Pratchachuen MRI Centre. I was quoted B12,000 for the cost of a lumber MRI scan in their open scanner, via a referral from Dr Weerasak of the Bangkok Christian Hospital. It was not the one I had, as I explained earlier, I returned to the Bangkok Christian Hospital for an anesthetic MRI scan, and this was in the old style tunnel / doughnut scanner. I'm led to believe the imagery of these older style machines is clearer than the newer open type scanners. The scan was B8,500, and the anesthetic plus health examinations was approx. B27,000. I sat down with Dr Weerasak in front of my scan images, and it was extremely clear that I had a severely herniated disc, as the light coloured conduit (sciatic nerve channel) with grey streaks inside was completely trapped at my L4/5 disc, it was a completely black void with absolutely no evidence of any such channel / conduit. My pain level was running at maximum, so there was no pretending it was not severe. There was no question of my sitting on a plane back to the UK for 13-14 hours, I struggled with a 1 hour 20 minute flight from Krabi to Bangkok. Plus I would not have got the same instant treatment, as I got from Dr Weerasak late on a Friday night, when he should have been at home with his family. As I noted before, I would have absolutely no reservations about recommending Dr Weerasaks' team at the BCH, I am 100% delighted with my treatment and the unbelievably satisfactory outcome. I no longer spend all day and night in screaming pain in all positions, sitting standing or lying down, and expect a full recovery of my mobility, when the operation wound is completely healed, and my back has recovered / strengthened in the next couple of months. Should the need arise again, I would be completely confident to place my life in Dr Weerasaks hands, as I trust his, and his teams, expertise and professionalism implicitly. Had it not been for Covid, and the wait for vaccinations, I would have been there months ago. Your quotation from Korat sounds somewhat excessive, although I am not aware of the extent of the surgery they proposed. It sounds like you would have needed micro discectomy surgery to remove the bone impingements on your nerve. FYI, my surgery, care, 1 night hospital stay and medication amounted to approx. B300,000, including the anesthetic MRI scan. Even without health insurance, I'm still quids in compared to the outrageous insurance premiums I would have paid over many years, and happily I can afford to take the risk. I would unreservedly recommend you make a trip to the BCH and consult with Dr Weerasak about your problem. B600 for his initial consultation. Alternatively, if you are not desperate, he also practices from the public Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok, which would likely be cheaper, but not so instantaneous. Life's too short and precious to suffer such debilitating pain, get it sorted. ????

You're very welcome, the least I could do, and thank you for all your efforts in supporting peoples medical enquiries.

1. Bangkok hospital, Bangkok have the open scanner, as you advised. It was entirely my problem with not being able to stay still for an hour in the scanner with my pain, and my underlying claustrophobic tendencies, since the overhead plate is over your face and very close. They administered a sedative and sleeping tablet, but they had no effect whatsoever, until about 5 hours later. They were somewhat cursory in their approach, in that they did not have me change out of my clothes, simply whipped my shorts off on the scanning tray. I was also unimpressed with the doctor who made the preliminary examination. He was quite aggressive and inconsiderate of my pain. Of course the environment was akin to a 5* hotel, however that's not what's important. I would not recommend them, especially since the MRI scanner in Prachachuen is better, in my opinion, and you don't require the obligatory doctors examination, as in the hospitals. However, I did have the referral from Dr. Weerasak of the BCH, so perhaps that's not a valid comment, although I imagine there may be a way to access a scan without a referral, but I'm not entirely sure. The Bangkok Christian hospital is perfectly acceptable in it's presentation, and the medical team were excellent, in their manner and performance, plus you'll likely save a bit of money in comparison to the sparkling private hospitals. The journey and hotel costs, were more than worth it, since the Phuket BH is both showing it's age, and the most expensive of all 3 hospitals I visited, although Dr. Treenarong there was very good. 2. Yes, that's the place. The MRI scanner is shown in the gallery photos, along with the very sympathetic and considerate operator. They went to great lengths to try to get me comfortable, to endure the hour long scan, but the pain made it absolutely impossible. They even offered to let me lay inside the machine for 10 mins to try to get accustomed to it, before commencing the scan. The operator sits outside behind a large viewing window, which is also very reassuring when you're locked away in a small room and trapped within that machine. My head remained outside the overhanging plate, and I was able to elevate it on extra pillows, to mitigate the sensations of choking / inability to swallow lying flat. The only negative was the space available between the base and overhead plates, and with my slight excess of midriff, they had to squeeze me inside with my stomach strapped, which consequently forced my arched back into the base plate and ramp up cushions, causing additional pain. I must add that, beyond my expectations, all 3 abortive scan attempts, including Phuket & Bangkok BH and the MRI centre at Prachachuen did not make any charge for their actual MRI scanning services, which included the gowns required to change into, which obviously then need laundering, machine cleaning, admin etc.

Thanks for your advice Sheryl. I tried the Bangkok Hospital in Bangkok, without success. Then Dr. Weerasak of the Bangkok Christian Hospital directed me to try the specialist X-ray centre near Bongkasai Market in Pracha Chuen (? spelling), at the same time as holding open an anesthetic scan appointment for me at the BCH in the afternoon. The X-ray centre was an even better machine than the BH open scanner, more open and head outside the single arm supported cantilevered scanning plate, although to compensate there is a scanning plate under your back, which caused way too much pain arching my back, for me to endure 1 hour without moving a millimetre, as I was told was required to achieve satisfactory scan images. I ended up back at the BCH for an anesthetic scan. Dr. Weerasak very kindly came back in after an evening surgical procedure, to review / discuss the results. He also arranged an emergency operation, micro- discectomy, for the next evening to remove the severely herniated disc which completely cut off my sciatic nerve at L4/5. For future reference, the BCH, Dr Weerasak and his team provided exemplary treatment, service and reassurance. He was the most pleasant and understanding doctor I have ever met, and his commitment to diagnosing and resolving my problem quickly, far exceeded my expectations. I could not recommend him more highly. Also the BCH charges are probably the most reasonable throughout the private treatment centres. I hope this feedback and knowledge will help someone else in the future.

You just carry on as you are, if you believe you're invincible. Almost 5,000,000 people around the world would disagree with you, If they could!!

When you catch Covid...

When you're lungs are collapsing and you can't breath unaided, and you would probably die if you didn't get to a hospital for help.

Just one of those things, I cannot stand tight confining spaces. I had to stop watching a film called "Buried Alive" one evening, I was becoming panicky just watching it, and was sure I'd have nightmares if I didn't quit. Thanks for the heads up I'll take a cardigan. ????

Until you get sick...