ct scan

[riclag]

How much on average can a CT Scan cost in Issan?

[Sheryl]

Depends on :

 

1 - where you have it done: private hospital vs imaging center vs govt hospitals  -- but govt hosp may nto be possible without huge wait list. Imaging center will cost about 1/3 less than private hospital .

2- whether done with or without contrast media

3 - what part of the body is scanned

 

Imaging center in Khon Kaen here, can call and ask the price   http://www.mrithailand.com/index.php?modules=article&parent_id=2&id=11

 

But be warned that if what you need is CT with contrast, a small minority of people have serious adverse reactions to the injected dye (serious as in, sometimes respiratory or cardiac arrest). So I cannot recommend doing studies with contrast outside of a hospital setting in Thailand. 

 

If a doctor has recommended this CT s/he should be able to tell you what to ask for  in terms of location of the body to be scanned, contrast or no contrast and any other special requirements. If this is something you are thinking of doing on your own, not recommended by a doctor , I advise against that as there is every chance that the scan will turn out either not to be necessary or to be needed but in a way different than what you had done, in either case a waste of money.

 

The readings provided by the  radiologist cannot be relied upon so have to see a specialist anyway once the scan is completed for it to be properly interpreted in light of your clinical signs and history. Well worth an extra visit before hand to be sure scan is really necessary and that you get the right kind if it is.

[riclag]

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

Depends on :

 

1 - where you have it done: private hospital vs imaging center vs govt hospitals  -- but govt hosp may nto be possible without huge wait list. Imaging center will cost about 1/3 less than private hospital .

2- whether done with or without contrast media

3 - what part of the body is scanned

 

Imaging center in Khon Kaen here, can call and ask the price   http://www.mrithailand.com/index.php?modules=article&parent_id=2&id=11

 

But be warned that if what you need is CT with contrast, a small minority of people have serious adverse reactions to the injected dye (serious as in, sometimes respiratory or cardiac arrest). So I cannot recommend doing studies with contrast outside of a hospital setting in Thailand. 

 

If a doctor has recommended this CT s/he should be able to tell you what to ask for  in terms of location of the body to be scanned, contrast or no contrast and any other special requirements. If this is something you are thinking of doing on your own, not recommended by a doctor , I advise against that as there is every chance that the scan will turn out either not to be necessary or to be needed but in a way different than what you had done, in either case a waste of money.

 

The readings provided by the  radiologist cannot be relied upon so have to see a specialist anyway once the scan is completed for it to be properly interpreted in light of your clinical signs and history. Well worth an extra visit before hand to be sure scan is really necessary and that you get the right kind if it is.

 I've been seeing a Urologist for BPH problems the last couple of years. Now  I suspect I have a Kidney problem(rash,frequent urination,lower flank back pain,feet swelling and tingling in forearms).    I want to tell the Urologist here in Sakon Nakhon that I want to get a CT scan .Gee that dye scan doesn't sound friendly at all. 

Edited November 20, 2017 by riclag

[Sheryl]

Scans done in the absence of a differential diagnosis are useless, and your tentative self diagnosis is probably not correct (as self-diagnoses seldom are in my experience).  There are also much simpler ways to exclude kidney disease.

 

It is  unlikely that your various symptoms are all from a single problem.  The frequent urination, of course, would be from the prostate enlargement - either directly (worsening obstruction) or because retention has led to a urinary tract infection, very common in men with BPH. A simple urinalysis and complete blood count would tell if there was a urinary tract infection, has your urologist done these recently?.

 

"Lower flank back pain" can be from many, many causes and in the absence of fever or abdominal pain is unlikely to be related to your kidneys, more likely musculoskeletal issue.

 

While feet swelling can occur in some types of kidney disease, it is more commonly due to  heart problems and can also be due to diseases of the circulatory system.

 

Neither prostate nor kidney problems will cause rash or tingling forearms.

 

Tingling in both forearms can be a sign of diabetic neuropathy, how long is it since you had blood work that included a fasting blood sugar? It can also be due to  nerve compression, either form spinal problem or compression in the cubital or carpal tunnels, though that more often presents on one side of the body only.   If it is either of the last 2,  numbness/tingling will usually affect some but not all 5 fingers (which ones are unaffected will distinguish carpal from cubital tunnel issue) ..and may be worse at night.  If there is no tingling or numbness in the hand and fingers  then spinal cause may be more likely, people old enough to have BPH usually have at least some extent of cervical spondylosis.

 

A  number of consultations and tests would be indicated for the symptoms you report but a CT of the kidneys is not likely to be among them, and a urologist is  the right specialist only for a few of them. 

 

A complete urinalysis (i.e. not just a dipstick but actual lab analysis to check for protein and blood in the urine and signs of infection), a complete blood count and and a serum creatnine and BUN (very simple and cheap blood tests, no need to fast before hand) can effectively rule out kidney disease as a cause of the swelling and back pain, and probably will. (As mentioned above, they will also tell if you have a urinary tract infection).  These are part of most standard check-up packages and a general check up might be wise given your range of symptoms.

 

Assuming the creatnine and BUN come back normal you should then see a cardiologist regarding the swelling of your feet , they will need to do a chest xray, ekg (both also part of most standard check up packages) and possibly echo or stress test. If heart ruled out next step would be an ultrasound to check for circulatory impairment in your legs.

 

Fasting blood sugar ir Hb1ac will reveal if you have diabetes; if you do, need to see either an itnernists or an endocrinologist AND a neuriologist, the second one for likely diabetic neuropathy.  If you do not have diabetes then   next stop should be an ortho specialist re the tingling. If no ortho cause is found, then a neurologist as there are also some chronic neurological conditions this is seen in.
 

Rash I have no idea, would need more info  but it is unlikely to be related to any of these other things.

 

Now regarding your BPH, if the treatment you are receiving does not seem to be helping and the urinary symptoms are worsening and if no infection is found to account for it, you might benefit from a second opinion with another urologist (bring all your records with you).

 

 

[carlyai]

 I've been seeing a Urologist for BPH problems the last couple of years. Now  I suspect I have a Kidney problem(rash,frequent urination,lower flank back pain,feet swelling and tingling in forearms).    I want to tell the Urologist here in Sakon Nakhon that I want to get a CT scan .Gee that dye scan doesn't sound friendly at all. 

A long time ago I had a dye injection for a back scan, was told to go sit down in the waiting room and broke out into a horrible sneezing coughing fit, could hardly breathe.
Now I think they know a bit more.
It's like aspirin, I went for my second back operation full of aspirin. Had all these bottles and tubes in me after and the surgeon said they couldn't stop the bleeding. Now they know a bit better. Used to be some butchers around back then.

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[lemonjelly]

Okay, I just had a ct scan in a local government hospital for kub (kidney, urethra, bladder), the scan basically covered all my lower abdomen.
6,500 baht for scan + contrast solution (helps imaging, injected remotely just before they fire the scanner up, gives you hot sensations on skin for a couple of minutes, don’t freak out though) + 1 night in hospital on I.V. to rehydrate pre-scan (private room @1-2,000 baht.
Basically, 10,000 baht should cover it.


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[riclag]

On 11/20/2017 at 8:42 PM, riclag said:

 I've been seeing a Urologist for BPH problems the last couple of years. Now  I suspect I have a Kidney problem(rash,frequent urination,lower flank back pain,feet swelling and tingling in forearms).    I want to tell the Urologist here in Sakon Nakhon that I want to get a CT scan .Gee that dye scan doesn't sound friendly at all. 

Thanks for the infoe on the CT Scan and what direction to go about my Kidney.I'll try the blood/urine test for Kidney function.

[Badrabbit]

Cost 8000bht recently in Phuket.

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[lopburi3]

Recent Full Abdomen CT at Vejthani Hospital in Bangkok.

 

About 16,000 baht basic charge plus 8,000 medications/radiologist for a double contrast with enema (cancer patient).  This is with injected and drink contrast and rectum filled with water so probably a more expensive normal CT (PET would be more).